wood river land trust newsletter winter 2007

8/8/2019 Wood River Land Trust Newsletter Winter 2007

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Land

on

A all atrnn alng th Big Wd Rivr at Hward Prsrv in Bllv

rtrt

like to say that it took nine years and

three overnors to complete Wood

River Land Trusts newest preserve,the Draper Wood River Preserve. The

80-plus-acre land trade with the State

of Idaho in the heart of Hailey took so

lon because of its complexity, and weare increasinly undertakin these kindsof lare, complex, and time-consumin

projects because they have the potential

to achieve reater conservation benefits

for our local lands, waters, people, and

wildlife. Such complicated projects takeyears of perseverance to see throuh to

completion. In comparison, the volun-

tary conservation areements our quali-

fied staff creates with carin landowners

(we are currently workin on eiht) come

to fruition quite quickly.

Wood River Land Trust was uniquely

positioned to create the Draper Wood River

Preserve in what I think is the best exampleof a win-win collaborative conservation

effort the Valley has ever seen: when thetrade was complete, the State of Idaho

owned a marketable lot it could sell to raise

school endowment funds, and residentsained the larest stretch of protected river-

front land in our area. In addition to work-

in with individual landowners, we have

lon used an array of tools to protect land,

such as partnerin with the City of Bellevueto create the Howard Preserve (2004) and

Protecting the heart

of the valley...now anfor the future.

Innovative Conservation in a Changing ValleyThoughts from Executive Director, Scott Boettger

Continued on page 4

A blat W Rr La Trt www.wrrlatrt.r @wrrlatrt.r

Wood Rvr Lad Tr

WinTeR 20

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Meet the BoardJohn Fell Stevenson, Director

ohn Fell Stevensons involvementwith Wood River Land Trust stems

from his love of the land his family has

worked for 35 years. Johns family haslived and worked on their ranch on theheadwaters of Stalker Creek since 1972,

and, remarkably, almost nothin haschaned.

John attributes this larely to themany landowners workin with TheNature Conservancy and Wood River

Land Trust to create conservation aree-ments that protect their land in perpetu-

ity, makin it increasinly valuable.In addition, he says, the movementopposin unplanned development miht

not be effective if not for Wood RiverLand Trusts expertise, advice, and

dedication, and their ability to influ-ence public policy. Describin his firstmeetin with Executive Director Scott

Who We ARe

Boetter over ten years ao when they

discussed Transfers of DevelopmentRihts (TDRs), he says, Scott was an

expert on the subject. Now, we finallyhave a TDR ordinance. The next step

Meet our StaffMelanie Dahl, Executive Assistant

f youve visited or called the Wood RiverLand Trust office, most likely youve

shared a few words and a smile with MelanieDahl. Our conspicuous voice behind thefront desk is most enthusiastic about our

more visible efforts, especially those in thecenters of our communities and critical wild-

life areas.

Over the past 30 years, Melanie hasbeen an active member of the Wood River

Valley community. Shes worked with localmedia, includin newspaper and radio, and

the Blaine County Recreation District. Asa founder of the Bellevue Historical Society,she continues to be involved in preserv-

in Bellevues past by restorin structuresand archivin documents. For example,

the Society saved Old City Hall and lateropened it as a museum.

Reconizin the importance of uid-

in the future of her community, Melaniespent a combined 12 years on the Bellevue

Plannin & Zonin Commission and CityCouncil. Based on her rich experiences inthe Valley, she provides valuable perspec-

tives on where the Valleys been, where itsheaded, and how best to share these ideas

with others.Melanie joined the Wood River Land

Trust staff as the Executive Assistant almost

five years ao. In recent years, shes watchedthe oranizations staff double and is proud of

the work theyve accomplished. Molly andNicolas, Melanies rown children, playedat the present day Howard Preserve when

they were youn. This was years before wehelped the City of Bellevue purchase the

area as a park to uarantee its enjoyment byfuture enerations.

Jhn Fll Stvnsn and his pal, Barly

is to make them work, and we can be

sure the Land Trust will be involved inthat effort too. Thanks to alternatives

like TDRs, we are successfully uidinrowth away from sensitive areas likewetlands and streams and towards more

appropriate places closer to County ser-vices.

We constantly hear talk abouthow the valley has chaned, John says,and it has, with more subdivisions and

ever-increasin traffic. This is true allover the mountain west. The pressure

on these mountain valleys will onlyincrease as baby boomers retire. Johnconsiders his involvement with Wood

River Land Trust and motivation for

ettin involved, explainin that thefuture of the open space, wildlife, andwaters of this whole area is enhanced byhavin Wood River Land Trust with its

team of experts on the job for us, andthat is why I was happy to accept Scotts

invitation this year to join the board.Wood River Land Trust is honored

to have Johns support and appreciates

the time, dedication, and expertise hecontributes to our work!

