basin, - the nature conservancy · the newsletter of the nature conservancy in utah • winter ......

basin,range & rimrock

the newsletter of the nature conservancy in utah • winter 2011

photo: Gary Crandall

Across Utah, our red rock canyons, snow-cappedmountains, lush forests and vibrant rivers combine togive us a quality of life that is unparalleled. But as ourpopulation swells, new impacts to our lands and watersand a growing disconnect between people and naturethreaten the healthy natural systems that support ourlivelihoods, well-being and natural heritage.

“We have a window of opportunity to act now andlaunch new strategies to ensure our state remains vibrant,”said Dave Livermore. “The Nature of Utah Campaign is trulyan historic effort. The campaign builds on our existingsuccesses, but it also brings together partners, communi-ties and the public in new ways that will shape the futureof our most at-risk regions, and benefit the millions ofpeople who rely on and enjoy our natural world.”

The Conservancy’s new conservation endeavor, The

Nature of Utah Campaign is comprised of numerous landand water protection projects statewide. With a deep

focus on partnerships and knowledge-sharing, theCampaign is designed around whole-system conservation—delivering results that affect entire ecosystems as well asthe communities they support. The Campaign also fea-tures a new emphasis on helping Utahns re-establish andre-define their relationships to the natural world, buildinga conservation ethic that will help to ensure the viabilityof our state’s natural resources for future generations.

The Campaign is structured around three major initiatives:

Conserving Our WatersAs the second driest state in the nation, Utah faces

a constant challenge to guard limited water resourcesthat sustain our communities, our industries and ournatural world.

Utah’s rivers, lakes and wetlands face increasing threatsfrom a variety of sources. Non-native species such as

Chair:Jennifer Speers

Vice Chair:Christopher Robinson

Honorary Co-Chairs:Ian CummingSusan DenkersZeke Dumke, Jr.Spencer EcclesDavid GardnerJake GarnM. Walker Wallace

Campaign Co-Chairs:Norma MathesonJohn Milliken

Trustees:Teresa BeckAlexis CairoJim ClarkJohn D’Arcy

Tim DeeStephen E. DenkersRichard DenmanDon GarnerMary GarnerClark GilesBill HeddenHank HemingwayCarolyn Tanner IrishKim KimballLinda LeckmanKathryn LindquistJim MacMahonKathie MillerMaunsel Pearce Ellen RossiMiguel RoviraBetsy ThorntonScott ThorntonBruce WaddellLaVarr Webb

board of trustees

2 Basin, Range & Rimrock Winter 2011

Our Land, Our Water, Our FutureCelebrating The Nature of Utah Campaign

(continued on page 3.)

Utah Private Lands Protection

Number of Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159

Total Acres Protected. . . . . . . 1,137,139

Utah Public Lands Protection

Number of Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Total Acres Protected . . . . . . . . 130,063

Total Acres Protected . . . 1,267,202

Total Utah Membership. . . . . 5,232

lasting results

photo: Chris Helzer/The Nature Conservancy

Basin, Range & Rimrock Winter 2011 3

tamarisk and Russian olive are decreasing availablewater, raising fire dangers and reducing wildlife habi-tat. As our communities grow, we demand more waterfrom our rivers and lakes and expose them to morepollutants, often without a clear measure of impacts tohuman health and wildlife.

Through The Nature of Utah Campaign, theConservancy and its partners are helping to restorehealth and natural flows on six rivers and the GreatSalt Lake and enhance streamside wildlife habitat onthousands of acres statewide. With projects under-way on Utah’s most at-risk waterways, including theColorado, Virgin, Escalante and Bear Rivers, theConservancy is bringing innovative science, a region-al staff network and partnerships with both agenciesand private stakeholders to help sustain clean,healthy water flows for both human and naturalcommunities.

Learn more at nature.org/utahwaters

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTVirgin River - Flowing through WashingtonCounty, the Virgin River feeds one of the nation’smost important “biodiversity hotspots.” TheConservancy is joining with the Virgin River Programand others to develop new science on water flows,restore riverside lands and make acquisitions to savewildlife habitat along key river corridors. Mostrecently, the Conservancy and partners protected ariverside property located in a key 10-mile stretch ofriver corridor between the towns of Virgin andRockville—near the gateway to Zion National Park.

As the second driest state in the nation, Utah faces a constant challenge to guard

limited water resources that sustain our communities, our industries and our natural world.

