2005 annual report three valley conservation trust

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2005

ANNUAL MEETINGFEBRUARY 4, 2006Marcum Conference CenterMiami University, Oxford

Oxford, Ohio

Annual Report



Our Mission:

The Three Valley Conservation Trust works with peopleand communities to conserve the natural environment and

cultural heritage in Southwest Ohio.

Vision The Three Valley Conservation Trust will set the standard for landconservation and water quality protection in our region.

The TVCT will lead public and private stakeholders and landowners inthe conservation of natural resources within the TVCT watersheds.

The protection and enhancement of waterways, woodlands, vistas andfarmland in our region will be seen as exemplary land conservation.

The TVCT will be recognized by landowners, developers, and publicofficials in Southwestern Ohio as an important re source for conservationplanning, land protection and forward-thinking land use-planning.

The TVCT will be the holder of choice for land protection agreementsand partnerships with willing landowners.

The TVCT region will be cherished and known for Protected land, water, and scenic beauty Open spaces for livable communities The heritage of productive farms and cultural landscapes.

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Table of ContentsAnnual Summary Page 42005 Treasurer’s Report Page 9Accomplishments Page 102005 Protected Properties Pages 13Honors Page 20Acknowledgements Pages 232004 Annual Meeting Minutes Page 24

Hesselbr ock Agri cult ural Conservat ion Easement , 103 acr es, Dry For k Creek, Morgan Twp.

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ANNUAL REPORT Summary Feb 4, 2006Summary Comments - Frank House, ChairAt last year’s Annual Meeting in 2005, outgoing longtime Board Chair Liz Woedl reported that theamount of protected acres in our stewardship had grown exponentially. This past 2005 year madeall that came before pale in comparison. The Trust exceeded our own yearly high totals for most

easements and acres protected, as well as miles of stream frontage, dollars brought in, etc. In fact,the Trust’s holdings went from 19 properties covering 2500+ acres to 35 properties covering justunder 4000 acres in just one year! Ironing out all of these agreements, submitting newapplications, negotiating new deals, and monitoring our existing easements clearly has beenexhausting for our staff and for our Board and other volunteers alike. My first year as Chair hasbeen an eventful one in having the organization taking steps to regularize procedures, create theincreased level of professionalism in recordkeeping, and in working with the local communities tomake broader changes on a voluntary basis at the public policy level.

Each year's work has brought new challenges and lofty goals. Each year our Board members andenergetic director, Larry Frimerman, have accomplished incredible feats in conservation andfunding. Our members and donors have been incredibly generous with their gifts of time and

support. I, like Liz before me, have been so inspired by our landowners who have joined us in thisgood work, their dreams realized in their lifetime. We indeed welcomed several new Boardmembers to the table and we have learned much from them.

Last year, we recognized it was time to raise the bar, and we did! We have spent a great deal oftime as a Board helping to move the organization toward greater accountability and meeting of newindustry standards for documentation of achievements. Indeed, the Trust added its newresponsibilities as the area’s State Watershed Coordinator charged with delivering a consensus planfor enhancing and protecting our Four Mile, Seven Mile, Twin and Indian Creek valleys. Ourpartnerships with organizations such as Five Rivers Metroparks has led to the protection of newproperties in Montgomery County, and have added a new dimension to the Trust’s land protectionwork.

2005 was a year of transition and achievement for the Trust. The Trust Board also bids farewell, butnot goodbye to Michelle Gressel and Carl Jantzen who have resigned to focus on their otherresponsibilities, but will stay active on committee and project work, respectively. Indeed, ourBoard just concluded a strategic planning retreat where we recommitted to our mission, vision,goals, and strategies to fine-tune our journey toward self-sustainability.

Summary Comments - Larry Frimerman, Executive DirectorThis has been another extraordinary year for the Trust, and the sense of satisfaction andaccomplishment has been surprisingly high, given the measure of comparison to an unbelievable2003 and 2004.

Each day I am reminded of just how much effort, time, and money you provide! Your generositywith your time, with your dollars from a $15 dollar student member to Ernst Bever's majoroperations and operating endowment gifts is what makes us successful! We added about 100 newmembers, but we must find a better way of retaining our existing members. If each contributorfrom 2004 would have remained a 2005 contributor, the Trust would be just shy of 1000 members.

Through your contacts with friends, neighbors and family, we can renew our old acquaintances, andrecruit our 1000 members after all! We will continue to set up meetings with wildlife conservationand sporting groups to build a strong member and volunteer bridge to relevant constituencies. Wewelcome our new members from Audubon Miami Valley, Izaak Walton League, and Pheasants

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Forever, since our mission of preserving natural areas and cultural heritage preserves and enhancesthe habitats these important organizations desire.

2006 will be a much more challenging year for the Trust in finding ways to accommodate projectand funding needs that are more pressing than ever before, less time to work on projects than wehave had in previous years. Indeed, we are likely to do fewer things better.

This past year, we were also given fair warning by government sources that the region's blessingwill be spread elsewhere in 2005, and that we can compete for a much smaller pool of funds tocreate bargain sales of development rights. In addition, some of the state funding sources haveshrunk due to the lack of Clean Ohio funding for the Fourth and perhaps Final Funding Round forConservation Funds. The Trust again found a way to successfully compete for these dollars. In2005, State and Federal land protection pass-through grants totaling $2.5 million (of which theTrust keeps $0) will ultimately protect 6 properties and 1,500 acres more ground. These acresinclude over NINE MILES of stream frontage and riparian habitat.

So, we continue to work with our local governments and the Ohio legislature on enabling legislationto facilitate new matching sources of funds for land preservation. We are also educatinglandowners on the tangible and intangible benefits of making voluntary donations of conservationeasements.

