Campus Grounds

Bee Campus USA

Several projects are aimed at creating pollinator-friendly habitats for bees, butterflies, and other species. Visit our Pollinator Projects webpage to learn more!

Tree Campus USA

East Carolina University has been designated a Tree Campus USA for three consecutive years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. In order to qualify for this designation, ECU worked to meet all six of the Tree Campus USA standards.

ECU Tree Trail

East Carolina University has created an ECU Tree Trail brochure and online GIS Map that you can use to follow the trail and identify 45 different species of trees on campus.

ECU Tree Inventory

Over the course of multiple years, ECU Sustainability Interns have worked on developing a inventory of trees on campus. In 2024, a Geography student turned the Campus Tree Inventory into an ArcGIS Story Map to visualize East Carolina University Trees.

Native Landscaping

The grounds department has also begun using more native and drought tolerant vegetation on campus, which allows the university to irrigate far less than it previously did. These plants require less water, less mowing, and fewer chemicals to survive, which is also beneficial to the environment.

Smart Irrigation

When irrigation is necessary, ECU uses an advanced Irrigation Control (IQ) system equipped with a weather station that will calculate the evapotranspiration (ET) rate for a day. The irrigation system is then able to deliver the precise amount of water needed to the landscape, effectively eliminating over watering.

The IQ system is currently operating efficiently at the Smith-Williams Center, Blount Intramural Fields, North Recreational Complex, and the brand new Student Center on Health Sciences Campus. Planning for future expansion of the IQ system on campus is underway. This system will allow the University to save a significant amount of water by running multiple zones at one time. In addition, the system will identify leaks and shut off the water supply at the break while the system is running, which will prevent wasted water and possible safety concerns with a blow out. This will certainly help our cause when we have another drought and the State wants us to cease all watering.

Permeable Paving

ECU is excited to be on track to install its first permeable paving project this summer (2010). The area on the eastern end of Wright Plaza will be modified by removing concrete, compacted soils and an old fire lane system. A permeable pavement system will allow rainwater to infiltrate the soils and aquifer. The use of pervious paving is among the Best Management Practices (BMP) recommended by the EPA and other agencies for the management of storm water runoff on a regional and local basis. Permeable pavers eliminates the need for retention ponds, bioswales, and other storm water devices, and provides more efficient land use.

Storm water Management – By allowing water to soak through and infiltrate, permeable pavement reduces storm water flow and pollutant loads. Minimize Site Disturbance – By integrating paving and drainage, less site area may need to be used to manage storm water, allowing a more compact site development footprint. Cool – The voids reduce mass reducing the heat build up associated with heat islands. Lighter colored paving can increase reflectivity. Not specifically approved for achieving LEED Credit SS 7.

Cisterns

As a major consumer of water on campus, ECU Grounds Department recently installed four rainwater cisterns and rooftop collection systems to collect and use rain water for landscape irrigation. Retention ponds on Health Sciences Campus and at the new North Recreational Complex also aid in irrigation by using the water that would otherwise be lost to runoff while saving the university significant amount of money in city water.

When irrigation is necessary, ECU uses an advanced system equipped with a weather station that determines how much water is lost in a day. The irrigation system is then able to deliver the precise amount of water needed to the landscape, effectively eliminating over watering.

Ponds

Retention ponds such as Lake Laupus on Health Sciences Campus and others located behind Croatan Dining Hall and at the North Recreational Complex also aid in stormwater management. In addition to aquatic plants that filter runoff, the water is also held in place to ease pressure on the city system then used for irrigation, which saves the university significant amounts of money in lieu of treated water.

Brownfield Remediation

East Carolina University‘s new Life Sciences and Biotechnology Building, currently under construction at the corner of 10th and Evans, was on a contaminated Brownfield site leftover from a dry cleaner that used to be located there. Fortunately, the project included remediation work before construction began and performance monitoring indicates that the treatment has removed 99% of ground contamination! This is a great environmental success story!!!