Caring for Our Public LandsMore than 70 percent of Utah’s lands are public,

encompassing our most iconic canyons, forests anddeserts, and supporting the majority of our uniqueplants and wildlife.

We rely on and appreciate these lands for manyreasons, including the critical water supplies they con-tain, the recreation and tourism opportunities theyoffer, and the habitat they provide for native species.Ultimately, the health of these lands affects our econo-my, our quality of life and our identity as Utahns. Butour public lands—and the many resources theyoffer—are at risk. Agency resources are stretched thin,leaving vast areas and wildlife vulnerable to unman-aged recreation, intense resource development and thespread of invasive species.

Through The Nature of Utah Campaign, theConservancy is partnering with federal and stateagencies to share science and tools that will improveplant and animal habitat on 60 percent of Utah’s pub-lic lands. With projects like Landscape ConservationForecasting™ underway in Washington County, andEnergy by Design in the Uintah Basin, we’re workingwith government land owners and industry in newways, sharing cutting-edge research and cost-effectivetools to improve management on millions of acres ofUtah’s iconic canyon, forest and desert lands.

Learn more at nature.org/utahpubliclands

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTLandscape Conservation Forecasting™ - TheConservancy is working with agencies like the

Aspen stand. photo: Gary Crandall

USDA Forest Service and Bureau of LandManagement in a new way to help improve the healthand sustainability of millions of acres. Together,Conservancy scientists and land managers are using“Landscape Conservation Forecasting™,” a break-through technology and process that allows partnersto predict how specific management actions—such asfencing, vegetation treatments or prescribed burns—will affect key habitats. This glimpse into the futureenables public agencies to spend limited budgets onmanagement actions that will most benefit ecosys-tems and wildlife. Already a success in the Dixie andFishlake National Forests, these partnerships arenow being implemented in Washington County’sscenic red rock country and mountain forests.

(continued on page 4.)


Connecting People & Nature

Our rich heritage as Utahnsincludes a deep and profound connec-tion to the land. For more than a centu-ry, the many bounties and unique beau-ty of this state have fulfilled and sus-tained each generation. As Utah grows,we must forge new relationships withnature and find innovative ways to safe-guard the lands and waters that supportour health, economy and quality of life.

More than ever before, our choicesrelating to nature are paramount toour future: how we expand our indus-tries, grow our communities, upholdour working farms and ranches andeven how we teach our kids to appre-ciate the great outdoors.

Through The Nature of Utah

Campaign, the Conservancy is using col-laboration, research and education tohelp communities in Utah and world-wide protect their natural resources andpreserve their quality of life. With pro-jects like the Canyonlands ResearchCenter, a new science collaborative atthe Dugout Ranch, and the expansionof award-winning youth educationefforts like the Wings & Water Programat the Great Salt Lake, the Conservancyand its partners are helping peopleunderstand nature’s importance to theireveryday lives.

Learn more at nature.org/peopleandnature

Each of these Campaign initiativestranslates directly into on-the-groundprojects that are delivering real, tangi-ble results statewide: whether it’s theeffort to protect the flows and nativespecies of the Colorado River, the cre-ation of a powerful new partnership tosafeguard Utah’s national forests, orthe magic of a fourth-grader’s firstfield trip into the heart of the GreatSalt Lake wetlands.

We invite you to learn more aboutThe Nature of Utah Campaign and help usmake this ambitious vision a reality. Nature.org/natureofutah

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTCanyonlands Research Center - In1997, the Conservancy preserved theDugout Ranch, an iconic propertyspanning more than 340,000 acres ofprivate and public land borderingCanyonlands National Park. Today, theranch is the foundation for an excitingnew initiative: the CanyonlandsResearch Center. Bringing togetherprivate, agency and academic partners,the Center will generate climate scienceand land management strategies toaddress concerns about water supply,invasives and land uses such as grazingand recreation. The Center’s outdoorlaboratory will yield practical solutionsthat aid ranchers, communities, agen-cies and policy makers in efforts to sus-tain the region’s lands and waters.

(continued from page 3.)

The Nature of Utah CampaignOur Land. Our Water. Our Future.

Conserving OurWaters

Restore health & natural flows on 6

rivers & the Great SaltLake & enhance

streamside wildlifehabitat on thousands of acres statewide.

Colorado RiverBear River Virgin River

Escalante RiverGreen & San Juan

RiversGreat Salt Lake

Caring for OurPublic Lands

Partner with federal &state agencies to share

science & tools thatwill improve plant &animal habitat on

60 percent of Utah’spublic lands.

