louisiana annual report 2013 - nature conservancy annual report 2013 following our mission. the...

LOUISIANA ANNUAL REPORT

2013following our mission

The Nature Conservancy of LouisianaBoard of Trustees

John E. Koerner, III, Chair

A. Harris Brown, Vice Chair

Tommy Barham, Secretary

Elaine Petrus, Treasurer

Donald “Boysie” Bollinger

Tommy Coleman

Doug Howard

William Jenkins

Chris Kinsey

John Kotts

Mary Matalin

Phillip May

Marjorie McKeithen

Hermann “Buck” Moyse, III

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on

which all life depends.

Louisiana Staff as of March 1, 2014:

Executive Leadership Team and Program Directors

Keith Ouchley, Louisiana and Mississippi State Director

Jim Bergan, Director of Freshwater & Wetland Conservation

Seth Blitch, Director of Coastal & Marine Conservation

Lisa Creasman, Associate State Director for Louisiana

Karen Gautreaux, Director of Government Relations

Laura Lanier, Director of Philanthropy

Richard Martin, Director of Forest Protection & Management

Tracie Martin, Director of Operations

Emilee Wright, Director of Finance

1| The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana

©David Nicolas

Mike Musemeche

Don McDowell

Front Cover Photo by: Matt Pardue

Back Cover Photo by: Matt Pardue/TNC

Virginia Noland

Harvey Perry

Dorothy Prowell

Drew Ranier

Kevin Reilly

Oliver G. “Rick” Richard

Robert Stroud

David H. Welch

Mary Leach Werner

Retired:Don McDowell, Director of Philanthropy

Cheryl Ann King, Director of Finance

Protecting the ‘lands and waters on which all life depends’ is The Nature Conservancy’s mission; and we are doing just that in Louisiana. Since 1951, the Nature Conservancy (TNC) has worked with communities around the world to protect these resources. Your support for The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana makes our conservation work possible in our great state and together we are making a difference for the future.

2013 was such a busy productive year! Some of our conservation highlights include: Mollicy Farms floodplain reconnection, coastal restoration, longleaf pine forest management and acquisition, and safeguarding endangered species. We have shared a little more on these projects with you in this annual report. We invite you to come out and see them with us.

Our Mollicy Farms Floodplain Reconnection project has been exciting to follow. Phase II has almost come to completion with 40,000 cubic yards of soil removed as part of the excavation and recreation of 2.5 miles of channel for Mollicy Bayou in Ouachita Parish. This is one of the largest floodplain reconnections in the country.

Through Louisiana’s Coastal Protection Restoration Act and matching corporate support, the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana is rebuilding and extending our coast with artificial oyster reefs. Slowly but steadily we are building a ‘living shoreline’ with oyster beds which buffer our coast against storm surges and coastal erosion while providing habitat.

In Vernon Parish, we have acquired 280 acres that will serve Fort Polk Army Base through the Compatible Use Buffer Program. Not only will longleaf pine savanna be restored, but it will also create much needed habitat for the endangered Red-cockaded woodpecker and the Louisiana pine snake.

Finally, to round out 2013 we have partnered with renowned nature photographer C.C. Lockwood on a new book. For the next year, C.C. will be photographing the Conservancy’s nature preserves and projects around the state during every season. We look forward to seeing how his lens captures our conservation work.

Thank you for making a difference in conserving Louisiana’s natural heritage!

Following Our Mission…..

Brought to you by (Top to bottom: Keith Ouchley at Mollicy Farms, Roseate spoonbill, Yellowtop or Senecio glabellus)

our work in Louisiana

The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana |2

Forests

Louisiana forests are important centers of biodiversity and warrant investment in protection and sustainable management. Today forests cover approximately 48% of Louisiana or approximately 13.3 million acres. Historically, forests covered 75% of the state. Natural forests in Louisiana include cypress-tupelo swamps, bottomland hardwood, longleaf pine woodlands and savannas, mixed shortleaf pine/oak-hickory, mixed loblolly pine-hardwood, and upland hardwood.

