annual report 2018 - the nature conservancy
TRANSCRIPT
IDAHOAnnual Report 2018
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Over the years I’ve had the honor of meeting many of our Legacy Club members. These are members who have made a commitment to conservation by naming The Nature Conservancy in their will, trusts or other estate plans. They come from different backgrounds and live in all parts of Idaho, yet they all share a love of the Gem State and a deep belief in the importance of our mission.
When I think of the Legacy Club, I think of people like Gary Mullard. Now in his 80s, Gary has spent most of his life in Idaho and genuinely values the connection between people and nature. I love to hear stories about his explorations, from observing birds in his backyard to hiking in the desert. Gary knows how important it is for us to work together to conserve our lands and waters. He chose to include TNC in his estate plans to ensure that this important legacy of conservation lives on.
This year, we are celebrating the 25th anniversary of our Legacy Club. This is a significant milestone for our organization! The Legacy Club was founded in 1993, and today, we continue to welcome new members who help protect our natural world for the future.
While we can’t thank them enough for their inspirational commitments, in this issue of the annual report we wanted to honor our members by sharing their stories. One common theme I hear from members about why they give is that our work endures the test of time. It is the same reason that I decided to become a Legacy Club member, too.
With gratitude,
Toni Hardesty
DEAR FRIENDS,
The Nature Conservancy in IdahoIDAHO CHAPTER STAFFToni Hardesty, State DirectorLou Lunte, Deputy State Director
Sarah Birkeland, Protection Specialist, HaileyMorgan Buckert, Development Program Specialist, HaileyValerie Connor, Board Liaison/Operations Assistant, BoiseMark Davidson, Director of Conservation Initiatives, HaileyLisa Eller, Director of Communications, BoiseMegan Grover-Cereda, Marketing ManagerBas Hargrove, Senior Policy Representative, BoiseSunny Healey, Silver Creek Preserve Manager, Silver Creek Nancie Lange, Operations Assistant, HaileyMarilynne Manguba, Protection Specialist, Idaho Falls Melissa Masucci, Director of Development, Hailey Kennon McClintock, Watershed Manager, Bonners Ferry Nancy Mendelsohn, Director of Finance & Operations, Hailey Robyn Miller, Director of Conservation Programs, MoscowTess O’Sullivan, Conservation Manager, HaileyJustin Petty, Conservation Manager, HaileyClark Shafer, Senior Associate Director of Development, HaileyBob Unnasch, Director of Science, BoiseMatthew Ward, Watershed Manager, Island ParkNathan Welch, Spatial Ecologist, BoiseDavid Weskamp, Conservation Manager, HaileyWill Whelan, Director of Government Relations, Boise
ON THE COVER The Nature Conservancy became involved in conserving areas of Hells Canyon more than 20 years ago through private lands conservation and invasive species control. This work is part of TNC’s legacy of protecting Idaho’s special places. With community partners, we protected more than 94,000 acres for wildlife such as Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, mountain goat and more. © Todd Kaplan THIS PAGE left to right Toni Hardesty © Jolene Grizzle; Clearwater © Robyn Miller OPPOSITE PAGE The Pahsimeroi Valley is home to critical salmon and steelhead spawning areas. TNC works with farmers and ranchers to conserve and restore these areas. © Edward A. Taft
Editor’s note: Toni Hardesty had just been appointed to Division Director of The Nature Conservancy’s Pacific Northwest/Canada division. Our interim director is Lou Lunte.
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2018 Board of Trustees Nancy Mackinnon, ChairJohn Dondero, Vice ChairRobin AndersonCynthia CarrollEric DillonSusan GiannettinoPeter GrayShirley HageyKay Hardy
Sydney McNiff JohnsonAmy LientzJerry MasonCynthia MurphyWayne RancourtBill RogersBrett Stevenson
PROTECTTRANSFORMINSPIRE
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THIS PAGE left to right Conservation of sagebrush steppe (pictured here) benefits people and nature. Wildlife need open space to survive and thrive, and communities use these areas to run their family farms and ranches. © Tess O’Sullivan/The Nature Conservancy; A long-distance migration of pronghorn takes place across the Pioneers–Craters area. © Laura Speck; The Hanwright property borders the Sawtooth National Forest. Its protection ensures continuity between undeveloped parcels of private land and vast public lands. © Tess O’Sullivan/The Nature Conservancy
Migration patterns are shifting across the West as the changing climate forces wildlife into new areas. Their best chances for survival may be found in places that offer the strongest foundation for life to thrive. Places like these are mostly undeveloped and have wide-ranging soil types, elevations and slopes. Nature Conservancy scientists refer to them as “climate resilient,” and southern Idaho is home to one such place: the Pioneers to Craters.
Spanning 2.6 million acres of diverse terrain, including lava beds, high desert, rivers and alpine forests, the Pioneers to Craters area was identified by TNC scientists as one of the most climate-resilient places in the Pacific Northwest. Several years ago, TNC Idaho set a goal of conserving 110,000 acres of private lands that were critical connections to public lands in this area.
