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Take Action to Protect our
Water Resources
By Joshua Conway, Education & Communications Manager, Audubon
International |
 "Each
day the population of southern Florida* grows by 193
people adding to a state population that is expected to
grow to more than 19 million by 2010**. The State of
Florida reports that the average Floridian uses 124
gallons of water a day, and that amount is steadily
increasing. This trend is alarming because channels
originally intended to prevent the flooding now divert
most of the water away from southern Florida.
Human activity has taken a toll on local, regional, and
global water resources. The world, the State of Florida,
and all of our communities are in crisis. It is time to
take action to protect our water resources. As a golf
professional, golfer, or community member we all have a
role to play. It is estimated that there are currently
16,000 golf courses in the United States, 1067 of which
are in the State of Florida. 79 of the golf courses in
Florida are designated as Certified Audubon Cooperative
Sanctuaries.
One such golf course that has taken steps to protect our
water resources, and Florida as a result, is Venice Golf
& Country Club, Venice, FL. By installing a new
irrigation system, water consumption has been reduced by
34 million gallons per year which is the equivalent of
the water used by about 752 people per year.
Tell your golf course today that you want them to join
the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program and then
support their efforts to become stewards of the
environment. For more information on the Audubon
Cooperative Sanctuary Program, please visit
www.auduboninternational.org.
*Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties
**Estimates taken from 2004 US Census Bureau" |
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