These forests support over 2,000 species of native plants, 110 species of reptiles and amphibians, 150 species of birds, 40 species of mammals and thousands of species of fish, freshwater mussels, insects, and more.

Many species have experienced population declines as the forests of Louisiana have been degraded or lost. Approximately 140 species of plants and animals that are restricted to forested habitats are considered rare, threatened or endangered in Louisiana.

One example of a forest and sustainable management is the Fort Polk Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) Program. The Nature Conservancy is working with the Department of Defense through the Ft. Polk ACUB Program to protect the federally endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker and the rare Louisiana pine snake. Thus far, the Conservancy has acquired 1,401 acres of forestland that will benefit land management on Ft. Polk and the Vernon Unit of Kisatchie National Forest. The ACUB program allows the Army to maintain military readiness while still protecting endangered species on Army land. ACUB’s focus is longleaf pine savanna restoration in Vernon and Bienville Parishes.

The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Nova Clarke (USFWS) Richard Martin Richard MartinCuatrok77

Lana Gramlich

(Left to right: tree planting at Mollicy Farms, Flower of yellow pitcher plant, Northern bobwhite, Fire crew, Longleaf pine)

Coasts

In addition to The Nature Conservancy’s extensive coastal restoration efforts associated with artificial oyster reefs, TNC’s Grand Isle (GI) field office focuses on education and maritime forest habitat enhancement. With a robust educational program, we bring awareness of the maritime forests’ importance through public outreach such as Arbor Day Tree Give A-Ways, birding tours during the GI Migratory Bird Celebration, and the Native Plant Nursery (BioLab). Since 2009, BioLab students in grades 2-7 at the Grand Isle School have learned about, grown, and planted/given away over 4,000 native GI live oak, hackberry, honey locust, persimmon, and red mulberry trees to local residents.

We also battle invasive exotic plants in the maritime preserves. Tallow trees, Chinese privet and the Air Potato Vine are impossible to totally eradicate. The mild climate of the island is conducive to invasive exotic plants. The Potato Vine climbs to the tops of trees and blocks out sunlight to the understory. The best methods of control for it are herbicides, vine pulling, and potato removal. In December 2013 Grand Isle Elementary students in The Nature Club collected 410 pounds of air potatoes. In January 2014 Grand Isle High School students working for “Community Service” hours collected over 600 pounds.



Seth Blitch

Bob Loudon

®Erika Nortemann

Jennifer Browning©Erika Nortemann

(Clockwise: Indigo bunting, Live oaks, Jean Landry and students, Grand Isle coast, Ribbed mussles)

Solutions for Today and Tomorrow

Louisiana Freshwater Assessment

Louisiana has over 125,000 miles of rivers, bayous, and streams and abundant annual rainfall (48 to 70 inches/year). Water is critical to our economy, culture, fish and wildlife resources. Louisiana’s commercial fishing industry accounts for 1 in 70 jobs and almost $2.5 billion in total economic impact for the state. Recreational fishing provides another $50 million annually. The future of Louisiana’s natural resources, including its drinking water, depends on a high quality and sustainable freshwater supply. In order to identify and address these issues, it is imperative to have first-rate scientific information regarding the status and trends of freshwater resources, river and stream flow, water use, threats, and links to our coastal systems.

One such scientifically sound evaluation tool of watershed health is the Louisiana Freshwater Assessment. TNC developed this tool which helps monitor the over 50 watersheds in our state. It will also provide an analysis of groundwater resources in Louisiana’s major aquifers.

The Freshwater Assessment has been incorporated into an online tool that is available to the general public. The system is designed to work through simple applications like you find on your smartphone, so that complex scientific analyses can be communicated and understood by anyone. The online Assessment will be publically released soon and continually updated with the most current data to provide the strongest support for decisions that affect Louisiana’s water.