You’re Conserving One of the Pacific Northwest’s Most Climate-Resilient Places By Lisa Eller, director of communications and marketing
In 2018, TNC made strides toward the final goal by securing 4,400 acres in collaboration with three private landowners. The largest project conserved about 3,000 acres for conservation in the Pioneer Mountains. Located about 8 miles east of Hailey, the Hanwright property directly borders the Sawtooth National Forest, Bureau of Land Management lands and protected private lands. It contains nearly pristine sagebrush steppe, aspen stands, wetlands
and stream corridors. Through a second project, TNC worked with the Barton family to place conservation easements on about 500 acres of their ranch, ensuring that it remains undeveloped for generations to come. This project added to existing conservation lands on the Barton Ranch. A third project protected nearly 900 acres of the Prescott family’s ranch bordering Craters of the Moon National Monument. All of the projects were supported by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.
To date, TNC and its partners in the Pioneers Alliance have conserved more than 85,000 acres — closing in on the overall goal and vision to keep the Pioneers to Craters whole, thriving and resilient to climate change.
PROTECT
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A Life Dedicated to Conserving Idaho’s Rare SpeciesBy Lisa Eller, director of communications and marketing
PROTECT
OPPOSITE PAGE Male Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse display colorful plumage in the spring to attract females. While grouse populations have declined across their historic range, a relic population still exists in southwestern Idaho. TNC has helped conserve what remains of this habitat. © Tim Christie
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As we walked by the bluebunch wheatgrass, a native plant, Alan Sands brushed his hand over the top. “This is my favorite grass. This is what we like to see,” said Sands, a retired wildlife biologist who has spent most of his life working to conserve rare species by protecting and improving their native habitats — places like this. We’re about 75 miles from Boise, between Weiser and Midvale. Sands was called to this exact spot about 40 years ago to verify the discovery of a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse dancing ground or lek, a traditional site where males gather during the spring to put on courtship displays. The once-abundant bird had all but disappeared decades earlier from west-central Idaho and was lost from 95 percent of its historic range.
Sands immediately confirmed the discovery and began searching nearby for other leks. He found two more, but all three leks totaled only 20 male Columbian sharptails. “It was an incredibly tiny population,” he said. Sands and student volunteers continued searching and also started an outreach campaign with local landowners to see if he could uncover more leks. Nothing turned up.
Sands began to devise a plan to conserve the bird’s habitat. The three leks were sitting on a 4,400-acre private ranch that was for sale. He tried to get a land trust or conservation group to purchase it but couldn’t close any deals. At the time, few people knew about Columbian sharptails or their plight. Sands turned his attention to collecting more data, hoping to build a case for the bird’s conservation.
In the mid-1980s, the Conservancy, which had established an Idaho chapter in 1965, officially set up its first office in the state. A tenacious director named Guy Bonnivier was hired to lead conservation efforts. Sands approached Bonnivier about buying the ranch. With the help of long-time TNC supporters Tim and Karen Hixon, TNC bought the land in 1987 and named it the Hixon Sharptail Preserve.
In the decades following the initial purchase, Sands continued to advocate for habitat conservation, reaching out to the Bureau of Land Management, TNC, local landowners, and his own family. When he started his campaign to raise awareness and support to save this relic population, none of the land around the leks was protected. Today, thanks to Sands’
vision and tireless resolve, nearly all of the land, some 28,000 acres, is either public land or private land with conservation easements.
Recently, Sands and his wife, Lois, dipped into their personal savings to purchase 80 acres that would have most assuredly become four rural residences, potentially fragmenting the sharptail habitat. This year, Sands worked with TNC to place a conservation easement on the property. The easement prevents future subdivision and development.
“Our goal was to conserve this landscape and increase the population and we’ve largely achieved that,” Sands told me as we drove away. On the way out, a sharptail chick flushed from the edge of the two-track road. We stop for a closer look when a second and third chick flushed. Sands smiled broadly as he said, “This year’s brood, the next generation, and they’re already flying. Sweet!”
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When you think about conservation in Idaho, agriculture may not be the first thing that comes to mind.
Yet agriculture, an industry that depends entirely on healthy lands and freshwater, plays a critical role in Idaho’s environmental health.
In 2018, after taking a deep look at the biggest challenges facing Idaho’s lands and waters in the next five to 10 years, The Nature Conservancy knew that it needed to partner with farmers and ranchers in a significant way to ensure a bright
future for people and nature. That’s what led to the launch of our new initiative to provide food and water sustainably in Idaho.
Working in collaboration with Idaho farmers such as the Penfold family, our initiative aims to support the economic viability of Idaho’s agriculture community, improve soil health and water quality, and address water scarcity and climate change.
The Penfolds have been successfully growing seed potatoes in eastern Idaho for generations. But they also know that innovation is key to the future of agriculture. They were the first farmers in the
Teton Valley to experiment with growing quinoa. That spirit of innovation led to a partnership with TNC and Friends of the Teton River to test new crop rotations, experiment with cover crops and practice no-till farming to reduce fertilizer and pesticide inputs, and improve soil health and save water.
New technologies, natural processes, and precision agriculture offer hopeful solutions to many of our conservation challenges. However, making changes on the farm entails risk. By partnering with farmers, industry and agricultural agencies, we believe TNC can help reduce the risks of change and conserve Idaho’s water, soil and air — in a big way.
