to reach us:

Telephone: 831.625.5523

Fax: 831.625.0716

E-mail: mail@bigsurlandtrust.org

www.bigsurlandtrust.org

StaffBill Leahy, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Donna Meyers, DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION PROGRAMS

Martin McCarthy DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Sus Danner, CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER

Heather Brady, STEWARDSHIP COORDINATOR

Joanna Devers, MARKS RANCH PROJECT MANAGER

Donna Walden, EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Jo Lynn Rosbach, PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Jim Cox, GLEN DEVEN RANCH MANAGER

David Zweifel, MITTELDORF PRESERVE CARETAKER

ConsultantsLaw Offices of Zad Leavy and Robin Jepsen LEGAL COUNSEL

Doolittle & Ganos INVESTMENT ADVISOR

Pos t Of f i ce Box 22186 4Carmel , Ca l i forn ia 93922

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PA I DPermit No. 93Carmel, CA

93922

contact

Editorial Services – Tom Owens, Tom Owens Communications; Newsletter Design – Bunne Hartmann, Hartmann Design Group; Photography – Douglas Steakley, and BSLT Staff.

printed by an economical direct to plate process, on recycled paper using soy based inks.

Board of TrusteesCHAIR

Diane Sena

VICE CHAIR

Stephen Schulte

TREASURER

David Bates

SECRETARY

Linda Charles

Phillip ButlerDebbie Cervenka

Paul DanielsonKent Evans

Karen FerlitoRosalind Fisher

Scot McKayLeslie Snorf

George N. Somero, Ph.D.Nick WheelerPhil Wilhelm

Marsha McMahan Zelus

THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST

THE B IG SUR LAND TRUST - POST OFF ICE BOX 221864, CARMEL, CAL IFORNIA 93922 TELEPHONE 831.625.5523 FAX 831.625.0716 - WWW.BIGSURLANDTRUST.ORG

fa l l 2006 conser v ing our prec ious lands and waters for a l l generat ions

The Carmel River watershed has been the life source of the MontereyPeninsula and surrounding area since people arrived to this wonderful landscape. The native Ohlone and Esselen tribes relied on the river for fresh water and food. So did the Spaniards, who moved their mission from Monterey to Carmel to be in closer proximity to the river. The largeSpanish rancheros and later the many California ranches of the late 19th and early 20th century depended on the river and its watershed for theircrops and livestock.

As the Monterey area grew in population, the river became both the water source and a recreational area for local families and visitors. Old-timers smile nostalgically as they recountlazy afternoons at the swift-flowing river, swimming in deep pools, dropping a line in theirfavorite fishing holes, or drifting aimlessly in an inner tube from the Carmel Valley Villagetoward the coast. But as more and more families called the Monterey area their home, thestrains on the river grew. Increased pumping to support the water needs of a burgeoning population began to have detrimental effects on the river and the native plants and wildlifethat call it home. Local families saw their river drying up before it reached its mouth andtheir landscape suffered. Today, government and civic agencies struggle to find solutions that will provide the area with the water it needs while restoring and preserving the river and its inhabitants.

continued inside, page 3

I N S I D E mooland connecting the river trail

I N S I D E community partners nature teaches

I N S I D E marks ranch outdoor classrooms

I N S I D E odello fields organic farm success

The Carmel is a lovely little river. It isn’t very long, but

in its course, it has everything a river should have.

- John Steinbeck

CANNERY ROW, 1945

Carmel River swimming, circa 1950.From the collection of Pat Hathaway at California Views, Monterey, CA

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH US:THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST UNVEILS

CARMEL RIVER VALLEY CONSERVATION PROGRAM

Get

Invo

lved

! i

8

Interested in helping to revitalize the native plants and animals of Monterey County? Enjoy the camaraderie ofothers who share your passion and help to preserve andimprove our scenic landscape. Come join The Big SurLand Trust’s growing group of enthusiastic volunteers!

BSLT Volunteers lead hikes, share interpretive information,remove invasive weeds, plant native plants, and activelycare for the land that BSLT has helped protect for 28years. It’s fun, it’s sometimes hard work and it’s alwaysrewarding.

For more information about our exciting volunteer opportunities, contact our Stewardship Coordinator,Heather Brady, hbrady@bigsurlandtrust.org, or call831.625.5523, ext. 110.

This summer, I had the privilege of attending a leadership retreat witha diverse group of individuals from around the country representing awide range of viewpoints within the conservation movement. For oneweek, I was in the company of some of the most passionate and com-mitted individuals from the land trust, social justice, public health,sustainable farming and arts sectors, to name a few.

Together, we examined ideas about how to strengthen bonds betweenour conservation organizations and the communities in which weoperate. We examined how we might build more authentic collabora-tions across the boundaries that divide our groups from each other as well as from other organizations within our communities. It was a powerful and heartfelt experience that gave me greater confidence in the directions we are heading here at The Big Sur Land Trust.

This edition of our newsletter highlights some of the many ways theLand Trust is delivering on our promise to create a more enduring and inclusive land and water conservation movement on California’sCentral Coast. The projects highlighted in this issue are prime examples of how we are giving careful consideration to both our natural resources and the strength and character of our communities.These efforts represent the first expressions of a new story of peopleand land. In the coming months, the Land Trust will explore ingreater depth how we can better define and measure the relevancy and significance of individual projects in terms of the values and aspirations of our communities.

