• Study Group scientist creates map of vegetation, wildlife corridors and habitat hotspots
  • Instrumental in Land Development Code recognizing prairie dogs as “species of greatest conservation concern”
  • Mapped Flagstaff prairie dog colonies at request of city staff
  • Wildlife Reference Guide & Summary
  • Working for Prairie Watchable Wildlife Site
  • Commenting on Regional Transportation Plan

 

Pronghorn, Photo courtesy: Bryan Marshall An important part of our mission is to advocate for the preservation of wildlife.  Our Board members and our volunteers regularly attend meetings of the Flagstaff city Council, Coconino County Board of Supervisors, Flagstaff Open Spaces Commission, Citizens Advisory Committee for the revision of the Regional Plan, Focus Groups for the revision of the Land Development Code and Regional Plan, and Town Halls for the Regional Plan.  We use these venues to voice concerns, provide information and stay informed about issues affecting wildlife.

Dr. Larry Stevens, one of the scientists in Habitat Harmony’s Study Group for Wildlife and Open Spaces, is in the process of creating a map of vegetation, wildlife corridors, and habitat hotspots for use in city and county planning, especially in development situations. Black Bear, Photo courtesy: Dr. Erika Nowak

 

Prairie Dogs recently translocated in Flagstaff Habitat Harmony was instrumental in prairie dogs being recognized as a ”species of greatest concern” in the revision of Flagstaff’s Land Development Code.  The event that brought this to the attention of those revising the Land Development Code was Habitat Harmony’s participation in saving part of a prairie dog colony from destruction during the installation of a sewer and water line.  Habitat Harmony worked successfully with city staff and the developer who recommended that prairie dog colonies be included in the planning process early enough to implement preservation measures.

As city staff and the Consultant for the Land Development Code worked to include concern for prairie dogs as a “species of greatest conservation need”, they asked Habitat Harmony to provide a map of prairie dog colonies in the city.  With input from County Environmental Health, NAU professors and students, and long-time Habitat Harmony volunteers, the map was created.

 

Habitat Harmony recognized the need to coordinate the massive amount of information in the many plans for wildlife in the Flagstaff area.  Habitat Harmony partnered with AZ Game & Fish to employ NAU graduate student to write the Wildlife Reference Guide to coordinate the information on wildlife and habitat in nine area plans.  At the request of a Flagstaff City Council member, a Summary of the Wildlife Reference Guide was written to provide the key planning information in a more user-friendly format. Burrowing Owl, Photo courtesy: Dave Lamkin

 

Prairie Watchable Wildlife Site in Flagstaff Habitat Harmony has created a coalition of interested parties to work toward a
Prairie Watchable Wildlife Site at the site of an established prairie dog colony and all its attendant wildlife.  The site is on city land and there is a parking lot close by.

 

Habitat Harmony submitted comments on the draft Regional Transportation Plan which will be passed by the Flagstaff Metropolitan Planning Organization before the end of 2009.  Important issues addressed included:

  1. requiring that the Transportation Plan be subject to the new Regional Plan which will not be in effect until 2012
  2. objection to bypasses which would have a negative impact on wildlife corridors and wetlands
  3. support for a Conservation Lands System, Best Management Practices, and the need for a city staff biologist.
 Mule Deer, Photo courtesy: Nathan Renn

 

Back To:

Wildlife Reference Guide
 Prairie Watchable Wildlife Site
Study Group for Wildlife and Open Spaces

 

 
   
   
   

   





   
     
     
   
   
   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    
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