Gulf of Mexico Decision Support Tool

Louisiana’s coast provides not only the backbone of the state’s economy, it is also the foundation for all life in the area. Astonishingly, almost half of our coastal habitats have vanished in the last 100 years. Coastal habitats, including oyster reefs, seagrass beds, salt marshes and coastal wetlands, help absorb the constant wind and wave energy along the coast, acting as a natural buffer to storms. The ability of our coasts to recover from man-made disturbances and natural events decreases as these habitats are lost, making people and economies more vulnerable.

TNC and other partners are working to restore oyster reefs, coastal wetlands, seagrass beds, and barrier islands throughout the Gulf of Mexico. There is a need to quickly provide information to decision makers, scientists and key stakeholders so that they are able to make the best decisions and have the greatest return on investment for both private and public funding.

Through grants from the Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s Future of the Gulf Fund and the Packard Foundation, the Gulf of Mexico Decision Support Tool (DST) was created to help view both ecological and socio-economic impacts from a variety of changing environmental scenarios.

The Louisiana chapter is leading the charge to maintain current data from agencies and researchers across the Gulf of Mexico region. We are also taking the DST on the road to teach communities, agencies and other interested parties how to use and incorporate it into their decision making processes.



©Joachim S. Muller

Richard Martin

©Dave Govoni

(Top to bottom: Alligator gar, Pearl River, Spring Peeper)



Floodplain Reclamation

The Nature Conservancy and the US Fish and Wildlife Service is working to reconnect 25 square miles of former floodplain forest back to Louisiana’s Ouachita River, which is located within the Mississippi River Basin. Mollicy Farms project is one of the largest floodplain reconnection projects in North America, allowing the floodplain to store water and reduce downstream flooding, improve water quality and increase wildlife habitat. Fish, ducks, geese, deer and even black bears have returned to the Mollicy floodplain.

We are now completing Phase II of the reconnection project – almost 40,000 cubic yards of soil was moved to restore internal water flow. Stream restoration of Mollicy Bayou, Deep Slough and Shiloh Creek will enhance previous efforts to reconnect the hydrologically isolated site with a majority of the historical watersheds outside the levees. This is great news as this stream course has not flowed with water since the late 1960’s.

©Ian Shive Chris Rice

Work at Mollicy Farms improves water quality in the Ouachita River, and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico.

(Mollicy Farms during flood)



Jennifer Browning

The Atchafalaya River Basin – not only is this the name of our project but it’s the name of a book.* It really tells the story. The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana has identified the Atchafalaya River Basin as one of the state’s most important natural habitats. This one-million acre wetland is one of the few relatively intact major river basins in North America. Like other river basins worldwide, the Atchafalaya contains an especially high level of biodiversity of plants, resident and migratory fish, and wildlife that is vital to local, regional and global biodiversity.

Many people make their living from the Atchafalaya’s lands and waters. In fact, the value of the basin’s services (flood control, carbon storage, navigation, oil and gas resources, forest, fish and wildlife resources and nutrient reduction) is valued at billions of dollars annually. But the future ecological and economic viability of the Atchafalaya is at risk and TNC is joining with many other partners on an initiative to conserve and restore its resources.

*Bryan Piazza, Director of Freshwater and Marine Science for TNC’s Louisiana unit, has worked in different areas of conservation and restoration of Louisiana’s wetlands for the past 15 years. Bryan holds a B.S. in Wildlife Mgmt. & Biology from University of Wisconsin Stevens-Point, an M.S. in Wildlife Science from Louisiana State University (LSU) and Ph.D. in Oceanography and Coastal Science from LSU. He also serves as an adjunct assistant professor at LSU. He recently published The Atchafalaya River Basin: History and Ecology of an American Wetland.



