newsletter_fall_2009 by Wood River Land Trust

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wood river land trust Photo credit: Tess Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan, Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation

perspectives on

Partnerships for the Pioneer Mountains Wood River Land Trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s success as a local conservation organization has spanned over 15 years. Through the years, we have been fortunate to be involved in conservation efforts with other respected nonprofit groups. Recent collaborations in the Pioneer Mountains area illustrate the value of combining resources and knowledge. Continued on page 4.

Protecting the heart of the valley...now and for the future.

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who we are Letter from Ed Cutter, Board President

he Wood River Land Trust was established in 1994. In celebrating our 15th anniversary this year, we have reflected on how the Land Trust has changed as it has grown. We have become a more collaborative organization working with other conservation groups and government entities including the state, the Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management in projects that are too large for any one conservation group to tackle alone. The Pioneers Alliance, described in the cover page article of this newsletter, is an example of how the Land Trust is working effectively with other organizations on a major land conservation project. Success in the Pioneers Alliance will take many years but first steps have been taken—as shown by the pronghorn study and in the Land Trust’s Porcupine Creek conservation easement that protects public access into the Pioneer Mountains from the south. But working with landowners in the Pioneers Alliance area to help them protect their ranches and farms and preserve their way of life will take a big cooperative effort by all of the organizations in the Alliance and the related governmental agencies. It will take a good deal of money as well. As 2009 draws rapidly to an end, I ask that if you have not made a gift to the Land Trust this year, please do so now. We want to bring a successful conclusion to our $300,000 Challenge Grant that brings in 50 cents for every $1.00 in unrestricted contributions made before the clock strikes twelve on New Year’s Eve. Thank you for your support. Best wishes for the coming Holidays! Ed Cutter, President

Meet Our Board John French

temming from their first visit to the Wood River Valley in 1970, John and his wife Elaine kept returning to the valley they’d grown to love. They built a home here in 1989 and relocated from California for good a few years ago. John is committed to doing what he can to protect the Wood River Valley and safeguard for his children and grandchildren the John French valley experiences he has enjoyed over the years. He donated a conservation easement on their ranch in Picabo and continues his efforts to protect Silver Creek as it flows through the ranch. With a love for fly fishing and bird hunting, John knows the importance of protected open space and wildlife habitat noting, “I’ve seen first hand the value of land stewardship.” John graduated from Harvard College with a degree in architecture after which he spent six years in the Marine Corps, flying fighter planes in Vietnam. He then graduated from Harvard Business School and, after a 30-year career in real estate investment, sold his company and retired in 2001. Over the years John has given back to his community in a variety of ways and to a variety of organizations, including the Land Trust. For more than 10 years John has been on the Board of the Yosemite Institute, an organization that brings thousands of children to Yosemite each year to learn environmental science. He also continues to serve on the Board of the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund and multiple Harvard committees. As a member of the Board of Directors since October, 2008, his experience, knowledge, and dedication to land conservation will help the Land Trust continue to grow and succeed. m

Vote for the 2010 Conservationist of the Year Budweiser and the National Fish and Wildlife will donate $50,000 to the 2010 Conservationist of the Year to be selected from a list of four finalists. We are proud to announce that Land Trust Board member John French, profiled above, is one of these finalists. The winner and their conservation organization will use the money to fund conservation projects of their choosing. The three runners up will each receive a $5000 grant to continue their conservation work as well. John’s interest in conservation ranges from freshwater ecology to climate change, and when John puts his efforts behind something, it usually happens! You can vote for John for 2010 Conservationist of the Year at www.budweiser.com.