While these successes are so important to proclaim, we have so far to go as an organization. Weneed to be able to take the time to support our members, our donors, and our believers by payingattention to the details, to organizing ourselves more effectively, and to get processes into place tomake it easier for volunteers and new employees to plug in and plug away. The transition to amore advanced organizational model requires an ability to raise a substantial amount of money andmembership base in order to have sufficient staff to more effectively meet the growing demandthat awareness of the Trust brings.

The addition of a Watershed Coordinator and a Conservation Scientist to fulfill regional watershedprotection needs extends our reach, but does not expand our ability to provide daily service onwhat has become our traditional role of working with prospective easement donors, county andlocal government on land use planning, etc. Rather, the broadening of our role and exposuremakes more obvious the lack of staff depth, and places an even greater burden on our alreadyovertaxed Director, Office Manager, and amazing Board and key volunteers. Thankfully, oursituation is not unusual for small organizations, nor for growing, successful land trusts. We cantherefore learn from others’ experience, and take positive steps.

Our hope is that through the expanded reliance upon student interns and assistants from MiamiUniversity, and the raising of additional dollars to hire a Development Professional, who in turnwould help us raise funds to ultimately hire land protection and stewardship staff to morecompletely serve our various members, easement donors, and governmental agencies.

Public PolicyOur Zoning Education Project Initiative continues to serve community needs. This project is jointlyfunded by the Miami Conservancy District, US EPA, Oxford Community Foundation and the CinergyFoundation. The project has developed a set of materials and options for local communities toconsider when recommending updates to Butler County’s zoning and subdivision rules. The finalAdvisory Board Meeting was held to test the software Community Viz as a Planning tool. A softwaresample model of one township has already been shared with Morgan township.

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Auction Success: Trust Raises $42 ,000, Begets BurnoutFinally, we are looking for new sources of revenue to replace what had become the Annual TrustAuction For Acres for 2006. We did have another huge success for the 3rd Annual Auction! Ouramazing crew, ably led by Rick Cottrell and Ann Geddes, deserve a break from the hard work ofgetting the Auctions organized. This past year, we dragged ourselves through the Auctionorganizing, did tremendous work, spent generously, and to the amazement of all, made our initialgoal by grossing $56,000, and netting $42,000!

We need new leadership and energy to replace the funds, and get us to 2007, when we may againconsider doing the auction. How important has the Auction to the Trust? It has accounted for nearlya quarter of our unobligated funds for operations the past three years! Kudos, and bless you, Annand Rick, and all of you who assisted! Remember, it can't happen without YOU! Thank you for agreat and exhausting 2005 and best wishes to you and your families for a happy, healthy andsuccessful 2006!

Watershed Coordinator AccomplishmentsThe Trust continues to further the conservation element of its mission through its work inwatershed coordination. The Watershed Coordinator, funded in part by an EPA grant through theOhio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), is responsible for the development of Watershed

Action Plans for each of the Trust’s watersheds over six years. The overall purpose of the watershedplans are to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical and biological integrity of the [streams]”.

2005 has been a busy year for the Watershed Coordinator program which was initiated at thebeginning of the year with watershed coordinator Ken McCashland, followed by Lindy White. Thefocus during 2005 has been on the Twin Creek watershed. Throughout the year, the watershedcoordinator met with landowners, citizens, and representatives from interested agencies andorganizations to identify issues impacting the water quality of Twin Creek. This information will beincluded in a community-based Watershed Action Plan that will describe the watershed; identifyexisting and potential water quality problems; state goals for improvements, and provide solutionsto meet those goals. Watershed planning work for Four Mile Creek began in late 2005 in two initialmeetings with watershed stakeholders.

Watershed Planning is being done in partnership with many other organizations, governmentagencies, local officials, and interested landowners. A Watershed Project Advisory Board meetsmonthly to help guide the overall project and technical advisory boards are being established foreach watershed

Barbara Hamilton was hired in December, 2005 and looks forward to building upon the work of herpredecessors. Barbara has a graduate degree in environmental sciences and has more than 15 yearsof experience in the corporate and governmental sectors, including watershed planning work forthe State of Tennessee.

Conservation Scientist AccomplishmentsThe conservation element of the Trust’s mission received further support and refinement with anew Conservation Scientist position. The position was made possible by a grant from The NatureConservancy (TNC) and supports conservation efforts and development of a Conservation Area Plan,TNC’s version of a Watershed Action Plan.

Both Ohio EPA and TNC recognize the great aquatic diversity and system intactness of the TwinCreek Watershed. The Twin consistently achieves top scores for stream health from OEPA, andemerged as one of the top conservation priorities for TNC in the state.

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The Trust hired Dave Gosse for this position. Mr. Gosse brings a graduate degree and more than 15years of environmental planning and aquatic ecology to the Trust team. In addition to gathering andinterpreting relevant data for the watershed, Mr. Gosse coordinates planning efforts with ourWatershed Coordinator using newly acquired planning tools through TNC.

Mr. Gosse will continue to develop the Conservation Area Plan for TNC and coordinate its goal-oriented results with the Watershed Action Plan. Recommendations will be based on system healthand diversity, and will expand the scope of TVCT beyond traditional land protection measures. Mr.Gosse looks forward to contributing to the protection of the natural areas and cultural heritage ofthe Twin Creek watershed and the Trust’s area of interest.

COMMITTEE REPORTS Land Protection and Stewardship Committee – Sam Fitton, ChairThis has been a tremendous year for the Trust. Whether in land protection, stewardship, improvedefficiency and capability, collaboration with other entities, monitoring watershed health, planninginfluence or being increasingly recognized as an important resource for local governments,organizations and public this was a year filled with successes.