2007 draws to ae we need your

p! Anonymousors and our Board

Directors haveerously pledged

70,000 matchingnt. To receive this

HELP uS MEET OuR CHALLENgE!

we must raise $340,000 by December 31, 2007. This means thatry dollar you donate between now and the end of the year will beched by an additional $.50.

Year-End Challenge provides and excellent opportunity to maker gift go even further in the protection of the Valleys land, water,wildlife habitat. All donations are tax-deductible. Please help us

ch our goal today!

Year-End Challenge Goal.............$340,000

Amount Raised as of 11/26......$171,500

Amount Needed toMeet Challenge........................$168,500

J i

Bard Dirctrs

Clark Gerhardt, President

Ed Cutter, Vice President

Joan Swift, Treasurer

Robin Garwood, Secretary

Jerry Bashaw

William Burnham

John Flattery

Trent Jones

Heather King

Patricia Klahr

Jack KuenemanBill Lehman

Liz Mitchell

John Fell Stevenson

Steve Strandberg

Tom Swift

Chris Thompson

Barbara Thrasher

Doris Tunney

Liz Warrick

WRLT StaScott Boettger

Executive Director

Morgan Buckert

Membership Assistant

Melanie Dahl

Executive Assistant

Kate Giese

Director of Conservation

Kathryn Goldman

Project Coordinator

Diane KahmDevelopment Assistant

Heather KimmelProgram & Membership

Coordinator

Robyn WatsonMajor Gifts Officer

Nathan WelchPlanning Coordinator

Advisry Cmmitt

David Anderson

Peter Becker

Ranney Draper

Rebekah Helzel

Dave Parrish

Larry Schoen

John Seiller

Bruce Tidwell

This nwslttr

is pblishd by:

Wd Rivr Land Trst

119 East Bullion Street

Hailey, Idaho 83333

208-788-3947 (telephone)

208-788-5991 (fax)

[email protected]

www.woodriverlandtrust.org

Tax ID# 82-0474191

As a lon-term resident and

occasional civic leader, Melaniehas witnessed the fast pace andcharacter of chane in the Wood

River Valley. Thins are chaninso fast in the Valley that Im really

worried about the future of wildlife,she explains. She cites the SquareLake Preserve and its sae-rouse

as a favorite example of how WoodRiver Land Trust is workin to pro-

tect wildlife and its habitat.

Melanie is a key member of theWood Rive Land Trust team. Her

presence and talents contribute tothe success of our oranization and

make the office a wonderful spacefor work. And she shares the abun-dant plums from her fruit trees with

all of us.Mlani Dahl tnding th fwrs


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connecTing To The LAnd

with the City of Hailey to create Riverside Pond

(2003) and a protected reenway alon the Bi WoodRiver (2002). But with a limited amount of private-ly-owned land and onoin development pressure, we

must be creative and proactive to make a differenceon a larer scale.

As important riverfront, recreational, and sceniclands become increasinly expensive, we reconizethat simply raisin money to purchase land will no

loner be adequate or effective. With that in mind,Wood River Land Trust is evaluatin key projects

that will require more time, patience, and creativitybut that will yield important conservation returns.Our current Sheep Bride Canyon Project is a reat

example. Still in its infancy, this project has thepotential to protect land and water resources while

stretchin our conservation dollars.You will be readin more about Sheep Bride

Canyon and other projects and about our use of

revolvin funds, barain sales, land trades, and part-nerin successes in our upcomin newsletters. With

all the challenes our valley faces, one thin is cer-tainwe live in a remarkable, beautiful place. Andas the valley rows, so will Wood River Land Trust

and our ability to protect and conserve our land,water, and wildlife habitat.

Innovative Conservation

in a Changing ValleyContinued from cover

Be the First to See this

Years Heart of the Valley

Photographs

Jin s at Imags Natr Gallry in Ktchm

n Dcmbr 28th dring th Gallry Walk r th

irst pblic shwing this yars Hart th Vally

phtgraphy sbmissins. Thanks t

Imags Natr r prviding a batil spac in

which t highlight this yars phtgraphs.

Jin s t at 6:30 p.m. n Janary 23rd whn w

annnc this yars cntst winnrs at a pblic

rcptin at Imags Natr Gallry.