Volunteer Spotlight

Meet Our Staff

Dick Hay

Sam Phillips

hether it’s hauling coolers at the Howard Community Picnic, artfully flipping burgers at the 4th of July BBQ at Anderson House, or helping his fellow Trout Unlimited board members clean up Boxcar Bend, volunteer Dick Hay is always there to lend a helping hand. On behalf of the staff and Board of Directors, thank you, Dick, for your hard work and kind presence. m

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ood River Land Trust is building a volunteer committee. Please join us on Friday, January 15th, for a light lunch to learn about volunteer opportunities, help us develop a program, and give a unique name to our group. We will meet at the recently renovated Anderson House, our employee housing next door to the office. Please RSVP to Diane Kahm, 788-3947 or dkahm@woodriverlandtrust.org. m

Sam Phillips, Conservation Project & Outreach Assistant

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Volunteer Lunch

Dick Hay at Boxcar Bend work day

Challenge Grant 2009 It’s not too late to help us reach our goal!

his year, anonymous donors and our Board of Directors together have pledged $150,000 towards our protection of local land, water, and wildlife habitat. To earn this amount, however, we must raise $300,000 in unrestricted donations by December 31st. This means that every dollar you donate before the end of the year will be matched by an additional $0.50. Your unrestricted donations help pay for the basic necessities - the dedicated professional staff, office space, and general office needs - that make our work possible. The Year-End Challenge makes every dollar of your support go even further in the protection of the Valley’s land, water, and wildlife habitat. Please help us reach our goal today!

9th Annual Year-End Challenge Goal: $300,000 We are over 1/3 of the way to meet our Challenge Year-End Challenge makes every dollar of your support go even further!

Wood River Land Trust is a tax-exempt non-profit organization; donations are tax-deductible.

s our new Conservation Project and Outreach Assistant, Sam started working with Wood River Land Trust in September, 2009, and will be with us until July, 2010. He will conduct outreach and educational workshops to increase local awareness of Land Trust work to protect the Big Wood River and coordinate the Trout Friendly Lawn program. Besides providing educational opportunities on water conservation and protection, Sam will assist staff with riparian restoration projects. Sam grew up exploring the salt marshes and woodlands of Ipswich, MA. He received a bachelor’s degree from Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University with a concentration in Sustainable Development and a minor in Sustainable Design. The last two years he was a ski patroller at Mt. Baker in Washington and a river guide on the Salmon River. His travels and volunteer work have taken him to New Zealand, China, Guatemala, Greece, and Sao Tome and Principe. With his interest in Idaho land use planning and water issues, he is considering continuing his education at the University of Idaho. We are pleased that Sam is settled in to our employee housing, the newly renovated Anderson House next door. m

what we do Partnerships for the Pioneer Mountains Continued from cover

The Pioneers Alliance

he Pioneer Mountains and Craters of the Moon area, almost 2 million acres of private and public lands east of the Wood River Valley, is an unspoiled region of Idaho. The area supports working ranches and abundant wildlife, and provides public access for hunting, fishing and other recreational activities. Many Idaho landscapes have been impacted by energy and residential development, but the Pioneers/Craters area remains relatively untouched. With this once in a lifetime opportunity to protect a largescale diversified ecosystem, the Pioneers Alliance (PA) coalesced to create a vision for these wild spaces, the legacy of familyowned working lands, and the area’s small communities. The Alliance was formed in 2007 over concerns that growth pressures like those in the Wood River Valley would inevitably impact the irreplaceable natural, economic, and cultural values in the Pioneers region. The PA consists of landowners, ranchers, local residents, scientists, agency representatives, conservation organiza-

tions, and others concerned about the future of the area. The Land Trust has been involved with the Alliance since its inception. Scott Boettger, Executive Director of the Land Trust, believes the Alliance is a great opportunity to use long-term local knowledge to work collaboratively on big-picture, regional conservation. “It’s an effort,” he notes, “that brings small organizations like the Land Trust together with larger groups to represent local values and interests.” Our 2009 acquisition of the Porcupine Creek property east of Hailey is a response— and commitment—to local interest in public access to and protection of the Pioneer Mountains. Since this is a region-wide effort, town hall meetings have been convened on a regular basis by the Alliance for discussions about issues key to the future of the Pioneers area. Topics covered include preserving family ranches and farms, local economic development, conservation, wildlife and hunt-

ing management, and Carey and Blaine County planning issues. The next public meeting will be December 8 at the City Hall in Carey from 7 to 9 p.m. Anyone interested in helping develop a vision for the Pioneers region is invited to attend. Support for this work has been provided by non-profit organizations, public agencies, and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. For more information about Pioneers Alliance, contact Scott Boettger, sboettger@woodriverlandtrust.org or Mike Stevens at Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation 788-1710, www.lavalakeinstitute.org, click on Pioneers Alliance. m

