wood river land trust

Go to our website for more news and other customized features: www.woodriverlandtrust.org

woodriver land trust

Continued on page 4

Fall 2010 Protecting the heart of the valley...now and for the future.

We’re almost ThereI 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 sta-bilization. Structural supports were installed and the decking is done to the viewing platform. 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.

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.

Wilson’s Phalarope seen at Croy Wetlands

Ketchum resident Ton Yenphiboon, son Sum, and dog Gem enjoy an afternoon stroll on the

completed stretch of boardwalk

who we aremeet the New President of the Board, Jack Kueneman

ane Mason was nominated to the Board in May of this year. A Wood River Valley resi-dent 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 the University of Utah with a 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 fish-ing 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

J

meet our BoardJane Mason

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 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

Our newest BoardMember, Jane Mason

Jack Kueneman

ErIKa PhIllIPsProJEct coordINatorErika 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 mam-mal conservation, endangered species protection and critical habitat designa-tion. Prior to that position, she was the regional restoration program coordina-tor for NOAA a Erika has a Master’s degree in Resource Ecology from Duke University, and completed coursework for the Idaho Master Naturalist certifi-cation program last spring. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and trav-eling with her husband, Matt, and two preschool-aged sons. m

meet our staff

Over the summer our interns Stephanie Thompson (top right) and Kristen Doman (below right) assisted with a mul-titude of stewardship and management tasks—and always with smiling faces. They monitored conservation easement properties, managed data, participated in preserve workdays, and communi-cated with landowners and volunteers. Our Anderson House suited their needs perfectly a Stephanie is a graduate at Duquesne University in Pittsburg pursu-ing 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

ashlEy WEllsdEvEloPmENt assIstaNtAfter 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

NatalIE sPENcErmaJor gIFts oFFIcErAn 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

thaNK you summEr INtErNs

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 con-served 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.

3

connectionsWe’re almost there continued from cover

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 im-pacts to the sensitive site, the boardwalk will be wheelchair accessible.

When totally completed, this will be an en-during community asset. Watch and listen for ducks as they fly in and land on the ponds. Ob-serve 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 conflu-ence of the Big Wood River and Croy Creek ad-jacent 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.

1

A Virginia Rail at Croy Creek

all participants will be listed on the donor board onsite - a great way to leave your legacy or honor a friend or loved one.

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).

(3) All the hard work pays off!!

2 3

help us finish the Boardwalk!

We’re amost There!

$25 for one incH

$300 for one fooT

$1000 for one yard

invest in your section:

draper Family Foundationrichard K. & shirley s. hemingway FoundationPage Foundationthe lightfoot Foundationrinker Foundationanonymousseagraves Family Foundationthe deer creek Fund, lynn campion & thomas B. campiondick hay & robyn Watsonvictor Bernstein & gail landis, in honor of Barbara thrasher & rick Koffeyalison & Jim luckman susan & Jerry Flynt the gerhardt Family gail & Jack thornton Kristy & tom logan Brightman & slonim FamiliesNeil clark, in memory of Jill clark-EngdahlJoan lambdale & shearson Jones the odell Family mark Kieckbusch & Kathryn Earhart melisa & Jeff Williams marcelle & ridley Pearson John & Wendy henning maureen groper

anne Jefferycarole & robbie Freundtina & Jerry Winford Boettger Family: Emily, gunner, sally & scottmichael & chris Boskin Penny & Ed glassmeyer sue Woodyard susan Bernatasgail & doug Boettger John & daralene Finnell trey spauldingJohn & diane Kahm Julie & Brian gallagher dan gilmoredavid hertelJohn hardinmelanie dahlchance selfKingman & cindy lambert Jennifer & Kevin Embree, in honor of mattelyn & camille Embree dick & Bobbie Boyer

$210,000

Thank you to the following Boardwalk donors!

connectionse’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 suf-ficient 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

WBig Wood river Below magic dam

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 con-servation, complete an environmental analysis, secure permits, implement con-servation measures, and begin releasing water into the river for fish.

