Annual Report
PLANNING • PROTECTING • PRESERVING
OUR MISSION The Nantucket Land Council is dedicated to protecting Nantucket’s natural world and rural character by holding and enforcing conservation restrictions, commissioning scientific research, monitoring development proposals, engaging in legal proceedings to protect natural resources and educating the public on environmental issues.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Board of Directors and Staff.......................................................2 President’s Letter ...........................................................................5 Executive Director’s Letter .........................................................6 Treasurer’s Report..........................................................................9 Research ........................................................................................ 10 Education ...................................................................................... 15 Grants ............................................................................................. 17 Advocacy & Legal Action ......................................................... 19 Events ............................................................................................. 21 Land Protection Report ............................................................ 24 Conservation Restriction Grantors ....................................... 26 Bequests ........................................................................................ 27 Acknowledgements .................................................................. 28
NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL, INC. P.O. Box 502 , 6 Ash Lane Nantucket, MA 02554 508-228-2818 nlc@nantucketlandcouncil.org www.nantucketlandcouncil.org
Cover: Folger’s Marsh / Cary Hazlegrove, Nantucket Stock At left: Resource Ecologist Emily Molden at the NADP station (See page 14)
BOARD OF DIRECTORS & STAFF
OFFICERS Lucy S. Dillon President Paul A. Bennett Vice President William Willet Vice President
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HONORARY DIRECTORS William M. Crozier, Jr. Jean Haffenreffer SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR James W. Sutherland Ph.D.
Howard N. Blitman Treasurer
STAFF Cormac Collier Executive Director
Susan E. Robinson Clerk
Emily L. Molden Resource Ecologist
DIRECTORS Larry Breakiron William S. Brenizer Karen K. Clark Christine Donelan Josh Eldridge Robert Friedman Nancy Gillespie Nathanael Greene Mary Heller Charles A. Kilvert III Laurel Ried Langworthy Matthew B. Liddle Neil Marttila Peter McCausland Fritz McClure Eileen P. McGrath Paul P. Moran Carl H. Sjolund H. Brooks Smith Lars Soderberg David Troast Peter Watrous
Amy Zielinski Development Director BOOKKEEPING Shari Rose Santos LEGAL COUNSEL Peter R. Fenn, Esquire Fenn and Associates Newton, MA ACCOUNTANT Bollus Lynch LLP Certified Public Accountants and Consultants Worcester, MA
At right: Conservation Land at Bartlett’s Farm
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
DEAR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS, It has been another dynamic year at the Nantucket Land Council and I’d love to share with you some exciting projects that our supporters have given us the ability to work on. Our small but passionate staff has been collaborating with other island entities to perform important research, educate the public of all ages and advocate for a healthy Nantucket ecosystem. It is my hope this year’s Annual Report will spark a fire in you to help us continue our mission to protect the island that we all cherish. On Nantucket water continues to be our most valuable and most vulnerable natural resource. The Land Council is working diligently to educate the community on the ways we can improve our water quality. In July 2017 we held our first annual State of the Harbor Forum where we, in conjunction with the Town of Nantucket, presented challenges and solutions to the issue of water quality in our harbor. We also produced a public service announcement encouraging homeowners to speak with their landscapers about fertilizer use. In partnership with the Maria Mitchell Association and the Town of Nantucket we embarked on a pilot study of the invasion of green crabs in Nantucket Harbor. We will use the data from this study to plan a more elaborate study for the summer of 2018. We also collected water and fish tissue samples from many of the ponds to determine their health and chemical make-up. A new endeavor this year is a study of stormwater and its impact on the harbor. The NLC selected three outfalls to monitor and collect samples of runoff during storm events. As this study continues it will improve our understanding on how stormwater runoff affects the water quality of Nantucket Harbor. The Land Council believes that educating Nantucket’s youngest citizens is vital to creating environmentally conscious adults and bolsters our environmental protection activities on Nantucket. Throughout the year our Resource Ecologist Emily Molden visits classrooms to explain groundwater and the watershed, she educates students on coastal erosion, shares the magic of the vernal pools during field trips to Squam Swamp and leads monarch butterfly tagging trips to help explain the migration and life cycle of the butterfly. It is our goal to educate every citizen and visitor of Nantucket, regardless of age, about the natural beauty of our island and how they can preserve and protect it. From advocating to educating, protecting to planning, everything we do is made possible with the financial support of individuals that are as passionate about Nantucket’s natural world as we are. Sincerely,
Lucy Dillon President At left: Sunrise over Nantucket Harbor
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S REPORT