The Pioneers Alliance Participants: City of Carey residents Local ranchers and landowners Beartooth Capital Partners Blaine County Board of Commissioners Bureau of Land Management City of Carey Hall & Hall Idaho Conservation League Idaho Department of Fish and Game Idaho Department of Lands Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation National Park Service Sawtooth National Forest The Conservation Fund The Nature Conservancy Wildlife Conservation Society Wood River Land Trust

GPS Locations for Pronghorn Between Oct 2008 - Sep 2009 Mackay Mud Lake Ketchum

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Craters of the Moon National Monument

GPS Locations Oct 2008 Nov 2008 Dec 2008 Jan 2009 Feb 2009 Mar 2009 Apr 2009 May 2009 Jun 2009 Jul 2009 Aug 2009 Sep 2009

Pronghorn Migration Study

n October, 2008, researchers from Hailey-based Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG) put GPS collars on 10 female pronghorn antelope in the foothills of the Pioneer Mountains to track their daily progress during winter migration. What researchers discovered was a migration route that ranks as one of the longest overland routes for a land mammal in the Western Hemisphere. The 160-mile round trip passes through south-central Idaho, including the Pioneer Mountains and Craters of the Moon National Monument, and reaches the Beaverhead Mountains at the continental divide The study to date produced unexpected results. It was not only the length of the migration that was a surprise to researchers, but the majority of antelope traveled farther east (to Birch Creek and the Little Lost River) and then north rather than south. The Pioneer Mountains pronghorn eventually gathered with other Idaho herds to overwinter in the Birch Creek area; the congregation in this study was one of Idaho’s largest—about 1000 animals. The antelope traverse federal, state, and private land and run into mountains, highways, fences, and lava fields on their journey. Increasingly, their path is threatened by development and habitat fragmentation. Along with mapping seasonal habitat—such as fawning areas—migration routes, and connectivity, the ongoing study will identify, among other issues, impediments

to pronghorn movement and potential changes needed in management programs. Tess O’Sullivan, Program Director for the Lava Lake Institute, reports, “A significant amount of habitat, particularly the summer range, occurs on private land which highlights the importance of maintaining the existing farms and ranches free from development and/or subdivision.” As a sponsor, Wood River Land Trust is proud to be part of this important ongoing research. Key partners in the project include Lava Lake Institute, WCS, IDFG, the National Park Service, Kim Murray, and the Pioneers Alliance. For more information and a full list of sponsors, go to www.lavalakeinstitute.org. m See

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what we do Partnerships for the Pioneer Mountains Continued from cover Photo credit: © Bob Griffith

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Witness for Wildlife

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ood River Land Trust and the Lava Lake Institute for Science and Conservation worked together to include the Pioneers/Craters of the Moon landscape in the launch of the Witness for Wildlife program. This new program enlists “citizen naturalists” to chronicle major wildlife corridors throughout North America. Understanding where, when, and why animals move is essential to protecting the populations and habitats of our wide-ranging wildlife. Encouraging people to get outdoors and then share their stories about an exceptional landscape is a wonderful way to raise awareness. In the pilot program this summer, local citizens participated in three field trips in the Pioneers/Craters landscape and observed species such as elk, pronghorn, sagegrouse, migratory song birds, and sandhill cranes. Participants shared their experiences on an experimental website for the program and were urged to report future wildlife sightings to aid migration mapping and wildlife conservation. Details about next year’s trips will be available in the spring online at www.witnessforwildlife.org. m