TRANSFORM
You’re Conserving Idaho’s Soil, Water and AirBy Bas Hargrove, senior policy representative
THIS PAGE Russet potatoes © Brett Hondow; Irrigation © Vidar Nordli-Mathisen OPPOSITE PAGE Canola fields in North Idaho © Megan Grover-Cereda/The Nature Conservancy
BY THE NUMBERS
percentage of Idaho’s economic output in sales that is generated by agriculture and food processing
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Starting in the 1960s, Congress adopted a set of landmark laws that made the United States a world leader in environmental protection. Today, more of our rivers are swimmable and fishable. Our exposure to harmful chemicals is reduced. In Idaho, we have bald eagles, grizzly bears, peregrine falcons and salmon, thanks largely to national wildlife laws. Americans have come to rely on these laws to give the public a voice in government decisions and protect our natural treasures, the air we breathe and the water we drink.
These gains were not achieved without controversy. Environmental regulation is complex, burdensome at times, and, increasingly, the focus of intense partisan wrangling. Right now, the Administration and Congress are considering dozens of proposed changes that would weaken environmental protections.
The Nature Conservancy prides itself on its commitment to bridging partisan divides and on being constantly receptive to ideas for improving our environmental laws.
We will nevertheless deploy our strongest defense when these core principles are at stake:
• Commitment to health, conservation and environmental protection as basic values;
• Use of science-based standards upon which all Americans can rely;
• Cooperative federalism by which states have authority to plan, adapt, and implement national standards in ways that reflect their circumstances;
• Continuing federal oversight of state implementation to ensure accountability;
• Adequate state and federal funding;
• Transparent, science-based decisions;
• Environmental review and public involvement before major federal actions affecting the environment are undertaken; and
• Recognition of the national interest in federal public lands, waters, and special resources such as imperiled fish and wildlife.
Based on these principles, TNC has stepped up to oppose measures that would limit the Clean Water Act’s reach, preclude protections for sensitive species such as Greater Sage-Grouse, and diminish national monuments. We will remain vigilant and – when necessary – vocal in defense of the nation’s bedrock environmental laws.
THIS PAGE The United States Capitol in Washington, DC © Devan King/The Nature Conservancy OPPOSITE PAGE Juvenile bald eagle. The bald eagle was one of the first species offered protection by the precursor to the Endangered Species Act. It was delisted after making a dramatic recovery. © Philip Brown
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TRANSFORM
You’re Defending Our Nation’s Most Important Environmental LawsBy Will Whelan, director of government relations
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Richard & Heather Carosone
Robert Carroll
Helen & Scott Carter
Tracy L. Carter
Jay Cassell & Gay Weake
Bobbi Phelps Chapman
Patricia L. Chase
Marcene H. Christoverson
Cynthia Clark
Richard & Elaine Codding
Lindy Cogan & Laura Hubbard
Jean P. Cole
Richard J. Collins
Ronald & Janice Conta
Barbara & John Cornett
Caroline Craig
Daniel & Edna Crandell
Heather Cunningham
Virginia Danke
Ginger L. Dattilo
James M. David
Mary A. Davidson
Shelley K. Davis-Brunner
Kenneth V. Dawdy
Mark & Joyce De Haan
Sabrina De Russeau
Darin & Ann DeAngeli
Robert D. Deets
Gail M. Desantis
Phyllis H. DeSwarte
Michael & Annie Deuell
Sandra & Philip Deutchman
Dick & Kathy Dionne
Mona & Richard Divine
Will & Penelope Dixon
Kenneth & Susan Dueis
Terrie K. Dunn
Holly Endersby & Scott Stouder
Charles & Jane Faber
Les & Karen Fairchild
Judy A. Farnsworth
Scott L. Featherstone
Jay Feldman & Yvonne Taylor
Yvonne S. Ferrell
Ann Finley
John & Daralene Finnell
Jean B. Fischer
Cindy Fisher
Thomas Flint
Mary Foley & Andre Hintermann
Barbara L. Forderhase
William Freeman Jr. & Beth Jones
Elaine & John French
Ronald Fritz
Jim Gabettas
Philip Gerhardson
Stephen & Barbara Gerrish
Susan Giannettino & Jim Keller
Laura Girardeau
Craig & Vanessa Goulden
Diane Plastino Graves & Ronald Graves
Elizabeth & Peter Gray
Jill Diane Green
Suzanne C. Gribbin
Roger & Kathy Grigg
Stephen Grourke & Erin Roy
Marie L. Gummerson
Harry & Shirley Hagey
Edwin Haglund & Dianne Borjessan
Brack Hale
Robert W. Hamilton
Tom Hannon
Donna Hansen
Toni & Doug Hardesty
Charles & Charmion Hardy
Garney Hardy
Kay Hardy & Gregory Kaslo
Helen L. Harrington
Kathleen Harvey
Frank L. Hayes
Dave A. Heep
Thomas G. Henderson
Helen J. Hendricks
Karen Hendrickson & J. L. Laughy
R. A. & Patricia Hernandez
Timothy & Carol Herring
Marian L. Herz
Karen J. Hixon
Michael & Susan Hoey
Kathleen Hogan
Samuel G. Hogander
Patricia & James Holloway
Eugene & Patricia Holsinger
Doug Houston & Nancy Taylor
John C. Hunt
Clarice Hunter
Heidi Husbands & Stephanie Hansen
Harriet T. Husemann
Lisa Huttinger
Stephan & Dana Hyams
M. Katherine Albrecht
John & Edwina Allen
David & Lyn Anderson
Robert & Dianne Anderson
Robin & Mark Anderson
Philip & Liann Arnold
Frederick Ashworth Jr. & Dawn Roy
Ronald & Deborah Atwood
Mary Bachman & William Downing
Lois J. Backus
Chris Baker
Robert Baker
Alan & Jeanie Ball
Stephen & Anna Banks
Richard C. Barker
Brian & Liz Barnes
Gerald & Audrey Bashaw
Bruce M. Belcher
Debra Bell
Ruth J. Berkheiser
Wesley & Renee Bettis
William J. Betts
Harvey & Myrna Bickett
Moffie S. Bidlingmayer
Clara R. Bleak
Alida N. Bockino
Brooke Bonner & Kyle Baysinger
Carol A. Boswell
Carole J. Bradley
Jaisan M. Brandeis
Nancy Brandon
Wayne Bridges & Carol Bridges Fond
Gary Brown & Jean Henscheid
Charles & Linda Broz
Carol A. Bryant
Morgan Buckert & Paddy McIlvoy
Russell & Janet Buschert
Deborah L. Bush
Jennifer Caine
Protecting Nature For Years to ComeCELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THE LEGACY CLUBThe Legacy Club is a group of supporters who have made lasting commitments to conservation by making a life-income gift to the Conservancy or by naming TNC as a beneficiary in their estate plans. On this 25th anniversary of the Legacy Club, we celebrate our members in their own words. To learn more, visit nature.org/legacyclub or email [email protected].