In 2005, 16 easements were signed bringing the total held by the Trust to 34, totaling 3945 acresunder easement, 3958 over all. These new easements were of several different types: 3Agricultural Easement Purchase Program (635 acres); 3 Federal Farm and Ranch Land ProtectionProgram (FRPP-318 acres); 4 Clean Ohio Conservation Fund Easements (294 acres without joint FRPPjoint-funded easements, one purchased in conjunction with Five Rivers Metroparks of 53 acres); and6 donated conservation easements (173 acres). All of the purchased easements were at bargainsale, meaning the landowner donated a large portion of the development value to the Trust. At thebeginning of the year our goal for new easements was 1000 acres more; instead, we closed on 1420acres. These varied sources of easements provide the Trust with an opportunity to collaborate witha wide spectrum of people and organizations demonstrating the organization’s capabilities andvalue to the larger community through landscape protection and conservation. Just as important,this variety of land uses, dispersed over our area of interest, helps protect and conserve habitat fora wide variety of wildlife and plant species, helps to protect a variety of land uses dependent onnatural resources, and helps protect watersheds and community water sources.

Being entrusted with so many valuable properties brings with it the responsibility of monitoring theeasements to assure that they are managed for their intended use. Each easement must bemonitored on at least an annual basis in perpetuity. To do this the Trust has developed aprocedures manual, enlisted the help of interns and volunteers, and conducted monitoring trainingworkshops. We also benefited from improved organization and process for the AgriculturalEasement Purchase Program. These improved business practices is the least we can do to honor ourvolunteers, potential donors and cooperating agencies. Our interns generously give of their talentsand time, continually improving our Geographic Information System capabilities and improving ourwork planning and file organization. Our monitoring endowment is growing thanks to severalgenerous donations, including easement recipients, easement donors and general donors. Annualmonitoring reports were filed with the Ohio Department of Agriculture in November.

Three Valley is frequently called upon by local governments, other non-profits and privateindividuals to assist with land use planning and conservation issues. We worked with townships tohelp them visualize different land use scenarios with Community Viz and worked on low impactdevelopment presentations. Our various activities, well publicized in local news outlets, appear tobe inspiring the public’s interest in land use planning and focusing their concern toward practicalactions. The Trust is continuing to stay involved with local transportation issues and land useplanning at the county and township level. Our role is often as facilitator as well as subject expert.

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Along these lines, Three Valley assisted in the early stages in the development of a land useorganization called BARD, Butler Advocates for Responsible Development. Collaborations such asthese help TVCT to achieve its mission well beyond the boundaries of our easements.

Public Information -Tom Klak, chair Various people contributed to public relations activities this year. Barbara Hamilton continued toedit the newsletter. She has done a magnificent job pulling together articles from a range ofsources to present to our members a broad sense of the accomplishments, personnel, andaspirations of the Three Valley Conservation Trust. Month after month, Barbara continued to striveand to improve the newsletter and to have it reflect the continued growth of the Trust.

In December, we hired Barbara as our new Watershed Coordinator and now seek a new Editor. Ifyou can lend your efforts, we greatly appreciate it. We are always looking for volunteers to writeshort pieces, of approximately 300-500 words for the newsletter. Please contact the office if youare willing to write a short article, or if you have thoughts on how we can improve the newsletter.

Craig Springer has also continued to make a major contribution in realm of public relations. Craig isa professional outdoors writer, and so he brings a perspective steeped in nature and wildlife. Duringthe year Craig wrote a number of articles about the Trust that appeared in such outlets as CountryLiving Magazine and the Hamilton Journal News. Don Streit, outdoor writer for the Journal News,has been a major newsletter contributor, and for this issue, he and his wife Monica served aseditors. Others such as Eric Hollins have also regularly contributed newsletter articles.

The Trust has adopted a two-mile stretch of highway 127, where Butler County meets PrebleCounty. The signs are in place. Volunteers from the Trust have agreed to keep this stretch ofhighway free of litter during the next two years. We will send out an announcement for cleanupdays along the road. The next cleanup day is February 18, at 9am. We hope you'll join us help keepone beautiful stretch of highway in our region litter free.

Auction Committee - Rick Cottrell, chair; Anne Geddes, Event and Solicitations chair, Catherine Hollins, Betty Rogers, Sam & Terri Fitton, Don Streit, Jerry & Josette Stanley, LauraHouse, Margarette Beckwith, Rob Cottrell, Cris Trammell and so many others. By all accounts, the2005 auction was again a success! 160 happy people attended and were rewarded with excellentbargains, fine food and drinks as well as a spirit of joviality. The numbers are as follows:

• 2005 Gross— $56,000• 2005 Net— $42,000 (higher than 2004)• Number of Items—230 in 190 lots

Meetings are on-going to reflect on the auction process, studying the entire scenario ofresponsibilities, time lines, number of volunteers required and skills needed to continue such fundraising success. All input is both welcome and eagerly sought!

The slate of nominees is as follows:For Continuing Board Positions• Frank House (currently Chair) for term ending 2008• Don Streit (Currently member of Land Protection Committee) for term ending 2008• Catherine Hollins• Thomas Klak• Alice Kahn

For Open Board Positions

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2005Treasurer’s Report- Liz Woedl

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2005 AccomplishmentsBudget

• Proposed $268,000 budget, more than 25% over 2004 budget. Actual budget $ raised, spentless than this amount.