Our traditional indicators of success, such as acres protected or mem-bership served, offer important benchmarks. Used alone, however,they do not accurately measure the greater promise of our work. Howdo we accurately assess, for example, the full benefit of our new part-nership for youth education and recreation at Marks Ranch? What isthe multiplier effect of an acquisition like Moo Land for drawing newpeople and communities into the stewardship of the Carmel River?How much will the return of a thriving farm at the historic OdelloFields feed our stomachs as well as our psyches?

In coming months, you will learn about emerging Land Trust projectswhere the intersection of conservation and community leads to power-ful long-term collaborations. Working ranchlands, clean water, floodcontrol, agriculture and affordable housing are now all part of the lexi-con of the conservation movement as we expand our notion of what aland trust must do to be a successful community partner.

These new stories demonstrate the value and power of land conserva-tion to a much broader community. They expand our older, more limiting definitions of “saving land.” The Land Trust, in partnershipwith the communities where we live, work and play, will dig deeperinto the issue of how to collaborate with people and organizationswho may have visions very different from our own. Collectively, wewill explore more deeply the cultural, economic and political bound-aries that prevent us from broadening our relationships and workingin unity for the betterment of our landscape.

I am very excited about this new direction for our organization andencourage all of our members to help us in this journey. Together, wecan create many more new stories in which the whole community is a major part of our success.

F R O M T H E

E X E C U T I V E D I R E C T O R

Conservation,Community andCollaboration

BSLT ACQUIRES KEY LINK TOCARMEL RIVER TRAIL NETWORK

The Big Sur Land Trust has acquired Moo Land. No, itʼs not a dairy amusementpark; itʼs not even a former dairy farm.Rather Moo Land is a beautiful stretch of the Carmel River near Carmel ValleyVillage. Most importantly, the 32-acre Moo Land is a vital link in the Land Trustʼseffort to create a continuous Carmel RiverTrail and provide rare parkland at theriverʼs edge where people and communitygroups can experience the river up close.

moo land you say?Why the name Moo Land? The propertyhas been in the de Dampierre family –

true Carmel Valley pioneers – for decades. The matriarch of the family, Genevieve de Dampierre, was given the nickname “Moo” by one of her young children who hadtrouble pronouncing “Mom.” The nickname stuck, and eventually this stretch of landalong the river cherished by Genevieve became known as Moo Land.

Descendents of the de Dampierre family have long held strong philanthropic interestsin Carmel Valley. In fact, they donated the property on the river bank opposite MooLand as the site of the current de Dampierre Little League Field, as well as 500 acresof the future Garland Ranch Regional Park. The family had for years granted a leaseon Moo Land, allowing neighbors and visitors to use the property as part of theCarmel River Trail. A seasonal bridge on the trail enabled Garzas neighborhood kidsto walk or ride their bikes to the Little League Park. Hikers, joggers and equestriansfrom the neighboring Carmel Valley Trail and Saddle Club also enjoyed the access to Garland Ranch Regional Park provided by Moo Land.

A few years ago the family decided to put the property up for sale and the lease wasnot renewed. Public access to the property was restricted, the seasonal bridge wasremoved and a vital neighborhood link vanished. For Garzas kids to reach the LittleLeague Park, they had to bike or walk up to busy Carmel Valley Road – or more likely, their parents had to drive them.

the missing linkWhen preparing the Carmel River Valley Conservation Program, The Big Sur LandTrust realized that Moo Land represented an invaluable addition to the Carmel RiverTrail. Whatʼs more, this is an area of steep terrain where opportunities to accessGarland Park are very limited. Moo Land represents the only immediate area wherehikers can reach both the Saddle Trail and Gabilan Trail inside Garland Park.

BSLT contacted the de Dampierre descendants and began negotiations for the purchase of Moo Land. An option to purchase the property was reached in June and BSLT successfully completed the acquisition in September. The BSLT received a grant of $1.9 million from the California State Resources Agency River ParkwayProgram to pay a portion of the acquisition and restoration costs. The total projectcost is over $2.3 million. BSLT hopes to raise the remaining funds needed to restoreMoo Land in the coming year through community support, and welcomes contribu-tions earmarked for this project.

“We are extremely excited about the acquisition of Moo Land,” said Sus Danner,Conservation Project Manager with the BSLT. “It is such a strategic location for boththe River Trail and the local neighborhoods. This ensures the permanent protection of a vital trail network in Carmel Valley Village.”

According to Danner,Moo Land will under-go an ambitiousrestoration effort.Three acres ofdegraded floodplainwill be restored todeciduous riparianforest, benefitingwildlife such asmigratory songbirds,California red-leggedfrogs and steelheadtrout. Invasive weedswill be removed, trailsimproved and river-

side recreational opportunities enhanced. Plans call for picnic tables, benches, trailsigns, interpretive panels and the return of the seasonal footbridge across the river.

“We want to partner with Carmel Valley civic and youth organizations, such as theBoy Scouts, Little League, the Carmel Valley Village Improvement Committee and theMonterey Peninsula Regional Park District,” said Danner. “Together, we can create ariver parkway site that engages the community and invites people to the riverʼs edge.”