INSPIRE
“Conservation is very important to me. I think about what Idaho would be like if there
were ‘no trespassing’ signs everywhere—it would be a tragedy. So many of the outdoor
experiences that I enjoy today, I have people from 50 years ago to thank. They had the
foresight to know we needed to preserve it. Now it’s my turn.”
“Though I’ve lived in Idaho 18 years, I was raised in West Texas, which
stretches from the Panhandle (center of the Dust Bowl) to the deserts
of New and Old Mexico. It is dry, hot, windy country – very harsh and
foreboding. It gets very little rain but when it does, there is nothing like it.
I have seen it rain 13 inches in an hour through the fly of a tent. I loved this
country and spent as much time as I could outdoors – camping, hiking,
fishing and hunting. I learned every plant, animal and insect that thrives
in this fragile ecosystem and I also came to appreciate the delicate balance
that made survival possible and sustainable. I became interested in how
to conserve and preserve it at an early age, in large part through my
experience in Cub and Boy Scouting. To continue to fulfill my lifelong
interest in conservation has been deeply rewarding.”
Roger Grigg
former Idaho Chapter trustee and Legacy Club member in Coeur D’Alene
Bill Rogers Idaho Chapter Trustee and Legacy Club Member in Idaho Falls
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Gary Ingram & Tonie Fitzgerald
Richard A. Jacobs
Glenn C. Janss
Anne Jeffery
Anna M. Jenny
Ruth E. Jensen
Sydney McNiff Johnson & Jay Johnson
Trent & Cecile Jones
Marsha Jorgenson & Robert Campbell
John & Diane Kahm
Dana C. Kehr
Debra & Robert Kellerman
Patsy J. Kendall
Robert & Jean Kendall
William & Denise Keyser
Malcolm & Pamela Kinney
Roy E. Kisner
Jo Kitz
Trish Klahr & Lee Melly
Albert & L. G. Knight
Belinda A. Knochel
Cheryl R. Koshuta
Laurie Kraus
Susan E. Krusch
Kingman & Cynthia Lambert
Dave Leppert
Robert Leth
Mike & Karla Lewis
Carol Lichti
Lawrence D. Lincoln
Melinda Lindsey
Charles L. Lines
Beverly Lingle & Buddy Paul
Donald & Cecelia Lojek
John & Donna Looze
Lou & Cynthia Lunte
Carol Lussier
Robert & Lee Ann Luten
Lorraine P. Mann
Joseph & Jennifer Marsh
John Martin & Mary Maurer-Martin
Melissa Masucci
Robert P. Matsen
Barbara Mattison-Tonkin & Bill Tonkin
Alfred & Lee Ann McGlinsky
Chris B. Mead
Mick R. Mickelson
Clifford C. Mitchell
Thomas & Carol Mooney
Dianne Morris-Masten
Kathleen Moyer
Gary N. Mullard
Ken and Brenda Mulle
Mary H. Mullen
William & Colleen Mullins
Michelle Murphree
Cynthia & Kingsley Murphy
Cynthia Murphy & James Wilson
Lorraine H. Murphy
Becky & David Nehen
Kevin & Katherine Nelson
Loren L. Newman
Beverly Newsham
Bruce A. Norvell
Jay and Louise Noyes
Linda & Tom O’Connell
Linda Olson & Peter Morrill
Robin L. Parks
Rebecca Patton & Tom Goodrich
Allan & Midge Patzer
Richard A. Pearson
Jan K. Peppler
Paul & Gayle Poorman
Bobbie Sue Prentiss
Anne H. Probst
Richard N. Pugh
Mr. & Mrs. Gene Pyles
Albert & Edith Randow
Steve J. Reese
Timothy Reynolds & Patty Isaeff
Daniel Richmond
David & Kathy Richmond
James T. Ricks
Juanita & Richard Ritland
Virginia D. Rivers
Bob & Karen Robideaux
Bill & Sheri Robison
Bill & Carol Lee Rogers
William & Ann Rogers
Robert & Nancy Russell
Andrea Sawyer
Lee & Susan Sayers
Carol Scheifele-Holmes & Ben Holmes
Peder and Jaime Schmitz
Beverly H. Schoeberl
John Schott & Lucy Mosher-Schott
Lynn Schultz Lewinski
Dan & Sue Seftick
Clark & Sara Shafer
Charles & Judith Shepard
Sally A. Sherman
Penn & Nancy Siegel
Laurel Smith & Kevin Donohoe
Jan A. Sommer
Susan Spezza & Gregory George
Bill & Rose Spofford
Wayne & Ree Stafford
Jean C. Stark
Pegge McGuire Steele
Karen Steenhof
Heike Striebeck
Linda Summers
Art & Diane Talsma
Joan & Brian Tandrow
John & Alice Taylor
Tim & Lou Teyler
Eileen & Mark Thuesen
Mary Trail
Brady & Teresa Turner
Gwendo-Lyn Turner
Abby A. Ullman
James B. Van Ark
Velma J. Vance
Anne Veigel & Greg Patterson
Daniel & Kim Vermedal
Hilma Volk
Roy Wagner & Carol Wagner
Valerie B. Ward
Peter C. Welles
James & Heather Westfall
Diane L. Whitmore
LaVerne R. Wiemer
Scott Williams
Virginia Wood
Harold Woods
Ronald & Barbara Worden
David & Susan Work
Christopher Wylie
Shigeru Yokoyama & Kelly Kennedy Yokoyama
Janet F. York
Niels Young
Denise Zembryki & Ron Mamajek
“The Legacy Club gave me an easy and effective way to
make a lasting impact. It’s difficult for most individuals
to find a way to do that. TNC did all the hard work.
