Q&A with Jacob Falke, Superintendent at Aspen Glen Club, Carbondale, Colo.
Q: When did you come to Aspen Glen and when did the course become a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary (CACS)?
A: I came to the club in 2002 and I was promoted to Superintendent in February of this year. Aspen Glen Club has been a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since April of 2001.
Q: What steps were taken in order to achieve CACS status?
A: There are six categories you need to be recognized in to become a Cooperative Sanctuary: Environmental Planning, Outreach & Education, Integrated Pest Management, Water Quality Management, Wildlife and Habitat Management, and Water Conservation. A detailed plan must be created for each category and a report is turned in to Audubon International. They review the plan and the steps that were taken and decide if you qualify. Once you have achieved the status of a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, you still have to be re-certified every two years through either a written report or a site visit.
Q: What are some of the more unique characteristics of Aspen Glen’s environmental stewardship strategy?
A: There are some unique aspects of this property that needed to be considered in our strategy. There is the nesting pair of Bald Eagles near #10 tee, the large elk herd that winters here, several miles of the Roaring Fork River passing through the property, and numerous wetland areas adjacent to the river. To ensure the eagles are not bothered, #10 remains closed in the spring until the eaglets have fledged. Greens and tees are fenced off in the fall, but the elk wander the rest of the golf course freely during the winter. The banks of the Roaring Fork River have been left untouched throughout the property, providing great wildlife habitat. The water in the river is tested above and below the property on an every other month bases to ensure we are not having an impact on water quality. The wetlands are also not disturbed. In areas were they are adjacent to the golf course, they are labeled as environmentally sensitive areas, and access is not allowed.
We also get involve in community outreach. We donate rounds of golf to benefit auctions for organizations such as Ducks Unlimited and the Mule Deer Foundation. Money raised at these auctions helps with habitat conservation in other areas in the state. We get the local Boy Scouts involved, too. They’ve been coming out every few years to build and install bird nest boxes.
Q: What are some of the challenges?
A: Much of the program consists of things we should be doing anyway. Integrated Pest Management, Water Conservation, and Water Quality Management all fall in line with our management goals for the golf course. However, maintaining the golf course with wildlife habitat in mind and getting involved in outreach and education have required some additional effort.
Q: What is the ultimate reward?
A: For me, the ultimate reward is getting to see all of the wildlife we share this property with and knowing we have had a positive impact on their lives. On any given day here you can see eagles, elk, mule deer, foxes, coyotes, ducks, trout, and numerous songbirds, just to name a few.
Q: How do members feel about your efforts?
A: The Members here are very supportive of our efforts and take pride in the fact that Aspen Glen is a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The one area that does cause some tension is the closing of #10 each spring for the nesting eagles. However, everyone has been very good about abiding by the closure. Many of the members also really enjoy watching the eagles, and there is a spotting scope set up in the clubhouse for this purpose. We also ask for their support in staying out of the environmental sensitive areas, and keeping carts out of the native grasses.
Q: How do these environmental efforts contribute to the greater goals of the club?
A: This program falls in line with many of Aspen Glen’s goals: being a good steward of the land we manage, providing an unbeatable member experience, and operating as a profitable business all come in to play. Managing our irrigation with water conservation in mind and reducing our chemical usage through an Integrated Pest Management Program all make good financial sense. Even though this is often not the easy way, it also leads to better playing conditions in the end. Just as important, our involvement in the Cooperative Sanctuary Program, and our commitment to environmental stewardship, helps us maintain a positive image in our local community.
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