For more information, contact Erika Phillips, Project Coordinator, at ephillips@woodriverlandtrust.org. m

The seasonal dewatering of the river below magic dam has significant impacts on survival and reproduction of the rainbow and brown trout populations.

6

Magic Dam

Seemore

online!

timbered dome – Wildlife habitat Protected

7

Timbered Dome

Hwy 20

Blizzard

Mt. R

d.

to Arco

to Carey

Hwy 20

to Arco

Hwy 75

Hailey

Carey

to Twin Falls

Craters of the Moon National

Monument

to Ketchum

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 impor-tant 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 spe-cies 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 vulner-able to loss of sagebrush steppe habi-tat, and Timbered Dome offers ideal habitat for its population of pygmy rabbit which is a candidate for endangered spe-cies protection. Pygmy rabbits need soil suited for burrow excavation, as well as healthy sagebrush for nutrition and con-cealment 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 approximate-ly 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 conserva-tion.”

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

I

Seemore

online!

Last winter approximately 250 elk and 500 mule deer made timbered dome their home.

woodriv

erl

andtrust. org

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 win-ter before taking the plunge. They moved here for two years and fell in love with the

uncrowded spaces, the nearness of the Big Wood River and Silver Creek, and easily accessible mountain ranges for hiking, fish-ing, 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 coun-cil. 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 conser-vation 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

volunteers spotlight

connections

E

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

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

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

neher Preserve Workday, May 26

Howard Preserve Workday, June 5

Boxcar Bend Preserve Workday, June 19

8

su

mm

Er

Wo

rK

da

ys

20

10

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 improve-ments 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 crowd-pleasing performance. m

howard community Picnic 2010

Poo Wright Pulliam and Jean Seymour at the 7th annual Howard Community Picnic

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 incorporat-ed in the interpretive signage to be installed at the Croy Creek Wetlands Boardwalk (see story on pages 1, 4 and 5). m

Birding at croy creek Wetlands

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

I

t

9

o

New signs at draper Wood river Preserve

Yellow Warbler in the gentle hands of a student

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 Drap-

er 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 fea-tureless 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 Co-ordinator lives in the Aspen Drive house now and keeps an eye on the Preserve. m

aspen drive house

10

news

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 re-moved 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 qual-ity 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

a Note from the Building material thrift store

I

t

Seemore

online!

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

Kingman and cindy lambertMembers 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 environ-ment 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.

Board of DirectorsJack Kueneman, Presidenttrent Jones, Vice PresidentJohn French, Treasurerrobin garwood, Secretarydavid anderson Ed cutterJohn Flattery heather KingJane masonliz mitchellrebecca PattonWolf riehleJohn Fell stevensonmegan stevensonsteve strandbergJoan swiftBarbara thrasherdoris tunney

Staffscott Boettger Executive Director

melanie dahl Executive Assistant

Erika Phillips Senior Project Coordinator

trey spaulding Director of Operations

Natalie spencer Director of Development

ashley Wells Development Assistant

Keri york Stewardship Coordinator

Advisory Committeeranney draperlarry schoenJohn seillertom swift Bruce tidwellliz Warrick

This newsletter is published by:

Wood River Land Trust119 East Bullion streethailey, Idaho 83333208.788.3947 (telephone) 208.788.5991 (fax)info@woodriverlandtrust.orgwww.woodriverlandtrust.orgtax Id# 82-0474191

Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future

wood river land trust

“it’s quite obvious. the land trust does such

a good job in this area, especially with the river...”

a A 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.

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 estab-lished 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.

Planned giving options: meeting your charitable and Financial goalsPlanned 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.

Planned Giving: charitable remainder trust

woodriv

erl

andtrust. org

11

Acres permanently protected with your support: 11,930Brown trout caught in Big Wood River below Magic Reservoir

NON-PROFITSTANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

PERMIT NO. 2183333119 East Bullion Street

Hailey, Idaho 83333www.woodriverlandtrust.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Printed locally on 50% recycled paperusing soy-based inks

Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future

wood river land trust

woodriver land trust

woodriv

erl

andtrust. org See

moreonline!

fall 2010We’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

Aspen Drive House, page 10

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.