2019 Fall VLT Outlook

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

1ST PLACE, ANCIENT, SHARON LOBEL

VLT Nature Contest Once Upon a Watershed Wildlife Profile: The Western Toad

2ND PLACE, SHADES OF SPRING, RUSS BISHOP

Vol. 15 No. 2 Fall 2019

3RD PLACE, COAL MINE CANYON, RON BOSI

FIFTH GRADE STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT THE VENTURA RIVER ON A FIELD TRIP WITH ONCE UPON A WATERSHED..

PHOTO BY SIMONE NOBLE

VLT partners with Once Upon A Watershed

By David White and Adrienne Stephens

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entura Land Trust (VLT) recently teamed up with the Once Upon a Watershed (OUW) program to expand our outdoor environmental education program and increase the educational uses of our preserves. OUW’s award-winning programs focus on educating students in grades K – 6. VLT’s hands-on Outdoor Field Program is designed for middle school, high school and college students.

OUW currently offers its watershed education programs free of charge to ten schools in the Ventura River watershed. Established in Ojai in 2005, the program is run by Dr. David White with a staff of four part-time highly-skilled field educators. The elementary curriculum is age-appropriate and allows students to participate in actual science-based habitat restoration work.

OUW field trips, which take place at VLT’s Big Rock and Willoughby Preserves as well as the Ventura River estuary, all involve a field stewardship element as well as games and activities to engage students with nature. Funding comes from grants

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and donations, including support this past year from Patagonia Ventura and the Resources Legacy Fund.

VLT’s Outdoor Field Program, run by our stewardship staff, educates students about native and invasive plant and animal species, habitat restoration, fire ecology, water quality, watershed sciences, and the importance of open space preservation. The program also gives students hands-on experience in restoration efforts. VLT has taken thousands of students on outdoor environmental education field trips since the program began in 2004.

The new collaboration between VLT and OUW will allow us to reach more schools throughout Ventura County and connect more students to their natural environment.

Educating the next generation about nature is vital to raising children who will cherish, preserve, protect and restore our native landscapes.

Find out more about VLT’s Educational Program at: https://www.venturalandtrust.org/ education.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE I could not be more excited to be a member of the Ventura Land Trust Board of Trustees. This is a transformative period for VLT. We are making an impact Ventura Countywide in land preservation and restoration and we are also taking a giant leap forward in our work in education.

Education involves imparting knowledge and instilling inspiration. As stewards of the land, I believe it is our duty to do both.

With the adoption of Once Upon a Watershed, we have a proven program that is educating students in Kindergarten through 6th grades in an interactive way from the Ventura Estuary up through the Ojai Meadows Preserve.

Our Outdoor Field Program engages students from middle school through college. By sharing these nature preserves in an educational way, we add to the value they bring to our communities and inspire students of all ages to then share their knowledge and enthusiasm for the beauty and wonder in our midst with others.

Our Environmental Speaker Series is the third leg. Experts in the field bring their knowledge and experience to share with minds of all ages.

Please encourage students and teachers to visit our website for more information. Live to learn!

— Don Wood, Board President

NEW TRUSTEES Sylvia Muñoz Schnopp extends our Board of Trustees reach to our adjacent neighbors in Oxnard and Port Hueneme, using her knowledge of government, economic development, marketing and consulting to enhance VLT’s brain trust.

“I’m excited and fascinated about the work VLT is doing for the region, saving land in perpetuity,” she said.

Her contribution to VLT will be to help with funding, organization and special events.

Sylvia’s energies range from teaching business at Oxnard College to serving in her third term as a Port Hueneme City Councilmember (including three times as Mayor) to serving as REI’s Central Coast Corporate Outreach Coordinator where she advocates for stewarding of the land using collaborative solutions.

Sylvia’s energies range from teaching business at Oxnard College to serving in her third term as a Port Hueneme City Councilmember (including three times as Mayor) to serving as REI’s Central Coast Corporate Outreach Coordinator where she advocates for stewarding of the land using collaborative solutions.