Upon completion of the restoration, the 32-acre parcel will be given to the MontereyPeninsula Regional Park District and become part of Garland Ranch Regional Park.To friends and neighbors, it will always be Moo Land.

got moo?

2

The Big Sur Land Trust takes great pride in our community

partnerships, particularly when they involve enriching

young people’s lives through the educational and healing

powers of nature (see Marks Ranch story on page 5).

Here are a few other snapshots of our recent alliances.

TEEN ENRICHMENT SUMMER CAMP

Harmony At Home, the YWCA and BSLT collaborate toserve young women who come from home environments

where violence and trauma have become the norm. Thegirls experienced a week of healthy living in the wilderness

at Glen Deven Ranch. The program encourages self-reliance, self-respect and making smart choices.

www.harmony-at-home.org.

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL

AT MITTELDORF PRESERVE

This summer, the BSLT partnered with the MontereyYMCA and the Monterey Peninsula Regional Parks

District (MPRPD) to provide a nature camp program thatincluded an overnight in the lodge at Mitteldorf Preserve.

The theme for the week was “Wilderness Survival” and included building a one-man debris shelter.

Photos courtesy of MPRPD.

WILDERNESS YOUTH PROJECT

Wilderness Youth Project, based in Santa Barbara, came to Mitteldorf this summer to camp out for a week, build

and sleep in forest shelters, cook their meals outdoors and create functional cooking utensils from found

objects. They also volunteered to rebuild a stairway on the nature trail. WYP guides youth and families

toward finding and expressing their inherent gifts through mentoring and nature experiences.

“MY GOAL,” SAYS JESSIE, “IS

TO MAKE SURE A SENSITIVE

AND WIDE-RANGING

SPECIES LIKE THE BADGER IS

CONSIDERED IN FUTURE

CONSERVATION PLANNING

OF CALIFORNIA’S GRASSLANDS

AND OAK WOODLANDS.”

Community Partnerships

ENRICHINGYOUNG PEOPLE’S LIVES THROUGHTHE EDUCATIONALAND HEALING POWERS OFNATURE

TEEN ENRICHMENT SUMMER CAMP

WILDERNESS SURVIVAL WEEK

WILDERNESS

YOUTH

PROJECT

YWCA

TEEN ENRICHMENT

PROJECT

7

CURRENTLY, THERE IS LITTLE KNOWN ABOUT BADGER BEHAVIOR,THEIR INTERACTION WITH THEIR ENVIRONMENT OR THE STRENGTHOF THEIR POPULATION.

Jessie’s assistant, Mark Elbroch, set up a camera with an infrared trigger outside of the badger’s burrow on Marks Ranch. The photographs confirmed the discovery.

“It was really exciting to see him at MarksRanch,” said Jessie. “In corridor ecology, it’sthe hardest data to get – documentation thatanimals are actually using a corridor. It wasreally lucky for us to catch this guy goingback and forth. And if he’s doing it success-fully, there must be others.”

WHAT’S NEXT?Jessie Quinn’s grant expires at the end of this year. At that point, she will write aspecies status report that will provide, for the first time, a detailed statewide overviewof the health of the badger population.

At this point, Jessie is hesitant to provide a conclusion on the size of the badger population in Monterey County. She guesses there are about a dozen in the grassland habitat on the Fort Ord property.

“It’s hard to tell exactly how many there are because they are so elusive,” she says.

Jessie does note that the local populationseems healthy, that there is plenty of preyand that the vegetation and soil are ideal for burrowing animals. As long as the badgers have wildlife corridors available to roam, hunt and grow in population, she says, things look up for this rarely seenand not well understood species.

Some may call it luck, good fortune – serendipity. But as the saying goes, you make your own luck.

Jamie Collins of Serendipity Farms certainly made her ownluck in securing a lease to oper-ate an organic farm at Big SurLand Trust’s Odello East field atthe mouth of Carmel Valley. And

it appears BSLT had serendipity on its side as well,finding a partner at its own doorstep who shares itsvision of a vibrant organic farm at the mouth ofCarmel Valley.

The Odello Fields have been a Highway 1 landmarkat the mouth of the valley since the Odello familybegan growing artichokes in 1924. When farmingoperations ceased in the 1980s, there was agroundswell of community support by residentswho wanted to be sure that local farming continuedon the site, rather than development. More than 20years ago, the Odello East fields were permanentlydedicated to agriculture and natural areas. The por-tion of the farm on the west side of Highway 1 isnow part of California State Parks, and much of it isbeing restored to a natural wetland. The Big SurLand Trust became owner of Odello East.

“Our goal has always been to return Odello East toa functioning organic farm,” said Susanna Danner,Conservation Project Manager for The Big Sur LandTrust. “Agriculture is such an important part of ourcommunity. Now we’ve found a great partner toturn that vision into reality.”

Jamie Collins is a 33-year-old California native andcrop science graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispowho has been running her own organic farms inMonterey County for more than five years. She start-ed Serendipity Farms on a 4.5 acre parcel sheleased in Moss Landing, raising sunflowers andbeets and selling them to local buyers.

With that initial project under her belt, Jamie triedher hand at growing organic tomatoes, farming 1.5acres on Meadows Road in Carmel Valley. Her newventure was an immediate success.

