2018 GLT Annual Report

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2018 ANNUAL REPORT 1. Sandhill cranes at the Dale Saunders Crane Sanctuary in Trapper Creek 2. Winter sunset over Campbell Creek Estuary 3. Monitoring the Knik River Islands Conservation Easement 4. Campbell Creek Estuary 5. Mud Lake 6. Fall colors at Spring Creek Farm 7. The Wasilla Creek Boardwalk 8. Ribbon cutting for the Audubon Wayside

2018 6

projects completed

125 36

volunteer hours

easements monitored

3,300 77 1

BY THE NUMBERS

new acres conserved

new donors hoedown

NOTE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 2018 was an incredible year for Great Land Trust. Together, we completed a wide variety of projects as we continue to build a remarkable conservation legacy for Alaska.

Work of this magnitude and quality is only possible because of our extended GLT family. Our experienced and devoted staff, dedicated board of directors, and supporters like YOU - who contribute your time, expertise, community advocacy, and financial support – make meeting GLT’s mission 'to conserve and steward the lands and waters essential to the quality of life and economic health of Alaskans' a reality.

We had much to celebrate in 2018 - from protecting prime agricultural land, to increasing public access to outdoor recreation opportunities, to conserving valuable salmon habitat and creating wildlife corridors.

And there's more coming in 2019: Already this year, we have completed a landmark project, Long Island, conserving 1,200 acres of unique habitat and history near Kodiak, while also ensuring permanent public access.

GLT has multiple projects underway on the Kenai River that improve public access and protect important habitat.

We are conserving essential salmon habitat near Talkeetna and by purchasing inholdings in the Palmer Hay Flats.

A large coastal property near downtown Valdez and the ferry terminal will be purchased for habitat conservation and public access, including trails with stunning 360degree views.

Thank you for supporting Great Land Trust. The legacy we are building together is real, it is forever, and it is because of all of you.

- Ellen Kazary

Your GLT staff: Matt, Austin, Ellen, Libby, Amanda, & Dave

LAND CONSERVED Spring Creek Farm

Spring Creek Farm is currently the largest privately-owned working farm in Southcentral Alaska and is located in the fastest-growing region of the state, where productive farmland is rapidly declining. The farm property is in an area of diverse land cover types ranging from mixed woodlands, riparian, high alpine, and agricultural environments. Through a collaboration between GLT, Alaska Farmland Trust, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), the DeWolf-Kellogg Trust, and Alaska Pacific University (APU), a 74-acre portion of Kellogg Spring Creek Farm will remain farmland forever. This project helps to ensure that the many programs run by the farm will continue to provide for students and community members into the future.

Shelter Cove

Shelter Cove is a 112-acre property located outside of Cordova in Prince William Sound. Coastal temperate rainforests like this one are rare globally, occurring in only six or seven places in the world where mountains abut the ocean at high latitudes. Many species are supported by this rich habitat.

Chinook, coho and pink salmon utilize Fleming Creek. Bears, moose, and lynx roam the land. Eagles, ravens, and many other resident and migratory birds come here for food, shelter, and security. The property was donated by Lorna Stern to benefit the community of Cordova in honor of her late husband, John “Jack” Stern, Jr., who always wished to maintain the property in its natural state. GLT and Copper River Watershed Project (CRWP) shared Lorna’s vision for this special property. Today, GLT holds a conservation easement on the property and CRWP owns it.

Nic'anilen Na'

This 40-acre property, originally owned by Ruth McHenry and Cliff Eames, lies near the confluence of the Tonsina and Copper rivers. An influx of groundwater here creates rare, clear water streams that remain open through winter and encourage rich species diversity. In their time here, Ruth and Cliff have seen and documented a diversity of migratory and resident birds, small and large mammals, and 3 species of salmon. Their desire to see the land remain in a relatively natural state, subject to the ebbs and flows of natural change, influenced their decision to donate the land to the Wrangell Institute for Science and Environment (WISE) with a conservation easement held by Great Land Trust. It is their intent to safeguard this habitat for wildlife and provide a space for WISE to implement its goals of doing research, environmental education, and stewardship.