When she worked for AT&T Wireless, she was promoted to National Director for MultiCultural Initiatives.

“Considered a “Living Legend” by local historian Jeff Maulhardt, Sylvia’s roots go back four generations.

She was born and raised in Oxnard, attended local school and holds a B.S. in Business from Cal State Northridge and an MBA from California Lutheran University.

Her roots go back four generations and being bilingual is a plus. When she worked for AT&T Wireless, she was promoted to National Director for MultiCultural Initiatives.

A notable achievement was her Community Advocate Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners during a forum on Capitol Hill.

Mark Watkins joined the the Land Trust last Fall and was immediately thrust into using his civil engineering background.

The Stewardship Committee enlisted him to wrestle with such esoteric matters as access, jurisdiction and public amenity issues.

His public service also came into immediate use as many of our land issues are governed by city, county and various agencies. His prior jobs as Public Works Director (Thousand Oaks) and City Manager (Ventura) helped us navigate the maze.

He and his wife Amy are Ventura residents for more than 30 years, bringing up three daughters, one of whom recently visited Harmon Canyon and loved it, asserting it will be a “game-changer” for the region.

That’s why Mark joined us in his retirement, noting that “government is limited” in providing parks, while a conservancy such as VLT fills the gap, not using taxpayer money but relying on grants and donations.

Long known as a surfing and beach destination, “Ventura is discovering the hillsides” for recreation and open space, which provides wildlife habitat and watershed functions. Free opportunities such as biking, hiking and events enhance Ventura as not only a destination but also an amenity that corporations are using to attract workers.

While Mark believes a lot of local people “don’t know who we are,” awareness is increasing as the Trust is working on opening other lands beyond the two already in hand along the Ventura River.

FALL 2019

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Wild and Scenic Film Festival | 2019 FUN FACTS H 1,000 people attended.

H 73 people rode their bikes to the show.

H 37 generous sponsors

contributed to the success (see list).

H 14 award-winning short films were screened.

H 12 kegs of beer and 11

cases of wine were consumed.

H 2 bands, The Guy Martin

Band and Todd Hannigan & Sleeping Chief, rocked the festival.

One amazing night was shared by all!

PHOTOS BY DINA PIELAET UNLESS LABELED OTHERWISE

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PHOTO BY SCOTT RIPPLE

• $6K was raised from the raffle.

Thank you to our 2019 Wild and Scenic Film Festival Sponsors.

Ashworth Leininger Group Bank of the Sierra California Solar Electric Chang, Johnston & Lefevre City of Ventura - Environmental Sustainability Division Coastal Clean Air Services Coastal Connections Comden, Ridgway and Barosso Cummins Pacific earthlings.digital For Your Home Furniture Joseph & Sons Flowers Karen & Gary Bednorz Latitudes Law Offices of Richard L. Francis Lori’s Lemonade Lorraine Lim Catering Meridian Construction Montecito Bank and Trust Not Just Printing Patagonia Rabobank Real Cheap Sports REI Rincon Consultants Rincon Vitova Searle Creative Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLC Steve and Caroline Doll The Glassman Professional Window Washing Co., Inc. The Refill Shoppe Toad & Co. The Trade Desk TW Land Planing & Development, LLC Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation Ventura Water And, of course many thanks to the Ventura County Credit Union for allowing us to use their beautiful campus for the Festival!

VLT Advisory Council Steps Up Our Game “Sometimes the worst advice is the advice that you don’t get.” So says writer and consultant John Napolitano At Ventura Land Trust, we actively seek out the advice and expertise of others. Until now, VLT ADVISORY COUNCIL that process has Susan Lefevre, Council Chair been informal Mike Anderson and driven by Brooke Ashworth specific issues.