“I made more money on my acre-and-a-half oftomatoes than I did on my four-and-a-half acres inMoss Landing,” Jamie recalled. “The buyers I sold tosaid they would take more if I could grow them, sowe got four more acres in the Valley.”

By 2003, Jamie and her farming partner, RobertoGarcia, were up to 7.5 acres of heirloom tomatoes.They continued to expand their organic farmingoperation until it grew to almost 30 acres, including

her current “U-Pick” tomato farm near Mid Valley. Water and soil issues convinced Serendipity Farmsto consolidate its operations down to 10 primeacres, and Jamie oversaw a successful organic farming business that made a strong name for itselfin the local community. In addition to selling everyTuesday at the Old Monterey Farmers Market onAlvarado Street, Jamie supplies a variety of storesand restaurants. Local clients include Trader Joes,Whole Foods Market, Hacienda Hay & Feed,Garden Bistro, Montrio and Jeffrey’s Restaurant, aswell as New Leaf Markets, Shoppers Corner, FeltonMarket and Ben Lomond Market in Santa CruzCounty. Brokers sold her produce nationwide. With demand increasing, Jamie began searching for additional prime farmland to lease for her growing organic operations.

At that time, Jamie turned her attention to OdelloEast. She discovered that the land belonged to TheBig Sur Land Trust and inquired as to its plans fortheir 49 acres. Impressed with Jamie’s background,her obvious concern for the land and a winningproposal for Odello East, BSLT entered into a leaseagreement with Serendipity Farms. Jamie’s vision forthe farmland includes community involvement andhands-on education for school kids, as well asorganic agriculture that is complimentary with themouth of the river.

Already, the 49 acres of Odello East have beenplowed and the irrigation system repaired. Morethan 15 acres have been subleased to an organicstrawberry farmer, Felix Plascencia, who plants inNovember for a spring crop. Meanwhile, Jamiereadies other sections of the field for her first wintercrop of peas, chard, kale, cabbage and beans. Soon,artichokes will once again grace the Odello Fields.

Longer term, the Carmel River Trail will traverseOdello East providing the public an up close andpersonal look at organic farming. Jamie has longbeen involved with the Monterey County Farm toSchool Partnership and will team up with The BigSur Land Trust and other community organizationsto continue student activities at Odello. She isalready conducting education programs withTularcitos School in Carmel Valley, is a farm con-sultant with Carmel Middle School, and mentorsinterns from both CSUMB and Hartnell College.

Jamie is thrilled to have an active role in bringingfarming back to the storied Odello Fields and by allaccounts she is the ideal steward for this belovedpiece of land.

“It’s hard work, but it’s so rewarding to be here insuch a visible, well known place,” she said. “I loveit and look forward to a great partnership with TheBig Sur Land Trust.”

Once earmarked as the west coast campus of

St. John’s College, the 816-acre Marks Ranch,

next to Toro Park in the Monterey-Salinas

corridor, has opened its gates as a different

type of educational institution. Instead of

classrooms, there are sycamore alluvial

woodlands, rolling hills of chaparral and

oak-studded meadows. Instead of professors

you find educators and naturalists from the

Ventana Wildlife Society. And instead of

well-heeled university students with glowing

SATs, you find local youths struggling to

earn a high school diploma while battling

pasts and presents that may include gangs,

drugs, broken homes and criminal records.

Herman Marks’ original vision of his ranch as a center for education is finally being fulfilled. A pilot youth education program conducted by The Big Sur Land Trustand the Ventana Wildlife Society is just the first step toachieving an even broader role for Marks Ranch as a vitalcommunity resource for Salinas and the entire MontereyCounty. But achieving this goal requires a continued community effort to contribute both time and money.

Fundraising Effort in Full SwingThe Big Sur Land Trust continues its fundraising efforts to complete the purchase of Marks Ranch from St. John’sCollege. The price for acquisition is $5.4 million, with $2million already raised thanks to generous public and privatesupport. Another $3.4 million in contributions is neededby next spring to fulfill the community vision for MarksRanch, and your support can really make a difference!

Leading the charge for achieving that community vision is The Marks Ranch Advisory Committee, made up ofMonterey County leaders such as co-chairs Leon Panettaand Basil Mills. The Committee, with the help of BSLT, is developing a long-term management and stewardshipplan for the property that focuses on three primary goals:

1. Youth education, including day programs andovernight camps that focus on environmental, science,health, cultural and historical agriculture programs.

2. Recreation, including an expansion of playing fields, picnic grounds and trails as an adjunct to neighboring Toro Park.

3. Community activities, such as retreats, civicprograms, music and art events and botanical gardening at the Marks Ranch Hacienda.

School is Now in SessionAlthough the BSLT mustwait for the acquisitionto close before it canopen the ranch to recre-ation and communityevents, it has alreadyembarked on its goal ofmaking youth educationa top priority for theproperty. Located lessthan five miles fromSalinas, Marks Ranchpresents a unique oppor-tunity to connect Salinas

Valley youth to their local landscape.”It’s one thing to takeSalinas-area students on field trips to places like Big Sur orPoint Lobos,” said Alena Porte, Education Coordinatorwith the Ventana Wildlife Society. “It’s quite another totake them to a wilderness area right in their own backyard.They relate so much better.”