©Kent Mason

Bob Loudon Bob Loudon

Bob Loudon

Joe Todd

Joe Todd

Lawson Hill

©Lana Gramlich

©Lana GramlichSeth Blitch©Carlton Ward, Jr

©FWS

(Top to bottom/Left to right: Spanish needles, North American raccoons, Bald eagle with chick, Painted bunting, Gulf fritillary, Louisiana pine snake, Flower of parrot pitcher plant, Red-cockaded woodpecker, Bobcat, Golden orb weaver, Crawfish chimney)


TNC TNC

Don McDowell

our Volunteers

TNC

Richard Martin Richard Martin

TNC Don McDowell Jean Landry

Nova Clarke (USFWS)

(Top to bottom/Left to right: Trail maintenance, Tree pruning, Boardwalk repair at Grand Isle, Tree planting at Abita Creek Flatwoods, Chainsaw Gang BBQ, Mu Sigma Honor Society from Bastrop High School, Tree planting at Mollicy Farms, Atchafalaya Basin, Tree planting at Abita Creek Flatwoods, Air potato collection in Grand Isle)

Every year we honor volunteers who have advanced The Conservancy’s mission. Both Joe Todd of Opelousas and Dorothy Prowell of Baton Rouge are great examples of conservation heroes who positively impact our work here in Louisiana.

Joe Todd was the first person to contact The Nature Conservancy five years ago when he heard Cypress Island Preserve was looking for volunteers. Not only is Joe a docent himself at the Cypress Island Preserve Visitor Center, but he is the Volunteer Coordinator and has put in hundreds of hours greeting visitors and coordinating schedules of the other docents. Always wearing a smile, Joe shares information about the plants and animals found on the Preserve with the folks who come to the Center from all over the world to see the wading bird rookery. Joe is an excellent photographer and has made two books for the Center of his bird photos. We cannot thank Joe enough for his dedication and hard work and we are thankful for the love Joe has of Cypress Island Preserve.

Dorothy Prowell, former Professor of Entomology at LSU and an avid lover of the outdoors, has spent much of her life working for environmental protection as well as spending time in nature. Her work and life reflect the Conservancy’s mission. Her conservation oriented research included a mixture of descriptive and experimental research, receiving multiple grants from the National Science Foundation for her work.

In addition to focusing on sustainable living and biodiversity protection in her teaching and research, her personal values and actions reflect this commitment. Dorothy created a small rural development in the Tunica Hills north of Baton Rouge as an example of conservation through private ownership. Market values were obtained for the seller while setting aside 80% of the property under the first “conservation easement” negotiated with and held by the Louisiana chapter of The Nature Conservancy. Dorothy’s portion of this development was willed to TNC when she joined the Legacy Club a decade ago.

Dorothy has been on The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana’s Board of Trustees for 6 years. In this capacity she advises and joins the state director and staff on environmental projects and ecological planning. When asked about future directions for the Louisiana Chapter, Dorothy sees continued emphasis on land-based protection and enhanced attention to freshwater and coastal issues.

The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana |10Dorothy kayaking at Cat Island

Don McDowell

Joe Todd greets visitors at Cypress Island Visitor’s Center

Kacy King

our Conservation HeroesConservation Heroes

Thank you to our many donors whose generous gifts have made conservation work possible in 2013. This annual support allows The Nature Conservancy’s Louisiana chapter to follow our mission: to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

our Supporters

MEMORIALSIn Memory of Mr. & Mrs. Richard T. Merritt, Jr. of Baton Rouge by Ann M. Masson

IN-KIND GIFTSHarris BrownTommy ColemanJohn KoernerKevin ReillyMoneyhillScott Equipment Company

Scan this code to donate today!

Individuals$50,000-$99,000Mr. Markham "Skipper" Dickson

$10,000-$49,999AnonymousMr. & Mrs. Scott AndersonDr. & Mrs. Johnny ArmstrongMs. Madeline R. BrouilletteMr. & Mrs. Thomas FalgoutMr. & Mrs. Douglas HowardMr. & Mrs. Christopher KinseyMr. & Mrs. John KoernerMs. Martha W. MurphyMr. & Mrs. John NolandMr. & Mrs. Timothy PetrusMr. & Mrs. Drew RanierMr. & Mrs. Kevin ReillyMr. John G. Turner & Mr. Jerry G. Fischer