DEAR NLC SUPPORTERS, 2017 was a transformative year for the Nantucket Land Council and our efforts to focus on the health and vitality of our freshwater and saltwater ecosystems and to provide clear and concise solutions to protect and restore these natural areas. We increased our work by initiating a stormwater monitoring project, enhancing our collaboration with the Town on the freshwater ponds, and began an investigation into the invasive green crab population. Although our core objectives remain dedicated to overseeing environmental permitting and policy on the island, we have expanded and evolved our work to research and advocate for the protection of the water more than we have ever done in the past. Our first State of the Harbor Forum was an excellent opportunity to present a comprehensive summary of not only the impacts to the harbor but the steps being done to address the problem. We stand at a crossroads as individuals alone and as a community together. The actions we take today will dictate the ecological path of the harbor for decades to come. The challenges we face are plentiful, from widespread septic concerns to an overabundance of fertilizers and pesticides being spread on lawns and gardens. It's my honor to lead the Nantucket Land Council and direct your membership dollars to protecting and ensuring that our treasured natural resources are here for generations to come. I am excited to see an increased awareness around these environmental issues and significant momentum amongst not only the Town government but the community as a whole. Thank you,
Cormac Collier Executive Director
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At right: Tuckernuck Harbor in the fall
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FINANCIAL OVERVIEW
I am pleased to present the Land Council's Treasurer's Report for Fiscal Year 2017. Our balance sheet continues to remain strong as we effectively fulfill our mission to protect and promote Nantucket's natural resources. The successful management of our finances allowed the Board to draw from our Land Protection Fund to gift $100,000 to the Tuckernuck Land Trust to help purchase 26 acres of property from the Jackson family on Tuckernuck. The Board of the Land Council remains committed to ensuring sound fiscal oversight in order to build the financial resources necessary for effectively fulfilling our mission. As you see in the pie chart below we continue to focus a large percentage of our expenses on the things that matter most; the programs and projects that serve to protect the environment of Nantucket. Respectfully submitted,
Howard N. Blitman Treasurer
17.4%
MANAGEMENT & GENERAL
7%
FUNDRAISING EXPENSES
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75.6%
PROGRAM EXPENSES
TREASURER'S REPORT Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2017 OPERATIONS Restricted Contributions Unrestricted Contributions Endowment Draw Event Net Revenue Rental Income & Other Income Operations Income Programs and Projects Supporting Services Fundraising Operations Expenses NET SURPLUS (DEFICIT) FROM OPERATIONS SPECIAL PROJECTS FAA Land Purchase FAA Land Contributions Draw from Land Protection Fund Wauwinet Land Purchase Draw from Land Protection Fund Tuckernuck Jackson Property Draw from Land Protection Fund CR Defense Legal Fees Draw from CR Defense Fund ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Unconditional Promises to Give Prepaid Expenses Note Receivable Including Accrued Interest Endowment Assets Fixed Assets Land and Conservation Restrictions Total Assets LIABILITIES Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses Total Liabilities NET ASSETS Unrestricted Temporarily Restricted TOTAL NET ASSETS TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
FY 2017
FY 2016
$42,500 264,578 276,000 63,348 30,872 $677,298 509,496 143,804 57,571 $710,871
$123,832 226,101 269,000 79,216 33,866 $732,015 538,426 150,290 62,158 $750,874
($33,573)
($28,393)
0 0 0 0 0 100,000 -100,000 0 0
$783,255 -437,055 -346,200 100,000 -100,000
$78,772 0 8,964 496,742 10,423,593 709,428 22,606,821 $34,324,320
$69,929 283,178 14,818 511,742 9,592,890 723,339 22,606,821 $33,802,717
$20,978 $20,978
$15,171 $15,171
$34,268,174 35,168 $34,303,342 $34,324,320
$33,709,194 78,352 $33,787,546 $33,802,717
174,564 -174,564
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RESEARCH
GREEN CRAB RESEARCH The European green crab, Carcinus maenus, is native to Europe and northern Africa, but is now found on the shores of every continent except Antarctica. First arriving to North America in the 1800’s, most likely from the holds of ships, their populations have exploded in recent years. It is speculated that this could be a result of warming waters, and now, as is often the case with invasive species, they are wreaking havoc. Green crabs feed on bivalves and other crustaceans and have been wiping out clam and mussel beds in coastal Massachusetts and Maine. Unfortunately there is still no viable market for them, but other communities and regional experts have begun to look for one. The state even experimented with a green crab bounty back in 2014 until funding ran out. While foraging for food or burrowing into the sediment the crabs can also cause substantial damage to eelgrass beds. Research from the northeastern US and Canada has revealed drastic reductions in the density of eelgrass beds where green crab populations have exploded. This clearly gives Nantucket cause for concern. NLC board member Carl Sjolund has been trapping green crabs in Madaket Harbor for a number of years and has been astounded at their numbers. The NLC teamed up with the Maria Mitchell Association and the Town of Nantucket Natural Resources Department to prioritize an investigation of what’s really going on with green crabs in our coastal waters. A pilot study is underway using mark-recapture techniques that will ultimately help us better understand the size of the population. 10 crab pots were deployed in Nantucket Harbor for three separate week-long sampling periods. The data collected from this sampling effort, and the experience gained working with the crabs this summer will help guide planning efforts for a larger scale population study in 2018. STORMWATER SAMPLING As the NLC continues to work with the Town on land-use practices that are impacting Nantucket Harbor’s water quality, a new chapter of research has begun. Working closely with the Town Department of Public Works, the NLC sampled several outfall pipes that discharge stormwater, and groundwater from some areas, directly into the harbor. This year sampling was targeted at the Children’s Beach outfall, the Easy Street outfalls, and the outfall that discharges water from the Town parking lot and a portion of Washington Street at the base of the Town Pier. It is a logistically challenging process to coordinate the sampling with the severe rainfall events which flush our streets and impervious surfaces into the stormwater system, but the data from this study will lead to a better understanding of how the Town can address this source of pollution into our Harbor.
