ARVADA, CO – West Woods Golf Club has retained its designation as a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary” through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses, an Audubon International program.
Participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts. To reach certification, a course must demonstrate that they are maintaining a high degree of environmental quality in a number of areas including: Environmental Planning, Wildlife and Habitat Management, Outreach and Education, Chemical Use Reduction and Safety, Water Conservation and Water Quality Management.
"West Woods Golf Club has shown a strong commitment to its environmental program. They are to be commended for their efforts to provide a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property," saihttp://www.auduboninternational.orgd Doug Bechtel, Executive Director of Audubon International.
West Woods Golf Club is one of 44 courses in Colorado and 904 courses in the world to receive the honor. The golf course was designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary in 2009. After designation, courses go through a recertification process every two years.
This year the recertification process required a visit by a local community representative. Karen Miller, Director of Majestic View Nature Center, sent her observations to Audubon International. “The City of Arvada’s West Woods Golf Club utilizes environmentally sound management practices, recognizing their importance,” Miller reported. “Designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary is an accomplishment to be proud of for the Arvada community.” Miller noted the continuing efforts to create naturalized areas on the golf course, which provide valuable water, food and habitat for local and migratory wildlife in the area.
“We see the site visit as an important component of a course’s recertification,” stated Bechtel. “It provides an objective verification of some of the more visible aspects of the course’s environmental management activities.”
About Audubon International
Audubon International is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) environmental education organization dedicated to providing people with the education and assistance they need to practice responsible management of land, water, wildlife, and other natural resources. To meet this mission, the organization provides training, services, and a set of award-winning environmental education and certification programs for individuals, organizations, properties, new developments, and entire communities. For more information visit www.auduboninternational.org.