Sandhill cranes dance in a rancher’s field

Pronghorn Antelope: Speed Goats

he pronghorn antelope is a uniquely American species. One of the speediest land mammals—only the cheetah is faster—they can reach speeds of 55 miles an hour and have remarkable endurance. Other attributes help them stay alert for predators— they have been described as having eyes as large as an elephant’s on the body the size of a goat. Lewis and Clark referred to them as “speed goats.” Pronghorns once numbered 30 - 60 million across the country, but at one time, like the bison, neared extinction. By 1915, their number was only about 15,000. A moratorium on hunting lasting into the 1940s is credited with halting the decline. They now number about 1 million, primarily in the West, on the wide-open sagebrush steppe and grasslands. Current threats are largely due to degradation and fragmentation of habitat caused by development, fences (pronghorn do not jump!), and vehicle collisions. The study reported here illustrates the importance of learning about and maintaining pronghorn habitat and migration corridors to ensure healthy populations of this American species. m

Pronghorn antelope in Pioneer Mountain foothills

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Draper Wood River Preserve Croy Creek Wetland Boardwalk

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Lions Park Proposed Boardwalk

Draper Wood River Preserve

Give Us an Inch

viewing platform

Help Wood River Land Trust build the Draper Wood River Preserve / Croy Creek Wetland Boardwalk!

Purchase your section of the boardwalk: $25 for one inch $300 for one foot $1000 for one yard Carole & Robbie Freund 100

Maureen Groper 100

25 John Hardin 25 Dan Gilmore 25 Melanie Dahl 25 Diane Kahm 25 John Kahm

John & Wendy Henning 100

Anne Jeffery 100

Marcelle & Ridley Pearson 100

Victor Bernstein Deer Creek Fund & Gail Landis in the Idaho honoring Dick Hay & Robyn Watson Barbara Thrasher Community Foundation 1,000 1,000 2,500

The Lightfoot Foundation 5,000

Rinker Foundation and Anonymous 10,000

The Page Foundation 10,000

Inch by inch, you can help us build the boardwalk. All donors will be listed on a plaque onsite, a great way to honor a friend or loved one. Contact Robyn Watson, Director of Development, at 788-3947 or visit our website www.woodriverlandtrust.org.

Donate Online!

Your name here!

Draper Family Foundation 25,000

Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation 10,000

Trout Friendly Lawn Program Wraps Up A Banner Season

ver the summer, the Land Trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Trout Friendly Lawn Program (TFL) continued outreach in the Wood River Valley community, strengthening, and diversifing cooperation among residents, businesses, local governments and other organizations. The Church of the Big Wood and Wood River YMCA in Ketchum, and Rocky Mountain Hardware in Hailey, as well as the parks departments of both cities, are now participants. TFL networked with the city of Hailey to provide a Showcase Lawns exemption from watering restrictions in order to give flexibility to homeowners who choose a more organic and dynamic watering schedule.

With the help of some committed volunteers, TFL worked with the cities of Hailey and Ketchum to create pesticide free parks as a way to demonstrate to the public the possibilities of maintaining safer and more Trout Friendly turf. Over the winter, we will work towards Trout Friendly lawn care on a larger scale by seeking participation from homeownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s associations throughout the Wood River Valley. We will work with the Blaine County Recreation District to create a Trout Friendly demonstration site on the highly visible Wood River Trails. For more information on trout friendly lawn care, go to www.troutfriendly.org. m

connections Land Trust Begins Accreditation Process

ood River Land Trust is pleased to announce that we will be applying for accreditation to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission in April, 2010. A public comment period is available. The Commission will conduct an extensive review of the Land Trustâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s policies and programs and invites public input. During the public comment period the Commission will accept written comments on our pending application that must be signed or attributed to the author; comments may not be submitted anonymously. Comments must be related to how Wood River Land Trust complies with national quality standards that address the ethical and technical operation of a land trust, and would be most useful if received by May 28, 2010. For a full list of these standards, see www.landtrustaccreditation. org/getting-accredited/2008-indicatorpractices. To learn more about the accreditation program and to submit a comment, visit www.landtrustaccreditation.org. Comments may also be mailed or faxed to the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, Attn: Public Comments, 112 Spring Street, Suite 204, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866; (fax) 518.587.3183. m

