Conservation Mowing

Our Mission

Working together as a team, we will end the predictive value of race, class, gender, and special capacities for our children’s success through high quality teaching and learning for all. We seek to build relationships with families and communities to ensure that every student succeeds. We will know every student.

Our Mission

About:

Conservation mowing, or mowing reduction, aligns with numerous actions identified in the Landscape, Natural Resources, and Agriculture sector of the Climate Action Plan including reduction in carbon emissions associated with landscaping equipment and improvements in soil health, wildlife habitats, and stormwater runoff. Co-benefits include staff safety and noise reduction. ACES adopted a SMART goal for conservation mowing stating:

Reduce area of mowed, non-athletic, field grassy areas by 15% by year 2024, and further reduce mowed grass by an additional 5% each year thereafter. Prioritize areas with steep slopes and other unused grassy areas. Areas identified for mowing reduction will be converted to forests, managed meadows, or un-mowed grass. Un-mowed grasses shall be mowed once annually in early spring.

Using GIS to conduct an aerial survey of land cover types of ACPS’ 760 acres of land, it was found that 25% or approximately 190 acres were mowed grass. The full breakdown of land use can be seen in the pie chart below. Conservation mowing began in summer of 2023 prioritizing steep slopes and unused mowed areas. Signage will be used to educate students, staff, and the public on the benefits of this intentional reduction in mowing and to help reframe the narrative on how sustainable open space can look. Prominent areas of un-mowed grass, such as in front of schools, or along highway frontage will be supplemented with wildflowers for beautification. Mowed strips will remain around all paths, sidewalks, parking, playgrounds, etc. Mowing and/or bush hogging will be conducted in early-spring after insects overwintering in grass stems have emerged.

The future of conservation mowing at ACPS will be an iterative process of continual improvement. Staff will be busy determining where conservation mowing is and isn't maintaining the balance between environmental stewardship and school operations needs, identifying areas for future expansion of the program and beautifying these unmown areas by adding biodiversity through the use of wild flowers and pollinator friendly plants.

Pie Chart of Land Use types on ACPS owned parcels. 42% forest, 25% mowed grass, 24% impervious, 8% meadow, 1% unmowed grass

Conservation Mowing at Scottsville Elementary

A field with a large 'love' sign. A crisp line between mowed and unmowed grass.

Benefits of Conservation Mowing

Increased Habitat for Birds & Insects

The American Bird Conservancy reports that in North America, bird populations have declined by 25% over the last 50 years. Population losses are even greater among greater among grassland birds, with a 53% decline. Habitat loss and insect population declines are among the forces driving bird population losses.

Conservation mowing restores habitats for both grassland birds and their prey, insects, helping reduce the impact that ACPS schools and operations have on the natural environment.

Reduced Carbon Emissions from Landscaping Equipment

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), A single gas-powered lawn mower emits as much pollution in one hour as driving a car for 45 miles. Nationwide, landscape equipment engines produce up to 5% of the nation’s air pollution. Gasoline powered lawn and garden equipment emits pollutants such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons,volatile organic compounds,nitrogen, oxides, and particulate matter. Reducing the amount and frequency of mowing will lower emissions of carbon dioxide and other harmful pollutants and will help the school division achieve its climate action goals.

Improved Waterway Health

Reduced mowing allows for taller grasses, which dramatically reduces storm water runoff. When precipitation falls, some infiltrates into the soil, some evaporates, and the remainder runs across the ground to surface waters collecting pollutants on it's way. In addition to pollutants, storm water runoff increases flooding and erosion. According the the Virginia Runoff Reduction Method, a simplified method for calculating storm water runoff, transitioning from frequent mowing to conservation mowing equates to a 20% reduction in storm water runoff, correlating to an increase in waterway health.

Reduced Noise Pollution

The U.S. Center for Disease Controls reports that commercial landscaping equipment operates at a volume of 100 - 120 dB, a volume loud enough to cause hearing damage to anyone in the immediate proximity and loud enough to be heard as far as 1/2 mile away. Studies conducted by US EPA have linked noise pollution with detriments to human health. Problems related to noise include stress related illnesses, high blood pressure, speech interference, hearing loss, sleep disruption, and lost productivity. Reducing the amount and frequency of mowing will benefit the health and well being of ACPS students and staff.

Employee Safety

An early target of conservation mowing was the steep slopes featured on many ACPS campuses, many of which exceed the maximum manufacturer recommended slope, increasing mower rollover risk. An audit of OSHA reports of mower rollover shows that the vast majority of these type of incidents are fatal for the operator.

In addition to the reduced risk of hearing loss described above, reducing mowing on steep slopes reduces the risk of injury or fatality to Building Services employees.