Porte recently led a pilot session of her Natural ScienceAfter-School Program at Marks Ranch for a group of adozen high school students from Salinas CommunitySchool. With the new school year, teacher Chris Devers has begun bringing his homeroom class to the ranch on a regular basis. The students, who did not succeed in thestandard high school environment, learn about the locallandscape, flora and fauna and discover there is more totheir community than city streets and agricultural fields.

Joanna Devers,Marks RanchProject Managerwith Big Sur Land Trust – and Chris’ wife –accompanied the group on the hike throughthe ranch.According toJoanna, MarksRanch presents a unique opportunity for Salinas youth. She points out that Salinas has only 360 acres of publicparkland for its 150,000 residents (far below the state average) and is the seventh most densely populated city in the state – ahead of Los Angeles

“Most of the trails at Toro Park and Fort Ord are prettystrenuous and used mostly by experienced hikers,” saidJoanna. “Marks Ranch has more gradual slopes, making it ideal for people who aren’t used to rugged terrain.”

On this particular hike, Porte helped the class identifyplants and animals that frequent Marks Ranch. Early on,the group spotted a red-crested bird hammering away at a dead tree. Porte handed the students one of the wildlifeguides she brought along and they quickly identified thebird as an acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus). The class then closely examined the “granary tree” in which the woodpecker was storing its acorns.

Later, Porte helped the class identify a common enemy of all hikers – Toxicodendron diversilobum, better known as poison oak. The students broke out their sketchbooksand drew accurate renditions of the red-tinted three-leafletshrub for future reference.

The nature education continued as Porte handed each student a clear plastic bug collecting box with a magnifyinglense built in the top. The students spread out over an oak-lined meadow collecting insects and spiders and then iden-tifying their catches in an insect guide. After the catch-and-release exercise, students recorded their findings in theirjournal and began the long hike back to the school van.

Chris Devers noted that the geography, botany and biologylessons provided to his students are only part of the valuethey receive from the after school program. Equally impor-tant is the camaraderie built among the hikers and thehealth benefits of exercise, recreation and clean air.

“I’ve noticed the students are a lot calmer, more relaxed the day after one of our hikes,” he said. “Connecting kidswith nature brings out a hopeful sense of adventure, andreminds them they are part of something bigger. It clearstheir minds of troubles and revitalizes their spirit.” JoannaDevers agrees about the wide range of benefits. “The kidsfrom Salinas are developing greater awareness of nature in

their communities, especially when they hike up to theMarks Ranch overlook and can see Salinas within the sameview of the Pacific Ocean,” she said. “They get a new per-spective of how their homes and their actions are part of alarger community that includes mountains, rivers, streams,farms and the marine sanctuary.”

And what do the students from Salinas Community School think?

“It’s a whole new experience for me,” said Christina Rivera. “I have seen all kinds of interesting things that I never knew about.”

“I like learning this way because it’s better than textbooks,” said Paul Bechler. “It gives us hands-on learning experiences of nature and what it has to offer us before we lose all of it.”

“I’m in the outdoor program because I like to be outdoors,” said Ruben Quiroz.

“I’m there because it keeps me off the streets and it is much more fun to be learning outside than in the classroom,” added Samuel Aragon.

The Ventana Wildlife Society is currently offering the after-school program free of charge to the Boys and GirlsClub of Monterey County, the Dr. Martin Luther KingAcademy in Salinas, King Middle School in Seaside and the Salinas Community School. The program, which beganin 2003, is primarily funded through a Bay WatershedEducation and Training grant from the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. According to Porte, theVentana Wildlife Society also offers nine weeks of summercamp that include overnight camping at Marks Ranch orGlen Deven Ranch in Big Sur.

According toJoanna Devers, theBSLT is committedto working withMonterey Countyto identify a net-work of public andprivate partnerswho will help makeMarks Ranch a vitalcommunity asset.Organizations arebeing invited topreview events atthe ranch to learnabout the propertyand its resources.

“The folks from County Parks are very open to exploringpartnerships that will ensure the maximum level of benefitand enjoyment for the whole community,” said Devers.“Plus, The Big Sur Land Trust wants to provide publicaccess to the property just as soon as we have raised thefunds necessary to complete the purchase. Once communi-ty groups come out to see and experience the ranch, andhelp us create a wide range of programs, I’m confident we can draw a broad segment of our population and be of value to people of all ages and interests.”

Community SupportBSLT welcomes all members of the community who wish to contribute to the Marks Ranch project throughdonations or volunteerism to contact Joanna Devers at theBSLT office. For more information regarding the VentanaWildlife Society’s after-school and summer programs, contact Alena Porte at 877.897.7740.

Marks Ranch Opens Gate as

Outdoor Classroom for Local Youth

Fundraising Effort Continues for Land Acquisition

Serendipity GROWS AT ODELLO F IELDSNew Organic Farm Takes Root at Mouth of Carmel Valley

JAMIE COLLINS IS THRILLED

TO HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE

IN BRINGING FARMING

BACK TO THE STORIED

ODELLO FIELDS AND BY ALL

ACCOUNTS SHE IS THE

IDEAL STEWARD FOR THIS

BELOVED PIECE OF LAND.