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Top right: Green crab study in Nantucket Harbor Bottom right: Resource Ecologist Emily Molden sampling stormwater run off
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RESEARCH
FISH SAMPLING The Nantucket Land Council partnered with the MA Department of Environmental Protection in 2017 to sample fish from island ponds for mercury testing. The MA DEP will analyze fish tissue samples from Long Pond and Washing Pond, including white perch, yellow perch, catfish and American eels. Mercury primarily enters water systems through atmospheric deposition from sources such as coal plants, mining and other industrial activities. Once mercury is deposited in the environment it can take a very long time to diminish. Mercury can bioaccumulate in living tissues, such as fish, which can make some species dangerous to eat. Based on sampling performed by the DEP back in 1995 and 2000 there are currently mercury advisories for fish consumption from Miacomet, Gibbs and Tom Nevers Pond. We will release the results of the latest analysis once we receive them. Thank you Jenn Decker and Jim Sjolund for your assistance at catching all of our samples! MAPPING PHRAGMITES Last November, the NLC teamed up with the Nantucket Pond Coalition (NPC) to financially support a project bringing the latest technology in ecological surveying to the island. Ron Fortunato, a NASA Space Ambassador and President of Trillium Learning, spent three days on Nantucket with his aircraft, a DJI Inspire 1. Working with Resource Ecologist Emily Molden and an island partner, Seth Engelbourg of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Ron used the drone to fly the shoreline of Long Pond, Hummock Pond and Miacomet Pond and capture very high resolution images of the adjacent vegetation community. The purpose of these flights was to map the invasive aquatic plant Phragmites australis (common reed) which has been taking over the pond edges for the last several decades. Phragmites creates a monoculture of tall reeds with extremely dense root mats making it impossible for much else to survive within its footprint. The land surrounding the ponds is owned by a combination of island conservation groups and individual island residents. The NLC and NPC will use the images from this project to map existing Phragmites stands for use in future management and monitoring of the species. Emily also teamed up with Seth Engelbourg to bring this mapping technology to the classroom. While on island Ron, Emily and Seth visited the AP Environmental Science students at the Nantucket High School, the 7th and 8th grade classes at the Nantucket New School, and the 5th and 6th graders at the Nantucket Lighthouse School where they made presentations about the problems Phragmites poses to the ponds and on the drone technology used to assist island scientists in efforts to come up with solutions to those problems. Once the data set is processed it will become available to the public via the Town’s GIS website.
Top left: Jenn Decker fish sampling in Washing Pond Bottom left: Callum Backstrom sampling sediment in Long Pond
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RESEARCH
USGS WELLS For over 30 years the Nantucket Land Council has monitored 10 groundwater wells for the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Emily Molden, Resource Ecologist, collects groundwater level measurements at each of these wells on a monthly basis. We provide the data to the USGS where it is published in the National Water Information System (NWIS). Groundwater levels on Nantucket continue to fluctuate throughout the year based on precipitation rates and seasonal use. For access to this data you can visit the USGS NWIS at the following website: waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis GRANTS The Great Harbor Yacht Club Marine Grant program entered its seventh year with the issuance of the following grants; $20,678 to the Town of Nantucket for water quality monitoring equipment and $3,000 to Valerie Hall for further investigation into the reproductive biology of the bay scallop. A team of individuals from the Land Council, The Shellfish Association, The Maria Mitchell Association and the Nantucket Shellfish and Harbor Advisory Committee review and discuss the merits of each application. Over the years the grant program has been a tremendous source of money for shellfish propagation, marine ecosystem research, and water quality analysis. NADP STATION The Nantucket Land Council has collected weekly precipitation samples at our National Atmospheric Deposition Station (NADP) for the National Trends Network (NTN) for the past 4 years. The station is located on the Linda Loring Nature Foundation property on Eel Point Road. The samples are shipped to a central analytical laboratory at the University of Illinois where samples from over 250 sites across the country are analyzed for chemical composition including calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bromine, nitrate, sulfate, phosphate and ammonium. The data will provide us with greater clarity on how these compounds and elements are cycled locally, but also contributes data from NADP’s easternmost site locale in the nation-wide study that began almost 40 years ago. You can learn more by visiting the website: nadp.sws.uiuc.edu/
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EDUCATION
One of the NLC’s primary missions is to serve as an advocate for the island’s natural world. One of the most important building blocks for a strong advocate is education and outreach. The NLC has always strived to not only be a voice for the island’s natural resources, but to provide the island community with the educational tools to use their own voice as well. The Land Council believes that education is truly fundamental to our role as an environmental leader on Nantucket. STATE OF THE HARBOR FORUM The Nantucket Land Council was proud to present the first annual State of the Harbor Forum in July. This event was free and open to the public with over 150 individuals in attendance. Speakers presented on water quality, eelgrass and shellfish populations, along with the strategies that are being employed by the Town of Nantucket and our non-profit community to reduce pollution from septic systems, fertilizer, storm water, and boat use. This event was filmed and archived online along with the presentations and can be found at: www.nantucketlandcouncil.org/education/ state-of-the-harbor/. FERTILIZER EDUCATION On a perfect spring morning in early June we set up a camera crew on a beautiful property right on the harbor to film our summer fertilizer PSA. We worked with filmmaker John Stanton (The Last Bay Scallop? and Wood Sails Dreams) and we were lucky to have Russ Morash (Creator of This Old House and The Victory Garden ) as our spokesperson and Steve Collette of Ernst Land Design as our expert. This spot was featured on the big screen before movies at the Dreamland all summer long. It is vital for landowners to speak with their landscapers to ensure that their properties are being maintained consistent with the Town law on fertilizer use and the Best Management Practices for Nantucket. FERTILIZER SPREADER CALIBRATION WORKSHOP The Land Council co-sponsored a Fertilizer Spreader Calibration Workshop on April 20th, 2017 at the Delta Fields, providing landscape professionals with hands-on fertilizer application training in accordance with the Nantucket Fertilizer Application Regulations. Additionally, participants learned how to correctly take a soil test, identify which fertilizers are compliant with Town regulations and network with their fellow professionals. These workshops are offered annually as part of our educational outreach work to best prepare landscapers for the upcoming summer season.
