TEXAS LAND CONSERVANCY
ANNUAL REPORT 2015
The mission of the Texas Land Conservancy is to create a diverse and expanding network of protected natural areas throughout the state by fostering a community of Texans who share a commitment to enhancing our quality of life through land conservation.
Guided naturalist hike at Birk-Sommerfeld Heritage Ranch May, 2015
We are pleased to share with you our 2015 Annual Report. In 2015, we were fortunate to see rains return to Texas. Unfortunately, these much-needed rains sometimes came with deleterious effects such as the Memorial Day and Halloween floods. However, the lands and waters we work to protect were revitalized and we had a tremendous opportunity to increase our stewardship work around the state and conduct outreach with the public. With the addition of our Director of Partnerships and Outreach, we created a monthly hiking program on our public preserves and conducted numerous landowner workshops. On the conservation front, we finalized two small but key acquisitions: one in the Brazos Watershed on a property that adjoins the Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge, and the other a key piece of Hill Country in rapidly growing Hays County. We conducted prescribed burns on Marysee Prairie and extensive brush clearing on Kachina Prairie. We raised dollars through two community-wide giving campaigns: Give 5% to Mother Earth Day and Amplify Austin. Our positive progress has only been possible through generous support from individuals and organizations like you. Thank you. Your support is vital to TLC and we hope you continue to help us protect the land you love in Texas in 2016.
Mark Steinbach, Ph.D. Executive Director, Texas Land Conservancy
OUR NEWEST PROTECTED PROPERTY Through the introduction of more native plants, removing small juniper, and laying cut brush onto the ground to hold soil and promote water infiltration, they are turning what had been a slightly degraded goat ranch into hill country treasure. Already large meadows dominated by little bluestem and other grasses grace the property. The true jewel, though, is a spring ringed with bushy bluestem, buttonbush, and other water loving plants, which greatly add to the site’s biodiversity. LITTLE BARTON CREEK HAYS COUNTY PROTECTED WITH TLC, DECEMBER 2015
Allow us to introduce you to the newest addition to the TLC conservation family, Little Barton Preserve. At 75 acres, it may not be the largest easement that we hold, but with seasonal springs and frontage along Little Barton Creek, its protection packs quite a conservation punch. Owners Anne Davison and Glenn Goode bought the property outside of Dripping Springs in 1996 and moved onto it in 2003. They fell in love with the land and spent considerable time improving its condition.
Texas cities are growing incredibly fast. As more people move in, sprawl moves out into rural areas and watersheds. Growth in the Dripping Springs area is frenetic, and development began to encircle Anne and Glenn’s property. The easy choice may have been to develop their land as well, but Anne and Glenn loved the land too much, and chose to work with us by placing a conservation easement upon it. This will permanently limit the amount of buildings and impervious cover and assure the land will remain natural forever. They asked us to name it “Little Barton” in our records, in honor of Little Barton Creek, which runs through the site. We are honored to work with landowners such as Anne and Glenn who have chosen to save the lands and waters of our great state for future generations.
In December 2015, Congress created a permanent tax incentive for donated conservation easements that can help thousands of landowners conserve their land. We are excited to put this new legislation to work across the state. Stay tuned for impending new land protection projects in 2016!
OPTING OUTSIDE IN 2015 In 2015 we kicked off a whole new set of events designed to help more people enjoy the great outdoors in Texas. Our calendar highlights just a few of the activities we hosted this year. For information about upcoming events please visit our website: texaslandconservancy.org/get-involved/spring-events-calendar
JANUARY FEBRUARY
Hike @ Sandylands Ranch
MARCH APRIL
Prescribed Burn @ Marysee Prairie
Artist in Residence, Max Queripel joins TLC
MAY Hike @ BirkSommerfeld Ranch
Give 5% to Mother Earth Day
JUNE JULY AUGUST
Happy Hour @ Rattle Inn
National Trails Day @ OCNP
SEPTEMBER National Public Lands Day @ OCNP
Ned Fritz Society Dinner
Presentation @ Big Thicket National Preserve
OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Landowner Workshop @ Johnson City
Toasting Texas Lands Celebration
Thank you to everyone who joined us at one of our events in 2015!