A Most Active and Vocal Supporter of BSLT

Jeanne Holmquist

“I’m kind of a Chamber of Commerce for The Big Sur Land Trust,” quipped Jeanne Holmquist, a member ofour Land & Legacy Circle. Indeed, Jeanne is a mostactive and vocal supporter, including the BSLT in herown estate plan and serving as custodian for the estate of Phyllis Krystal.

“Phyllis was like my adopted sister,” said Jeanne, aPebble Beach resident and former Principal of RobertDown Elementary School in Pacific Grove. “She was

very enthusiastic about The Big Sur Land Trust and got me involved.”

Jeanne’s recent involvement includes trips to Glen DevenRanch to enjoy the annual Land & Legacy Luncheon andto participate in three raptor releases in conjunction withher other favorite organization, the SPCA. A bench at theranch honors her friend Phyllis and serves as a favorite spot to sit and share the vista with friends.

This year, Jeanne instituted a challenge grant of $100,000through the BSLT’s President’s Circle. Through this grant,the Phyllis Krystal Foundation will donate $100,000 to the Land Trust if President Circle Members put together a matching donation.

“Big Sur Land Trust is probably the most important organization to me in my estate giving,” said Jeanne.“When I leave this chapter and go on to the next one, then I know there is going to be somebody who will carry on for me and The Big Sur Land Trust.”

The Land & Legacy

CIRCLEThe Land & Legacy Circle is an honored group of donors who make the notable decision to includeThe Big Sur Land Trust in their charitable estate plans. Their legacy gifts make a personal and lastingstatement in protecting our glorious, irreplaceablelandscapes for generations to come.

Besides gaining the satisfaction of knowing that their legacy will play a significant role in BSLT’s conservation efforts, Circle members are invited to the Land & Legacy annual luncheon as well asexclusive hikes and tours. In addition, members receive a framed and personally dedicated photograph of protected lands.

There are a variety of ways that The Big Sur Land Trust can be part of your estate planning, including:

• Bequests• Wills and Living Trusts• Reserved Life Estates• Real Estate• Stock• Retirement Plans and Insurance Policies

Life income gifts such as a pooled income fund or a charitable remainder trust are options that allowdonors to realize multiple benefits with one invest-ment. You can increase your income, receive a charitable-contributions deduction, avoid capital gains tax and support The Big Sur Land Trust’s conservation goals.

For more information about our Land & Legacy Circleand the creative gift options that can help you achieveboth your financial and philanthropic goals, pleasecontact the Land Trust at 831.625.5523.

4 5

They have a reputation for being hostile,defensive and downright ornery. But thebadgers that populate Monterey County near the Highway 68 corridor have been the center of attention of Jessie Quinn, a 31-year-old PhD. candidate at UC Davis.Jessie has been tracking these nocturnal creatures in Monterey County for more thantwo years during her first-of-its-kind study.

WHY BADGER BADGERS?Badgers, Jessie explained, are wide-ranging grassland carnivores thatappear to be sensitive to the fragmentationof their habitat. Currently, there is littleknown about their behavior, their interactionwith their environment or the strength oftheir population. Badgers are considered a“species of special concern.” That designa-tion generally denotes a population that ishistorically small or currently decreasing,but has not been designated as threatened orendangered.

“My goal,” says Jessie, “is to make sure asensitive and wide-ranging species like thebadger is considered in future conservationplanning of California’s grasslands and oak woodlands.”

Working on a grant from the CaliforniaDepartment of Fish & Game and UC DavisWildlife Health Center, Jessie is focused ison a group of badgers on Bureau of LandManagement property at Fort Ord. Of partic-ular interest are their migrating patterns andthe continuing availability of the wildlifecorridor necessary to ensure their long-termsurvival.

“Fort Ord is somewhat isolated by Highway68 and all of the development around it,”explained Jessie. “It isn’t linked to the contiguous open spaces that reach south to Santa Lucia and the Ventana Wilderness,except for some very tenuous connectionsacross Highway 68 near Marks Ranch and Toro Creek.”

The question concerning Jessie was whetherthe badgers could successfully migrate backand forth across the Highway 68 corridor. Ifthe wildlife corridor used by badgers andsimilar wide-ranging creatures is severed orseverely strained, the very existence of thelocal population can be put in jeopardy. Itcould denigrate their ability to hunt, findwater, mate and escape predators.

“I don’t know that Fort Ord alone would bebig enough to support a healthy badger pop-ulation long-term,” she said. “If there was nolonger a corridor across the highway, thenthe population could be on its way out.”

TRACKING THE ORNERY BADGERTo study the badger populationrequires that the burrowing ani-mals be trapped and implantedwith radio transmitters. This is certainly not a task for the timid.

Trapping them requires finding their burrowsduring the day while the badgers sleep deepinside. According to Jessie, the badgers areextraordinary diggers, excavating 15 to 20holes a day in search of food (mostly groundsquirrels, gophers and other small rodents)and shelter. Badgers rarely spend more thana night or two in the same burrow.

Once Jessie finds an occupied burrow, she sets up a body snare at the entrance. It’s a snare designed specifically for badgers– made to slide closed around their chests but with a stop that prevents the badgerfrom being squeezed or choked.

Once snared, the badger typically tries to hide back in its burrow. Jessie’s task is to dig the badger out and, with the help of an assistant and a catch pole, get the critter into a burlap bag.

