Sustainability Innovation
Raptor Bay Golf Club is a 520-acre 18 hole championship golf club in Bonita Springs, FL designed by Raymond Floyd. The property is a mosaic of various habitats ranging from wetlands to pine flat woods to Estero Bay (a State Preserve). We developed a sustainable land plan that protected and enhanced water quality and quantity, and protected wildlife habitat. We also developed wildlife connections within the property and to surrounding lands that facilitated the safe movement of wildlife. Through our judicious land planning, turf occupies only 67 acres, wetland preserves are 109 acres, and upland preserves are 103 acres.
We identified and implemented Best Management Practices that prevent the movement of storm water, sediments, and chemicals (e.g., nutrients or pesticides) into environmentally sensitive areas such as the wetlands or from migrating downward into groundwater. One type of BMP we created were phytozones. Phytozones are a combination of treatment basins and wetlands in specific layouts that maximize removal of nutrients and pesticides from the pond and prevent downstream runoff pollution. A detailed management plan was developed for the golf course that incorporated environmental protection for every aspect of golf course management.
Ecological risk assessments were conducted to evaluate the pesticides proposed for use on the property. We selected materials that were safe for wildlife, safe for aquatic environments, and were as short lived as possible. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies were incorporated into every aspect of the plan and maintenance of the golf course. IPM strategies reduce the need for large scale applications of fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals, ensure that materials used to maintain the landscape are safe for the environment, and that materials are applied properly by trained and licensed contractors.