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EDUCATION
VERNAL POOL TRIPS Throughout the spring, Resource Ecologist Emily Molden took numerous trips to Squam Swamp to explore the magic of vernal pools. Vernal pools are temporary bodies of water that form in the spring and are home to a collection of wildlife. She hosted walks that were open to the public and she treated each of the 5th grade classes at Nantucket Elementary School to this special field trip. After one of the tours Emily overheard a ten year old girl say to her mother, "Mom, now I know what I want for my birthday...waders and a net"! It is sentiments like this that let us know we are helping to influence the future generations in a positive way. MONARCH TAGGING Participants of all ages met Resource Ecologist Emily Molden in the Smooth Hummocks area of Cisco to locate migrating monarchs, tag and release them as they head south for the winter. The tags are tiny round stickers that adhere to the strongest part of the butterfly’s wing. Tagging monarch butterflies helps us learn how climate trends and human encroachment affect their extraordinary migration patterns while contributing to conservation and research efforts for a creature that faces many environmental challenges. In addition to public tagging sessions Ms. Molden also hosts tagging field trips for local schools to educate students about monarch migration and their life cycle and hopefully experience the treat of capturing and tagging a few. 16
Above: Emily Molden on a vernal pool field trip
EDUCATION
GRANTS In the fall of 2016 and the spring of 2017, NLC’s Education Committee approved over $12,200 of funding to local schools for science and environmental projects through the Karen K. Borchert Educational Grants Program. The awardees were as follows: Nantucket Elementary School—Kara Carlson and the 5th grade classes purchased Engineering is Elementary environmental classroom kits; Nantucket High School— Patrick Gregorich purchased spectrophotometers for his 9th–12th grade chemistry students; Cyrus Peirce Middle School—Kathryn Norton and Amanda Bardsley purchased water quality testing kits for their 6th and 8th grade classes; Nantucket New School—Joni Amaral’s 3rd grade class received funding to purchase materials for composting with earthworms, Rachael Sullivan’s 5th grade class received funding towards an off-island trip to Nature’s Classroom and Megan Solimeo’s kindergarten class purchased materials to study the life cycle of a chicken; Nantucket Lighthouse School—Michael Pasch received funding for engineering and simple machine kits for 1st–4th grade students, Calin Duke purchased digital cameras for 5th and 6th grade botany and oceanography studies, Alicia Keller received funding for materials to support a bird study, and Rain Harbison received funding for additional equipment and supplies to supplement the educational garden. In the spring of 2017, the NLC also supported three student groups as part of the Nantucket High School STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) Fair. The three projects investigated ocean acidification, circadian rhythm and the use of drones in aerial mapping. GROUNDWATER PROGRAMS Nantucket Lighthouse School 5th and 6th graders and Nantucket Public School’s 6th and 8th graders participated in classroom and outdoor lessons focusing on watersheds. A watershed is defined as a basin-like landform defined by highpoints and ridgelines that descend into lower elevations and stream valleys. All watersheds surround a body of water such as a river, pond or harbor to which they contribute runoff and groundwater flow. Students learned the importance of responsible land use practices and how our water quality can be affected by fertilizer use and septic systems. In addition to teaching students about down gradient water resources, Ms. Molden assisted teachers with a larger lesson on local hydraulic and geologic history. To wrap up the groundwater program, some classes took field trips to visit a pond or harbor and to investigate the sole source aquifer.
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EDUCATION
THIRD GRADE ENRICHMENT Ms. Molden once again worked, in collaboration with Sarah Bois of the Linda Loring Nature Foundation (LLNF), to teach Nantucket Elementary School 3rd graders who enjoyed an Enrichment Cluster focusing on osprey tracking. Students were able to investigate osprey biology and migration patterns through Squam Lakes Natural Science Center curriculum to incorporate a variety of scientific disciplines. NORTH AMERICAN LAKE MANAGEMENT SOCIETY CONFERENCE Ms. Molden attended this week-long international symposium from November 1st-4th in Banff, Canada. She attended sessions on Eutrophication, Lake Restoration, Cyanobacteria and Cyanotoxins, and Climate Change Impacts. She also took an intensive workshop on algae identification, ecology and control. The information learned at this conference will assist the NLC with planning for future pond research and management. MONARCH MIGRATION Throughout the spring and summer Resource Ecologist Emily Molden gave multiple monarch butterfly presentations around the island. She shared her knowledge of their lifecycle and experiences from her January 2017 visit to the monarch overwintering sites in Mexico. She explained the details of their long migration every year, and spoke on their current population status, what the future holds for their survival, and what we can all do to help.
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ADVOCACY & LEGAL ACTION
In order to ensure that existing environmental regulations are upheld and that local governing bodies are well-informed, the NLC is constantly monitoring growth and development on Nantucket. The Land Council reviewed the 2017 Town Meeting Warrant and created a recommendation sheet on several of the articles which was inserted in the Inquirer & Mirror newspaper and available for hand out at the meeting. Zoning changes continue to be brought before Town Meeting and 2017 was no different. The Land Council continues to voice concerns about the now constant push to change zoning and create more growth and density. We also continue to follow development proposals by attending meetings of the Conservation Commission and the Planning Board and we speak out if projects may negatively impact groundwater or natural resources such as wetlands or rare species. When necessary, by collaborating with abutters and aggrieved parties, we defend Nantucket’s natural resources through legal action. BOY SCOUT UPDATE The fight for control over the pristine 100 acres near the State Forest is not over yet. The Nantucket Land Council, the Nantucket Civic League, and the local Camp Richards Association have joined forces to fight the Cape and Islands Boy Scout Council in their attempts to sell a large portion of the camp to an off-island developer. In the Fall of 2015 a legal judgment was issued that ensured the validity of the deed restriction stating that the Camp could only be used for Boy Scout purposes or it would revert back to the Nantucket Civic League who originally gifted the property to the local scouts several decades ago. However, the Judge also declared that the Cape and Islands Council is the sole trustee of the property. The NLC funded an appeal of this portion of the decision and is awaiting word from the court in the next few months.