• Raised $75,000 from largest 4 contributors for operations, a little more than anticipated• Raised $50,000 from Ernst Bever for Operations Endowment• Raised $42,000 net from the auction• Raised $136,000 from grants, of which:

o $26,000 was received in 2005 (TNC Conservation Scientist funding, W.H. Smith FamilyCharitable Trust),

o $110,000 committed for 2006 ($37K- State of Ohio, $47K- TNC, $25K- GreaterCincinnati Fdn, $1100- Oxford Community Fdn,)

o $56,000+ already committed for 2007 for Watershed Coord & Conservation Scientist• Raised over $35,000 from memberships (up over 2004, but still not at goal)

Development: • Submitted, received $25,000 Grant Award from Greater Cincinnati Foundation to hire

development coordinator.•

Tremendous Auction for Acres event grossed over $56k, netted $42,500. Despite anticipateddisappointment, our core members and friends bought us a positive result! It was exhausting,but it worked again. Good ideas for next year’s fundraisers.

• Negotiated and received $94,000, two year grant from the Ohio Nature Conservancy to hireDave Gosse and implement Conservation science plan for the Twin, and help on 4 Mile, 7 Mile,Indian Creek.

• Renewed application for Earth Share of Ohio.Membership• 100 new memberships.

Land Protection:2005 Easements Signed By TVCT (sixteen in 2005):Name County Township Acreage Stream Type

1. Leedy-Call Preble Washington 22 Twin Ag2. Yost Preble Lanier 12 Twin Ag3. Puff Butler Oxford 1 Four Mile Natural4. Gerber Preble Somers/Gratis 395.4 Elk Ag5. Seibel Preble Harrison 159 Twin/Swamp Ag, Natural6. Hesselbrock Butler Morgan 103 Dry Fork WW Ag7. Hesselbrock Butler Morgan 31 Dry Fork Natural, Ag8. Voge, R&R Preble Twin 81 Twin Ag9. Geddes Butler Reily 88 Indian Cr Natural, ag10. Clevenger Preble Twin 106 Twin Ag, Natural11. Clevenger Preble Twin 102 Price’s Ag, Natural12. Robbins Preble Twin 35 Twin Natural13. Roark Mont Jackson 135 Tom’s Run Ag14. Roark Mont Jackson 81 Tom’s Run Ag15. Lake K. Mont German 53.6 Twin Ag16. Millar Butler Oxford 9 4 Mile trib Natural

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Recently Completed EasementsName County Township Acreage Stream Type

17. Reid Butler Milford 3.3 Four Mile Natural18. Blocher Butler Oxford 1 Four Mile Natural19. Hollenbaugh Butler Oxford 5 Four Mile Natural20. Kahn Butler Reily 5.5 Indian Natural21. House Preble Somers 180 Paint Natural22. Beck Butler Oxford 148 Four Mile Natural, Ag23. Gerber Butler Wayne 762 Cotton Run,Elk Agricultural (Ag)24. Howard Preble Dixon 233 Four Mile Natural, Ag25. Smith /Glaser Preble Somers 7.7 7 Mi/Big Cave Natural26. Taylor Butler Oxford 77 Four Mile Natural, Ag27. Pontius Preble Twin 91.3 Twin Ag, Natural28. Lake Montgomery German 98 Twin Ag29. Lake Mont German 158.5 Twin Ag30. Gilbert Mont German 170 Twin Ag31. Klak Butler Reily 16 Indian Natural32. Filbrun Preble Harrison 363 Twin Ag33. Dohn Preble Gratis 65 Elk Ag34. Dull Darke Washington 149 Stillwater Ag35. Ruder Butler Oxford 13.5 Four Mile Natural ( TVCT owns)

Other: Buerk Butler Oxford 3 parcels Four Mile (deed restriction)Easements TVCT helped to negotiate: Held by:Forest Ridge Butler Oxford 15 Four Mile Natural Homeowners

Gilbert Mont German 24 Twin Ag 5 RiversGilbert Mont German 84 Twin Ag 5 Rivers

Land Protection- Easements:• Easements: 16 signed, covering over 1400 acres, bringing these totals to 34 easements, 3945

acres, respectively, 35 properties protected, 3957 acres under permanent protection.• Most of the properties scheduled for monitoring this year have had monitoring field visits done,

and the rest are being scheduled for winter, 2006.• Met with or spoke with over 140 landowners about their particular farms and interests in

protecting their lands. More commitments in place, or in the works.• Applied for 37 landowner easement grants, +31 as part of WRRSP w/ Five Rivers; 6 accepted for

funding.

Land Protection Policy Issues:• Adopted (Developed by Erika Presley with the LPS & staff) Priority Criteria for easements.• Developed & Adopted (developed by Sam Fitton) Monitoring Protocols and Procedures, held

successful monitoring training 9/11/05.• Adopted (developed by staff, Sam Fitton) LTA protocols, new Standards & Practices.• Developed & Adopted (by Sam Fitton, etc.) new AEPP procedures that worked.• Developed & Adopted Assignee Options Policy for Conservation Easements.• Organized the group of township advocate groups that has become BARD. Quickly helped get

the group on its own feet, drastically reduced involvement.• Participated in RID hearings, testified at Butler County Commission.• Participated in Butler County Land Use hearing, planning, testified.• Participated in City of Oxford hearings on MU Bridge, testified.• Participated in NW Butler Bypass discussions and scoping• Meetings with County Commissions in Butler, Preble, and Oxford Twp.

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2005 Three Valley Conservation Trust Conservation Easement SigningsHighlights of Your Families’ Legacies

Ralph and Lisa ClevengerTwo Conservation Easements, (106 acres, 102 acres) totaling 208 acresTwin Township, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

Ralph and Lisa Clevenger have protecteda total of 208 acres in Twin Township,Preble County. This farm is protected asa result of matching grants received fromthe Ohio Public Works Commission underthe Clean Ohio Conservation Fundprogram.

The first easement consists of 102 acresfeaturing a tall grass prairie, rollingcropland and wooded areas. Thisproperty has approximately 800 feet ofstream bank along Price’s Creek.

The 106-acre farm features historic farmbuildings, a bottomland field, rollingcropland and a lengthy riparian corridor –almost a half mile on scenic Twin Creek.