This yars cntst is gnrsly spnsrd by:

ood River Land Trusts newSheep Bride Canyon Project

seeks to protect approximately 300 acresjust east of Timmerman junction. Each

sprin and fall, hue numbers of elk, muledeer, and antelope mirate throuh thearea as they leave the Smoky Mountains

and Rock Creek drainae west of the

Wood River Valley on their way to themore temperate lava rock landscape nearShoshone.

The Sheep Bride Canyon Project

would protect over a mile of Bi WoodRiver frontae in an area that is home

to bald eales and other raptors andwhere trout spawn in the cold, clearwater as they wend their way from Maic

Reservoir. The Idaho Department ofFish and game notes that the forested

areas around rivers like those near SheepBride Canyon are the most threatenedhabitat type in Idaho.

Your support of Wood River LandTrust makes possible projects like Sheep

Bride Canyon that protect land so lareame animals have room to roam andareas around rivers and streams remain

healthy for an array of animals, raptors,and sonbirds.

Sheep Bridge Canyon Project

W

Rling thm in at Shp Bridg Canyn

Highway20

Highway75

RockC

reek BigWood

Riv

er

To Bellevue

To Fairfeld

Visit the Building

Material ThriftStore at its

new location

3930 S. Woodside

(208) 788-0014

www.bildingmatrialthritstr.rg


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ThAnk youfoR heLping us Achieve ouR goALs

3

Rbrt Antnili

A Tribute to the Places you Love

obert Antonioli, a lon time Wood River Valley hom-

eowner, was an avid fisherman, tennis player, skier andbiker. He loved the Wood River Valleys scenic vistas, openlandscapes, and the Bi Wood River. Robert showed his affec-

tion for the Valley by bequeathin, upon his passin last summer,a portion of his estate to Wood River Land Trust to foster the

protection of the valley he loved. In honor of his memory, weare placin a bench at our Trail Creek Overlook at 2nd Avenue

and Spruce Street in Ketchum. The Trail Creek Overlook indowntown Ketchum is the perfect place to et outside for lunchor await a dinner reservation.

RA Short Commute for Our Staff

Th nw hs at 119 2nd Avn Nrth

n September, Wood River Land Trust purchased the house

next door to our Hailey office. Purchasin the SecondAvenue home helped us achieve two oals: providin staff hous-

in and savin another small piece of Haileys history.The lot next door has contained a dwellin since at least

1885, and the current house has all the earmarks of a buildin

that has one throuh more than a few incarnations. As we didwith our office at 119 E. Bullion, we will restore and revitalize

the new house. We are currently lookin for a fittin histori cHailey style to uide our restoration of the house. ArchitectEddy Svidal, a member of the Hailey Historic Preservation

Commission, has offered us his professional talents.How were we able to take this step? Lon-time supporters

and advisors Lyn and David Anderson donated a Sun Valleycondominium to Wood River Land Trust late in 2006 with thecondition that proceeds from its sale be used to fund staff hous-

in. The condominium sold quickly, and an Employee HousinAssistance Fund was established.

Our Plannin Coordinator, Nathan Welch, and his wife,Lara, have moved in and will have a hand in the restorationwork that will be oin on around them. We would like to thank

gayle Stevenson of Sothebys for her encouraement and assis-tance in this transaction as well as previous owner, Debra Evans,

and neihbors Todd and Nancie Krankkala.

i

PLANNeD GIFTS To WooDRIVeR LAND TRuST hlp sprtct th Vallys land, watr, and wildli

habitat r yars t cm. Plannd gits can

b mad by:

Includingacashgiftinyourestateplan

sch as a will r living trst

Donatinglandoraconservation

agrmnt in yr stat plan

DirectingaportionofyourIRAor

401(k) t Wd Rivr Land Trst

NamingWoodRiverLandTrustasa

bniciary a li insranc plicy

T larn hw y can mak a dirnc

with yr plannd git, plas call Rbyn

Watsn at 208 788-3947, r cntact yr

stat plannr t larn abt th ways

plannd giving can bnit yr stat and

Wd Rivr Land Trst.


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119 East Bullion Street

Hailey, Idaho 83333

www.woodriverlandtrust.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Printed on recycled paper

NON-PROFIT

STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 21

83333

Acres Permanently Protected

With Your Support: 6,421

WinTeR 2007

n This issue:

nnovative Conservation

n a Changing Valley

..Page 1

Be the First to See this

Years Heart of the

Valley Photographs!

..Page 4

heep Bridge Canyon

Project...Page 5

A Short Commute for

Our Staff...Page 6

Snwshing at Drapr

Wd Rivr Prsrv

wood river land trust newsletter winter 2007

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