We are in the final step to Silver Certification - all that remains to be done is a final site visit touring the Natural Resource Management Center (NRMC).  This will be completed sometime in August.

    At the NRMC we incorporated all the recommendations from Audubon and worked very closely with them on the final design of the buildings.  The Signature Program focused on wildlife conservation and habitat enhancement, water quality management and conservation, waste reduction and management, energy efficiency, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM). 

    Some of the special features that were incorporated into the design of the facility include a state of the art equipment wash down center.  This area is unique as the water used to wash down the grass and oil from dirty equipment is recycled.  The equipment is washed and the water is filtered separating the grass and sand out and returned to a holding tank.  This tank is aerated and beneficial microbes are added to decompose the oil, grass debris, chemicals and organic materials.  No water from washing equipment is let go into the environment. 

    Another feature that we built into the facility is where chemicals are handled.  A special pad was built to capture any spilled chemicals in the mixing process prior to spraying.  This spray residual is transferred to a holding tank that can be disposed of properly.  The chemical storage is also tied into this system so no chemicals could be released into the environment.

    The landscape around the facility is mostly native plant material with some flowering varieties that attract birds, butterflies and other types of habitat.  Bluebird boxes were put up at the facility to provide nesting allowing these birds to feed on insects including mosquitoes.  

    We were looking for ways to save energy in the new building and incorporated motion sensitive light switches in the offices and some of the work areas as allowed.  This has worked out very well but the lights will shut off every 10 minutes and if working in the area a hand can be waved to turn back on.

    Increasing attention has been focused recently on the interrelationships between golf courses and the environment, in particular on protecting habitat and water resources from contamination by nutrients and pesticides.  In the design of the golf course we left native corridors between holes to allow habitat to live in harmony with the course.  Another step we took was planting native plants which provide habitat along with aesthetic appeal.

    Juliette Falls is located directly 1 mile east of the Rainbow river and head waters.  All the lakes are lined not to allow any potential contamination entering the aquifer.   The greens are the most highly treated areas on the course and the drainage of the greens near bodies of water is handled differently.  Each green's exiting drain line in dispersed into a rock filtering sump and no water is released into the ponds.  We took every step possible to be environmentally friendly.   We scout for pest problems and only treat areas that damage is occurring.  We took extra steps to design, build, and manage the course as an integrated and connected part of the ecosystem.  We are now seeing the results of this planning and program development.

Click Here or call (352) 465-4000 for more information on becoming a part of our unique community.