IN 2018 Settlers Bay Coastal Park

In 2013, the owners of the Settlers Bay Golf Course approached GLT with an interest in conserving some of the undeveloped property within the Settlers Bay neighborhood as public open space. This vision came true in 2018 when 295-acre Settlers Bay Coastal Park was created. GLT partnered with many agencies, foundations, organizations, and members of the public to raise the funds to purchase the land and donate it to the Mat-Su Borough (MSB). The MSB manages the park land for conservation and public use. Future plans include development of basic park infrastructure, such as trails, parking lots, and overlooks to increase accessibility to the public and encourage public use of this special place. GLT holds a conservation easement on the property to ensure its open space and habitats are protected and conservation values are upheld in perpetuity.

Portage Lake

GLT led a collaboration between the Natives of Kodiak (NOK), the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill (EVOS) Trustee Council, State of Alaska, BLM, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program to permanently protect over 3,000 acres on Northern Afognak Island. The land was purchased from NOK and donated to the State of Alaska with a conservation easement held by BLM. This acquisition completes a contiguous protected wildlife corridor between Afognak Island State Park, the Red Peak unit of the Kodiak Island National Wildlife Refuge (KNWR), and two parcels previously conserved by GLT, creating a conserved area that spans over 180,000 acres. More than 250 species of fish, birds, and terrestrial and marine species rely on this pristine habitat that is also of cultural significance to NOK.

Audubon Wayside

The Audubon Wayside originated in the early 1990’s when the Business Park Wetlands Coalition, along with donations from many groups and citizens, permanently protected a stretch of wetlands in midtown Anchorage. Building upon this work, Great Land Trust teamed up with the Anchorage Audubon Society to use leftover funds from this original project to expand the already existing Audubon Wayside along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. This project would provide enhanced wetlands and wildlife viewing, interpretive opportunities, and greater safety for trail users. The Wayside was completed in early May 2018 and includes interpretive signage and a viewing platform at a small pull-out along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail between Westchester Lagoon and Fish Creek Estuary.

ON THE MAP Since 1995, GLT has conserved almost 55,000 acres for wildlife and local communities. This map shows our protected lands around Southcentral Alaska.

Audubon Wayside Spring Creek Farm Settlers Bay Coastal Park Portage Lake Nic'anilen Na' Shelter Cove

PO Box 101272, Anchorage, AK 99510

Photos courtesy of Carl Johnson, Devdharm Khalsa, Will Koeppen, Zak Melms, Matt McMillan & John Strasenburgh.

2018 ANNUAL REPORT Great Land Trust is a nonprofit founded by Alaskans in 1995 to conserve local lands and waters essential to the quality of life and economic health of our communities.

GLT works in voluntary partnership with landowners, agencies, communities, and other partners throughout Southcentral Alaska, with a focus on the Municipality of Anchorage, the MatSu Borough, Prince William Sound, and Kodiak.

GLT's priority is land conservation for community benefit - we work to protect wetlands that provide clean drinking water, to conserve habitat for salmon and other wildlife, and to build trails and establish access to the outdoors and open space we love.

Board of Directors: John Baker, Kelly Chang, Mark Dalton, Jon Goltz, Bri Kelly, Sara Jansen, Mark Kroloff, Dick LeFebvre, Molly McCammon, Caryn Rea, Gretchen Specht, Cathie Straub Emeritus Directors: Gary Baugh, Pat Pourchot, Marty Rutherford, Susan Ruddy, Jim Stratton Honorary Directors: Linda Kumin, Eric McCallum & Robin Smith, John McManamin, Arliss Sturgulewski, Ruth Wood & John Strasenburgh

www.greatlandtrust.org