ADVOCACY & LEGAL ACTION
NLC REVIEWING LANDFILL OPERATIONS Over the past winter and spring, the Land Council began taking a closer look at the Landfill operation. Echoing concerns brought forth by the Nantucket Board of Health, Executive Director Cormac Collier requested a thorough review and performance audit to determine if the Landfill is operating in accordance with state and local regulations and the Administrative Consent Order (ACO) that the MA Department of Environmental Protection and the Town previously agreed to a couple of decades ago. As part of the ACO, the Town and its Landfill contractor, Waste Options, are required to monitor the groundwater, retention ponds and gas emissions throughout the site. Results of specific wells continue to show concentrations of Arsenic and nitrogen well beyond EPA primary thresholds as well as several metals and 1,4-Dioxane that are above secondary thresholds. Although these thresholds are formulated only for acceptable drinking water standards, it is still troubling to see these high concentrations as they may pose an environmental and health hazard to the abutting long pond ecosystem. In the coming year the Land Council hopes to work with the Town to develop a nutrient management plan that will identify ways to improve stormwater runoff on-site. 20
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EVENTS
DONOR THANK YOU Board member Jean Haffenreffer hosted an early summer cocktail party at her home on the Madaket Harbor to thank our generous donors and discuss the current state of water quality on Nantucket. Delicious passed hors d'oeuvres were provided by Susan Warner of Nantucket Clambake. This casual evening gave the staff and board members an opportunity to talk directly with our members on their main concerns and hopes for the future of environmental advocacy. The location right on the harbor was the perfect spot to share our education, advocacy and research plans for the upcoming season. Some wonderful conversations came out of this event and it was a great way to kick off the summer season. DOWNTOWN TREE TOURS The NLC has hosted annual Downtown Tree tours for the past six years and we continue to draw an engaging crowd. As participants strolled they learned about the beautiful and historic species of trees that line our downtown streets. With the combined knowledge of biology and island history from both Cormac Collier and Emily Molden, interesting conversations generated surprising questions. This informative tour helps residents and visitors foster an appreciation for the variety of trees that have been preserved over the decades, and for the importance of these specimens for shade and ecosystem health in downtown Nantucket. 2016 ANNUAL MEETING The Land Council hosted the 42nd Annual Meeting at the Nantucket Yacht Club on August 2nd. Mr. Charles Costello of the MA Department of Environmental Protection was our featured speaker. Mr. Costello recently completed a multi-year study of eelgrass, commissioned in part by the Nantucket Land Council and the Great Harbor Yacht Club. Mr. Costello has been using aerial photos and digital imagery to map all of the wetlands in Massachusetts and conducted three eelgrass mapping surveys of the entire Massachusetts coastline. He presented the results of his eelgrass mapping survey of Nantucket and highlighted areas that have declined over the years. This study is of significant importance to Nantucket which is the last commercially viable fishery for bay scallops. Although we have seen a decline in healthy eelgrass beds due to the over fertilizing of lawns and out of date septic systems, there is still time to reverse this trend. The Nantucket Land Council and the Town of Nantucket are both working to educate residents and professionals on Best Management Practices for fertilizing as well as enforcing regulations. A brief reception followed Mr. Costello’s presentation. 21
EVENTS
END OF SEASON DINNER The End of Season Dinner is an annual celebration of the summer season and philanthropy on the island. Co-Chairs Karen K. Clark and Mary-Randolph Ballinger hosted a memorable evening at Straight Wharf restaurant on Sept. 4th. Owner and Executive Chef Gabriel Frasca presented a deliciously curated menu just for this event and Sommelier Ieva Aldins provided excellent wine pairings. Cocktail hour was held in the bar/grill and featured a live jazz duo including Peter Watrous, one of our Board of Directors, and a variety of passed hors d’oeuvres. Dinner began with a watermelon gazpacho and offered guests a selection of entrees including locally sourced fish, a delicious steak plate or the infamous SWR clambake. The meal was finished off with a decadent devil’s food cake with salted peanut butter ice cream and a stone fruit and berry galette. Guests who attended this dinner were supporting the Nantucket Land Council’s ongoing work to protect, defend and restore our fragile environment. It was the perfect send off to another beautiful season on Nantucket, filled with friendship and conversation, great food and fine wines.
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At right: End of Season dinner.
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LAND PROTECTION REPORT
CONSERVATION RESTRICTIONS One of the primary land preservation tools used by the NLC in cooperation with conservation-minded Nantucket landowners is the Conservation Restriction (CR). A CR is a recorded legal agreement between an owner of land with conservation values and a nonprofit group, such as the Land Council, or governmental entity that always will protect that land. Each CR reflects a unique parcel of land and its landowner’s wishes for the future use of the land. The Land Council recorded a conservation restriction on 18 acres of land off of Eel Point Road. This conservation deal was part of a land transfer from the Nature Conservancy to the Linda Loring Nature Foundation. The Nantucket Land Council now holds 89 total conservation restrictions, covering over 1400 acres. The Land Council continues to work with landowners who may be interested in taking advantage of the federal tax benefits for gifting open space land. The core elements of the benefits include: • The deduction an individual can take for donating a conservation restriction is 50% of his or her adjusted gross annual income; • The carry-forward period for a donor to take a tax deduction for a conservation restriction is 15 years; • Qualifying farmers may deduct up to 100% of their income. For more information on preserving your land with a CR please contact the office at your convenience. TUCKERNUCK LAND PROTECTION The Nantucket Land Council provided the Tuckernuck Land Trust with a $100,000 gift to help secure a 26 acre property on the western side of the island. The property was purchased by the Trust before the end of 2016 and ensured that this vibrant area of sandplain grasses, coastal heathlands and mixed shrubland will remain wild forever.