“Badgers don’t have a lot of physical defenses,” she explains, “but they make up for it with a really surly attitude.”

The bagged badgers are taken to a vet clinic where the transmitter is implanted.They are then returned to the spot of captureand released. To date, Jessie has capturedand radio-tagged 10 badgers on Fort Ord.

AN EXCITING DISCOVERYThrough the use of radio telemetry, Jessiehas tracked the badgers’ movement on FortOrd for months. Jessie theorized that thebadgers may be crossing Highway 68 buthad no proof. She contacted the MontereyCounty Parks Department to ask if she could try tracking badgers at Toro Park but,for liability reasons, they turned her down.

While speaking on her research before theCSUMB Watershed Institute, Jessie met SusDanner of The Big Sur Land Trust. After afew meetings, it was agreed that Jessie could track for badgers on Marks Ranch,adjacent to Toro Park. The first attempts were disheartening to say the least.

“We couldn’t find any, anywhere,” saidJessie. “We searched the entire ranch.”

Undaunted, Jessie continued periodicsearches on Marks Ranch. Finally, success.Earlier this year, one of the badgers that had been previously captured on Fort Ordturned up on Marks Ranch. Radio signalsshowed that the badger stayed on the ranchfor long stretches and successfully crossedHighway 68 several times as he traveledback and forth along the corridor.

The Land Trust is Pleased to Welcome New Board Members and Staff

Debbie Cervenka / Board TrusteeDebbie Cervenka is the Executive Vice President ofPhillips Plastics Corporation, where she has spent thepast 28 years. She currently leads the Marketing and People Services groups within Phillips and serves on the Board of Directors.

Debbie was educated at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, majoring in journalism and communication.She currently is an advisory board member for theApplied Science Program at the University ofWisconsin-Stout; serves on the board of directors for the CoPaPi Lake Association; serves on the board forthe Junior Achievement of Wisconsin, Inc., NorthwestDistrict; and is a trustee of The Nature Conservancy of Wisconsin.

Residing in Northern Wisconsin, Debbie and her husband Bob have a home in Carmel Highlands.

Nick Wheeler / Board TrusteeNick Wheeler began his career in commercial photog-raphy in 1969 in San Francisco, after graduating with

a B.A. in Architecture from Stanford University. In1971, he moved to Massachusetts where he resided for

the next 33 years.

His career focus has been architectural photography,including a book with Doris Cole, Architecture of the

Boston Public Schools. His work has been published inmost major architectural magazines worldwide and he

was the recipient of the American Institute ofArchitects Honor Award for career achievement. More

recently, Nick published an extensive photographicexploration of the Badlands of North America and his

work was the subject of one man shows inWashington, DC, and Boston.

Nick and his wife Whiteley returned to California in 2004 and they currently reside within the Santa Lucia Preserve.

Joanna Devers / Marks Ranch Project ManagerJoanna Devers has worked in the field of private landconservation for more than eight years. After graduatingwith a B.A. in Latin American Studies from theUniversity of Maryland, Joanna worked five years withThe Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Mexico Program.There, she led fundraising, marketing and communityoutreach efforts raising more than $5 million for com-munity-based conservation projects throughout Mexico.

Joanna left TNC to pursue a Master’s degree inInternational Environmental Policy at the MontereyInstitute of International Studies. During her mastersprogram, Joanna conducted a research project funded by the Tinker Foundation documenting the use of

conservation easements in Latin America. Her report, published in both English and Spanish, provided baseline information for a five-year study to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation easements in the Latin American Region.

Joanna started working with The Big Sur Land Trust as a contractor in January 2005 and joined the staff full time in May 2006. As the daughter of Colombian parents, Joanna spent her summers growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, and developednative fluency in both English and Spanish. She resides in Marina with her husband Chris and daughter Sofia.

Donna Meyers / Director of Conservation ProgramsDonna Meyers has more than 15 years of experience

in coastal and watershed management, specializing inhabitat restoration, floodplain management, endangeredspecies conservation and water quality. She holds a B.A.

in Biology from the University of California Santa Cruz and a Masters in Environmental Planning from

California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo.

Donna has served on national, state and local advisorycommittees on watershed planning and policy. She hasalso managed the preparation of several watershed and

restoration plans for rivers in the Central Coast ofCalifornia. Donna founded and worked as the Executive Director of the CoastalWatershed Council. She has worked as an Environmental Analyst for the City of

Santa Cruz and as the Regional Water Quality Coordinator for the National Marine Sanctuary Program. She is currently a board member

of the California Watershed Network.

Donna has been a resident of the Central Coast for more than 20 years and lives in Santa Cruz.

GROUNDBREAKINGSTUDY

THE CAGEY BADGER

Wildlife Corridors

Key for Survival of

Little Known Mammals

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“Many people don’t realize that the Carmel River is a very significant river in California, with a longcultural and environmental history,” said DonnaMeyers, Director of Conservation Programs withThe Big Sur Land Trust (BSLT). “But the local community knows its importance and local familiesand organizations are stepping up to help recoverand restore the Carmel.”

Now, the BSLT is joining this community effort to save the river in a big way. It is facilitating thedevelopment of a Carmel River Valley ConservationProgram, a 25-year plan designed to restore the natural function of the Carmel River and reconnectthe river to the local community.