Ann Geddes88-acre conservation easementReily Township, Butler County, Indian Creek watershed

Anne Geddes donated the easement onthis 88-acre parcel in Reily Township,Butler County as part of a plannedlarger preserve with adjacent property.The property is situated between twoexisting Butler County MetroParkpreserves and includes nearly one mileof riparian corridor along Indian Creekincluding a dramatic 130 ft.embankment.

This working farm has a long historystarting with Native Americansettlements and followed byconstruction of one of the earliestsawmills, which supplied logs for localcabins. The first white child buried inReily Township was buried on this farm

in 1803. It has been a working farm since then with and will eventually be converted to prairie,forest and wetlands. The property provides habitat for beaver, mink, fox, pileated and red-headedwoodpeckers.

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Jerry and Cleo Gerber395-acre agricultural conservation easementSomers & Gratis Township, Preble County, Elk Creek watershed

Jerry and Cleo Gerber have protectedan additional 395 acres of their propertyin Preble County through the bargainsale of an agricultural conservationeasement funded by the OhioDepartment of Agriculture’s AgriculturalEasement Purchase Program.

This primarily agricultural land is usedfor row crops and pasture. The Gerberspractice no-till farming, use covercrops, fence cattle away from the creekand have installed grassed waterways.

The Gerbers received the ConservationFarm of the Year Award in 1999 and theConservation Good Science Award in1998.

Carl and Margie HesselbrockTwo Agricultural Conservation Easements (103 acres & 31 acres) totaling 134 acres.Morgan Township, Butler County, Dry Fork Creek watershed

Carl and Margie Hesselbrock have signedeasements to protect a total of 134 acres oftheir land in Morgan Township, ButlerCounty. 102 acres of their farm is beingprotected in part by a grant through the USDepartment of Agriculture’s Farm and RanchLands Protection Program, and a grant fromthe Morgan Township Trustees. TheHesselbrocks donated an easement on theremaining acreage.

The Hesselbrock easement protects theoriginal homestead site of Edward and MaryBebb, one of the two first settlers ofPaddy’s Run (now Shandon). The propertyboasts stream frontage on the Dry Fork ofthe Whitewater River, rich tillable

bottomland, hillside pasture, lovely native trees, historic structures, scenic vistas and NativeAmerican artifacts. Hesselbrock Farms has consistently had some of the highest crop yields inButler County and formerly received the Conservationist of the Year award from Butler County Soiland Water Conservation District.

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Hazel Leedy-Call22-acre agricultural conservation easementWashington Township, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

Hazel Leedy-Call donated the 21.6-acreconservation easement on her home propertyon Eaton Lewisburg Road in WashingtonTownship, Preble County this past Marchbecause she wanted to make sure that her landwas never developed.

The lovely homestead has a nice grassed swaleand drainage with small woods, some large oak,maple and walnut trees, and about 16 acres oftillable prime farmland nearly abutting her sonJim and his wife Amy Leedy’s soon-to-be-protected 463-acre farm.

Ken and Clara Lake54-acre agricultural conservation easementGerman Township, Montgomery County, Twin Creek watershed

This 53.6-acre property in GermanTownship, Montgomery County is thesecond that Ken and Clara Lake haveprotected with an agriculturalconservation easement. The easementwas purchased at bargain sale with agrant from the Ohio Public WorksCommission under the ConservationFund and the easement is co-held byTVCT and Five Rivers Metroparks.

This farm is in the Twin Creekwatershed and is adjacent to FiveRivers' Germantown Metropark. It haslovely rolling pastures, fields, ravines,woods, and a historic house and barns.

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Roger Millar9-acre conservation easementOxford Township, Butler County, Four Mile Creek watershed

Roger Millar’s 8.87-acre conservationeasement in Oxford Township, ButlerCounty protects lovely woodland,meadow, headwaters stream to FourMile Creek, and a huge specimenChinkapin Oak. Lovely walnut, oak,hickory and maples dominate thislittle gem of a property.

Harold and Edith Puff1-acre conservation easementOxford Township, Butler County, Four Mile Creek Watershed

The Puffs have lived on their land there for 49years, and the Wildflower Sanctuary has beena part of their lives and their children’s lives.One of the driving reasons for the Puff’seasement was to honor their son, FrederickWilson Puff, who grew up playing andexploring in the Sanctuary. The PuffEasement is the third completed easement ofthe proposed conservation easements laid outin the original Silvoor Lane agreements withthe Trust from the late 1990s. The Puffs nowhave joined John and Phyllis Blocher and ToddHollenbaugh in protecting the beautifulwildflower sanctuary created by Dr. Heffnerbeginning in the 1930s, and still flourishingtoday.

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Virgil and Nell, David & Sue Roark81-acre agricultural conservation easementJackson Township, Montgomery County, Twin Creek watershed

Virgil and Nell Roark, and their son anddaughter-in-law David and Sue Roark haveplaced an easement on their farm covering81 acres in Jackson Township, MontgomeryCounty along the banks of Tom's Run, amajor Twin Creek tributary. This lovelyfarm now protects some more than a halfmile of riparian corridor, more than a mileof road frontage and excellent tillableground.

This farm is protected as a result ofmatching grant received from the USDepartment of Agriculture under the Farm

and Ranch Lands Protection Program and from the Ohio Public Works Commission under theClean Ohio Conservation Fund program. This combination of a conservation and agriculturalconservation easement seemed difficult for the governmental parties at first, but ultimatelyturned into a great fit because of the conservation components being actively enhanced bythe Roarks. For example, the Roarks signed a Whole Farm Conservation Plan with the USNatural Resources Conservation Service to widen the stream buffer, plant new trees andnative grasses, and install grassed waterways. The 81 acre farm also contains the ruin of theold schoolhouse. The 135 acre farm is owned by Virgil and Nell Roark and contains the ruinsof the historic Joel Miller sawmill.

ground.

