2022 Annual Report

Wasilla Creek Boardwalk

LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

At the end of 2022, we gathered with our friends and supporters at the annual Winter Party – in person and inside for the first time since 2019. Being back together in the same room, sharing food and drink, and catching up about GLT’s work renewed our energy and provided further motivation for completing valuable, meaningful, lasting work in the company of really good people. It was also a clear and memorable reminder that the mission and goals of GLT align with the personal goals of all of you.

While enjoying the fabulous conversations, the upbeat music, and the festive décor at the party, I also felt deeply grateful – for the work we get to do, for the land we are protecting and all it provides us, and for the amazing community of partners and supporters who sustain GLT year after year THANK YOU

Our work at GLT is intentionally strategic and based on an array of plans and prioritizations that guide us in how and where we can have the most significant impact An important element of our strategy also includes securing resources, creating space for, and maintaining the ability to be flexible, nimble, and able to quickly and effectively embrace new opportunities

Supporters like you provide invaluable resources which enable our ability to both implement our long-term plans and to seize exciting opportunities that sporadically arise, like the Settlers Bay Coastal Park expansion project which we will complete at the end of March 2023

From our initial contact with the landowner to the purchase and donation of the property to the Mat-Su Borough, we will have completed the project in under one year – an impressive pace for a complex land deal that required securing substantial funding, coordinating with a local government, and designing a nearly 200-acre expansion to the popular Settlers Bay Coastal Park while protecting salmon streams and wildlife habitat.

As we celebrate the successes of 2022 and look forward to more exciting projects in 2023 and beyond, our gratitude for your support remains a constant. Thank you for sharing your passion and support – it both motivates and empowers us to continue the important work of forever protecting what we love most about Alaska.

Bodenburg Butte - Ellen

STAFF

Mélisa Babb

Conservation Project Manager

Amanda Hults

Lands Manager & Stewardship Director

Ellen Kazary

Executive Director

Libby Kugel

Communications & Administration Manager

Dave Mitchell

Conservation Director

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Cathie Straub (Chair), Sara Jansen (Vice-Chair), Gretchen Specht (Treasurer), Jon Goltz (Secretary), John Baker, Mark Dalton, Larry Hartig, Becca Pilipchuk, Traci Schacht, Ethan Tyler

HONORARY DIRECTORS

Linda Kumin, John McManamin, Eric McCallum & Robin Smith, John Strasenburgh & Ruth Wood

EMERITUS DIRECTORS

To conserve and steward the lands and waters essential to the quality of life and economic health of Alaskans.

Gary Baugh, Dick LeFebvre, Molly McCammon, Pat Pourchot, Susan Ruddy

2022 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

In 2022, we completed one new conservation easement and one conservation easement amendment, adding 121 acres of undeveloped habitat to our list of conserved lands. Many of our projects take multiple years of diligent work to complete; we currently have more than 10 active projects throughout our service area, with three that will likely be completed in early 2023.

Blueberry Pond Conservation Easement

In the final days of 2022, we finalized the Blueberry Pond conservation easement with landowners Ruth Wood and John Strasenburgh, permanently protecting 115 acres of habitat in the Talkeetna area The conservation easement was donated by the landowners and is the fourth conservation easement project that GLT has completed with Ruth and John, who have been longtime supporters of the organization

Goodwin Conservation Easement Amendment

In 2013, Rocky and Sue Goodwin donated a conservation easement to Great Land Trust on 40 acres in the Palmer-Fishhook community. The 40 acres includes Dandy Lake, and their homesite where they lived since they bought the property in 1970. Over the last decade since the conservation easement was put into place, a lot has changed around Dandy Lake. Rocky sadly passed away unexpectedly in 2019. The PalmerFishhook area has seen major growth and development. In 2022, GLT finished working with Sue to complete an amendment to her original conservation easement, adding an additional 3.56 acres under its protection. Adding this additional land to the existing conservation easement will further protect the conservation values of the property by providing a buffer between development and the vital habitat surrounding Dandy Lake.