THE RETURN TO A HEALTHY RIVERAccording to Bill Leahy, Executive Director of The Big Sur Land Trust, the Carmel Valley RiverConservation Program is ambitious, yet realistic. The program will establish benchmarks in terms ofthe current health of the river and then work withthe scientific community to measure progress as con-servation and restoration programs are implemented.Factors such as river flow, water quality, health andabundance of plants, fish and other river animals,and the vibrancy of wetlands and other habitats will all be measured. The BSLT will facilitate a variety of projects over the next 25 years to restore naturalfloodplains and replant trees and other native plants.BSLT will partner with existing organizations to helpraise funds, facilitate solutions and implement projects.

“Organizations such as the Carmel River SteelheadAssociation and the Carmel River WatershedConservancy have been working for years to improvethe health of the river,” said Leahy. “We see ourefforts as a true partnership and collaborative effortwith these dedicated groups. The Land Trust is committed to restoring the Carmel River as a partner with the local community.”

Some of the BSLT river restoration projects are well through the research and design phase and nearing implementation. The Odello East Study and Restoration Plan, for example, will help restorethe natural floodplain at the mouth of the CarmelRiver, invigorating wetlands and fish populationswhile providing added flood management for nearbybusinesses and neighborhoods. Replanting trees andshrubs at the recently acquired Moo Land property(see story, page 2) and elsewhere upriver will reestab-lish native forest and provide needed habitat for a variety of local species.

CONSERVATION OF IMPORTANT LANDSCAPESThe Carmel Valley Conservation Program addressesvital community issues throughout the entire CarmelRiver watershed, including thousands of acres ofpublic and private lands stretching the length ofCarmel Valley. Preserving the landscape throughoutthe watershed is critical to maintaining the amplesupply of clean water needed to create a healthy river.

One of the primary goals of the conservation pro-gram is to encourage the continuation of the familyranching tradition in Carmel Valley. The BSLT isdeveloping innovative private landowner agreementsthat monetarily reward families who agree to contin-ue their ranching operations. By working with localranchers, The Big Sur Land Trust hopes to preservecritical wildlife corridors and pristine oak woodlands.

CONNECTING PEOPLE TO THE RIVERWhile preserving the open landscape is a major

objective of the Carmel River Valley ConservationProgram, the plan has a specific goal of making theCarmel River and surrounding lands more accessibleto both residents and visitors.

“First-hand experiences with the river and the landscape will lead to a deeper appreciation for the Carmel,” said Bill Leahy. “This in turn will cultivate personal commitments to preserve thiswonderful resource.”

A key component of increased accessibility is thedevelopment of an integrated trail and parkland system along the Carmel River. These trails andparklands will not only provide opportunities torecreate along the river, but will provide criticalaccess points that will interconnect existing trailsthrough Garland Regional Park, Jacks Peak, PaloCorona, Hatton Canyon, Point Lobos and Big Sur.Plus, the trail systems will serve Carmel Valley residents with walking, biking and equestrian pathsthat provide new and exciting ways to get aroundtheir neighborhoods without having to jump in thecar. The trails will link schools, shopping centers,businesses and parklands in a “walkable town” that will enhance the local community and reduce highway traffic.

Education will be a large part of the effort to recon-nect people to the river environment. Educationopportunities are being identified and informativesignage will be installed at key locations along theriver parkway trails. The BSLT and its partners willconduct guided hikes and other education programsto explain the local landscape, flora and fauna.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP“The key to our success with the Carmel River ValleyConservation Program is community partnership,”said Donna Meyers. “The Big Sur Land Trust is ded-icated to playing an active facilitation role, but it istruly a community effort.”

Carrying out the 25-year restoration plan will indeed require financial resources. The BSLT has set a goal of raising more than $40 million over thenext 25 years through grants, gifts and donations.Funds will be used to purchase land, fund easementagreements, construct trails and restore and preservethe river landscape.

The BSLT is exploring the establishment of a CarmelRiver Trust, a dedicated fund targeted specifically forCarmel River projects. Community members andscientific experts will be sought to form a River TrustAdvisory Committee that will help establish priori-ties. Additional volunteers will be needed to con-tribute to the ongoing conservation planning processas well as to execute the restoration efforts.

Additionally, partnerships with groups such as theCarmel River Watershed Conservancy, the CarmelRiver Steelhead Association, the CaliforniaDepartment of Parks and Recreation, the MontereyPeninsula Regional Park District, the MontereyPeninsula Water Management District, MontereyCounty Water Management Agency, The NatureConservancy and local municipalities and businesseswill continue to play a key role.

“We’ve done a lot of planning and studies,” saidMeyers. “It’s time to start putting projects on theground. Now is the time for the community to comejoin us and get involved in this wonderful river.”

A RIVER RUNS THROUGH US continued from page 1

PRESERVING THE LANDSCAPE

THROUGHOUT THE WATERSHED

IS CRITICAL TO MAINTAINING

THE AMPLE SUPPLY OF CLEAN

WATER NEEDED TO CREATE A

HEALTHY RIVER.

The key to our success with the CarmelRiver Valley Conservation Program is com-munity partnership.

The BSLT will facilitate a variety of projects over the next 25 years to restorenatural floodplains and replant trees and other native plants.

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