Advancing Conservation Inside and Out

ood River Land Trust believes how we do things should be aligned with what we do as a conservation organization. In recent months, the Land Trust has paid special attention to its operations to find ways to better conserve natural resources. Led by Land Trust Board member Heather King and sustainability consultant Chris Yalonis of Sustainametrix, the Land Trust measured its carbon footprint, evaluated office practices such as recycling and purchasing office supplies, and completed an energy audit for the building. Results show the Land Trust is ahead of the curve in our green practices compared with other service orgaOur historic restored office

nizations of our size across the country. Our carbon footprint is relatively small at 53 tons per year. We are looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint and offset our footprint by supporting renewable energy, and we have identified areas for improvement. Like most businesses and households, the Land Trust can save energy and costs by making some relatively low-cost modifications to our building. Local energy auditors, Harry Griffith and Baird Gourlay, conducted an energy audit of the office and suggested some minor structural modifications such as sealing windows and insulating the foundation. Wood River Land Trust is one of a handful of land trusts nationally that are developing internal sustainability policies and taking steps to reduce energy consumption. Working within the land conservation community, we hope to help develop a toolkit of best practices for the more than 1,700 land trusts around the country. m

Founded in 1982, the Land Trust Alliance (LTA) is an umbrella organization for land trusts in the United States providing policy, information, and training for responsible and ethical operations. The Accreditation Commission was created in 2005 as an independent program to recognize organizations that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever. The seal of accreditation will provide assurance to the public that Wood River Land Trust has undergone a rigorous, independent evaluation and meets the highest standards of quality in governance and land conservation practices.

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Memorial Bench at Trail Creek Preserve

vid fisherman and skier Robert Antonioli loved the Big Wood River in the summer and Bald Mountain in the winter. When he passed away in 2007, he left a portion of his estate to Wood River Land Trust to help ensure that what he cherished most about the Wood River Valley would be protected. The Land Trust has honored his generosity by placing a seasonal bench in his name on our newly completed Trail Creek Preserve in Ketchum. A small hidden treasure on the west side of downtown Ketchum, the overlook on the creek can be accessed by walking the short trail along Trail Creek east from Lucy Loker Park or down the long drive between 600 Second Street condominiums and Trail Creek Lodges. For more information about Wood River Land Trust planned giving, or naming opportunities, please visit www.woodriverlandtrust.org or call Robyn Watson, Director of Development, 208.788.3947. m

A restful spot to enjoy the creek

News from Howard Preserve a Wood River Land Trust and the Howard

Family presented the 6th annual Howard Preserve Community Picnic on September 19 with plentiful food and good music for the approximately 250 people who attended.

a A new stretch of trail was constructed by

the City, Friends of Howard, and volunteers for the Bellevue Haunted Forest where the river had removed a portion of riverbank. Directional wooden trail markers will be constructed and donated by Randy Edgers.

a Friends

of Howard paid for the attractive gate that now sits at the old Elm Street entrance to the Preserve.

Clockwise: A new stretch of trail; Florence Blanchard and Judy Foster enjoy the Howard Picnic; New Elm Street gate

Bring It on Home

ouse moving crews worked all night transporting the new home of Dottie Hand and Jeff Sarchett. Jeff and Dottie, owners of Wrap City, knew that entire houses were donated to the Building Material Thrift Store, so when such a nice home was available, they jumped at the opportunity. The house was donated to BMTS by Tod and Barbara Hamachek and then sold to Jeff and Dottie to be moved. The Hamachecks planned to build a new house on their property but did not want to see the existing house demolished. Upon discovering that their house could be relocated while generating muchneeded funds for Wood River Land Trust, they decided to donate it to the BMTS. Thanks to the Hamachek’s generosity, a young Ketchum family can own their own home in the community where they work. m

“Relocating houses is the ultimate in recycling.” — Bruce Tidwell, owner BMTS

We facilitate the reuse or recycling of homes, building materials, and larger household items. Proceeds from the sale of materials are dedicated to Wood River Land Trust’s preservation of land, water, and wildlife habitat throughout the Wood River Valley.

(208) 788-0014 www.buildingmaterialthriftstore.org

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Access Yes!

