The Howard Hughes Corporation (THHC) has long recognized and honored its obligation as a steward of the land and works closely with environmental groups and leaders within the community. Over the years, the company's respect for the environment has been demonstrated in many ways.

PRESERVING AND PROTECTING RED ROCK CANYON
1988: THHC initiated a land exchange with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in which the company gave up more than 5,000 acres of sensitive land adjacent to Red Rock Canyon, including the area where the Red Rock Visitor Center now sits. In exchange, Hughes acquired 3,000 acres inside the valley more suitable for development. The exchange was facilitated by The Nature Conservancy and it created a crucial buffer zone that protects Red Rock Canyon and serves as a gateway into the National Conservation Area.

2001: THHC donated $30,000 to the BLM for new trail marker signage throughout Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area.

2002: THHC initiated a second exchange with the BLM in which more than 1,000 acres of sensitive high ground along Summerlin's western border was added to the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. This exchange resulted in the creation of a 1,200-acre Clark County trails park.

PROTECTING AN ENDANGERED SPECIES

Late 1980s: THHC played a leadership role in the establishment of a development fee to fund a Desert Tortoise habitat in Southern Nevada.

PROTECTING OUR AIR

Mid-1990s: THHC leaders served on a valley-wide development industry coalition that drafted the nation's toughest self-imposed rules regarding dust control and air quality.

PRESERVING THE LAND AND WILDLIFE

Design innovations, such as the preservation of natural drainage areas and arroyos that serve a dual use for parks and trails, are implemented throughout Summerlin. Natural landscape and topography are integrated into the community's design wherever possible.

Both the Tournament Players Club at Summerlin and Tournament Players Club at The Canyons are Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary golf courses. Created by Audubon International, this program helps golf courses throughout the country conserve water and preserve wildlife habitats.

SUMMERLIN - A MODEL OF CONSERVATION

Summerlin was one of the Las Vegas Valley's earliest adopters of desert landscaping and is often credited with helping improve the public image of low water use landscapes. Today in Summerlin, turf is only planted in recreational use areas, and often Bermuda varieties are used because they are dormant part of the year and require much less water.

2003: In conjunction with Southern Nevada Water Authority, Summerlin became Southern Nevada's first community to implement strict Water Smart conservation guidelines on a community-wide basis.

2005: More than 100,000 square feet of turf was removed from the community's first roundabout at Town Center Drive and Village Center Circle. Replacing grass with low water use landscaping has not only saved millions of gallons of water every year, it has created a more beautiful and interesting streetscape.

2006: THHC is working with both federal and state governments, as well as tribal leaders and the archaeological community, to develop a plan for protecting historic American Indian rock art etched into rock outcroppings in the Little Red Rocks area in the far western region of Summerlin. Hughes funded replicas of these historic designs to be etched into freeway overpasses along the 215 beltway in Summerlin to celebrate and help preserve Native American images from the region.

2007: Hughes Corporation announced Summerlin's greenest and most environmentally sensitive village to date: Reverence. A 300-acre village under development by Pulte Homes, Reverence is expected to set a new standard for green residential development in southern Nevada. The village is located west of the 215 beltway south of Cheyenne Avenue in Summerlin's northernmost region. Groundbreaking is scheduled for late 2007.