wood river land trust
wood river land trust
Ketchum resident Ton Yenphiboon, son Sum, and dog Gem enjoy an afternoon stroll on the completed stretch of boardwalk
We’re almost There
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n July, construction began on a long-awaited boardwalk at the Croy Creek wetlands. K&M Construction is doing the work, and the crew relies on rubber boots and waders to venture into the wetlands. They have set 62 cement piers so far, pounding four 6-foot metal pipes into each pier for stabilization. Structural supports were installed and the decking is done to the viewing platform.
Wilson’s Phalarope seen at Croy Wetlands
Help us go the distance! Wood River Land Trust has raised 70% of the needed $210,000 in funding including a grant from the Department of Environmental Quality. We need your help to complete this exciting project.
Go to our website for more news and other customized features: www.woodriverlandtrust.org
A donor board will be installed at the site to highlight every person and every family who contributes. Gifts to honor friends and memorial gifts are especially appropriate for this community asset that will endure through the years.
Fall 2010
Continued on page 4
Protecting the heart of the valley...now and for the future.
who we are Meet the New President of the Board, Jack Kueneman t’s been a long and most interesting road that led me to the Board of Directors of the Wood River Land Trust and now to the role of President. Nearly forty years ago my wife and I began visiting Sun Valley on winter ski vacations. I wish I could visualize exactly what the Wood River Valley looked like back then. During the 1990s my wife and children and I began to Jack Kueneman spend summer vacations in the valley. Probably the first thoughts of permanently settling here began then. However it wasn’t until 1999 that my wife and I realized the dream of moving to this beautiful Wood River Valley. My introduction to the Wood River Land Trust came through my good friend and then President of the Land Trust, John Flattery. I was looking for ways to give back to my new community and maybe utilize some of the real estate skills acquired in my business career. Seeming like a good fit, I was invited to join the Board in August, 2005, hoping that I could add value to an outstanding group. I didn’t know as much about land, water and wildlife protection and conservation as I should have but I wanted to learn all I could. Over the past five years I’ve put a lot of time into the Land Trust – serving on the Finance Committee of the Board, and as Treasurer, Fundraising Chair, and Vice President. I know more now, and together with fellow Board members I believe we bring a diversified balance of business, legal, and environmental skills. I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as President of the Board of the Wood River Land Trust. I pledge to make the best effort possible to lead a great Board of Directors and for this Board to provide our excellent staff with the oversight and support necessary to achieve our conservation mission. Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank our loyal members and supporters throughout the Wood River Valley. Without you it would be impossible to carry out the mission of the Land Trust. I hope our members and supporters know how important you are to our successes and how much we appreciate you. Your support will impact the next 5, 10, 20…50 years for the conservation legacy you are helping to create in this Valley and surrounding areas. m
Meet our Board Jane Mason
J
ane Mason was nominated to the Board in May of this year. A Wood River Valley resident for 20 years, her family roots in Idaho go back to 1934 when her pioneer grandfather started Idaho Bank and Trust. Jane attended The University of Puget Sound and graduated from Our newest Board the University of Utah with a Member, Jane Mason B.S. in Asian Studies. She worked in marketing and finance for almost 10 years and, because of her love of travel, owned and operated a travel agency for five years. Visiting her parents here and working on her fishing skills, her father introduced her to his long-time fishing guru, Bill Mason. They had two children; their daughter attends Berkshire School in Massachusetts, and their son attends Miami University in Ohio. Her involvement with the Land Trust began in the late 1990s when she met Scott Boettger, Executive Director, and she was impressed by his commitment and grass roots approach. She has supported the Land Trust and its mission ever since. In 1999, Jane and Bill, as participants in the East Fork Preservation Association, worked with the Land Trust, Blaine County, and the Idaho Transportation Department to place an easement on land at the mouth of East Fork Canyon ensuring it would not be developed and would remain scenic open space. Currently, she is president of the Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation which supports work in Idaho and Utah, and feels passionately about preserving lands and wildlife. “The love of the area,” she says, “nature, fishing, skiing, seem to be in my DNA.” m
meet our staff Erika Phillips