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connections Master Naturalist Program Returns in January

our Wood River Land Trust properties are now part of the Access Yes! program managed by Idaho Fish and Game (IDFG), which is designed to increase the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s access for hunting and fishing. Private property owners are compensated by IDFG for permitting public access on their properties; restrictions can be placed on the season and time of use and which activities are permitted. Land Trust properties that currently have hunting and/or fishing access through the Access Yes! Program are Sheep Bridge Canyon, Square Lake, Draper Wood River Preserve, and Cowcatcher Ridge. Sign-in boxes are located at the entrances to these lands just to help IDFG track public use. For more information, contact Keri York, Stewardship Coordinator, 7883947. To view properties around the state that are part of the Access Yes! program, go to fishandgame. idaho.gov/ifwis/huntplanner/ accessyesguide.aspx. m

Tisa Combs, Star Weekes, and Mike Treshow identify microinvertebrates in the Master Naturalist Program.

Board of Directors Ed Cutter, President Jack Kueneman, Vice President Joan Swift, Treasurer Robin Garwood, Secretary David Anderson John Flattery John French Clark Gerhardt Trent Jones Heather King Liz Mitchell Wolf Riehle John Fell Stevenson Megan Stevenson Steve Strandberg Barbara Thrasher Doris Tunney

he Wood River Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalist Program is beginning its 2010 season with a winter/spring session in January. The Master Naturalist Program trains volunteers in a variety of natural history topics including botany, geology, and wildlife winter survival (new this season). Similar to Master Gardener classes, participants fulfill a volunteer requirement to complete the program. The Wood River Valley chapter formed in 2009. For their volunteer service, the first class of 11 individuals led naturalist hikes, conducted childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s educational programs, and helped construct trails and control weeds on preserves. Partnering organizations are Wood River Land Trust, Environmental Resource Center, Sawtooth National Recreational Area, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Classes are held at the Community Campus courtesy of College of Southern Idaho. For more information, contact Keri York, Stewardship Coordinator, 788-3947. m

WRLT Staff Scott Boettger, Executive Director Melanie Dahl, Executive Assistant Kathryn Goldman, Senior Project Coordinator Diane Kahm, Development Assistant Robyn Watson, Director of Development Keri York, Stewardship Coordinator Sam Phillips, Conservation Project and Outreach Assistant

Advisory Committee Peter Becker Ranney Draper Rebekah Helzel Dave Parrish Larry Schoen John Seiller Tom Swift Bruce Tidwell Liz Warrick

This newsletter is published by:

Wood River Land Trust 119 East Bullion Street, Hailey, Idaho 83333 208.788.3947 (telephone) 208.788.5991 (fax) info@woodriverlandtrust.org www.woodriverlandtrust.org Tax ID# 82-0474191

Sixth Annual Heart of the Valley Contest!

Send us your photography, prose, and poetry illustrating how local waters make living in the Wood River Valley unique.

hether you like to be on the water or in it, viewing it from a distance or just as far as the end of your fishing rod, we can all agree that the Wood River Valley’s most valuable asset is the water that flows through it. Please send us your photography, prose, and poetry that illustrate how the local waters make living in the Wood River Valley different than it would be anywhere else; describe the rivers, streams, or lakes that drew you here in the first place or those that keep you here year after year. Prizes awarded for 1st - 3rd place and staff favorite photography and writing. For complete submission guidelines, visit www.woodriverlandtrust. org, stop by our office at 119 E. Bullion Street in Hailey, or call 788-3947. There is a submission fee of $5 per submission for Wood River Land Trust non-members; members and students are free. m

Send us your photography, prose, and poetry that illustrate how the local waters make living in the Wood River Valley unique.

Sixth Annual

Heart of the Valley Contest

Submissions Due December 18, 2009

Prizes awarded for 1st - 3rd place and staff favorite photography and writing. For complete submission guidelines, visit www.woodriverlandtrust.org, stop by our office at 119 E. Bullion Street in Hailey, or call 788-3947.

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Submissions Due Friday, December 18, 2009.

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“Less is More” by Joshua Wells, Heart of the Valley Contest winner