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS DONORS Marion Caffery Campbell Candace & Mark Williams Charitable Foundation Anne Davison Mitigation Management LTD Dansko William Durham & Susan Resource Environmental Gallagher Solutions Enterprise Holdings Lone Star Circle: $25,000+ Foundation Community Foundation of Genie Fritz North Texas Edward & Linda Golding Tramell S. Crow Harry & Catherine Graham Montgomery NAPA Trust Michael & Jennifer Grimes Craig & Felicia Hester Founder’s Circle: Jacob &Terese Hershey Foundation $10,000-$24,999 Adam Jochelson Land Trust Alliance Katherine P. Jose Burdine Johnson Foundation P. Michael Jung & Give 5% to Mother Earth Gretchen Megowen RGK Foundation Catherine & Clay Levit T.L.L. Temple Foundation Max Levy Director’s Circle: Earl & Lonnie Matthew Ranney McDonald $5,000-$9,999 William McKee Amplify Austin Janell Morgan Baird Family Charitable Trust Sandra Levett Penz Bob O’Kennon James Pipe Cynthia & George Mitchell Peterson Charitable Lead Trust Foundation Warren W. Pruess Houston Endowment Rivers McNamara PLLC John Newman Family John Roberson Charitable Trust Jim Shultz & Rikky Rivers Pam & Mike Reese Charles Snakard & Philip Theodore Bee Dorothy Prengler Charitable Trust Pat Y. Spillman, Jr. & Strake Foundation Toni Hennike Conservators: $1,000-$4,999 Ellen Temple Larry & Tiffany Autrey Robert and Darlene Tusch Jim Avant Merritt Westcott David Ayers David Williams & Kristina Bob & Margie Ayres Kuntz Williams Anne Stewart Brockenbrough Neile & Jan Wolfe Michael & Leah Buratti Donald & Jill Wood
Stewardship and Legal Defense Fund
Benefactors: $500-$999
Trustees: $100-$249
Margaret Bailey Charles & Diana Briner Pam & Jeff Brown Cary Buehring Anne & Wade Forbes Graves, Dougherty, Hearon & Moody Jason Hill Horizon Unitarian Universalist Church Tom & Ann Kelsey Robert W. Milam, Jr. Elizabeth & Neil Moseley Travis & Ashley Phillips Betty Sanders Patricia & Tom Turner John Hirschi
Anonymous Joan Blomquist Chet & Kathy Boortz Don & Ann Connell Stan Cowan James & Margaret Dunham Mary Carol Edwards Jeff Ersig Douglas Feltz Brian Freedman Robert Gartner Judy Gaskell Heinz & Julie Gaylord Leo & Hannah Golub Beverly Gonzalez Wayne Graham Richard Grayson & Diana Newton-Grayson Katherine Greene Violet Hammett Laura Hannusch Margaret Hoffman Nancy Hyde Burgess Jackson James Jameson Jim Jeffries Russ Jewert Maxine Johnston Bj and Marc Kilbride Walter Krudop Mark & Ashley Landry David & Patricia Lewis Randy Lisbona & Beth Bargar Joyce Lucas Eralyn McLarty Tim Moore & Mike Wisenhunt Don & Jean Nigbor William & Glenda Norcross May O’Neal Blair Payson John Pettigrove & Louise
Guardians: $250-$499 Tammy Beevers Anne & John Donovan Rufus & Marianna Duncan Hazel Edwards Eileen Fritz McKee Gayle J. Fritz Kyle Hahn Bob & Sirpa Harms Martha S. Mason Carroll McCarter John Moore Scott & Heidi Moorehead John L. & Rhonda K. Parker Bob & Jimmie Putnam Elmer & Susan Rosenberger Brian Schiller David Stelter David Todd Matthew H. Valentine Polly Weisberg John and Wendy Whaley
Knolle Pettigrove Robert Phillips Tom & Guinndolyn Pingleton Rattle Inn Carol Ray Ken & Luci Salyer Ellen Seldin Rae Selman Ted Siff Carter & Stacy Smith Sam & Becky Smith Cheryl Spencer & Joseph Kirkland Doris Stevens Willene & Leonard Sweeney R.A. &Nancy Symms Catherine Willmann Ira Yates Jim & Janet Zimmermann
Friends: $50-$99 Alston & Bird Anonymous Jon Beall Alistair & Mary Brown Hance W. Burrow Durhl Caussey Champions Ridge HOA Joe Silman Randall Chapman & Debra Dauburgt Ben Combee Robert & Shirley Cooper Nickie Cox Sara Davis Damien Di Fede Emily Todd William Everheart Neil & Joan Ford Mr. & Mrs. Edwin E. Golden Stan Goldstein Travis Guinn Pete Gunter
Donald & Claudia Gwynn Anastasia Jenkins Robert Jones Jennifer Keane Suzanne Kerr Karen Kinnison Richard Kooris Bedelle Langdale Brandt Mannchen Mark Manroe Allen & BJ Sonstein Dale & Cynthia Parish Patricia Randolph Kevin Smith Randy Smith Johnnie Stark Bob Stokes Burnham & Joan Terrell The Alamo Group Of The Sierra Club Kate Vickery Laura and Simon Whiting Stacy Wilson
Anna Ferriera Shaleiah Fox &Reid Drapp Linda Jane Gober Eddie & Dorothy Gumbert Bryan Hale Lori Hall David & Debbie Harper Howard & Ann Hendrix Steve Houser John Ward & Elizabeth Fountain Jennifer King Alan Kundel Michael & Julie Lowenberg Thomas Maddux Carol Martin Gail McCullough Karen Melaun Brandy Midura Deborah Mikolaitis Jerry Morrisey Elizabeth Newton Charles Porter Georgia Prakash Steve Prutzman Supporters: up to $49 Pokey Rehmet Anonymous Hardin G. Rhorer Elizabeth Badger Michael Romans Sandra Barker John Sandbach Sara Beckelman Freda and David Shekels Hari Bhushan Cindy Silberman Jim & Betty Bowie Bryant Sloten George Brock William Stallings Brandon Brown Lauren Stark Robert & Ann Buchanan Mary Martha Steed Brandi Clark Burton George Stricker J. Scott Chase Marcy Sutherland Troy Cobb Trace Thomas Brett & Margie Currie-Wood Whitney Tidd George Diggs Jr. Rebecca Tingley Barbara and Wayne Duehn Heather Vaughn Laura and Mark Edlin Paula Weisskopf Viva Evans Marysuna Wilkerson
Randolph Willoby Billy & Bobbie Wofford Craig & Anita Woods
In Memory Of Bob Armstrong Dr. Ben F. Edwards Jr. Ned Fritz Kitty King Powell Alex F. Weisberg Jr.