natalie Spencer
Ashley Wells
Project Coordinator Erika and her family moved to Hailey from Alaska in 2008. She served as a Biologist/GIS Analyst for the Protected Resources Division of NOAA Fisheries Service in Juneau and worked extensively on policy issues, including marine mammal conservation, endangered species protection and critical habitat designation. Prior to that position, she was the regional restoration program coordinator for NOAA a Erika has a Master’s degree in Resource Ecology from Duke University, and completed coursework for the Idaho Master Naturalist certification program last spring. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and traveling with her husband, Matt, and two preschool-aged sons. m
major gifts officer An Idaho Native, Natalie joins the WRLT with a unique, professional background in environmental science and program development in North Africa, South Asia, Europe and the Americas. She holds a Master of Science in Advanced Environmental & Energy Sciences with a focus on Natural Building and Remote Renewable Energy Applications from the University of London and a Bachelor Degree in Asian & Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Hawai’i. She is an avid skier, kayaker and outdoor enthusiast with a passion for language, dance, and fly fishing. m
Development Assistant After graduating from the University of Denver with a B.A. in Environmental Science and a minor in Geology, Ashley is glad to find herself back in the Wood River Valley where she grew up a As a student, Ashley spent four months in Costa Rica where she studied Ecology through the University of San Jose De Heredia a For the past three years, she has enjoyed working as a raft guide on the Salmon River and as a Nordic ski coach for the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation a Ashley will use her background in Environmental Science to assist Stewardship Coordinator Keri York and Project Coordinator Erika Phillips with program development. m
thank you Summer Interns Over the summer our interns Stephanie Thompson (top right) and Kristen Doman (below right) assisted with a multitude of stewardship and management tasks—and always with smiling faces. They monitored conservation easement properties, managed data, participated in preserve workdays, and communicated with landowners and volunteers. Our Anderson House suited their needs perfectly a Stephanie is a graduate at Duquesne University in Pittsburg pursuing a master’s degree in Environmental Science and Management a Kristen currently lives in Salt Lake City. She has a background in community health and sustainable urban development. She now plans on pursuing a career in land conservation. m
A Note from intern Kristen I came to work with the Wood River Land Trust to gain experience in land conservation and learn about new career opportunities. These expectations were by far exceeded. As the Preserve Assistant, I learned about noxious weeds, ecological changes that occur over time, and how to utilize GPS/GIS. I also assisted with easement monitoring. Our visits to these easements were incredible experiences; each day was an adventure, a lesson in environmental biology, and an inspiration to me. We met some of the easement donors, many of whom wanted their property conserved for wildlife habitat and to remain undeveloped. This summer has been a great experience and one that has changed my life. I am amazed at what the Wood River Land Trust accomplishes on a daily basis. Thanks to this internship, I now know that I want to find a career in land conservation.
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connections We’re Almost There
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The boardwalk will provide public access to one of the most biologically diverse places in the valley where people can experience and learn about these sensitive wetlands and wildlife habitat. Designed to provide public access for education and enjoyment while minimizing impacts to the sensitive site, the boardwalk will be wheelchair accessible. When totally completed, this will be an enduring community asset. Watch and listen for ducks as they fly in and land on the ponds. Observe frogs and salamanders in the shallow areas near the boardwalk. Moose and elk may wander through. It is a fun and relaxing place to visit and easily accessible from Main Street, Hailey. The Croy Creek wetlands lie at the confluence of the Big Wood River and Croy Creek adjacent to Lions Park. Stop by and have a look. m
The boardwalk provides public access to one of the most biologically diverse places in the valley. A Virginia Rail at Croy Creek
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Above left: In step (1) of building the boardwalk, Erik and Colton align and install the concrete footings that will support the joists, seen above in step (2).
Help us finish the Boardwalk! All participants will be listed on the donor board onsite - a great way to leave your legacy or honor a friend or loved one.
$210,000
Invest in your section: $25 for one inch
$300 for one foot
$1000 for one yard
We’re amost There!
(3) All the hard work pays off!!