Virgil and Nell, David & Sue Roark135-acre agricultural conservationeasement Jackson Twp, MontgomeryCounty, Twin Creek watershed

Virgil and Nell Roark have placed aneasement on their farm covering 135 acresadjacent to the farm they have protectedwith David and Sue Roark in JacksonTownship, Montgomery County along thebanks of Tom's Run, a major Twin Creektributary. This farm was also protectedwith the assistance of funds from USDA andthe Ohio Public Works Commission. Thecombination of the two beautiful farmsnow protects some more than 1.5 miles ofriparian corridor, more than a mile of roadfrontage and excellent tillable

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James E. and Sandra Robbins35-acre conservation easementTwin Township, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

This 35+ acre parcel in Twin Township, PrebleCounty straddles Twin Creek as it meanders itsway past the town of West Alexandria. Theexpansive streamside riparian corridor featuresa wide variety of mature trees including hugebox elder, black walnut, sycamore,cottonwood, buckeye and others. This propertyis protected as a result of matching grantsreceived from the Ohio Public WorksCommission under the Clean Ohio ConservationFund program.

During the Tour of Protected Lands this pastsummer, the Robbins’ showed off their fieldsand freshwater spring/seep area, which, asidefrom being extraordinary vernal pool habitat, iscomplete with a constant supply of cooldrinkable water.

Merlin and Joan Seibel159-acre agricultural conservation easementHarrison Township, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

Merlin and Joan Seibel’sagricultural conservation easementprotects their 159-acre grain andcattle farm in Harrison Township,northeastern Preble County. Theeasement will help protect SwampCreek, a tributary to Twin Creek.

The Seibel farm easement wasacquired as a bargain sale of anagricultural conservation easementfunded by the Ohio Department ofAgriculture’s 2004 AgriculturalEasement Purchase Program. Thisproperty has excellent soils, a c.1817 historic barn, Native Americanremnants, a bog, natural wetlands,

a beautiful stream, large trees and a small forest.

As a part of the easement, the Seibels have agreed to fence the creek from cattle, haveinstalled manure handling operations, and continue their thoughtful and sound farmingpractices.

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Roger and Rebekah Voge Farm81-acre agricultural conservation easementTwin Creek, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

Roger and Rebekah Vogeprotected their 81-acre farm inWest Alexandria (Preble County)with an agricultural conservationeasement. Their farm is one ofthe most highly productive farmsin this section of Preble County.The Voge children are the fifthgeneration living on the familyfarm and are one of threegenerations actively involved inthe farming operation.

The Voges demonstrate their farmconservation ethic by continuingto invest in waterway and pondsystems, and fencing to protect

the farm woodlands. They also invested in new buildings and infrastructure, and farm toolsthat kept the farm functional yet maintained its picturesque and historic character.

Lyn and Kathleen Yost12-acre agricultural conservation easementLanier Township, Preble County, Twin Creek watershed

Lynn and Kathleen Yost donated a 12-acre agricultural conservation easementat the most visible point of their farm inLanier Township, Preble County. Theagricultural conservation easement isintended as a first step and leveragetowards this year’s Agricultural EasementProtection Program; it is the Yost’s hopethat the donation of the 12-acreeasement will also allow them a higherscore in the AEPP process.

Located in near Aukerman Creek (in theTwin Creek watershed), the easementproperty boasts a commanding view ofthe additional 260 acres of Yost family farmland as well as the rolling agrarian landscape infront. The Yosts will continue to grow corn and beans on the property into the future.

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Three Valley Conservation TrustBoard of Trustees 2005

Frank House, Chair Sam Fitton, Catherine Hollins, Vice-chair Liz Woedl, Treasurer Tom Wissing, Secret ary Margarette BeckwithJon CostanzoRob CottrellMichele GresselCarl JantzenAlice KahnTom KlakMary L. MooreJerry Stanley Don Streit

StaffLarry FrimermanExecutive Director

Ryn DornhuberOffice Manager

Barbara HamiltonWat ershed Coordi nat or

Dave GosseConserv at ion Scient i st

The TVCT Board is a working board that provides governance, policy anda lot of the work that makes this organization and its staff successful.

Special Thanks to Cr i st y Raye Car t er T r ammell , Meli nda Whi t e, Kennet h McCashland

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HONORS AND OUR SINCERE THANKS!GrantorsUS Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation ServiceOhio Department of Agriculture, Office of Farmland PreservationOhio Public Works Commission

Ohio Environmental Protection AgencyOhio Department of Natural ResourcesThe Nature Conservancy Ohio ChapterThe Greater Cincinnati FoundationElizabeth Wakeman Henderson FoundationButler County Dept. of Environmental ServicesOxford Community FoundationMiami Conservancy DistrictW. H. Smith Family Charitable TrustEarth Share of OhioMorgan Township Trustees

Individual/ConservationistsErnst BeverLinda FitzgeraldHardy and Barbara EshbaughJames K. & Susan FittonCarl & Margie HesselbrockLarry Frimerman & Patty Stone-FrimermanRalph and Lisa ClevengerElizabeth RogersRoger & Rebekah VogeRobert & Nancy CottrellMichele GresselJim & Sandra RobbinsRichard & Libby CottrellGary & Marge GlaserMarc Biales & Lisa Hill Biales and WildberryFrank & Marcia House,Richard and Mary Oertel

