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8/14/2019 Newsletter - Winter 2009-10 - Facebook

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CLINTON COUNTY OPEN LANDS, INC. WINTER 2009 -2010

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Conservation Observations

264 U.S. Representatives and 40 U.S. Senatorssponsor bills to enhance tax incentives for

landowner donations of conservation easementsOver the past two years, the federal law allowing for enhanceddeductibility of donations of conservation easements hasincreased the pace of land conservation by over 535,00

acres . According to the Land Trust Alliance, to date local,state and national land trusts in the United States havepreserved approximately 37 million acres . This is adoubling of the number of preserved acres since five yearsago.

The increased pace of land conservation in the U.S. is due, in part, to the enhanced federal tax incentive that allowslandowners to deduct the value of a donated conservationeasement in calculating income tax due. Landowners can

deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income with a 15year carry forward or up to 100% for qualified farmers andranchers using the value of the donated easement. As of Dec.31, 2009, this enhanced incentive expires and the old ruleapplies allowing landowners to deduct donated value up to30% of their adjusted gross income in year one with a fiveyear carryforward.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Mike Turner have co-sponsored bills to extend the enhanced incentive. House Bill

1831, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, and S.B. 812,the Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act, both keep theenhanced incentive in place. These incentives are animportant lifetime and estate planning tool and also help to

preserve land for future generations to use and enjoy.Congress is expected to act on all tax-related bills early in2010.

ileated woodpecker activity on a farm under consideration for reservation in Clinton County, Ohio. This 82 acre far m

ncludes woods and farm conservation practices. Grasshopper parrows have also been spotted on the property. The far m ncludes a tributary to the Todds Fork. The owner is interested n se " ing grass fed beef and other farm products loca " y.


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EARTH DAY 2010 PLANS UNDERWAYSAVE THE DATE -- Saturday, April 24, 2010 will be the primary focus of Earth Day activities in

2010, including morning activities tentatively scheduled to take place at Southern State Community College.Activities will likely included a nature hike, a youth session on butterflies, and the Earth Day Dinner in the

evening. If you have ideas for Earth Day 2010 please contact Don Spurling ( [email protected] ) or Mark Rembert and Taylor Stuckert at [email protected].

Earth Day Dinner set for Saturday, April 24, 2010The Loft, 64 W. Main Street

5:00 Annual Membership Meeting5:30 Social - Cash Bar

6:30 Dinner

$25 per person

The Ohio Department of Agriculture Department of Farmland Preservation announced today that it will hold a Southwest Ohio Landowners Meeting on Jan. 12, 2009, 5 - 7 p.m. at Cox Arboretum (held in partnership with Three Valley Conservation Trust and Montgomery SWCD).

Location: Cox Arbore tum Metropark6733 Springboro PikeDayton, Ohio 45449

Qualifying farms must be at least 40 acres ( preferably over 300 ), have a conservation practices plan andestate plan in place ( or in progress ), must be signed up with the County Auditor for CAUV tax treatment and Agricultural District Status, must be zoned at least A -2 ( A-1 preferred ) and must have inplace a conservation plan for the farm. The AEPP program pays a percentage of the Auditors valuation( typically one third of the value of the land ) for an agricultural easement. CCOL is a qualied sponsorfor AEPP. After attending this program, call Clinton Co. Open Lands to discuss whether your farm might be a good candidate for this program . E -mail [email protected] or call Laura Curliss at 513-600 -7171.

Ohio O ffice of Farmland Preservation to holdSouthwest Ohio Landowners meeting on Jan. 12,

5-7 p.m. at Cox Arboretum
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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LAND PRESERVED AND THE GREEN POWER TO DO IT

CLINTON COUNTY OPEN LANDS APPRECIATES YOUR SUPPORT The future of land preservation in Clinton County is in the hands of our members and donors. Your

contribution to CCOL support land preservation through the acquisition and stewardship of conservationeasements on farmland, natural areas and waterways. CCOL is a 26 U.S.C. 501 ( c )( 3 ) non -prot organization.Your donation to CCOL or to one of our two endowment funds at the Clinton County Foundation, are tax deductible according to law. Send contributions to CCOL, P.O. Box 95, Wilmington, OH 45177.