Settlers Bay Coastal Park Scenic Overlook

Over the summer, Great Land Trust wrapped up work on an accessible scenic overlook platform at Settlers Bay Coastal Park. The overlook is a short walk from parking and offers gorgeous views of the Palmer Hay Flats State Game Refuge, Upper Cook Inlet, and the Chugach Mountains. With interpretive signs and a nice bench, the overlook is a perfect spot to take a break during a hike around the park, and a great place to watch for all kinds of birds and wildlife.

WHAT'S AHEAD

We've got an exciting slate of projects poised to be completed in the first few months of 2023

Recovering Native Homelands in the Copper River Valley

We are partnering with the Native Village of Tazlina to help recover and conserve their traditional homeland This project will return their traditional subsistence fishing sites near the confluence of the Copper and Tazlina Rivers to the Native Village

Expanding Recreation Opportunities in the Mat-Su

GLT plans to purchase 187 acres of undeveloped land that is adjacent to the current Settlers Bay Coastal Park by the end of March 2023 and donate the land to the Mat-Su Borough to be incorporated into the current park

Protecting River Habitat and Access on the Kenai

GLT is facilitating the purchase of a parcel along the lower Kenai River that will both conserve important salmon habitat and address access issues along this popular stretch of river

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

Our Commitment to the Land

Permanent stewardship of the lands GLT has conserved is at the very foundation of our work as a land trust Years of diligent, detailed, hard work goes into the initial conservation of a property Assuming responsibility for a conservation easement is a permanent commitment and a growing element of GLT’s ongoing work as our organization ages, development and populations increase and change around our protected properties, and the roster of conservation easements GLT holds grows While the stewardship of previously protected properties may not grab headlines or pique interest in the way that new projects do, upholding and enforcing conservation easements is perhaps the most critical part of our work This perpetual commitment to land conservation ensures that protected open spaces, wetlands, salmon streams, and wildlife habitats remain viable for this generation, the next, and each generation to come

As of the end of 2022, GLT holds 41 conservation easements covering 10,500 acres of land in Southcentral Alaska The success of our stewardship program is based on diligent monitoring of each conservation easement-protected property with an annual visit and through fostering and maintaining relationships with the landowners, neighbors, and volunteers who help us steward the land We take a proactive approach, working year-round to uphold our easements and prevent violations from occurring.

Eklutna River Estuary Restoration

We were lucky to have Javier Acuna and Cooper Arend both join us for a second year as Land Stewards in 2022

A recent example of the importance and effectiveness of our stewardship efforts is illustrated by the ultimate success we had in dealing with a major trespass violation to the land protected by the Eklutna River Estuary Conservation Easement

In 2017, GLT discovered that a trespasser severely damaged a large section of the Eklutna River Estuary conservation easement-protected property. In 2021, as a result of our persistence and hard work, GLT staff and our legal team were successful in reaching a substantial settlement that allowed us to recoup all legal costs as well as fund restoration of the conserved property.

While dealing with trespass damage and violations to conservation easements isn’t the most fun part of our jobs, it is the most important. We are thrilled to know that our work over the past years, and your continued support of our mission, enables us to uphold our promises to permanent conservation and to future generations.

In 2022, GLT staff worked with a restoration expert and an experienced landscaping team to develop a restoration plan which was implemented in September 2022. The restoration team spent two weeks preparing for and planting hundreds of native species of trees and plants, installing fencing to protect against moose browse, and preparing for irrigation over the next few growing seasons. We will monitor the restored area with extra attention over the coming years to make sure the newly planted trees and shrubs continue to grow and that the area is recovering

While complete restoration will take years, due to the severity of the trespass damage, the restoration plan and implementation has set the property on the path to full recovery, which would not have occurred without our persistence and diligence. We look forward to seeing the impacted area move towards full recovery and we are proud of the success of our work to uphold the conservation easement and honor our commitment – to our supporters, funders, and community - to permanently protecting these priority lands.