Thank you to the following Boardwalk donors! Draper Family Foundation Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation Page Foundation The Lightfoot Foundation Rinker Foundation Anonymous Seagraves Family Foundation The Deer Creek Fund, Lynn Campion & Thomas B. Campion Dick Hay & Robyn Watson Victor Bernstein & Gail Landis, in honor of Barbara Thrasher & Rick Koffey Alison & Jim Luckman Susan & Jerry Flynt The Gerhardt Family Gail & Jack Thornton Kristy & Tom Logan Brightman & Slonim Families Neil Clark, in memory of Jill Clark-Engdahl Joan Lamb Dale & Shearson Jones The Odell Family Mark Kieckbusch & Kathryn Earhart Melisa & Jeff Williams Marcelle & Ridley Pearson John & Wendy Henning Maureen Groper
Anne Jeffery Carole & Robbie Freund Tina & Jerry Winford Boettger Family: Emily, Gunner, Sally & Scott Michael & Chris Boskin Penny & Ed Glassmeyer Sue Woodyard Susan Bernatas Gail & Doug Boettger John & Daralene Finnell Trey Spaulding John & Diane Kahm Julie & Brian Gallagher Dan Gilmore David Hertel John Hardin Melanie Dahl Chance Self Kingman & Cindy Lambert Jennifer & Kevin Embree, in honor of Mattelyn & Camille Embree Dick & Bobbie Boyer
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Big Wood River Below Magic Dam
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e’re excited about our newest project which would restore and enhance a tailwater trout fishery in the Big Wood River below Magic Reservoir. Currently, the river channel below Magic Dam has only marginal flows for much of the year. During the spring/summer irrigation season, the Big Wood Canal Company releases water from the reservoir into the river for diversion into the Richfield Canal system. Once the irrigation season ends, no water is released. With the exception of runoff and groundwater seepage, water recharge to the lower Big Wood River is non-existent for much of the year. The seasonal dewatering of the river below Magic Dam has significant impacts on survival and reproduction of the wild rainbow and brown trout populations.
The Land Trust is working with the canal company to find innovative ways to conserve water in the irrigation system below Magic Reservoir. In exchange for our participation in this process, we hope to acquire “shares” of water to bank in the reservoir and release into the river during times of low flow, creating sufficient year-round flows for fish and the river ecosystem. The conserved water will provide mutual benefits to the fishery and agricultural users. Currently, we are conducting a study of stream flows in this section of the Big
Wood River to provide a clear picture of how much water needs to be conserved in order to accomplish our fishery enhancement goals. We plan to enter into a formal agreement with the canal company to refine plans for water conservation, complete an environmental analysis, secure permits, implement conservation measures, and begin releasing water into the river for fish. For more information, contact Erika Phillips, Project Coordinator, at ephillips@woodriverlandtrust.org. m
Magic Dam
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The seasonal dewatering of the river below Magic Dam has significant impacts on survival and reproduction of the rainbow and brown trout populations.
Timbered Dome – Wildlife Habitat Protected
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n August, the Wood River Land Trust closed on our largest land acquisition ever. The 1609-acre Timbered Dome Ranch was purchased from co-owners Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) and Southeastern Idaho Mule Deer Foundation (SIMDF) to protect important wildlife habitat, and is especially important for sagebrush-obligate species like pygmy rabbits and sage grouse. With the addition of this property, the Land Trust has protected 11,930 acres in and around the Wood River Valley. Sage grouse are currently classified in Idaho as warranting endangered species status. Timbered Dome offers ideal sage grouse habitat and has active sage grouse leks on and near the property that need protection. The pygmy rabbits are highly vulnerable to loss of sagebrush steppe habitat, and Timbered Dome offers ideal habitat for its population of pygmy rabbit which is a candidate for endangered species protection. Pygmy rabbits need soil suited for burrow excavation, as well as healthy sagebrush for nutrition and concealment from predators.
Timbered Dome provides year-round habitat for chukar, raptors, migratory songbirds, and other birds. The ranch is also a migratory corridor for elk, deer and antelope. Last winter approximately 250 elk and 500 mule deer made Timbered Dome their home. The property is located approximately 10 miles west of the town of Arco and just east of Craters of the Moon National Monument. Sagebrush and native grasses are predominant vegetation except at the summit of Timbered Dome, where various species of pine give the property its name. Scott Boettger, Wood River Land Trust Executive Director, noted, “Working with the neighboring landowners and through our continued partnership with the Pioneers Alliance, the Land Trust hopes to leverage our ownership of this property into even greater area-wide agricultural and wildlife habitat conservation.” The purchase of this property was made possible by generous donations from individuals and foundations to the Land Trust’s Open Space Fund and the cooperation of SFW and SIMDF. m
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Last winter approximately 250 elk and 500 mule deer made Timbered Dome their home.
