Dune Restoration at South City Beach Park

This past Saturday we completed dune restoration work funded by grants from Broward County. Over three weeks the City, its non-profit partner for this project Youth Environmental Alliance, and over 60 masked and socially-distanced volunteers planted more than 2,400 native dune species at South City Beach Park. Volunteers joined-in as residents, visiting beachgoers, Hallandale Beach’s Police Athletics League, Hollywood Boy Scout Troop 420, Florida International University students, various Girl Scout troops to get their hands dirty and restore the dune.
The intention of the project was to remove invasive species, re-plant with natives, and create a demonstration garden of two distinct zones (strand zone & maritime hammock zone) of dunes rarely seen in Broward County. We encourage you to visit South City Beach Park over the coming months to watch it grow and to keep an eye out for wildlife! You may see swallowtail butterflies, sphinx moths, and insect-eating birds who depend on the plants we selected for food, habitat, or breeding ground. Any bit of habitat helps!

Green Initiatives Annual Report (2020)

After two years of Sustainability Action Plan implementation, we’re happy to announce that 47% of its projects are now complete & 46% are in progress. As of September 2020, City Operations have reduced water consumption by 13% and electricity by 15%. Read the full Annual Report here.

Sea Turtle Nesting Season

Sea Turtle Nesting Season starts on March 1 in Broward County and lasts until October 31. During Sea Turtle Season there are many things you can to do support these endangered animals:

• Keep the beach dark. Shield or turn off any lights that can be seen onto the beach. This includes interior lights from buildings on the barrier island, as well as outdoor lighting.
• Keep beaches clear of marine debris or trash that a sea turtle could get entangled in or eat.
• Remember that plastic bags, plastic straws, balloons, and Styrofoam of any kind are not allowed on beaches within City limits.
• Fill in any holes and knock over sandcastles when you leave the beach. These can be obstacles for nesting turtles or emerging hatchlings.
• If you see a dead, sick, or injured sea turtle or hatchling(s) in Broward County call 954-328-0580.
• Realize that sea turtles are endangered species and that even touching them without the proper permits could be considered against the Endangered Species Act. When in doubt, call the Broward Sea Turtle Conservation Program at 954-328-0580.
• Be patient with us regarding sargassum seaweed management. Our equipment is not allowed on the beach until the daily sea turtle surveys have been completed during sea turtle nesting season. This may result in delays in us getting the beach tractor on the beach.
• Reduce your personal plastic consumption and waste. We use plastic for seconds, but it takes thousands of years for it to break down. 

Climate Action Plan

We still need your input on the City’s first Climate Action Plan! For instance- if we were to set-up a recycling drop-off station, where would you like it to be and when would you like it to be open? We have a dozen questions like this we would like your input on as we put the plan together between now and June. We won’t know what you’d like us to do until you tell us. Get involved today at www.haveyoursayhallandale.org.

Be a Sewer Steward

Nobody wants a sewage spill. Not in their backyard, not in their environment, not in their city. To help us avoid spills and interruptions in service, please make sure that you only ever flush pee, poop, and toilet paper down the toilet. Flushing other items, like “flushable wipes”, diapers, and even cotton balls cause clogs and break sewer lift station pumps which can result in a spill. For the full list of ways you can be a sewer steward visit www.cohb.org/sewer.

Low Nutrient Landscaping Webinar Recording

Did you miss the Low Nutrient Landscaping Webinar? Watch it at here! 

Get in touch or involved with Green Initiatives

If you're interested in learning more about Green Initiatives or if you want to get more involved, please reach out to our Green Initiatives Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood at ajoneswood@cohb.org and visit cohb.org/green.