Restoring RangelandsLandscape

Conservation Forecasting

Energy By Design

Connecting People& Nature

Use collaboration,research & educationto help communitiesin Utah & worldwideprotect their natural

resources & preservetheir quality of life.

Canyonlands Research Center Climate Change

International SupportBuilding a

Conservation Ethic

Initiative Goal Key Projects

Leveraging ConservationThe Promise of The Nature of Utah Campaign

This issue of Basin, Range and Rimrock is dedicatedto The Nature of Utah Campaign—an exciting effort toprotect Utah’s lands and waters on an unprecedentedscale. Our Utah Chapter has been engaged in conser-vation campaigns before—ambitious initiatives whichestablished the Matheson Wetlands Preserve, pur-chased the Dugout Ranch, protected more than10,000 acres on the Great Salt Lake and achievedmany other remarkable conservation gains. But of themany campaigns we have undertaken in our Chapter’shistory, The Nature of Utah Campaign stands out as themost significant and most vital. Why?

The first reason is self evident. Utah is positioned foreconomic growth and recovery perhaps better than anystate. With the world’s population now at 7 billion, andprojections that we’ll reach 9 billion by 2050, there islittle question our state will follow suit. Based on thelatest Census, Utah’s population growth more than dou-bled that of the nation. The combination of more peopleand a thriving economy will place tremendous stress on

from the directorBut perhaps the most exciting and far-reaching way

The Nature of Utah Campaign is working to leverageconservation is through “Connecting People andNature,” especially through its outreach efforts toyoung people. Working with the Utah BotanicalCenter, we are expanding our Wings & Water WetlandsEducation Program on the Great Salt Lake to reachyouth of all ages. At BYU, we are helping to supportthe University’s new Environmental Ethics Initiative(EEI). Utilizing social media such as Facebook andTwitter, we are keeping nature and its values relevantwhile expanding our volunteer base. Through TheNature of Utah Campaign, youth will be given a voice,feel more connected and be able to make a significantdifference in the future of our state.

This is the promise of The Nature of Utah Campaign.To paraphrase, Bobby Kennedy, we are doing muchmore than simply “seeing things as they are and askingwhy?” The Campaign’s compelling vision is to dreamof a sustainable Utah and ask “why not?” We canachieve a brighter future for tomorrow by building abetter Utah today. I invite all of you to help with thishistoric effort.


Utah’s special places and natural areas. Added to this isthe challenge of drought and climate change which aretaxing our water resources as never before. Clearly thereis a need to protect Utah’s special places and “ConserveOur Waters” before it is too late.

The second reason The Nature of Utah Campaign is soimportant is its special focus on leveraging conservationknowledge to achieve greater results. The Conservancywill always buy land. For certain places and propertiesthere is no substitute for this type of protection. But 74percent of Utah is public land. By offering our planningand science knowledge to public agencies, the Conservancycan help achieve better land management and conservefar more acres than we could ever buy. Whether part-nering with the USFS on the Dixie and Manti LaSalNational Forests, or working with the BLM to integrateLandscape Conservation Forecasting™ into WashingtonCounty’s two new National Conservation Areas, theConservancy can ensure the enhanced stewardship ofmillions of acres by helping to “Care for our Public Lands.”

“Some see things as they are and ask why. I dream of

what could be and ask why not?” – Robert F. Kennedy


protecting the land

Fire is a part of nature; a powerful agent that shapes ecosystems. At theConservancy’s Scott M. Matheson Wetlands Preserve in Moab, fire–bothits prevention and its use a conservation tool—have long figured promi-nently in the minds of preserve managers. But as flames engulfed the pre-serve this summer, the complex interplay of fire and landscape revealednew lessons about the importance of fire strategy, the resilience of natureand the power of people.

It’s been a challenging year for the preserve,” explains Linda Whitham,the Conservancy’s Central Canyonlands Program Manager.” In October of2008 and June of 2011, the Matheson preserve endured three wildfiresthat together burned more than half of this 900-acre oasis. Adding to theeffects of the fire and drama, this spring the preserve also experienced thelargest flooding of the Colorado River in over 10 years.