In Honor Of Genie Fritz Bea Jorns Sandy and Elizabeth Paysin
In-Kind Donors Austin Zoo Barley Swine Birds Barbershop Canoe Chameleon Cold Brew Eastside Yoga Foreign & Domestic Hotel San Jose In.Gredients Infinite Monkey Theorem KIND Snacks Last Stand Brewing Company Lick Honest Ice Creams Panera Bread Pop Star Handcrafted Popsicles Republic Tequila Texas Running Company The ABGB The Greenhouse at Driftwood The Salt Lick BBQ Tito’s Handmade Vodka Total Wine & More Wheatsville Whole Earth Provision Co. Whole Foods Market Zinger Hardware
FINANCIAL SUMMARY REVENUES Stewardship & Legal Defense Fund*
2015 $111,094
2014 $287,130
Contributions
$216,096
$191,495
Grants
$156,400
$184,00
Dividends & Interest
$130,817 $141,583
Royalties Gain (loss) securities Other Total Support and Revenue
$12,669
$40,693
$27,231
$46,203 $24,786
$654,307
$915,875
2015
2014
$339,161
$314,442
Management
$88,275
$88,711
Fundraising
$37,168
$39,964
EXPENSES Conservation Programs
Total Expenses ASSETS
$464,604 $439,165 2015
2014
$599,200
$556,127
Stewardship Fund
$1,611,644
$1,633,664
Operating Fund
$1,806,741
$1,829,228
Montgomery Trust
$2,025,523
$1,789,747
$52,713
$102,500
Properties
$4,150,759
$4,150,759
Net Assets
$10,246,580
$10,062,025
Cash & Equivalent Investments
Other Current Assets
* Landowners who conserve land with the TLC are asked to contribute to our Stewardship and Legal Defense Fund. The principal of this dedicated fund is protected by the Board of Directors and the income is directed toward the stewardship and maintenance of the properties we protect.
2%
4%
Royalties Other
17%
20%
Dividends & Interest
24%
Grants
Stewardship & Legal Defense Fund
33% Contributions
8%
Fundraising
19%
Management
73%
Conservation Programs
$10,246,580
$10,500,0000 $10,062,025
$10,250,000 $10,000,000
$9,524,868
$9,750,000 $9,500,000
2013
2014
2015
TEXAS LAND CONSERVANCY 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ADVISORY COUNCIL Trammel S. Crow, Dallas Anne Newman, San Antonio Chico Newman, San Antonio Buddy Temple, Lufkin Ellen Temple, Lufkin BOARD OF DIRECTORS Travis Phillips, President, Austin Earl Matthew, Vice President, Rockport Pat Y. Spillman, Jr., Secretary, Houston Wayne Graham, Treasurer, Austin Janell Morgan, Assistant-Treasurer, Dallas Larry Autrey, Dallas Michael Grimes, Austin Jason Hill, Austin Adam Jochelson, Dallas P. Michael Jung, Dallas Eileen McKee, Dallas Scott Moorhead, Austin Robert J. O’Kennon, Fort Worth Merrit Westcott, Houston Texas Land Conservancy P.O. Box 162461, Austin, TX 78716 512.301.6363 www.texaslandconservancy.org
STAFF Mark Steinbach, Executive Director Daniel Dietz, Stewardship Director Leigh Steumke, Stewardship Director Rachael Garbowski, Development Director Ashley Lovell, Director of Partnerships and Outreach