Description
Coconut Creek is a rapidly growing suburb of Ft. Lauderdale with 16% of its acreage set aside as parks or other natural areas. The city is the Butterfly Capital of the World, and is home to Butterfly World, the world's largest butterfly aviary. Butterfly gardens have been planted at the town hall, in town parks and at several schools in the city. Annual events include the Butterfly Festival, the 5K Butterfly Run, the Arbor Day Tree and Butterfly Plant Give Away and the Butterfly Parade. Even the new high school is named Monarch High.
Description
Although perhaps best known to visitors as the home of the Pentagon and Arlington Cemetery, Arlington has maintained high quality residential neighborhoods, while supporting continued managed growth. Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment led the efforts for Arlington's certification. The group sponsored an 8-month-long contest between Arlington's neighborhoods. The neighborhood that had the most certifications won a dinner for 30 at a popular Lebanese restaurant. For more information, please go towww.arlingtonenvironment.org/programs/wildlifehabitat/index.htm
Description
Broward County "Between Sawgrass and Seagrass" Broward County Resilient Environment Department, NatureScape Broward, municipal partners and residents are committed to protecting America's Everglades, our abundant water resources, wildlife and the ecological integrity of our urban area. We build equitable Florida-friendly landscapes that conserve water resources and provide wildlife habitat. Broward County tied with Arlington County to be the first two counties in the nation certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat.
Description
Callawassie Island is part of South Carolina's Low Country. It is a sea island, protected from the Atlantic by the larger barrier island, Hilton Head Island. Callawassie Island is a gated community, surrounded by marshes teeming with shorebirds. Inland lagoons are inhabited by American alligators, bald eagles nest in residents' trees and wood storks can be seen on the golf course. The island's Ecology Committee led the efforts for certification and is responsible for many educational and community-wide efforts on behalf of wildlife.
Description
Sonoma County is a mostly rural county with nine incorporated towns and 62 small unincorporated areas. It is known for its agricultural produce and excellent wines. Sonoma County's well-known wine country has world-class wineries that are open to the public. The visitor can enjoy sweeping vineyard vistas as well as excellent lodging and restaurants. Sonoma County's project was led by the non-profit Celebration: Love Your Neighbor, Inc. (dba) Love Your Neighbor Public Charity, which also promotes organic farmers markets and holistic medicine.
Description
The City of Wilton Manors is known as the "Island City," as it is surrounded by water, including the North and South Forks of the Middle River. The City is nearly one hundred percent build out and embraces the vision of a sustainable urban village. Wilton Manors has acquired 35 acres of park and open space with much of it on the Middle River and provides a canoe trail, mangrove preserve and two nature trails. A major focus of Wilton Manors' project is water quality and conservation. Endangered species in or near the city include manatees, wood storks, Florida grasshopper sparrows and snail kites.
Description
Hesston has the peace and quiet of a small community with the convenience of a large city nearby. Historically, the dominant ecosystem was tall-grass prairie, but now Hesston has mostly mixed deciduous forest and the surrounding area is predominantly tilled cropland. Hesston's project was initiated by the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains, a 13-acre public garden celebrating native plants of Kansas. Endangered species include the eskimo curlew, whooping cranes, least terns and Topeka shiners. For more information, go to www.cs.hesston.edu/ppg.
Description
Belding is a quiet, rural town on the banks of the Flat River. Belding used to be known as the Silk City in the early 1900s and in 1925, the Belding Bros. & Co. mill produced 95% of the silk thread in the U.S. Belding and the surrounding area have a rich natural character, contributing to the small town appeal. There are relatively undisturbed areas throughout the city, the Flat River and its adjoining woodlands. The project team plans to improve habitat along selected stretches of the river. The non-profit Silk City Nature Association was created to carry out the work of the certification project.
Description
Lake Forest Park is a suburban community best characterized by its name. Nicknamed "the Park" by lifetime residents, Lake Forest Park incorporates an intricate network of streams and wetlands which flow into Lake Washington. The town has a lush green canopy including impressive stands of second growth conifers. Established trees are protected in the city ordinance code and healthy habitat is a community value. Threatened species include coho, chinook and sockeye salmon.
Description
Sweetwater in the Foothills resides on the rolling bajada of the Tucson Mountains, one of the most biologically diverse desert mountain ranges of its size in the world. Our community was designed to be harmonious with its unique natural upper Sonoran desert setting. Our riparian areas and arroyos (washes) provide drainage from the Tucson Mountains to the Santa Cruz River about two miles to the east. While these washes run infrequently, they provide critical habitat for desert flora and fauna and serve as corridors for native wildlife. The washes in the community are all considered “common areas” and have been retained in their natural state. They are well used by the resident birds, reptiles, rabbits, javelina, bobcats, coyote and other indigenous wildlife. Our landscape emphasizes compatibility with the existing upper Sonoran desert, sensitivity to its fragile ecosystems, and a commitment to low water usage vegetation. Existing natural features, such as stands of saguaros, unique vegetative groups, rock outcroppings, and washes have been preserved. The majority of introduced plant materials are indigenous, arid, or semi-arid plants ensuring minimal water usage and compatibility with the built and natural environments. We encourage residents to supply that most critical element in a desert setting, water, in their yards through simple bird baths or more elaborate water stations and water features. While some choose to use supplemental bird seed or hummingbird feeders, residents are also encouraged to plant additional desert vegetation that can provide nectar, fruits, and seeds for our unique and abundant Sonoran wildlife. Rock piles are suggested to provide homes for lizards and dense shrubs offer protection for the thousands of clutches of eggs laid by Gambel’s quail each year. By working with the natural environment that is so much a part of Sweetwater in the Foothills, residents of all kinds (humans and other species) can reap the rewards of the unique and stunningly beautiful environment of the Sonoran desert.