“...these natural events underscore the need to be proactive about protectingand maintaining a healthy ecosystem—both for the benefit of wildlife, and

for the people who live next door.” – Linda Whitham, the Conservancy’s Central Canyonlands Program Manager

Fire at the Matheson Preserve. photo: Dan Eddington

Fire, Flood & Rebirth Major Changes Unfolding at the Matheson Preserve


Great Blue Heron. photo: Gary Crandall

“The fires and flood damaged visitor facilities,including the trail system, parts of the boardwalkand bridge, the wildlife viewing blind, and much ofthe interpretive signage,” said Whitham. “But themost devastating losses are mature cottonwoods andnative vegetation. These will take years to reestablishand provide the vital habitat for over 200 species ofbirds and other animals.”

Closed for most of the summer, the preserve re-opened to visitors again this fall, thanks to rapidsupport from partners and the Moab community.Volunteers cleaned up debris, repaired damage andreplanted native vegetation. “The response wasamazing, and we’re so grateful,” said Whitham, whonoted that everyone pitched in, from members andfriends, to companies and groups like the CanyonCountry Youth Corps. “It’s wonderful to have thisresource once again open to the public.”

The damage from the flames could have beenmuch worse, but preserve managers, both from theConservancy and Utah Division of WildlifeResources (DWR), were ready. “Several years ago,we realized that a variety of human impacts, includ-ing the invasion of Russian olive and tamarisk, hadput our own lands increasingly at risk for an unnatu-rally intense and dangerous fire,” explains Whitham.“We launched a restoration plan that not onlyimproved wetlands habitat, but also put measures inplace to reduce the potential for catastrophic fires.”In the most recent burns, it’s these fire control mea-sures that local officials directly credit for protectingprivate homes, businesses and people in the sur-rounding community.

“We’ve built firebreaks, conducted controlledburns, and actively removed invasive plants and bul-rush,” said Chris Wood, Habitat Manager withDWR. “This not only helped contain the wildfires

and allowed firefighters better access to battle theflames, it also has opened up habitat for native plantsand animals, reduced mosquito breeding areas, andhelped control flooding.”

Controlled burns, in particular, are an importantmanagement tool used by Conservancy stewardsworldwide to maintain fire’s role where it benefitspeople and nature, and keep fire out of places whereit is destructive. Having conducted more than 1.5million acres of burns on Conservancy and partnerlands since 1988, the Conservancy is a recognizedleader in the field of ecological fire management.

“We’ve only conducted one burn at Matheson sofar,” said Jeremy Bailey, the Conservancy’s FireTraining & Networks Coordinator, who helpedauthor the fire management plan for the preserveand supervised a controlled burn in November2010. “In some cases, the wildfires have done thejob for us, clearing out areas that were slated forburns. In other cases, like this spring, it’s simplybeen too wet.”

And this year was most definitely wet. “We usual-ly welcome floods as important natural events thatbring nutrients, native seeds and water to the wet-lands,” explains Whitham. “But this year, the floodbrought unusually high and sustained flows and sub-merged the preserve and its structures for a pro-longed period of time.”

Like fire, flooding can also be both destructiveand beneficial. Seasonal flooding has naturallyoccurred on the Colorado and other rivers through-out the West for millions of years, and plants andanimals are specially adapted to these historic ebbsand flows. But as demand for water has increasedand prolonged droughts continue to reduce flows,many wetlands, which help protect communities byabsorbing rising waters, are left dry.

This summer, as the smoke cleared and the floodwaters receded, Whitham and others were treated toan unexpected and inspiring sight. From the clearingof some areas previously choked by invasive plantslike tamarisk and Russian olive, there was a resur-gence of Northern leopard frogs, a state-sensitivespecies that relies on healthy wetland ecosystems forits survival (see article page 12).

“It’s reassuring in many ways,” said Whitham.“Nature finds a way to survive, and thrive, even whenthings initially look ravaged or bleak. For us, thesenatural events underscore the need to be proactiveabout protecting and maintaining a healthy ecosys-tem—both for the benefit of wildlife, and for thepeople who live next door.”

To learn more about the Conservancy’s approachto fire and use of fire in conservation, visitnature.org/fire.

Protecting Our Investment inNature at the Great Salt LakePotential Impacts of the West Davis Corridor

caring for the land

“Our interest is and always will be the protection of the Great Salt Lake ShorelandsPreserve, and the globally important wildlife habitat we have worked so hard the past 27years to save,” explains Chris Montague, the Conservancy’s Director of UtahConservation Programs. “We and our partners paid market prices to own this acreage,just like any other landowner, and want to see as little of our property lost as possible.”