Cal ConradTom Klak and Jeannie HeyTom and Holly WissingChristine K. ParkerAnn D. GeddesOrie & Elinor LoucksMarlene HoffmanMichael PachenTom LachemannRoberts Family FoundationMichael and Noreen BeckCottrell familyMary and Robert MooreChristopher & Mary WaldenMarlene HoffmanSam & Terri FittonJoel and Sara Udstuen

Outgoing Board MembersMichelle GresselCarl Jantzen

Committee ChairsAuction—Rick Cottrell, Chair & Anne Geddes, Chair of Event, SolicitationsNominating—Frank HouseLand Protection—Sam FittonDevelopment—Margarette Beckwith, Rob Cottrell Co-ChairsPublic Information—Tom KlakMembership—Catherine Hollins, Rob Cottrell Co-ChairsExecutive—Frank HouseFinance—Michelle Gressel

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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS AND THANKSGreater Cincinnati FoundationRoger Millar, Oxford Community FoundationDupps Co. Charitable FoundationAudubon Miami ValleyFive Rivers MetroparksCharlie Shoemaker, Dave Nolin, Mary Klunk,Doug Horvath, Five Rivers MetroparksMiami Valley Pheasants ForeverSteve Bartels, OSU Extension, Butler CountyClare & Roland Johnson, Hamilton County LandConservancyRenee Kivikko, Land Trust AllianceMichael F. Juengling, Butler County Dept. ofDevelopmentKevin Fall, Butler County SWCDKelda Bittinger, Bob Ashworth- Preble Co SWCDDan Jackson, Jim Dillon, Montgomery Co SWCD

Clay Twp Trustees, William Watt, Zoning AdminButler County Departmentof EnvironmentalServicesMiami Conservancy District:

Sarah Hippensteel, Angela Manusak, JanetBly, Dusty Hall, Teresa McGreary

Ray Zehler, Izaak Walton LeagueLinda Paul & Paul Bingle, Earthshare of OhioPreble County CommissionersButler County CommissionersMontgomery County CommissionersJoe Litvin, Montgomery County EngineerSteve Simmons, Preble County Engineer

Gregory Wilkens, Butler County EngineerJohn Williams, Dennis Bunger,& Steve Boeder,Dist.Conservationists, US Dept Agriculture NRCSODNR Division of WildlifeThe late Rosida Porter, ODNR Div. Soil & WaterFred L. Dailey, Director, OH Dept of AgricultureHoward Wise, Asst Director OH Dept AgricultureMichael Bailey, ODA Director Office ofFarmland PreservationOhio EPA Southwest District staffBrian Williams, American Farmland TrustPreble County Park DistrictWatershed Coord.- Areawide Assistance Team

Mike Muska, Butler MetroParksHal Yoder, Preble County AuditorDanny Crank, Butler County RecorderKay Rogers, Butler County AuditorPreble County Farm BureauButler County Farm BureauEaton-Preble County Chamber of Commerce

Morgan Township TrusteesOxford City CouncilOxford Chamber of CommerceOxford Convention & Visitors BureauButler County Township AssociationJane Howington, Oxford City ManagerOxford Township TrusteesRoss Township TrusteesWayne Township TrusteesMark Immelt, First Financial Bank Trust Dept.,First Financial BankBob Jurick, BW Greenway Community LandTrustHolly Utrata-Holcomb, Cincinnati Wet WeatherInitiativeBonnie Norris, OSU Extension, Preble CountyCharlie Stevens, American Studies Program,

Miami UniversityAnn Antenen, J. Elliott, Citizens for Historicand Preservation Services (CHAPS)Gene Krebs, Greater OhioEric Russo, Hillside TrustLivable Landscapes, Miami Valley RC&DOKI Regional Council of GovernmentsMiami Valley Regional Planning CommissionPeg Shear, Cooperative Solutions Inc.James Michael, Attorney, Millikin & FittonWhitewater Valley Land TrustEric Partee, Little Miami, Inc.Butler County Commissioners

Tom McQuiston, Preble County DirectorBuilding and ZoningOxford PressJournal News (Hamilton, etc.)WMUBGermantown PressRegister Herald (Eaton)Twin Valley PublicationsJames Turner, Timothy Abbott, CinergyKrista Magaw, Tecumseh Land TrustJulia Hinders, USDA’s NRCS’ Farm and RanchLands Protection ProgramLCNB

Paust PrintingValerie Elliott, Smith Library for RegionalHistory148 acre Michael and Noreen Beck farmeasement is the home of the Three ValleyConservation Trust

Kurt Waterstradt, US Fish & Wildlife ServiceButler Advocates for Responsible DevelopmentArlene Rahn, John Devore

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ACKNOWLEGEMENTS AND THANKSVolunteersErika Eichel PresleyDoug Ross, AuctioneerBarbara HamiltonJake Earley, Earley & Earley, AttorneyDonald Mayer, Attorney John KoggeDoug HamiltonWarren & Judy WaldronAdrian MartinRandy RunyonJohn ShermanMary Jo McMillinAlexander HouseGinny ThiellMiami University Institute of EnvironmentalSciences;

Mark Boardman, Gene Willeke, VincentHand, Sandra Woy–Hazelton, AdolphGreenbergPublic Service Project: Valerie HorobikAmy Seitz, Matthew Birck, Jackie GuckianCarl Howard

John ObryckiAvram PrimackMiami University Geography DeptBill RenwickJim Rubenstein, Bernadette UngerKim MedleyNIki Mihevic,Auction Committee & Volunteers

MU InternsAmy AleschBen AndersonJason BeckGabrielle BergmanMike BuressMatthew ConveryTom FelterJackie GuckianNick HartmanBrandon HartselMarty HeathMaverick Helm

Carl HowardKatie Le JeunesseMatt LesherErika MerrellMark MeunierCecilia MillerRoss MirmanJoshua MurrayJoel SchwabGrant Sizemore