To make it more Melissa Baffa formal and Gary Bednorz focused, we Joseph Brandt recently formed Margot Byrne the Advisory Craig Carey Council “to Brian Clark augment the knowledge and David Comden skill base of the Jim Eisenhart VLT Board of Russell Galipeau Trustees and Jenise Wagar-Hernandez staff in order Jimmy Hopper to effectively Dr. Jacob Jenkins serve our geographically Kate Larramendy and culturally Suz Montgomery diverse Banks Pecht communities.”

Andrew Powers Made up of 22 Carmen Ramirez environmentallyJill Shaffer minded business, Tom Weisel education and Gina Wolowicz community leaders, VLT’s Advisors represent a breadth and depth of knowledge that will help us reach more people, raise more money and set and achieve larger goals.

After only two meetings, it’s already apparent that our advisors are creative thinkers with big ideas. We are very grateful to each advisor for stepping up to help and to Susan Lefevre, the Advisory Council Chair, for working tirelessly to get this important group off the ground.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Don Wood, President Dennis Kulzer, Vice-President John Hankins, Secretary Sunjay Moorthy, Treasurer Karen Bednorz Steve Doll Susan Lefevre Paul Meehan Jane Montague Sylvia Muñoz-Schnopp Ed Wehan Mark Watkins Scott Weiss

OUR MISSION

The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.

VENTURA LAND TRUST OUTLOOK (805) 643-8044 PO Box 1284 Ventura CA 93002 www.venturalandtrust.org

Outlook is published semi-annually by Ventura Land Trust, a 501(c)(3) California non-profit organization.

Copyright ©2019 Ventura Land Trust.

All rights reserved.

Story ideas and submissions are welcomed.

Editor: Scott Ripple Editor Emerita: Brooke Ashworth Contributors: Kate Furlong, Adrienne Stephens, David White, John Hankins, Sam Martin Design and Layout: T Christian Gapen VLT is a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance — www.lta.org and the California Council of Land Trusts – www.callandtrusts.org

FALL 2019

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The Western Toad

PHOTO CREDIT: JESSICA WEST

WILDLIFE PROFILE:

By Kate Furlong, Stewardship Director

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he Western toad, Anaxyrus boreas, is a large toad species that can grow to be 15 cm long. They are native to Ventura and most of the western United States. Their skin is brown and bumpy which helps them hide well in leaf litter. Western toads are a regular sight at VLT’s Hayden Preserve.

The toads lay their eggs in waterways. After hatching, they spend roughly 45 days as tadpoles before the metamorphosis into being a toad occurs. This happens from mid-May to late September. The juvenile toads that emerge are a tiny 1 cm (0.39 inch) long.

When they are small, they are easily mistaken for tree frogs. Unlike frogs, toads do not have long back legs and mostly clamber around or use small hops rather than jump. Toads also have skin that is dry and thicker than frogs which allows them to live a more terrestrial lifestyle. When

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Ventura Land Trust • Outlook

they are fully grown, they can be mistaken for American bullfrogs which are an invasive species that wreak havoc on native species.

The western toad’s most identifying trait, besides their massive size, is their cream/yellow dorsal line that runs vertically down their backs.

Western toads play an important role in many ecosystems and are credited for maintaining insects at a healthy level.

Though the western toad is not federally listed as a threatened or endangered species yet, like all amphibians, their populations are decreasing rapidly due to habitat loss, changing climate conditions, fungal diseases, overuse of fertilizers, and invasive species. VLT works to protect amphibians and all other native species by protecting open spaces, restoring habitats and educating people about the complex ecosystems around us

VENTURA LAND TRUST

HONORABLE MENTION WATCHING OVER THE HERD | SHARON LOBEL

Nature Photo Contest

By Adrienne Stephens

S

tunning sunsets, lovely landscapes, beautiful birds – these images and many more make up Ventura Land Trust’s Nature Photography Contest and Exhibit on display now through November 30th at Ventura’s Rincon Brewery, 4100 Telegraph Rd. This summer, VLT invited local photographers, both amateur and professional, to submit original nature photographs for consideration. From the more than 225 entries, a panel of experienced judges selected 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners (see cover), three honorable mention photos and 40 finalist shots which make up the exhibit. All photographs are currently for sale with a portion of the proceeds going to Ventura Land Trust.