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connections Neher Preserve Workday, May 26
Volunteers Spotlight
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S u m m e r W o r k d ay s 2 0 1 0
d and Carmen Northen moved to the Wood River Valley in June, 2003. Since they had lived near the ocean for so many years, they thought they should experience the mountain winter before taking the plunge. They moved here for two years and fell in love with the
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Back row, left to right: Joy Cimmiyotti, Emily Andrews, Alisa Reed, Fred Partridge, Polly Huggins. Front row: Steve Grupe, Kristen Doman, Stephanie Thompson, Rhett Gomes, Ed Papenberg, Carl Freg, Terry Gregory
Howard Preserve Workday, June 5
Left to right: Kim Mazik, Fran MacDonald, Gail Wenger, Tom McAuliffe, Florence Blanchard, Tom Blanchard, Carol Blackburn, Mike Mattias, Linda Johnston, Stephanie Thompson, Steve Carlisle, Kristen Doman
Boxcar Bend Preserve Workday, June 19
Members of the Hemingway Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Wood River Land Trust volunteered for weed pulling and putting new wood chips on the trails. A BBQ was presented when the work was done
uncrowded spaces, the nearness of the Big Wood River and Silver Creek, and easily accessible mountain ranges for hiking, fishing, mountain biking, and camping. They are involved with the Hemingway Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which they helped revive. Ed is currently president of the Hemingway Chapter, and Carmen is on the Idaho Trout Unlimited state council. Both are fishing guides for Silver Creek Outfitters. The two of them are committed to being good stewards of the Land Trust’s Boxcar Bend Preserve, and they have spent countless hours maintaining trails, pulling weeds, and performing other land management duties. Of their association with the Land Trust, Carmen notes that they liked the idea of being involved with a local conservation group. “It seemed a natural choice to team up on projects since we have the same goals in wanting to protect the river and the wild areas of the valley.” m
Birding at Croy Creek Wetlands
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n May, Wood River High School biology teacher Larry Barnes and his “Birds of the Rockies” class conducted mist netting of birds at the Croy Creek wetlands in Hailey. The thin mesh-like nets are designed to snare birds in flight without injuring them and allow for banding birds and tracking bird populations. This is the fourth year Larry and his students have done their bird survey at Croy Creek. “North of Silver Creek, the Croy Creek wetlands are the best” for biodiversity, said Barnes. The information gleaned from the bird studies will be incorporated in the interpretive signage to be installed at the Croy Creek Wetlands Boardwalk (see story on pages 1, 4 and 5). m
Yellow Warbler in the gentle hands of a student
Howard Community Picnic 2010
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n September 18, the Land Trust presented the 7th annual Howard Community Picnic which was held along the river in Bellevue at the Howard Preserve. Over 300 friends joined us on a beautiful day. The improvements made at the preserve were made possible by the Friends of the Howard Preserve. Mike Howard brought his fiancée Mary, family, and Tres Pinos Inn staff from California to set up and cook some of his specialties. The lamb sirloin from Lava Lake Lamb was grilled perfectly thanks to Tom Blanchard and Larry Meyers. Everyone brought all kinds of side dishes, salads, and desserts, so there was no shortage of good homemade food. Once again, the band Slow Children Playing gave a crowdpleasing performance. m
Poo Wright Pulliam and Jean Seymour at the 7th annual Howard Community Picnic
New Signs at Draper Wood River Preserve
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he old Cedar Bend entrance to the Draper Wood River Preserve has a new sign at the south-east entrance to the Preserve along Cedar Street in Hailey. There are also trail markers at other entrance points along the street. m
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Aspen Drive House
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n 2007, the Land Trust completed a land trade with the State of Idaho that increased the size of the existing Cedar Bend Preserve by 80 acres – the new preserve was renamed Draper Wood River Preserve. Adjacent to the new preserve land were a house and lot at 541 Aspen Drive that came up for sale in 2008. The Land Trust purchased the house for staff housing and began renovation soon after. The first order of business was putting on a new roof. The Aspen Drive side of the house had an unattractive featureless façade. Working with Eddy Svidgal Architects and K&M Construction we gave the entrance a bit of panache, adding a porch and sidelights, posts and beams, paver walkway, and stone retaining wall. A new coat of paint, as well as some landscaping, has made a big difference. Our Stewardship Coordinator lives in the Aspen Drive house now and keeps an eye on the Preserve. m
East facing wall, seen at left, was flat and featureless. The new entry, seen above, gives the home a needed facelift and brings light in See
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A Note from the Building Material Thrift Store