All I had to do was pick my passion and I’m passionate
about saving the world.”
Dana KehrLegacy Club member in Boise
LEGACY CLUB (CONTINUED)
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Fire Funding FixWith strong backing from The Nature Conservancy, its supporters and partners, Congress passed a measure to sustainably fund the costs of fighting fires in the West. The measure would allow the U.S. Forest Service to tap natural disaster funds for firefighting. This is a huge improvement that will mean millions more in funding every year for the important restoration and conservation work of the Forest Service and Department of the Interior on national forests and other public lands. TNC has advocated for the passage of this legislation for several years.
Silver Creek Tour Visitors to Silver Creek Preserve can now enjoy a podcast-style audio tour. This year, The Nature Conservancy in Idaho collaborated with the TravelStorys App to create a GPS-triggered tour that takes place along a two-mile stretch of the preserve. The tour is narrated by Mariel Hemingway and includes stories about the creek’s famous insect hatches, its remarkable bird diversity and Ernest Hemingway’s passion for the creek. Learn more at nature.org/silvercreek
Native Plant GardenThrough the help of The Nature Conservancy supporters on Idaho Gives Day, TNC began work to create a native plant garden at our Flat Ranch Preserve. The entry garden will showcase plants native to the area, provide habitat for pollinators and educate visitors and children about native plants through informational signage. The project will also create a picnic area and improve accessibility for visitors of all abilities.
THIS PAGE Walking tour of Silver Creek © Com Designs for The Nature Conservancy; Purple geranium on the Flat Ranch Preserve © Chris Davidson; OPPOSITE PAGE clockwise Northern Idaho forests conserved by TNC through the Forest Legacy Program © Megan Grover-Cereda/The Nature Conservancy; Beaver mimicry site at Rock Creek Ranch ©Edward A. Taft; Forest fire ©Vince Fleming
Beaver Mimicry Rock Creek RanchAs part of efforts to address drought across southern Idaho, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited and the University of Idaho installed a “beaver mimicry” site at Rock Creek Ranch. Beaver brush bundles have been shown to keep water in natural systems for longer, greatly improving river and floodplain health. “Beaver mimicry” has become a promising tool to attract beavers back into systems where they once flourished. The project was part of a workshop organized by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Utah State University. Before installing the site, the groups surveyed the area and took pictures from drones so that they could track changes over time.
TNC in ActionINSPIRE Forest Legacy
More than 5,000 acres of working forests in Boundary County were conserved this year by The Nature Conservancy and the Idaho Department of Lands through the Forest Legacy program. Half of these forests are located near McArthur Lake. The other half are forested lands on Hall Mountain near the border of Idaho and British Columbia. Both areas, managed by Hancock Forest Resources, are important for many threatened and endangered wildlife species native to northern Idaho. The Forest Legacy program protects privately owned forest lands that provide a myriad of benefits to the public, including recreation, clean water and wildlife habitat.
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Will Whelan fell in love with the West’s highest mountains, but after more than three decades working in conservation, The Nature Conservancy’s director of government relations now finds himself admiring all of the places in between.
“As I travel, I love looking at Idaho’s landscapes and appreciating their beauty and how intriguing they are,” said Whelan, who plans to retire at the end of the year.
“It’s not just the interesting places, but also the people who live there and make their living there.”
Whelan started working for TNC in Boise in 2001 as the organization’s first government relations director. He was a perfect fit for the new job with a background in law and policy and a passion for the outdoors. His position allowed him to work closely with Conservancy colleagues.
Will grew up in Puerto Rico, and at 17, he hitchhiked from Florida to the Rocky Mountain West to backpack and climb. During college, he signed a petition to prevent an oil well in Wyoming’s Gros Ventre Range. As a law school student years later, he ended up working on an appeal against that very same oil well. And they won. Over the next few decades, he gained not only an appreciation for the impact of environmental law, but also the importance of relationships to making progress in conservation.