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At right: Conservation Land at Bartlett’s Farm
CONSERVATION RESTRICTION GRANTORS
From 1968 until 2017, the following generous individuals protected their lands for public benefit by granting conservation restrictions to the Nantucket Land Council: Edith Andrews Ginger Andrews Clifford and Dorothy Barbour Bartlett Family Trust, Henry Bartlett, Trustee Diana Bartlett Sclafani Nathaniel Bartlett W. Scott Bartlett, Jr. W. Scott Bartlett III Philip D. Bartlett, as Trustee Walter and Susan Birge Karen and Carl Borchert Borchert Nominee Trust Natalie Brewer Diana Brown Miles G. Carlisle Christopher Clark A. Byron Coffin, Jr. Edward and Sarah Crane J. Tristram Coffin Dammin Donald Denninger Michael Egan, Trustee Catherine Felleman Finback Homeowners Association Trust Eleanor Fisher Thompson Anne Fisher Falby Thomas Fisher, Jr. Thomas Fisher III M. Pat Gardner William P. Graves II and Lydia B. Graves II (Reed Pond Nominee Trust) Marie Francis Guildehaus and Brad Henke Great Point Nominee Trust 26
Erwin Greenberg Priscilla Grace Mary Hardy Priscilla Harper Edward and Jacqueline Harris Jane Fay Harter John Taylor Hopkins Edgar B. Howard III William T. Howard Hummock Pond of Nantucket Homeowners Association Laura Hussey Karen Jackman Richard Jackman Robert and Cynthia Jay Alexander D. Jay Alida Jay Boye Anne O. Jay Daniel G. Jay David A. Jay Paul M. Jay Stephen W. Jay Joanne Ledbetter Christopher and Virginia Lewis Linda Loring The Linda Loring Nature Foundation, Inc. Frank and Clara Low Gary and Susan McCarthy Margaret McElderry Eileen McGrath Debora and James McIntosh Leon and Betty Miller Mira Mar Nominee Trust
MSPCA Edward A. Murphy Nanahumacke Preserve Homeowners Association The Nature Conservancy Offshore Animal Hospital Irene Parent Morris Phinney Jr. Joan Pratel William Seidman Nancy Sevrens Sheep Common Realty Trust Catherine Snow Crocker Snow Deborah and Peter Solbert Ruth Phinney Stevens Susan Coffin Dammin Stone John M. Taylor, Jr. Estate of Susan Timken David C. Todd Town of Nantucket Tuckernuck Land Trust, Inc. Elizabeth Van Duyne Vai Vai LLC Diana Walker John D. Walker, Jr. Joseph Walker Washing Pond Trust Christine, Breckenridge, Blair and Christopher Wilcox John Wittman Wright’s Landing Nominee Trust
BEQUESTS
Bequests are the most common type of planned gifts. They are easy to arrange and the bequest remains in your control. You can change your mind at any time, and you can structure the bequest to leave an amount, a specific item, or a percentage of your estate to the Nantucket Land Council. Your bequest is entitled to an estate tax charitable deduction for the gift’s full value. By including the non-profit Nantucket Land Council in your estate plans, you are leaving a legacy and making a statement about what has been important in your life. Your gift will provide a source of continuing support for environmental action on Nantucket. Over the past 43 years, the NLC has been able to conserve open space, protect water quality and meet Nantucket’s environmental challenges head-on. By providing a bequest and joining our Legacy Circle, you can ensure that these long term investments in our island will be here for future tu e generations ge e at o s to eenjoy. joy. There are a variety of ways you can make a gift with ith sample language for different forms of bequests including gifts of Cash, Stock, devise of real property erty and residuary bequests. We encourage you to consult your attorney and financial advisors to make certain that your gift fits well into your overall rall circumstances and planning. If you notify us of your plans, we would be honored to include you in our Legacy Circle, either as a named or anonymous mous member. If you have already included the Nantucket cket Land Council in your estate plans, thank you! Please let us know, so that you can enjoy the benefi efits of being a member of our Legacy Circle, including g invitations to special events.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank the following individuals, businesses and foundations who donated to the Nantucket Land Council during our 2017 Fiscal Year. Please note that FY17 runs from July 1, 2016 to June 30, 2017. Any gifts received after June 30th will be listed in our 2018 Annual Report. We are grateful for gifts made in memory of the following: Karen Borchert Gifts from Randi Allfather and Carl K. Borchert Kenneth and Karyn Lindsay Susan E. Robinson Richard Illingworth Gift from Frederick and Jean Carleton Linda Zarella Gift from Henry Rainaud We are grateful for gifts made in honor of the following: Howard and Maureen Blitman Gift from Eli and Peggy Kauffman Tim Bunner and Jonathan Vipond Gift from Robert and Linda Heath Paul and Jean Moran Gift from James and Anne Jennings Andrew Perlman Gift from Robert and Lesley Perlman The NLC would like to send a huge thank you to Mike Campbell, owner of The Haul Over, for coordinating with Patagonia to get 200 sun shirts donated and screen printed with the NLC logo.