Anne SmartDavid SmithCheri SmyserAmber SollmanJackson Sumpter

Ashley WagesBrandon WardAshley WhiteJean WithrowWade A WolfRandy and Sonia LakeDavid DohnDoug DirksingBank One- Leisa DouglasJessica CampFarmland Preservation ApplicantsMarilyn EdwardsValerie Elliott

Steve Gordon, Ohio Historical SocietyOhio League of Conservation Voters-Bill DeMoraOhio Environmental CouncilMiami University English Dept-Jean Lutz, W.Michele SimmonsMU Office of Continuing Ed. Catherine HollinsGreg PeckMarcia and Laura HouseTerri FittonJosette StanleyOrie & Elinor LoucksMary TharpCynthia Kelley

Jeannie HeyRita BeiserCleo GerberJane StasserChris ParkerBoo SchmiedtThe Marcum Center Staff Jane GaitskillTom Hogeback and Village West Frame & ArtJohn Ruthven’s Wildlife Internationale,Oxford Visitors and Convention Bureau,Bill’s Art Supply,Ace Hardware,Bikewise of Oxford,Christopher & Mary WaldenOxford Chamber of Commerce,Frame and Save-OxfordAl-Joe's Pet & Garden Centers Inc.Taffy’s Coffee HouseJim and Susan FittonMarge GlaserErnst BeverJoel UdstuenSteve & Prue Dana

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Three Valley Conservation Trust2004 Annual Meeting

February 2, 2005Indian Ridge Golf Club

Hanover TownshipMinutes

The 2004 Annual Meeting began with excellent music by Warren and Judy Waldron, followedby a buffet dinner catered by Porkchop Charley. The program started off with presentationsby various luminaries extolling the partnerships between governmental entities and the ThreeValley Conservation Trust. These presenters included Representatives Combs, Webster, andColey, as well as new Preble County Commissioner and retiring Trust Board member JaneMarshall.

Kathleen Steele of the Midwest Program office of the Land Trust Alliance spoke of theCongressional report and expected tax reform legislation that could, if not addressed,

undermine how land trusts do business and how we track easements. Steele complimentedthe Trust staff and Board for the professionalism and leadership it has shown throughout theState and Nation The LTA would respond by developing new Standards and Practices whichall Sponsor Members would have to adopt. The Trust pledged to do so in the coming year.

Board Member Emeritus Hardy Eshbaugh gave a stirring presentation about the linkagebetween habitat conservation and easements, noting that the ability to establish andmaintain habitats would be enhanced by the perpetual stewardship of easement donors, andby the conservation plans established on protected farms. He mentioned that the work theTrust will be doing in helping landowners find conservation resources for their own habitatinterests will assist in this process.

2004 Easement donors Tom Klak and David Dohn gave captivating stories of why they haveprotected their properties. Klak passionately spoke of the process he and his wife Jeannewent through regarding their land transformation to a prairie and wetland, their commitmentto restoring and protecting their 16 acre property, and the easement process. Tom also spokeof his desire to help other suburban landowners figure out how to voluntarily protect theirland.

Dohn gave riveting remarks about his heritage growing up on the farm he eventuallypreserved, his special memories of the land from his childhood, and its meaning for he and hisfamily today. He and his wife Janice permanently preserved their 65 acre farm with the Trustto carry on his family’s legacy. The Trust permitted the Dohns to set the terms andconditions upon which future landowners would have to abide to preserve the scenic and

bucolic landscape on which his prized sheep graze.

Executive Director Larry Frimerman spoke of the achievements of the Trust during the pastyear, including the four easements covering 600+ acres, as well as the grants and fundsreceived. He spoke of the shortfalls in revenues that seemed to be tied to perceptions thatthe Trust was raking in cash from the government pass-through grants to landowners.Frimerman acknowledged a need to redouble our efforts on fundraising, and in building inmore permanent sources of revenue through planned gifts, endowments and other means.

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Business MeetingOutgoing Board Chair Liz Woedl thanked the crowd, Board, and staff, acknowledged theadmirable successes of the Trust and its Executive Director. The Chair then acknowledgedthe fine work of the outgoing Board members that have assisted the Trust during their termson the Board.Hardy Eshbaugh has been, and is, a major contributor to the Trust. He will continue to be animportant member of the development committee, which he has previously chaired inaddition to being a past Trust Vice Chair. He has been an inspiration to us, extremelyinsightful in moving the Trust forward and continues to play that role.Jane Marshall served as chair of the Land Protection Committee and instrumental in helpingmove the Committee forward. Jane is serving her first Preble County Commission term thisJanuary. We wish her well and look forward to working with the Commissioners.Joel Udstuen lent his support on the personnel, and chairing of the Finance Committee, and,was responsible for signage—the placement of the new Three Valley Sign on Morning SunRoad.Jack Kuczynski gave his support to the Development Committee and has hosted theirmeetings this past year.

The election of Board members was then held, concluding the Membership meeting. The newslate unanimously selected included Don Streit, Jon Costanzo, Michelle Gressel, Tom Wissing.Frank House was selected new Board Chair. Other officers unanimously elected included SamFitton and Catherine Hollins, Vice Chairs, Tom Wissing, Secretary, and Liz Woedl as Treasurer.

Incoming Board Chair Frank House and Executive Director Larry Frimerman presented Ms.Woedl with a plaque and a very heartfelt recognition award. Ms. Woedl and Mr. Frimermanalso presented Jerry Stanley with an award for outstanding service above and beyond the callof duty. Tickling the keyboard on Quicken was unbelievably hard work for the renownedpianist used to tickling the ivories.

The New Board took office, and New Chair Frank House then accepted a request toconclude the meeting. The meeting wasofficially adjourned at 9:15pm.

2005 annual report three valley conservation trust

Documents