“If you’re forthcoming about what you’re about, show a commitment to listen to others and make sure they understand you care, it’s remarkable how people will set aside divisions.”
At the Idaho Attorney General‘s office, he spent 13 years advocating for Idaho’s salmon. While he continued to work on some salmon and water issues at TNC, one of his most satisfying projects was the Owyhee Initiative, which led Congress to pass a bill to conserve spectacular canyonlands in southwest Idaho and respond to the community’s needs.
Whelan’s work in conservation will never be finished. He and his wife remain in Idaho, where they raised their daughter Sarah. He will continue teaching and playing outside, in those places where he has always felt at home.
STAFF PROFILE
All The Places in BetweenBy Christine Peterson
THIS PAGE Rafting on the East Fork of the Owyhee River. Will in white hat center of photo © John Wheaton OPPOSITE PAGE top to bottom Mt. Heyburn in the Sawtooth Wilderness ©Will Whelan/The Nature Conservancy; Will Whelan in the Surprise Valley in the Pioneer Mountains © Bob Unnasch/The Nature Conservancy
“It’s not just the interesting places, but also the people who live there
and make their living there.”
Will WhelanGovernment Relations director
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GEORGE DICKINSON | VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
By Lisa Eller, director of communications and marketing
INSPIRE
George Dickinson affectionately got the name “super volunteer” sometime this year, after having donated more than 600 hours to The Nature Conservancy’s science work in Idaho. But it wasn’t just the amount of time that George dedicated to the work that set his contributions apart.
With a PhD in Biology and advanced skills in computer programming and data analysis, he brought a high level of scientific expertise.
Over the past year, George developed software that uses LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data to map the most promising locations for streamside restoration that will add shade and lower water temperatures on Silver Creek and its tributaries. On another project, he cleverly applied object detection software to identify potential obstacles to wildlife movement in central Idaho. He turned to the software after spending several weeks manually marking buildings on a map – a painstakingly slow process.
To expedite the process of identifying buildings, he trained an existing piece of machine learning software, called YOLO, to recognize structures in aerial photographs. The same neural network technology used in YOLO is used for facial recognition in apps like Facebook. He did this by “showing” the software images with houses or other buildings in them. After some repetition, the software began to learn how to recognize and mark the structures itself. “I’m excited about its practical applications,” he said. TNC plans to use the results of the analysis to identify potential wildlife corridors across Idaho.
When George came to TNC two years ago, after relocating to Boise with wife Mary, he hadn’t planned on volunteering for such a long period. He stayed because he enjoyed the work and the people. “I really like the staff, everyone is fun and nice to be around,” he said. “It is very satisfying when the science leads to a tangible outcome, such as protecting an area or a resource.”
Cheryl Appell and Ralph Stewart
Gary Boyer
Gail and Dan Brogdon
Kathleen Cookman
George Dickinson
Steve Dondero
Laura Elliot
Gary Farrington
John Finnell
Julie Gallagher
Henry’s Fork Chapter of the Idaho Master Naturalists
Brad Hilker
Diane Kahm
Bernie and Andrea Kendall
Wallee Lange
Doug and Nan Little
Henry Little and Lydia Mendoza
Pete Martin
Ken Miracle
Brenna Olson
Vicki Resnick and Bob Faber
Chuck and JoAnne Robertson
Leroy and Ronile Robinson
Sam Ross
Terry Roth
Laura Speck
Ben Stout
Art Talsma
Donna Tilton
Liz Todd
David Weaver
“It is very satisfying when the science leads to a tangible
outcome, such as protecting an area or a resource.”
George Dickinson Volunteer
THIS PAGE George Dickinson and Mary Lowry (courtesy of George Dickinson); Silver Creek Preserve © Steve Dondero OPPOSITE PAGE Interns Kurtis Waibel (foreground) and William Orrell installing fence at the Flat Ranch Preserve, where innovative ranching and conservation practices promote healthy grassland habitat for wildlife © John Finnell
THANK YOU TO OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR DONATING THEIR TIME
AND TALENTS TO CONSERVATION IN IDAHO!
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Gifts over $500Anonymous (8)
James & Susan Acquistapace
Douglas Q. Adams
Henry P. Adams
Samuel Adicoff & Susan Conner
John & Edwina Allen
Margaret Allen & Bill Sonnenburg
David & Lyn Anderson
Robin & Mark Anderson
Anonymous (8)
Betsy & John Ashton
Atkinsons’ Market, Inc.
Gwynn & Mitch August
Stephen & Mary Ayers
Mary Bachman & William Downing
Janet F. Baer
R. J. Bahnson
Jeffrey Bair & Jane Wells
Carl Baker & Susan Haynes
Richard C. Barker
John & Kathy Barlow
Eric & Cindi Baughman
Rex B. Beatty
Rick Benners
Darl E. Bennink
Karen Berky & Timothy Galvin
Wesley & Renee Bettis
John N. Bilbao
Quin Blackburn
Maggie J. Blair
Blank Family Foundation, Inc.