GLT staff, legal team, and restoration experts at the Eklutna River Estuary property during the September 2022 initial restoration work

BY THE NUMBERS

27 years of conservation and community 10 120

miles of salmon streams protected

14,200

2 13

farm conservation projects

projects that include trails and boardwalks properties opened to public access

32 14

estuaries conserved

acres of wetlands protected public parks created

Wasilla Creek Boardwalk

Matanuska River

Palmer Slough

Mud Lake

Dewolf Kellogg Spring Creek Farm

O'Brien Creek Estuary

Campbell Creek Estuary Natural Area

THANK YOU TO OUR 2022 DONORS

Carolyn & Jerry Allen

Monica Alvarez

Erika Ammann

Peggy Ammann

Jim Anderson & Karola Moore*

Paul & Karen Anderson*

Anonymous

Candy Aragon

John Arganian

Robert & Peggy Auth

Brendan Babb & Megan Ledger

Adam Babcock

Adrian Baer

John & Lynda Baker*, **

Pamela Barbeau

Martha Barber

Frankie Barker

Molly Bartel*

Laura Bartholomae

Base Camp Anchorage Hostel

Gary Baugh*

Chris & Miriam Beck

Adrian & Brad Bell

Molly Benson

Cindy Bettine & Mike Butcher

Julia Bevins

BGES, Inc.