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Top right: Emily Molden and Cormac Collier on Hummock Pond Bottom right: Flowering Butterflyweed
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CHAMPIONS—$5,000 AND ABOVE Anonymous Archibald Family Foundation Howard and Maureen Blitman Larry Breakiron William and Margaret Brenizer James and Nancy Buckman Ms. Lucy S. Dillon Elizabeth Miller and James Dinan Mr. and Mrs. Joseph M. Field Marcia Weber and James Flaws Robert and Barbara Friedman Great Harbor Yacht Club Heinz Family Foundation Carl Mueller Nancy Sayles Day Foundation Mr. John D. Nichols Rice Family Foundation / Mr. and Mrs. James Bowditch David and Barbara Roby Meredyth and H. Brooks Smith BENEFACTORS—$1,000-$4,999
Anonymous Mrs. Wilhemina Marvel Austin Ms. Susan Baer Mrs. Mary-Randolph Ballinger Walter and Susan Birge William and Jacqueline Bishop Robi and Ruth Blumenstein Mrs. Joan R. Bolling William C. and Laura T. Buck Toby Sackton and Marcia Butman Eugene and Meredith Clapp III Karen K. Clark Ms. Amanda B. Cross William M. and Prudence S. Crozier Nicky and Vince D'Agostino Mr. Marvin Davidson Brian F. & Linda Davis Christine and Joseph P. Donelan II Matt and Meg Dwyer Catherine S. Felleman Mary Fontaine 30
Mrs. Frederick W. Haffenreffer Charles and Kaaren Hale Mrs. Lucile Hays John P. and June D. Heffernan Mrs. Mary Heller John and Laura Hussey Mrs. Elizabeth Jacobsen Mr. and Mrs. James Jennings Joelson Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Charles Johnson Mr. and Mrs. J. Seward Johnson Jr. Evan and Cindy Jones Nancy Gillespie and Ulrich Lächler Paul and Susan Lancaster Laurel and Ben Langworthy Kenneth and Grace Logan Ian and Carolyn MacKenzie Frederick and Margaret McClure Rina and Don McCouch Linda and Ben McGrath James and Deborah McIntosh Martin and Toni B. McKerrow Abigail Johnson & Christopher McKown F. William and Katherine H. McNabb Richard and Ronay Menschel William and Katherine Miller IV Ginger and Marlin Miller Jr. Paul and Jean Moran Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Newhouse Jr. Lynn and Nick Nicholas Maureen Orth Ellen Flamm and Richard Peterson Bill Porter Robert and Nancy Puff Mr. Henri Rainaud Jay and Gretchen Riley Mr. and Mrs. Reid and Abby Ruttenberg James and Lenore Schilling Ms. Alison Schwartz David Swope Linda R. Taylor The Cox Foundation Mr. and Mrs. Charles Townsend
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Mr. and Mrs. David Troast Richard G. and Dorothy H. Verney Peter Watrous William and Denise Welsh Finn and Kim Wentworth Clark Whitcomb Robert and Linda Williams PATRONS—$500-$999
Anonymous Richard R. Congdon William and Sara Congdon John and Margaret Falk W. B. Ferris Wendy G. and Benjamin Griswold IV Peter and Ann Holmes Maureen Phillips and Dr. Douglas Horst Michael and Patricia Kepenash Carol Langer Margaret and Terry Lenzner Dr. and Mrs. Byron Lingeman Sally and Phil Lochner Linda Loring Harry T. and Susan D. Rein Mrs. William Sevrens L. Dennis and Susan R. Shapiro Reverend C. William and Linda Steelman Sidney G. Dillon Charles and Emmy Kilvert Charles H. Sawyer Robert C. Stevens STEWARDS—$100-$499 Michael and Marcia Adler Thomas J. and Patricia S. Anathan Anonymous Mr. John L. G. Archibald Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Armstrong Mr. and Mrs. John W. Atherton Jr. Janet and Samuel Bailey Jr. Dr. and Mrs. Andrew Bazos Anthony and Anne Patricia Beale John and Judy Belash Paul and Georgina Bennett
Martha and Ira Berlin E. Garrett Bewkes Jr. Ken and Cindy Blackshaw Mr. Jack W. Blaylock Randi Allfather and Carl K. Borchert Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Brasfield Craig E. Breakiron Diana Brown Deborah J. Bryan Barbara Bund Robert and Gail Butler Robert and Eileen Butler George and Kathleen Butterworth Dort A. and Elizabeth Cameron III Simon and Jane Canning Dennice and Raymond Carey Carl and Nancy Gewirz Fund George and Susan Carneal John B. Carroll Frances Langton and Timothy Cashman III Daniel Catlin, Jr. Mr. Howard B. Chadwick Jr. Sally and Richard Charpie Sharon and Herb Clark III Mr. and Mrs. Donald Comstock James and Eva Conniff Frederick and Christina Cowles Katherine and Kell Damsgaard George P. Davis Dane DeCarlo and Katherine Hemingway Mark J. and Patricia P. Deck Douglas and Sandra Denninger Penny Dey Dennis and Amy-Ann Doran Mary V. Drew Charles and Rita Dunleavy James Sulzer and Barbara Elder Barbara M. Erskine Matt and Sheila Fee Josef E. and Karen Fischer Joseph and Cynthia Freeman Mr. and Mrs. Donald A. Freytag Robert and Kim Frisbie John J. Galiher 31