Clara R. Bleak
Blue Oak Foundation, Holly Myers & Kirk Neely
Sarah Blumenstein
Boise Cascade Company
Dianne Borjessan & Ed Haglund
Michael J. Boskin
Carol A. Boswell
Val Brackett & Nikos Monoyios
Carole J. Bradley
Charles & Brigitta Bradley
Brezzo Family Foundation
Pegan Brooke & Tim Mott
Charles Browning
John & Caroline Bulkeley
Candida & Bartlett Burnap
Matt K. Butcher
Joseph J. Callanan
Donald W. Carleton
Bernice & Thomas Carlile
Kurt Carlson
Meredith & Doug Carnahan
Cynthia Carroll & Woody Marshall
CHC Foundation, Inc.
Frances S. Cheston
Chevron Matching Gifts
Jill & Andrew Chrisman
Chrysopolae Foundation
Tim & Patty Clark
Robert S. Colman
Ripley & Beverly Comegys
Kathy & William Cone
The Conservation Fund
Robinson Cook
Laurie & Tom Corrick
Christopher & Elise Coyle
Eloise H. Crandall
Roy & Patricia Crawford
Dallas G. Cross
John & Kingsley Croul
Ed & Susan Cutter
John Cvetich
D&P Roberts Family Foundation
Julia Damasco
The Danielson Foundation
Keith Daum & Charlotte Goddin
Christopher Davidson & Sharon Christoph
Jennifer Emery Davidson & Mark Davidson
Thomas & Candace Dee
Karren & Ed DeSeve
Eli Diament
Diane A. Dickinson
Eric & Holly Dillon
John & Carey Dondero
William Downing & Mary Bachman
Ranney & Priscilla Draper
Buck Drew
Joseph T. Dunbeck
Jim & Jamie Dutcher
Earl M. Hardy Foundation, Kay Hardy & Gregory Kaslo
Mary E. Eldredge
Thomas & Ellie Elkinton
Holly Endersby & Scott Stouder
Allen & Mary Eng
John A. Engs
Ruann Ernst & Bill Riffle
Deborah K. Every
Peter & Laura Fabrick
Gary & Kathy Falk
James & Barbara Fillmore
Jonny L. Fisher
Norma J. Fisher
Warren & Deb Fisher
Dennis & Tracy Fitzpatrick
John A. Flewelling
Janine & Alex Florence
Ronald & Jo Ellen Force
Jerry Frank & Judy Harmon
John & Elaine French
Steven A. Frenzel
Mort & Sue Fuller
Georgia A. Fulton
Gregory George & Susan Spezza
Susan Giannettino & Jim Keller
David J. Giles
James J. Glendinning
Kriss & Richard Goldbach
Gary & Jody Goodheart
Craig & Vanessa Goulden
Elizabeth P. Graham
Wayne & Cynnie Griffin
Roger & Kathy Grigg
The Grove Creek Fund
The Hackborn Foundation
Dr. & Dr. Haensli
Harry & Shirley Hagey
Michael & Denise Hagood
Susan R. Hamerlynck
Douglas A. Hancey
Patricia Hanwright
Garney Hardy
Carol & Len Harlig
Helen L. Harrington
Frank & BoDeen Hayes
Harvey & Margaret Hinman
Deb & John Holleran
Eugene & Patricia Holsinger
Timothy & Ann Hopkins
Todd Horseman
Brooke E. Howard
Charles & JoAnn Hower
HRH Foundation
H. Huff
George & Leslie Hume
Adam Hurst
Ernest F. Hyde, Jr.
Idaho Mountain Touring
Idaho Trout Company
Inland Northwest Community Foundation
Lorna & Jim Irwin
Ishiyama Foundation
Doyle W. Jacklin
James & Barbara Cimino Foundation
Glenn Janss
Beverly & Donald Jefferson
Judith A. Jellinek
William & Wanda Jennings
Mitzi M. Jensen
John & Elaine French Family Foundation
Sydney McNiff Johnson & Jay Johnson
Charley & Nancy Jones
JRB Properties, LLC
Steve & Courtney Kapp
Paul & Lynn Kearns
Robert & Jean Kendall
Malcolm & Pamela Kinney
Ellen T. Kirch
C. Dean & Carroll Klahr
Trish Klahr & Lee Melly
Belinda A. Knochel
Jeanne & Robert Koeberlein
Bill & Jeanne Landreth
Louis & Barbara Lanwermeyer
Thomas Larson & Marilynne Manguba
Linda Leckman
Lenoir Charitable Trust
Jack & Debra Levin
Mike & Karla Lewis
Craig Leymaster
Karen E. Leyse
The Libra Fund
Amy Lientz & Jay Astle
Siwen & Edward Lieskovan
Lightfoot Foundation
Lawrence D. Lincoln
Bev Lingle & Buddy Paul
Henry Little & Lydia Mendoza
Irv & Trudy Littman
John & Donna Looze
Christine A. Loucks
Jesse & Whitney Lowe
Anita Barnes Lowen & Roger Lowen
Lou & Cindy Lunte
Robert & Lee Ann Luten
Mayo & Susan Lykes
Kim Lynch & Michael Mallea
M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust
Nancy C. Mackinnon & David D. Perkins
Scott & Linda MacLean
Glenn & Patricia Mahrt
Ron Mamajek & Denise Zembryki
T. Manley
Otwin Marenin
Marjorie Moore Davidson Foun-dation
Jack & Susan Marshall
Kiki & Wayne Martin
The Martine and Dan Drackett Family Foundation, Inc.