Patty Bielawski*, **

John Blaine

Elizabeth Blassingham

Jonathan Blattmachr

Chris & Judy Bockmon*

Dan Bogan & Luise Woelflein

William Brennan

Bill Britt & Nancy Nolan*

Elissa Brown & Chris Pike

Annie Brownlee

Nina Brudie

Sigrid Brudie & Jay Marvin

Trevor Bunkers

Lowell & Alif Burgett

Shelby Burridge

Mark Butler

Calais Company*

Judy Caminer & Roger Marks

Michael Campbell

Bryan Carey & Bronwen Wang

Barbara & Michael Carlson

Karla & Daniel Carpenter

Terry Carpenter

Ken Cassity

Kelly Chang*

Stephen Charles

Patricia Chesbro

Tom Choate

Sandra & John Christopherson

Jo Clark

John Clark & Janis Skliar*

Travis & Brianna Cooper

Lamar Cotten

Chris Cotterall*

Carolyn & Bob Covington

Donald Crandall**

Peter Crimp & Paula Cullenberg

Harold Curran & Karla Kolash

Susan Dabelsteen

Kristin Dahl

Anna Dalton

Mark & Cami Dalton*, **

Willie Dalton

John DeLapp & Martha Farris

Jeff & Lorri Denton

The Denver Foundation*

George & Brenda Dickison

Mike Dieni

Louise Driscoll

John Duffy & Pamela Bergmann**

Robert & Sherry Dugan*

Greg Durocher

Delphine Dyer

Cliff Eames & Ruth McHenry

Kenneth Eggers

Ethan, Elizabeth & Riley Elliott

Nora Elliott

Andy Erickson

Diane Eskenasy & Tim Aldrich

William Estelle

David & Diana Evans

Ruth & Charles Fahl*

Scott Fahrney

Anne Fiedler

Larry & Glenda Field

Shawn & Rona Florio

The Foraker Group

Keith & Jane Fountain

Tess & Ryan Frenchik

Kay Gajewski

Jennifer Galbreath

Dale Gardner

Richard Geiger

Jon Gerken

Sally Gibert & Dick Mylius

Emma Giboney

Ayse & Chuck Gilbert*

Nelson & Margaret Gingerich

Dan & Cathy Gleason

Ben Goltz

Jon & Else Goltz

Keith Goltz

Noah Goltz

Sue Goodwin*, **

Carol Gore*

Amanda Goss

Marin Granholm

Rachel Greenberg

Andrew Gregovich

Tom Griffin

Mark Gronewald

Shawana Guzenski*

Nim Ha

Robert Hall

Tamara Harper

Larry Hartig*

Christie Haupert

Dot Helm*

Cynthia Hendel

Eric Henderson

Ken & Cindy Higgins

Doug Hill**

Fred Hirschmann

Carol Hoblitzell

Kirk Hoessle

Mimi Hogan

Laurie & Sean Holland

Amy Holman

Charles Holmes & Dianne

Gudgel-Holmes

David & Mary Holmquist

Natalie Hood

Russell & Julie Hood

Marilyn Houser

David Hudspeth

Elise Huggins

David & Linda Hulen

Amanda & Chad Hults

Bob Hume

Henry & Kathleen Huntington

Jerry Hupp & Gail Volt

Gail Irvine

Sara Jansen & Randy Jones*, **

Mike & Darlene Jens*

Michael & Katharina Jensen*

Charlene Johnson

Kirk & Leslie Johnson

Steve & Barbara Johnson

Dave Johnston & Carolyn Sayre

Grace & Ross Johnston*

Brett & Martha Jokela

Tim & Melinda Jones

Patricia Joyner

Richard Judd & Lee Ann Gardner

Emily Junck

Marc & Susan June

K&L Distributors*

Rosemary Karish

Jon Katcher & Kate Michaels*

Ellen Kazary & Chris Carlin**

Sharon & Robert Kazary

Taylor Keegan

Christopher Kennedy & Lynne

Gallant*

Kentner Family Charitable Fund*

Anne Kessler

Keystone Surveying & Mapping

Janet Kincaid

Gerald Kintz

Susan Klein

Elizabeth Knapp & Mike Still

Robert Knapp

Steve & Katya Koteff

Steve & Jolie Krasinski

Mark & Leslie Kroloff*

Ken & Peggy Kugel

Libby Kugel

Linda Kumin*

Allison Lamb

Thomas Lance

Andrea Lang

Janice & Jay Laxson

John & Claire LeClair

Dick LeFebvre*

Stuart Leidner & Nina Chambers

Virginia Bonnie Lembo & Bob Bundy*

Konrad Liegel & Karen Atkins

Kristin Link

Leonard & Patricia Linton

Dean Littlepage & Jeanne Moe**

Brian & Sue Looney

Harlan Loso

Ruby Loso

Mark & Cheryl Lovegreen

Marie Lundstrom

Craig Lyon

Cynthia Lyons

Jim & Dianne Mahaffey*

Julian Mason & Margie MacNeille*

Mark & Judy Masteller**

Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union

Warren & Donna Matthews

Susan Mauger

Robin Mayo

Eric McCallum & Robin Smith*, **

Molly McCammon*, **

Colleen McDonald

Stephen McKeever & Nancy

