The Howard Hughes Corporation and the Environment
As the developer of more than 25,000 acres in the Las Vegas Valley, The Howard Hughes Corporation has long recognized its obligation to be a good steward of the land. The company’s dedication to preserving the environment has been demonstrated in many ways over the years – from preservation and protection of Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area – to facilitating strong public acceptance of desert landscaping throughout the Las Vegas Valley.
The Howard Hughes Corporation and Water Conservation
The Howard Hughes Corporation announced recently that it has implemented new water conservation guidelines for all new homes built in Summerlin. The guidelines, developed in conjunction with the Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), incorporate SNWA’s Water Smart principles.
Summerlin is the first and only master-planned community working with SNWA to implement water conservation guidelines on a community-wide level.
Under Summerlin’s water-smart guidelines, no turf is allowed in front yards and turf is restricted to 50 percent of the total area of rear and side yards. The surface area of swimming pools, spas and other water features is counted as turf area but is not to exceed 2,000 square feet. Trees and shrubs must be selected from an approved Summerlin plant list.
In front yards, bare soil is not permitted, and a minimum of 50 percent of the landscape area must be covered with plants at two year’s growth on the ground plane, and planting areas must be covered with a minimum two-inch layer of mulch material, such as rock or decomposed granite. This requirement is in place to continue to protect the community’s signature aesthetics, as well as the value of neighborhoods and homes.
As a result of these guidelines, Summerlin and The Howard Hughes Corporation have been publicly lauded by media and the Southern Nevada Water Authority for leadership regarding water conservation.
Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
Perhaps the single greatest act of The Howard Hughes Corporation’s environmental commitment was the 5,000-acre land exchange in 1987 with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) that helped establish and protect the gateway into Red Rock Canyon. A second exchange with the BLM in 2002 increased the size of the conservation area by more than 1,080 acres and was critically acclaimed by environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club and the Nature Conservancy.
The Howard Hughes Corporation was recently recognized by Friends of Red Rock Canyon for its ongoing support of the Conservation Area. These contributions include the underwriting of a $30,000 trail signage system throughout Red Rock Canyon; sponsorship of Tortoise Trot, a fundraising event that benefits Friends of Red Rock Canyon; and support of Red Rock Days, an annual work event sponsored by the BLM.
From Desert Tortoise to Dust Control
The Howard Hughes Corporation was also integral in establishing a development fee to fund a Desert Tortoise habitat that protected this endangered species once threatened by the valley’s extensive development. Company leaders also served on a valley-wide development coalition that drafted the nation’s toughest self-imposed rules in addressing particulate matter as it relates to air quality.
Summerlin - An Environmental Leader
Within the master-planned community of Summerlin, a number of design innovations, such as the preservation of natural drainage areas and arroyos that serve a dual use for parks and trails, as well as the incorporation of the natural landscape and topography, are strong examples of environmentally oriented principles that have made Summerlin the model community it is today.
Summerlin’s first golf course, Tournament Players Club at Summerlin, is recognized as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary golf course. Created by Audubon International, a leading environmental organization, the program provides comprehensive environmental education and conservation assistance to golf courses with particular focus in the areas of water conservation and wildlife habitats.
While Summerlin was one of the Las Vegas Valley’s earliest adopters of desert landscaping and is often credited with helping to significantly improve its public image and acceptance, today, the community is more committed than ever to low water-use landscapes. Future parks will incorporate significantly less turf; water features such as waterfalls will no longer be built; some common turf areas, such as the roundabouts, are being retrofitted with desert landscape; and going forward, turf will rarely be incorporated in common areas, other than limited park use.