CCOL ENDOWMENT FUNDS (11.30.09) at theCLINTON COUNTY FOUNDATION

CCOL Property Acquisition Fund -- $ 61.04

CCOL Stewardship Fund -- $ 3,472.41

(Waterfowl USA funds $159.81)

CHECKING ACCOUNT BALANCE (12.15.09) = $2471.75

Checks to CCOL may be mailed to CCOL, P.O. Box 95,Wilmington, OH 45177.

CLINTON CO. PRESERVED PROPERTIESFee simple - urban green space in Wilmington:Hunter Glen Nature Preserve - 2.4 acres (2006)

Conservation or agricultural easements - 284 acresFarm #1 - 65 acres (2007)Farm #2 - 105 acres (2007)Farm #3 - 124 acres (2007)

2009-2010 Projects in Progress - One farm (82 acres).

MEMBERS -- 72

Thirty -seven more farms saved through the AEPP programNov. 13, 2009 -- Ohio Governor TedStrickland and state Director of Agriculture Robert Boggs have announcedthe results of the 2009 Clean Ohio Agriculture Easement Purchase Program( AEPP ). Thirty -seven farms were addedto the number of Ohio farms permanently preserved through the purchase of anagricultural easement on these farms.These 37 farms represent an additional 6,279 acres preserved foragriculture in Ohio, bringing the total number of farms preserved to172 (32,000 acres total ) .

"Ohioans have proven that preserving ourstate's farmland and green space isimportant by their consistent support of the Clean Ohio Fund," said Strickland."The Agricultural Easement PurchaseProgram helps sustain our importantagricultural industry and ensure thatOhioans are able to enjoy and utilize our

state's valuable land for generations tocome."

The Agricultural Easement Purchase

Program ( AEPP ) is a very competitiveprogram that allows the Ohio Departmentof Agriculture ( ODA ), in partnership withlocal sponsors, to purchase agriculturaleasements on Ohio farms. Clinton County Open Lands, Inc. and the Clinton County Board of Commissioners have sponsored AEPP applications. More information aboutthe AEPP may be found at www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/ FarmLand.aspx . The Ohio Department of Agriculture and Clinton County OpenLands, Inc. also accept donations of agricultural easements. Qualied donationsof agricultural or conservation easements areeligible for income and estate tax benets.

Landowners interested in the AEPPprogram or in donating an easement may contact Laura Curliss at 513 -600 -7171.
http://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspxhttp://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspxhttp://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspxhttp://www.agri.ohio.gov/divs/FarmLand/FarmLand.aspx


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* . . .CCOL is part of theClinton County Green Alliance?

Visit www.greenalliancecc.com tolearn more.

* . . .that you can post greennews items on the Green Alliance website/blog? E -mail your item to [email protected].

* . . .the rst meeting of theGreen Alliance ( Clinton Co.

environmental groups ) was heldon May 28, 2009?

* . . .a neighboring land trust,Little Miami, Inc. owns over 50riverfront nature preserves along the Little Miami National ScenicRiver and its headwaters? Visit www.littlemiami.com to learnmore.

* . . .that the Ohio EPA hascompleted a study of the LittleMiami Watershed?

* . . .that CCOL Land Steward

Paul Hunter recently led a chipping party at Hunter Glen

Nature Preserve to nishchipping eradicated honeysuckle

for use on the trails?* . . . that CCOL Board

member Chris Hodgson is on theSteering Committee for theCoalition of State Land Trusts( COLT ) for Ohio?

* . . . that CCOL Boardmember Laura Curliss attendedthe National Land TrustConference in Portland, OR Oct.12-14? Krista Magaw from

Tecumseh L.T. also attend.

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings.Natures peace will ow into you as sunshine ows into trees.

-- John Muir

DID YOU KNOW THAT. . .