$5,000 - $9,999Mr. & Mrs. Thomas West BarhamMs. Josephine CangelosiMr. & Mrs. Thomas ColemanMr. Markham Dickson, IIIMs. Tina Freeman & Mr. Philip WoollamMr. J. D. GarveyMr. & Mrs. Lawrence GarveyMr. & Mrs. Buddy LeachMs. Marjorie McKeithenMr. and Mrs. Hermann Moyse, IIIMr. & Mrs. Oliver RichardMr. & Mrs. James TheusMr. John W. WrightDr. & Mrs. Terry Zellmer

$2,500 - $4,999AnonymousMr. and Mrs. Harris BrownMr. & Mrs. Henry BruserDr. & Mrs. Steven HightowerMs. Mary LaVigneDrs. Susan & Terry MurphyMs. Mary J. PhelanMr. & Mrs. W.C. 'Bubba' Rasberry

Mr. Chatham ReedDrs. Oliver & Sissy SartorMrs. Joyce Thibodeaux

$1,000-$2,499AnonymousDr. & Mrs. Eric AbrahamMr. & Mrs. David BanowetzMr. & Mrs. John W. Barton, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. Robert BransonMr. and Mrs. Barry BreauxMr. & Mrs. William D. Brown, IVMr. & Mrs. Robert ClaudeMr. & Mrs. Dudley CoatesMr. & Mrs. David CopeMr. Paul DicksonMs. Helen E. FantMs. Joan H. FinleyMs. Ann C. FishmanMr. & Mrs. Nick FryMr. & Mrs. Robert GerdesMr. and Mrs. Cordell HaymonDr. Lionel H. HeadMr. Ralph HelmsMr. & Mrs. Robert HowellMs. Clarice HunterMr. Glenn V. KinseyMr. Burgess 'Scott' S. LewisMs. Martha V. LeonardMr. Rich MargolinMrs. Ann M. MassonMr. & Mrs. David McCombMr. & Mrs. Mark McRaeMs. Suzanne B. MellorDr. & Mrs. Louis MesMr. Hugh D. MorrisMs. Dorothy ProwellMr. Nicholas RauMrs. DeeDee ReillyMr. & Mrs. Larry RaymondMs. Tia Nolan RoddyMr. & Mrs. Brian SeamsterMrs. Bertie Deming SmithMs. Mary Ann SternbergMr. Richard Teichgraeber &Ms. Mary W. Brown

Mr. & Mrs. Bruce TothMr. Cabell TutwilerMr. Mark Winter & Ms. Carla Seyler

Foundations$100,000 and AboveBaton Rouge Area FoundationCoca-Cola FoundationJoe W. and Dorothy Dorsett Brown FoundationWalton Family Foundation

$50,000-$99,000Coypu Foundation TrustFreeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Foundation

$10,000-$49,999Alta and John Franks FoundationBiedenharn FoundationBollinger Family FoundationDamuth Malcolm C. FoundationFrost FoundationMAKBThomas H. And Mayme P. Scott Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999Burden FoundationDouglas F. and Marion S. Attaway FoundationGraceThe Caridad FoundationThe Godchaux Family of Abbeville

$1,000 - $4,999Azby FundCarolyn and Dick Shell Family FundParrot Head Club of Baton RougeWheless FoundationWoolard Family FoundationWoolf William C. Foundation

Corporations$100,000 and AboveChevronEntergy Corporation

$50,000-$99,000Shell Oil Company

$10,000-$49,999ConocoPhillipsExxon Mobil CorporationIberia BankInternational MatexPhillips 66Simon, Peragine, Smith & Redferan LLPStone Energy

$5,000 - $9,999CenterPoint EnergyCenturyLinkEnbridge Energy Company, Inc.J.P. Kotts & Co., IncTidewater, Inc.Turner Industries, Ltd.

$1,000-$4,999BASF CorporationBellone Enterprises, LLCCullen Investment Group, Ltd.Hancock Forest Management, Inc.Money Hill Golf & Country ClubMoneyhill Plantation, LLCMurphy Oil CorporationNewtron Group, Inc.Sasol North America, Inc.Westlake Petrochemicals Corp

The Nature Conservancy in Louisiana | 12

our Fiscal Year Overview

Thanks to our generous supporters, contributions remained strong in fiscal year 2013. Conservation success depends on organizational effectiveness, and in Louisiana we have set high standards for financial sustainability and accountability as the foundation of our conservation work.