Montague is reacting to the proposed alignment of the West Davis TransportationCorridor, a new highway that would run through western Davis and southern Webercounties. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) recently released the latestproposed alignment for this road, one that would have significant impacts on theConservancy’s Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve.

“Frankly, this new alignment is discouraging,” said Montague. “Over the past severalyears the Conservancy and its partners have worked closely with UDOT to try to


Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve. Photo: Stuart Ruckman

ensure the road will have as little impact as possible on the ecological functionsand values of the preserve and still meet transportation goals. We think there areother possibilities for an alignment that would better serve both the communityand the preserve.”

“Our goals are to minimize impact to our preserve, to be treated fairly

as a property owner, and to ‘share the pain’ of any lost property with

other stakeholders.”– Chris Montague, the Conservancy’s Director of Utah Conservation Programs


Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve overview. courtesy The Nature Conservancy

award-winning visitor facilities and is the founda-tion for community education and outreach pro-grams that benefit both children and adults.

“The preserve really has been a phenomenalconservation success story for Utah,” explainsMontague. “Thanks to the support of many partnersand members, we are protecting some of the Earth’smost important habitat for migratory shorebirds,and we’re able to share it with Utahns.”

A key partner in the creation of the preserve,the Mitigation Commission is equally concernedabout the implications of the West Davis Corridor.Since 1994, the Mitigation Commission has invest-ed more than $13 million in the Conservancy’sGreat Salt Lake programs, helping to bring 23

important land parcels under protection. “As the Federal agency charged with conserving wetland

habitats impacted by Federal water projects in Central Utah, weare very proud of our long and successful partnership with theConservancy and of helping to create the preserve,” said MichaelC. Weland, Executive Director of the Mitigation Commission.“This proposed highway alignment would cut away critical partsof the preserve’s land base, not just reducing the overall size butseverely hampering the manner in which wildlife can move freelyamong the critical feeding, resting and breeding areas. We needthe fully functioning preserve because there is no longer anyplace else around the Lake for these species to go.”

An important point that Montague makes is that theConservancy is not fighting the highway project itself. “Our goalsare to minimize impact to our preserve, to be treated fairly as aproperty owner, and to ‘share the pain’ of any lost property withother stakeholders,” explains Montague. “We should not sustainmore damage just because we have protected open space, andnot developed our property for housing or commercial use.”

Most importantly, the Conservancy and its partners want toensure that if the highway does impact preserve land, appropriatemitigation takes place. Mitigation would mean that in exchangefor preserve acreage lost to road development, UDOT wouldprotect valuable wetland and upland habitat elsewhere along theGreat Salt Lake.

As the West Davis Corridor planning process moves forward,the Conservancy and its partners are committed to continuedengagement with UDOT and other key agencies. “We’re keep-ing our trustees and members informed, and we’re actively par-ticipating in this process,” said Montague. “We are working toensure that when the final alignment comes out, it will representa better solution for both nature and people.”

So just what is at stake in the corridoralignment? The integrity of key habitatwithin the Great Salt Lake ShorelandsPreserve—a crucial haven for migratorybirds from around the globe, and an impor-tant public resource. Spanning more than4,400 acres of wetlands and uplands alongthe Lake’s eastern shore, the preserve hasbeen painstakingly pieced together in 45separate parcels since 1984, representing aninvestment of more than $25 million by theConservancy, the Utah ReclamationMitigation and Conservation Commission,and a host of public and private supporters.Open year-round, the preserve is home to


supporting the vision

This year, the Utah Chapter is proud to bemaking a major contribution to the Conservancy’sglobal mission—and it comes in the form of anexceptional individual.

Teresa Beck, a Utah trustee, has been namedCo-Chair for the Conservancy’s Global Board ofDirectors. Along with Co-Chair Steven Denning,she will head the Conservancy’s board, comprisedof prominent civic, political and philanthropicleaders from around the world. In her new role,Beck is the first woman to be named Board Chairin the Conservancy’s 60-year history.

“Part of my role will be to bring my experi-ences as a Utah chapter trustee to the table as wemake decisions about strategy and priorities forthe whole organization,” explains Beck. “One ofthe Conservancy’s most distinctive strengths isour on-the-ground science-based work, and thatall starts at the chapter level.”

A member of the Utah Chapter Board fornearly 10 years, Beck is very familiar with the

Conservancy’s science-driven successes in herhome state, and has earned the respect andadmiration of local staff and peers for her gen-erosity, business savvy and tireless commitmentto the cause.