Wainwright

John McManamin*

Corinne & Michael McVee

Thomas & Jane Meacham

Kathy Means

Joe Meehan

Peter Melde

Eric Menck

Jacob Mendenhall

Vivian Mendenhall*

Allison Meyers*

Julie Millington

Alan Mitchell & Tamara Matlock

Dave Mitchell & Elise Gelbart

Ann & Jerry Mitchell

Peter Mjos & Karen Ruud*

Stanton Moll & Rosa Meehan

Peter Montesano & Ann Lindsey*

Ted & Ginny Moore

Lisa Moorehead & Bob Dittrick

Jack & Rosemary Mosby

Diane & Mike Moxness*

Nino Muniz & Laurie Silfven

Nancy Munro*

Eric Myers

Molly Mylius

Paul Nagl

Dean Nelson & Rhonda Roberts

Kimberly Nielsen

Helen & Gayle Nienhueser

Tim Nixon

Michael Norton

Monica O'Keefe**

Ruth O'Rourke

Mary & Gary Ott

Jill Parson

Jeremy Pataky

John & Kathy Patton

Eric & Harriet Paule

Mimi & Willy Peabody

Nancy Pease

Christopher & Theresa Perez

Rachel Perlot & Jack Conger

Bill Petrik

Idamarie Piccard

Becca Pilipchuk

Steve & Shannon Planchon

Thomas Plawman & Andrea

Cordano

Julia Plotnik

Sue Pope & Jim Thiele*, **

Shawna Popovici

Pat Pourchot & Jennifer Johnson*

Carl Propes

William Pyle

John & Connie Quinley

Stephanie & Austin Quinn

Davidson**

Sandy Rabinowitch & Elizabeth

Barry

Taylor Raftery

John & Diane Ramey

Ann Rappoport & David Irons

Laurel Renkert & Zak Melms*, **

Bud Rice

Jeffrey Richards

Bruce & Elizabeth Richter Family

Fund

Paul Risse & Nancy Darigo

Susan Rogers

Max Romey

The Frances & David Rose

Foundation*

Beth Rosenberg

Herb & Donna Ross

Kirsten Rothacker

Ann & Thomas Rothe

Susan Ruddy**

Larry Rundquist

Ryan Rupert

Barbara Rydall

Matias Saari

Pauletta Sawyer

Traci Schacht*

Karl & Ley Schleich

Beverly Short & Joel Schmutz

Michael Schneider

John & Mary Beth Schoen

Cassandra & Martin Schoofs

Mike Schroeder

Sandra Schubert

John & Carolyn Schultz*, **

Seattle Foundation*

Lena Sessions

Conrad Shultz & Maia Hoover

Carl & Pixie Siebe

Alison Smith & Kurt Egelhofer

Kyle Smith & Renea Saade

Linda & Michael Smith

Michael Smith

Gillian Smythe

Dick & Liska Snyder

Kim Sollien**

David & Andy Sonneborn*

Gretchen Specht*, **

Holly Spoth-Torres*

Leonard Steinberg

Brad Stern

Stephen Stoney & Becky

Zembower

John Strasenburgh & Ruth Wood*, **

Jim Stratton**

Cathie Straub & Jeff Loughrey*, **

Stacy Studebaker

Kevin Sullivan & Hannah Griego

Nancy Swanton

Bruce Talbot*

William Taygan

Ken Taylor**

Scott Taylor & Cami Oechsli

Taylor*

Thais Thomas

Peg & Jules Tileston

Craig Tillery & Phyllis Johnson

Thede Tobish & Lisa Oakley

Chad Trammell

Tim Troll

Dave & Marcia Trudgen*

Paul Twardock & Dana Bruden

Margareth Twigg

Ethan Tyler*

Mark Vail

Puck Van Dommelen

Wendy Van Orman

Vicki Vermillion

Venable Vermont, Jr

William & Heidi Wailand

Jack Wakeland

Steve & Marcia Wakeland**

Bob Waldrop*, **

Tara Walker

Walter Walske

John Weddleton

Jenny Weis*

Simon & Julia Wigren

Marc Wilhelm

Chance Williams

Connie Wolfe**

Erika Wolter

Jonathan Wood

Helen Woodings

Mark Worcester

Barbara Yanoshek

Ken & Chris Zafren

Emilia Zartman & Ed

Kamienski

Jon & Stephanie Zuck

* = Raven Circle

** = Legacy Circle

FUNDERS

AARP

Alaska Conservation Foundation

Alaska Sustainable Salmon

Fund/ADF&G

ConocoPhilips

Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council

Matanuska Electric Association

Charitable Foundation

Mat-Su Health Foundation

Mat-Su Trails & Parks Foundation

National Fish & Wildlife Foundation

Rasmuson Foundation

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Coastal Program

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program

U.S. Forest Service Community Forest Program

Wasilla Creek Boardwalk

Photo credits: Javier Acuna, Cooper Arend, Carl Johnson, Will Koeppen, Libby Kugel, Matt McMillan, Dave Mitchell, Nathaniel Wilder