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he Building Material Thrift Store motto has always been to find a complementary use for salvaged material or to promote an entirely new use. After Hailey won approval for new rodeo grounds and other recreational facilities, we talked with the City about dismantling the old Hailey Rodeo grounds arena and saving the murals on the fence. Most of the salvaged materials were sold to be used in the remodeling of a home near Hagerman. The non-profit Hunger Coalition claimed bleacher seats to build raised beds in the Hope Garden, the community garden near the old Courthouse in Hailey. Our customers are certainly visionaries in the ways they re-use salvaged material. The rodeo vignettes around the arena fence were painted around 1997 by local artist Mary Roberson. We very carefully removed those sections of the fence, and they are stored with the City of Hailey for later installation. BMTS is a service-oriented recycling outlet for high quality construction materials and furniture. Besides keeping building materials out of the landfill waste stream, proceeds from sales at BMTS support the work of the Wood River Land Trust. Come visit our store at 3930 S. Woodside Blvd. and see what’s new! Call us at 788-0014 or see our website: buildingmaterialthriftstore.org. m
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Planned Giving: Charitable Remainder Trust Kingman and Cindy Lambert
Members of the Wood River Land Trust since 2003 Background: King graduated from the University of Virginia after World War II, and then spent 22 years as an aviator in the Marines. After he concluded his military career, he built and managed two tennis facilities in southern California. His top priorities are his wife Cindy, their two daughters and circuit tennis. In 1994, King and Cindy moved to Sun Valley where they reside for the majority of the year; the remaining time they spend in the California desert. Why King and Cindy named the Wood River Land Trust as a beneficiary of a Charitable Remainder Trust: “It’s quite obvious. The Land Trust does such a good job in this area, especially with the river. Being close to the environment in which you live—it’s not only the way you live but what you participate in. The Land Trust understands that. There is no better place to contribute.” If you would like more information on planned giving, contact Natalie Spencer, Major Gifts Officer, at 788-3947, or nspencer@woodriverlandtrust.org.
“It’s quite obvious. The Land Trust does such a good job in this area, especially with the river...”
Planned Giving Options: Meeting Your Charitable and Financial Goals
Planned Giving is a term that refers to setting up a mechanism to make a gift that benefits a charitable organization at some time in the future. No matter how you arrange your planned gift, it will have distinct tax, financial, and charitable benefits. Always consult with your financial advisor.
Bequest is the simplest method of Planned Giving. A provision in the donor’s will provides a gift to charity out of the donor’s estate.
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WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST Protecting the Heart of the Valley Board of Directors Jack Kueneman, President Trent Jones, Vice President John French, Treasurer Robin Garwood, Secretary David Anderson Ed Cutter John Flattery Heather King Jane Mason Liz Mitchell Rebecca Patton Wolf Riehle John Fell Stevenson Megan Stevenson Steve Strandberg Joan Swift Barbara Thrasher Doris Tunney
Staff
Scott Boettger Executive Director
Melanie Dahl Executive Assistant
Erika Phillips
Senior Project Coordinator
Trey Spaulding
Now and for the Future Advisory Committee Ranney Draper Larry Schoen John Seiller Tom Swift Bruce Tidwell Liz Warrick
Director of Operations
This newsletter is published by:
Natalie Spencer
Wood River Land Trust
Director of Development
Ashley Wells Development Assistant
Keri York
Stewardship Coordinator
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
a Other ways to make a charitable gift are the Charitable Remainder Trust, Charitable Lead Trust, and Gift Annuity. These can be structured in such a way that a fund is established so that the donor receives some income for a specific period of time or until the time of the donor’s death. For this type of Planned Gift, the Land Trust recommends that donors look to a large charitable fund such as the Idaho Community Foundation (idcomfdn.org) to administer the gift. A charitable gift to the Wood River Land Trust provides for the enduring protection of land, water, and wildlife in the Wood River Valley and surrounding areas.
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wood river land trust
Brown trout caught in Big Wood River below Magic Reservoir
Acres permanently protected with your support: 11,930
fall 2010 We’re Almost There, pages 1, 4, and 5 Water Below Magic Dam, page 6 Timbered Dome, page 7 Birding at Croy Creek Wetlands, page 9 Howard Community Picnic 2010, page 9 New Signs at Draper Wood River Preserve, page 9
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Aspen Drive House, page 10
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Wood River Land Trust protects and restores land, water, and wildlife habitat in the Wood River Valley and its surrounding areas. We work cooperatively with private landowners and local communities to ensure these areas are protected now and for future generations.
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WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST Protecting the Heart of the Valley
Now and for the Future
119 East Bullion Street Hailey, Idaho 83333 www.woodriverlandtrust.org ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
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