HONORABLE MENTION BROWN PELICAN ON RIO GRANDE | BRUCE SCHOPPE

Ventura Land Trust is grateful to the many people who helped make the exhibit a reality including: Dan Holmes for his leadership, talent and artistic eye; Rincon Brewery’s Luisa Hyatt and Jason Steffenauer for allowing us to use the restaurant’s walls as the perfect backdrop; and, of course, the hundreds of talented photographers who shared their artistry in the competition.

The beautiful exhibit highlights the natural beauty of our world and is a wonderful reminder of why nature needs our appreciation, respect and protection.

Check it out at venturalandtrust.org by clicking the Photography Contest button or, better yet, in person at Rincon Brewery.

HONORABLE MENTION MILKY WAY RISING OVER BOOT ARCH | STEVEN FRIEDMAN

FALL 2019

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Adrienne Stephens Retires from VLT

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t the end of September, I retired as Ventura Land Trust’s Development and Marketing Director. The decision to step down wasn’t easy to make. I love VLT and wholeheartedly believe in our mission, but I also know that the time was right for me to spend more time caring for aging relatives, traveling with my husband and concentrating on myself.

When I started four years ago, little did I know that working at VLT would be much more than just a job. Thanks to VLT’s staff, board, volunteers and supporters I have learned many lessons – the biggest one being that it takes passionate, generous, committed people to create a community culture dedicated to protecting and preserving our local open spaces. It’s those people – the ones who give so selflessly of their time, money and enthusiasm – that I will miss most.

It has been a privilege to work at Ventura Land Trust and definitely one of the most fulfilling jobs of my career. Although I’m retiring, I’m not going away for good. Look for me on my bike, on the trails or volunteering at future VLT events and please keep in touch: adriennestephens@roadrunner.com.

An intern’s perspective

By Sam Martin

I

have worked at Patagonia for 3 years. As a company, Patagonia has always urged its employees to break free from convention and find innovative ways to help save our home planet. This strong belief in environmental action is felt at our retail stores. I was having lunch with a coworker, Darryl, and we discussed how our store could go even further to progress the environmental movement. Shortly after, Darryl and our in-store Environmental Coordinator approached me. They had conceived of the “Action Apprenticeship Program”.

The idea of this program is to sponsor three young adults, between the ages of 16 and 22, from each store in the U.S. to work with our environmental grantees. With 34 stores sponsoring 3 apprentices, 102 young people could be instilled with a drive for environmental activism each year.

Ventura Land Trust was selected for the pilot program for the Action Apprenticeship because of their enormous contributions in protecting our local ecosystems.

I received guidance and meaningful mentorship throughout my time with VLT from the Deputy Director, Annette, and the Executive Director, Derek. Working closely with both, I came to a greater understanding and appreciation of the complexities of nonprofit management. I also worked with the Stewardship Director, Kate and Stewardship Manager, Dan who advance the organization’s mission in their day-to-day activities out in the preserves and in local schools.

Our community is fortunate to have an organization that works so diligently to protect our land and water.

Sam is currently studying business at Cal State Northridge.

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Ventura Land Trust • Outlook

UPCOMING EVENTS OCT

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River Restoration at Willoughby Preserve

OCT

24 NOV

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NOV

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Patagonia 40% Off Shopping Night

Hillsides for the Holidays Year-End Campaign Kicks Off

Tree Planting and Restoration Work Day at Hayden Preserve

DEC

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DEC

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Ventura Land Trust Day of Giving

Tree Planting and Kiosk Unveiling at Big Rock Preserve

For information about these and other upcoming events, check out the VLT Events webpage: www.venturalandtrust.org/events