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS John and Cynthia Gallagher Kathy Gallaher Art Gasbarro Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gemis-Duffy Henry and Nancy Gewirtz Steve Gibson Margaret Gilfoy Mr. Richard Gioiosa Doris Glazer Dr. Elliot and Jeri Goldberg Mrs. Toby Greenberg Nathanael W. and Sarah Greene Lauren and Paul Gudonis Mr. and Mrs. Graham Gund Thomas B. and Ellen Hallock Hakes Kamran and Ellen Hakim Mike and Ellen Harde Robert and Linda Heath D. Michael and Penny C. Herlihy Eugene and Janet Hilzenrath Christopher F. and Linda Holland Herbert and Shirley Homes Lois and John Horgan Marie T. and Jerry R. Horton William and Evelyn Howard John G. Johnson John and Dorine Karnash Eli and Peggy Kaufman Lawrence and Joan Keith Sanford Kendall Mr. and Mrs. John Koris Ruud and Jeannette Krom The Lamport Foundation Dr. Jock and Lee Lawrason Mr. Seddon W. Legg Jr. Mr. and Mrs. James Lentowski Mr. Andrew Ley Matthew and Nina Liddle Kenneth and Karyn Lindsay Dr. and Mrs. Joseph LiPuma Pamela Lohmann Mary Longacre Ms. Jennifer Lowry Elizabeth and Vincent Mann 32
Robert and Mary McCann Ms. Ruth McGlathery Miss Eileen P. McGrath Eugene and Pamela McGuire Ms. Mary Lou McGuire James R. and Sarah P. McIntosh Jane and Rory McNeil Mr. and Mrs. Alan and Barbara Medaugh Michael and Julia Milone Herbert and Miriam Mittenthal Nantucket Dreamland Nantucket Landscapes, Inc. Jean and David Nathan George and Jennifer Nelson Germain Newton Mrs. Katherine O'Brien Jr Susan and Stephen O'Brien Anne P. Olsen Kate Heller O'Reilly Amy and Peter Pastan Neil Paterson Mr. and Mrs. Christopher and Jenny Perkin Henry Pfeiffer Richard and Judith Phelan Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Phelan Melissa and Nathaniel Philbrick Mr. and Mrs. Joe and Ruth Plandowski Anne De Lone and John M. Plukas Kathryn and Thomas Pochman Sheila David and David Policansky Mr. and Mrs. Jeremiah W. Powell Drs. Trevor and Margaret Price Roberta H. and Victoria J. Prisco Mr. and Mrs. Philip W. Read Susan and Henry Reeder Jr. George and Regina Rich Dr. and Mrs. Charles Rickards Ms. Susan E. Robinson Dana and Alison Rodin Gregory A. and Carol Ross Susan Ruddick Dick and Elizabeth Santoro Gerald W. Schwartz Mrs. John J. B. Shea
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS William and Jean Sherman Julie Fitzgerald and Carl H. Sjolund Rachel and Sam Slosek Patrick and Sandra Slosek Ozzie and Nan Small Penny F. Snow Deirdre and Skip Snyder Eric Sobel Mrs. Debby Solbert Ms. Anne Rosen and Mr. Andre Spears Dr. and Mrs. Robert Stanton Joly Walton Stewart Esta-Lee and Harris Stone Jo Ann and Thomas Succop Mr. Jonathan C. Swain Robert and Deborah Taylor Derek E. and Patricia Till Nikki S. Toole Ross and MaryLou Unruh James G. and Elinor Vaughter Liz and Geoffrey Verney Tim E. Bunner and Jonathan Vipond III Carlo and Nancy B. Vittorini Richard and Gay Vogt Pamela Von Hoven Clark Mrs. William Waller Maryann Wasik Laura Wasserman Carole P. Webster Mr. and Mrs. Warren Wegner Joel D. and Judith Weinstein Stephen K. and Ann West John and Nancy Whelan Peter and Winifred Whitman Rick and Elaine Williams Leslie Forbes and David Worth Charles and Myra Wrubel Ronald and Mary Zibelli SUPPORTERS—$50-$99 Anonymous Mrs. Elaine P. Atkins Mr. Curtis Barnes Peter and Cheryl Barnes Charles Bartlett Karen and Douglas Beattie
Craig and Jocelyn Beni Mary D. and William L. Bird Jr. Marilyn M. and Haworth P. Bromley Frederick and Jean Carleton Carriage House B & B Mary Ellen and Mark Castle Caroline Pollard and Joseph Cialini Jr. Joanne Curlee Mr. and Mrs. George W. deMenocal Mrs. Jeanne Dickinson Nancy and Larry D'Oench Morgan Ellington William and Elizabeth Folberth III Emory and Ellen Freeman Dr. and Mrs. Edwin and Roberta Galkin Mr. William P. Golden Mrs. Nancy J. Hammond Debbie Hartman Andy Bullington and Cary Hazlegrove Jeffrey and Gay Held Priscilla Johnson J. Richard and Carolyn F. Judson Diane H. Karper Mr.Walter C. King II Ms. Sherry C. Lowe Betty Miller Robert and Harriet Noyes Mr. and Mrs. Robert Olson Nannette Orr Mr. and Mrs. Morris and Karen Phinney Jr. Allen B. Reinhard Jeanne W. Riggs Peter and Nancy Rodts Katherine B. and John H. Roe Ms. Louise Schneider Charles and Elna Soule Susan J. Tate Theresa and Michael Taylor Richard M. and Lindsey R. Thune Mr. John R. Wagley Mr. and Mrs. A. Charles Walters Jr. David S. and Enid M. Wise Mr. John G. Wofford Betty Zinn 33
NANTUCKET LAND COUNCIL, INC. 6 Ash Lane P.O. Box 502 Nantucket, MA 02554
NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID STOUGHTON, MA PERMIT NO. 160