Stats for the State of Colorado Certified Signature Sanctuaries: 2

Haymaker Golf Course
Built by the City of Steamboat Springs, CO, Parks and Recreation Department, Haymaker Golf Course was constructed on 233 acres of degraded land formerly used as a hay production field.  Haymaker comprises a core golf course with no housing.  The course’s link-style design successfully integrates the pastoral background of  Rhoutt County’s ranching community with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.  One hundred twenty acres, or 50% of the site, are devoted to wildlife habitat, including 30 acres of undisturbed wetlands, 20 acres of created wetlands, 50 acres of undisturbed native grassland.  It also boasts 2400 linear feet of naturalized shoreline and a 360-degree view of the valley and mountains.  Grasslands were revegetated with a mixture of wheatgrass, mountain brome, wild rye, flax and Rocky Mountain penstemon, while disturbed wetland areas were revegetated with redtop, meadow foxtail, strawberry clover, and reed canarygrass, all providing habitat for wildlife species observed on site, such as beaver, badger, mink, fox, deer, and elk.  To learn more about this first Certified Audubon Signature Sanctuary in Colorado, go to www.haymakergolf.com.
 

The Heritage at Westmoor Golf Course
The Heritage at Westmoor is an 18-hole municipally-owned, public access golf course located in the northwest corner of the City of Westminster, Jefferson County, Colorado, built in an open prairie environment with dramatic views of both the Rocky Mountains and the Denver area.  The bulk of the 195-acre site is designated as open space, as outlined in the City of Westminster charter, or, since part of the acreage is leased from the airport authority, is land that cannot be developed due to FAA and airport restrictions.  In the past, nearby residents often used the Walnut Creek corridor as a waste dump.  Construction of this course has improved the corridor.  Trails constructed along Walnut Creek will link the open space trail system of the city and county.  The project has been successful in its effort to encourage migratory waterfowl to use  the 19,400 linear feet of shoreline  created along the creek corridor and the 4.85 acres of lakes on the course. A great blue heron rookery can be seen in trees near the creek as evidence of this success.  The golf course uses 90,000,000 gallons of effluent annually for irrigation, in lieu of tapping potable water sources in the community. A small prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) colony was preserved and remains active on the golf course.  The Heritage at Westmoor is the second municipal course to be certified in the state of Colorado.  Visit the City of Westminster and its certified golf course at www.golfwestminster.com