For information on how to be part of this important work, contact Laura Lanier, Director of Philanthropy, at [email protected]. Your donations can be tailored to fit your needs, such as monthly gifts, legacy gifts, or gifts in the name of someone you would like to honor.

Expenses and Purchases of Conservation Land and EasementsFiscal Year 2013

Conservation Activities & Actions 4,553,873$ 47.38%Purchases of Conservation Land and Easements 4,311,345$ 44.85%General & Administrative 414,057$ 4.31%Fundraising 332,946$ 3.46%

9,612,221$

$4,553,873 , 47% $4,311,345 , 45%

$414,057 , 4% $332,946 , 4%

Conservation Activities & Actions

Purchases of Conservation Land and Easements

General & Administrative

Fundraising


New MembersKim HoughMary LaVigneVirginia Noland

Johnny and Karen ArmstrongAnthony and Jan BarnesRaymond BauerDonald “Boysie” BollingerAdele BornkesselArchibald and Andrea BrownMurray BrownAnthony BultmanXuan ChenCathy CoatesBarbara A. CohenAlbert E. CowdreyW. P. and Markay CunninghamHarold A. DundeeMaribel S. EbelJames and Mrs. ElderHugh and Deborah EleyCharles ElliottNathaniel D. Fleck and Debbie PigmanMary L. FrancisNick and Elaine FryVance GordonJoan G. GlynnRachael GreenEric A. GreschnerAdrienne C. Ham

Helen P. HarringtonLeonora Hurst and Grover GortonMary R. JohnsonSheldon and Judith JohnsonHelmut JulinotKatherine “Kacy” KingEarline KlussBarbara LaughlinDavid R. LinnemeyerPhil MattosJana McCallumJoan McClurePaul D. MeddletonJudith O’NealeSusan PadalinoHoward PieperPamela PierceDorothy ProwellArthur and Norma RobertsSylvia Russell-PrussiaDonald G. SchuelerMax and Virginia ShortJohn and Gayle SmithVictor Stewart, Jr.Carl and Joy ThompsonJan and Cornell TramontanaCathy and Al TroyMarguerite M. Van de MarkJacqueline Jinx VidrineJoseph I. VincentPhilip D. WatersMark Winter

Richard Martin

Bob Loudon Matt Pardue

©Byron Jorjorian

Lawson Hitt

our Legacy Club MembersThe Legacy Club is a group of 20,000 supporters across the globe who have named The Nature Conservancy as a beneficiary of their estate plans. We are thankful to those who have made a commitment to Louisiana’s long-term conservation vision.

left column(Top to bottom: Zigadenus, swallowtail), right column (Top to bottom: Yellow throated vireo, Atchafalaya Basin, Yellow crowned night heron)

Their Story, Our Story

Growing up in Colorado during the 1960’s, Mark’s family was heavily influenced by the environmental movement and how development impacted the quality of life there. His parents sought to create a balance with development and conservation in their own lives. Mark’s parents often told him: “Be engaged! If you can’t be part of the solution, then at least don’t be part of the problem!”

Mark’s father was a nationally-recognized expert in groundwater hydrology who died in 2010. Dr. Thomas Winter liked The Nature Conservancy’s practical approach to conserving the environment by preserving land and he hoped to spend his retirement

doing pro-bono work for the Conservancy. Unfortunately, Dr. Winter died before his retirement became a reality. Mark has come to share his father’s enthusiasm for the Conservancy and chose to become a Legacy Club member to honor his father’s memory. When Mark inherited an IRA from his father’s estate, he thought it only fitting to bequeath it to The Nature Conservancy of Louisiana to continue his father’s quest to find balance in a developing world.


following our Mission

Mark Winter and wife, Carla Seyler

Dr. Thomas Winter

P.O. Box 4125Baton Rouge, LA 70821www.nature.org/louisiana • 225.338.1040www.facebook.com/natureconservancylouisiana

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