CALENDER

January 12 - SW OhioLandowners Meeting forAEPP ( call 614-728-6210)

January 28 - CCOL Board Mtg at 4:30.

February 25 - CCOL Board Mtg at 4:30

March 25 - Board Mtg April 22 - Board Mtg April 24 - Annual Member

Meeting 5 p.m., Earth Day Dinner 5:30 social, 6:30 dinner - The Lo $ , 6 4 W. Main,Wilmington

August 21 - Loca l Foods Dinner - General Denver Hotel

October 2010 - National Land TrustConference, Hartford CT(see www.lta.org )

A group of explorers from Champions in the Making Day Care on Randolph St. enjoy a late fall walk in Hunter Glen
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.lta.org/http://www.lta.org/http://www.littlemiami.com/http://www.littlemiami.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.greenalliancecc.com/http://www.greenalliancecc.com/


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SUPPORT A GREEN CLINTON COUNTY IN 2009 SUMMER 2009

Land conservation milestones - the ear of #37Land conservation in the U.S. and

in Ohio reached some milestones this year and the lucky number is #37.

Thanks to the increased federal tax incentive in place the past few yearsconservation in the U.S. surpassed 37million acres. Thirty - seven million acres is an area 16 timesthe size of Yellowstone NationalPark. CCOL added 284 acres tothis total.

In November, we learned that 37more farms in Ohio were saved through the Clean Ohio Ag. Ease -

ment Purchase Program. That bringsthe total acreage preserved in Ohiothrough AEPP to 32,000. CCOL hassponsored farm applications andeducation on AEPP.

In October, Tecumseh Land Trust,a neighboring land trust, became therst land trust in Ohio to be

accredited by the Land Trust Alliance.CCOL hopes to achieve this statusand is working toward it.

On November 19, Chris Hodgsonand I attended the Coalition of OhioLand Trusts ( COLT ) meeting in at theStratford Ecological Center inDelaware, OH. Chris is on theCOLT Steering Committee. Thank you, Chris, for accepting this honor.

At this time of year we ask you to

renew or become a member of CCOL. As a member of CCOL, youdirectly and indirectly help to achieveall of these milestones and more inland preservation. - Laura Curliss

LABEL

Clinton County Open Lands, Inc.P.O. Box 95Wilmington, OH 45177

Thanks to Canon Business Solutions for printing ournewsletter!

Board of Directors To 12.31.10

Charlene Ballard

Laura CurlissOpen seat To 12.31.11

Beth Mitchell Jim OBoyle

Open seat To 12.31.12

Chris HodgsonDick Glaser

Jon Branstrator

Nominee for term to 12.31.03 Terri Thobaben

Open seatThanks to our Board for

their hard work anddedication!


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MEMBERSHIP FORM

2010

Please send in by Feb. 1, 2010

By renewing your membership or becoming a new member of ClintonCounty Open Lands, Inc. you are helping to keep Clinton C ountygreen. CCOL works to permanently preserve land by acceptingdonations of conservation/ag easements on farmland and natural areas.Land remains privately owned. CCOL also seeks grants/donations for

purchasing open lands as opportunities arise. CCOL also works withconservation buyers who buy then preserve lands.

Your membership dues fund CCOLs operation and the acquisition andstewardship of preserved farmland and open spaces. CCOL is an I.R.C. 501(c)(3) organization. All donations are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Mail this form and check to: CCOL, P.O. Box 95, Wilmington, OH 45177.

______ $10 Student, recent graduate, Americorps/VISTA, military

______ $25 Individual membership

______ $50 Land Preservationist

______ $100 Land Steward

______ CHECK HERE to be active/volunteer. We will call you.

Name: ______________________ Renewing? Stop here if information is the same as last year.

Address: ______________________________________________________________

E-mail: _______________________________________________________________

Phones: _______________________________________________________________

Major gifts or Estate gifts to Clinton County Open Lands, Inc. may be made by contacting CCOL Board Member Laura Curliss at 513-600-7171 or [email protected] .
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]

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