Mary W. Harriman Foundation, Averell Fisk
Jane H. Mason
Jerry Mason & Penny Friedlander
Matthias Foundation, Robert & Barbara Matthias
Bernie McCain
McDanel Land Foundation, Peter Roberts & Kim Wilson
Kathleen & Steven McDonald
George E. McGee IV
Donna Marlene McKee
Lila & David McLeod
Chris B. Mead
Rodney & Heidi Mead
Daniel B. Meehl
Eric & Renee Merten
Elinor Michel & Walter Hesford
Manderson L. Miles
The Milias Foundation
Mitch & Margot Milias
John L. Milner
Bill & Maxine Molyneux
Ginny & John Moody
Mark R. Morgan
Gary Mullard
Steven Mullin & Carol Holmes
Mary L. Murelaga
Cynthia & Kingsley Murphy
Larry & Sue Myers
Nancy and John Goldsmith Foundation, Rob & Amy Swanson
Terry & Marty Nelson
Mikael H. Niehoff
Christel K. Nordhausen
John C. Okada
Linda Olson & Peter Morrill
Peter & Barrie O’Neill
Skip & Esther Oppenheimer
Nicholas & Stephanie Osborne
Jan & Shery Packwood
Page Foundation
Susan T. Parkinson
Scott & Carol Patten
Rebecca Patton & Tom Goodrich
Robert Pedersen
John Pennings & Terese Fandel
Linda Perez & Roger Malinowski
The Perkins Charitable Foundation
Kathy D. Peter
Kristina S. Peterson
Philip A. Peterson
Shane & Janet Peterson
Ben F. Pierce
Roger & Leslie Piscitella
Potlatch Corporation
Tony Price & Constance Cox Price
David & Shari Quinney
Richard & Georgiann Raimondi
Wayne & Wendy Rancourt
Bob & Betsy Reniers
David & Liane Reynolds
Amy Rice-Doetsch & Alex Doetsch
Richard K. and Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
Joe & Sue Richards
Marilyn E. Richie
Rand R. Ricks
Martha & Richard Ripple
R. Rivard
Anita Robinson & Chris Kutteruf
Bill & Sheri Robison
Ron & Susan Rope
Lisa L. Flowers Ross
Virginia & Jim Russell
Frank & Maryann Russo
Cindy Salisbury
Alan & Lois Sands
Russ Satake & Anita Lusebrink
Leonard & Mary Sue Scheffler
Jaime & Peder Schmitz
Sharida L. Sendele
Ralph & Shirley Shapiro
Alan & Laura Shealy
Chuck & Judy Shepard
Jeffrey & Anne Shneider
Frank Shrontz
Penn & Nancy Siegel
Sirius Fund, Virginia & Peter Foreman
Daniel M. Smith
Michael Smith
Species Restoration Foundation
Pegge McGuire Steele
The Stephen G. & Susan E. Denkers Family Foundation
The Steven Leuthold Family Foundation
The Stevenson Family
Nick & Carole Stokes
Robert F. Strang
Dr. & Mrs. David Stubbs
Robert & Joyce Sulanke
Anna & Steve Sullivan
Swindle Family Foundation
Edward & Pamela Taft
Tate Family Charitable Trust
Keith A. Taylor
Nancy Taylor & Doug Houston
Edward & Millicent Thomas
Cindy M. Thompson
The Tim and Karen Hixon Foundation
Charles H. Trost
Ann M. Tyson
Taylor & Mark Ullman
Lewis B. Ulrey
Naomi & Thomas Unnasch
Robert & Cynthia Unnasch
Mark & Rebecca Uranga
James O. Vance
Velma J. Vance
Ann & Bill Vanderbilt
Mallory & Diana Walker
Jeffrey & Julia Ward
Philip Warren
Charles & Julie Wemple
Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
Glenn H. Weyhrich
James & Sally Will
Willard L. Eccles Charitable Foundation
Willard L. & Ruth P. Eccles Foundation
Angus & Senta Wilson
Nancy H. Winter
Mary & Brad Wirth
Ralph E. Wolter
Wood River Foundation
David & Susan Work
Patsy Wygle & Russel Moore
Janet York
Laura Young
Fred & Melly Zeillemaker
Bob & Patience Ziebarth
Jennifer E. Zissou
In-Kind DonationsAtkinsons’ Market, Inc.
Bargain Sales and Conservation Easements
Cristina’s
CTA Architects Engineers
Steve Dondero
John Finnell
Hancock Timber Resource Group
Jytte
Gwenna & Wade Prescott
David & Gretchen Vanek
Gifts to Other State and International ProgramsGary and Anne Borman
Dennis & Tracy Fitzpatrick
Harry & Shirley Hagey
HRH Foundation
Robert & Lee Ann Luten
David Perkins & Nancy Mackinnon
Joseph & Susan Richards
Frank A. Shrontz
Edward & Pamela Taft
THANKSThe Nature Conservancy’s accomplishments are only made possible by the many individuals, organizations, businesses and foundations that made gifts to our vital conservation programs during fiscal year 2018 (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018). Every gift, regardless of size, plays a crucial role in our work—for people and nature. We thank you for your commitment to our mission.
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THIS PAGE left to right Curlew being fitted with solar transmitter © Matthew Ward/The Nature Conservancy; Snake River Canyon ©Will Whelan; Frog © John Finnell; Butterflies at Hall Mountain © Megan Grover-Cereda/The Nature Conservancy; Bighorn Sheep © James DeMers; United By Nature © Toni Hardesty/The Nature Conservancy