“Teresa has made outstanding contributions tothe Conservancy,” said Dave Livermore, UtahState Director. “Her support is invaluable becauseshe truly engages in our projects, evaluates ourstrategies and challenges us to work smarter, bet-ter and reach further. We are so proud that hertalent will now be tapped on a global scale.”

Beck served as President of American StoresCo. from 1998 to 1999. She also served as thecompany’s chief financial officer from 1993 to1998. Currently, in addition to her work with theConservancy, Beck serves on the Boards ofIntermountain Healthcare, Amylin Pharmaceuticals,Inc. and Questar Corp.

“I’m excited about this chance to broaden mycommitment to conservation and deepen my ties

A Local Conservation Leader Goes GlobalTeresa Beck Named Board of Directors Co-Chair

to the Conservancy,” said Beck. “As we look atconservation around the globe, priorities for mewill include continuing to strengthen our science,our collaborative skills and our abilities to make alasting difference in the areas that we work.”

Teresa Beck. Photo: Alice Storm


Thank You!We’d like to extend a special thank you to all of our donors who have made a lasting investment in Utah’s future. For a full list of ourcurrent major contributors please visit www.nature.org/utah.

Below is a list of our Corporate Alliance for the Environment,

each having made the good business decision to support theConservancy’s mission.

Albion Financial Group LTD.

backcountry.com

Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.

Campbell Scientific, Inc.

Eliot Management Group, LLC

Equinox Engineering

Gurr Investments

Kern River Gas Transmission Company

Kimball Electronics

Kraft Foods / Crystal Light

Leucadia National Corporation

Milcom, Inc.

O.C. Tanner Company

Orvis Company, Inc.

Park City Mountain Resort

Ray Quinney & Nebeker

Rio Tinto / Kennecott Utah Copper

Rocky Mountain Power Foundation

Treasure Mountain Inn

Union Pacific Foundation

To find out how your company can join the UtahCorporate Alliance for the Environment, contact MaryDelle Gunn at (801) 531-0999 or [email protected].

Connect with the Nature Conservancy

facebook.com/natureconservancyutah

twitter.com/nature_org

youtube.com/natureconservancy

Non-ProfitOrganizationUS PostageP A I D

Permit No. 4958Salt Lake City, Utah559 East South Temple

Salt Lake City, Utah 84102 phone: (801) 531-0999nature.org/utah

saving all the pieces

Northern leopard frog. photo: ©Dan Keller/DWR

structures we installed last year thatreconnected the central and southponds and revitalized wetland habi-tat,” said Whitham. “It’s exciting tosee them and hear them again, and itreally emphasizes the importance ofprotecting the variety of habitats thatare found here.” See a slideshow of these

frogs at nature.org/utah.

Hopping Back from theBrinkUtah’s Northern leopard frog

In the aftermath of recent firesand floods at the Scott M. MathesonPreserve, staff and community vol-unteers worked for months to cleanup debris and repair trails (see page6). In the midst of the destruction,however, they encountered a verita-ble silver lining....and it hopped.

“This summer, we experienced abumper crop of Northern leopardfrogs,” said Linda Whitham, theConservancy’s Central CanyonlandsProgram Manager. “In my 6 yearsmanaging the preserve, I’ve never

seen such an incredible species reap-pearance at the preserve.”

The Northern leopard frog, oncecommon in the much of the northernand western United States and south-ern Canada, has suffered populationdeclines since the 1970’s, including acomplete disappearance in parts of itshistoric range. In October of 2011,the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Servicedecided against listing the frog asthreatened under the EndangeredSpecies Act, but the loss of habitat,prevalence of disease and spread ofnon-native species continues to pres-sure populations throughout Utah,where it is a species of concern.

Named for its smooth green skin,

dotted by dark oval spots framed in alighter halo, the Northern leopardfrog is very much at home at theMatheson Preserve. These amphib-ians need a variety of habitat, includ-ing slow-moving or still water alongstreams and rivers, wetlands, perma-nent or temporary pools, beaverponds and even human-constructedhabitats like earthen stock tanks andborrow pits.

Whitham suspects this year’smajor natural events—like the floodwhich caused so much drama for thepreserve—actually benefitted this at-risk species. “The frog’s reappearanceis probably due to the wet year wehad, and perhaps the water control

basin, - the nature conservancy · the newsletter of the nature conservancy in utah • winter ......

Documents