08SPRING/SUMMER

NEWSLETTER FOR KACHEMAK HERITAGE LAND TRUSTLANDMARKS

Margaret Mullen adds to protected land on Soldotna Creek

2008 Summer ProgramEvents Calendar

Inspiration Ridge Preserve New 150 Acre Easement

Effler Family Donates 18 Acres

KHLT Land and Easement Program

Talley House and Land For Sale

Take-a-Treasure Home Donors

After many years of successful and dedicated service, Executive Director Barb Seaman is leav-ing KHLT to take another position. KHLT has had the good fortune to have experienced Barb’s

endless spirit, passion and devotion along with the wisdom she gained over 18 years of experi-ence with us. Barb negotiated conservation projects across the Kenai Peninsula, including lands on the Homer Spit, out East End Road and up West Hill in Homer, on the Kasilof and Anchor Riv-ers, and along the Kenai River. She has led the organization to preserve, for public benefit, these important properties and more. Such amazing accomplishments!

Our farewell to Barb is bittersweet. Sweet, because our friend is leaving to experience a new and exciting professional opportunity. Sweet, because we have a wonderful team remaining in place at KHLT. Marie McCarty will step in to serve as interim Executive Director and has expertise to carry on with KHLT mission without missing a beat. Dorothy Melambianakis will continue her enthusiastic and thorough work as the Land Manager, and Yvonne Prucha will continue manag-ing the office and working with KHLT financial matters. The parting is bitter because Barb will be working 220 miles away from Homer and we will all sincerely miss her presence, dedication and experience.

As president of the KHLT board, and on behalf of all the KHLT Board Members, we wish Barb the very best in her new endeavor in her new role as Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Conser-vation Council.

Dotti Harness, Board President

Director’s ColumnDear Friends,

With mixed emotions, I need to report to you that I’m leaving KHLT. I love my job here. I love Homer and always will. Until very

recently, I have not felt like I wanted to change much in my life. Now, I find myself with an empty nest and a chance to work for a statewide environmental organization making a significant difference in coastal communities across Alaska and nationally.

In mid-March, I applied for the Executive Director position at Alaska Marine Conservation Council, based in Anchorage. I managed to make the cut to the top 3 of 17 and was finally offered the job in early May. I’ll oversee over 10 staff and work with a team of science advisors and contract employees as well. After almost 20 years of involvement with KHLT, I not only feel confident enough in the skills of our staff and board to know I’m leaving it in very good hands, but also comfortable enough with my ability to lead another, larger organization.

You are probably wondering what will happen at KHLT during this transition. I’ve been discussing ideas and options with my fellow land trust staff and have developed a plan to carry us through 2008, which the Board of Directors has approved. Marie McCarty (my long-time right hand and associate) will take on new responsibility as Interim Director. Duties including membership, grant reporting and land protection projects will be shared by existing staff. Although we will tighten our belts as far as new projects go, we believe we can carry on with our plans for 2008 with no additional staff hired this year. In late 2008, I will attend our strategic planning session as my last official act, and a decision will be made then about hiring more staff.

On the personal front, I have decided to keep my home in Homer and I fully expect to return to eventually live here again. As I already mentioned, I will stay involved with KHLT on a contractual basis at least through 2008 to ensure that the transition goes smoothly, and am delighted to have been invited by the KHLT board to fill a vacant seat at the end of my contract tenure.

In this last executive director’s column from me, I ask for your continued support of this wonder-ful organization, especially through this time of change. Together, let’s keep KHLT strong.

I owe KHLT so much for the many years of experience and support and wish I could personally thank each and every one of you for helping to make it possible!

Sincerely,

Barbara Seaman, Executive Director

KHLT Board MembersDotti Harness, President Roger Pearson, Vice PresidentLarsen Klingel, TreasurerLois Bettini, SecretaryMarian BeckJohn MouwRoger PearsonShirley Schollenberg

KHLT StaffBarbara Seaman, Executive DirectorMarie McCarty, Interim DirectorDorothy Melambianakis, Land ManagerYvonne Prucha, Accounting Manager

KHLT Contact InformationKachemak Heritage Land Trust315 Klondike AvenueHomer, AK 99603(907) 235-5263www.KachemakLandTrust.org

CreditsCover Photo | Marie McCartyLayout Design | Debi Bodett

Barbara SeamanEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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DIRECTOR’S COLUMN

MULLEN FAMILY ADDS TO PROTECTED LAND ON SOLDOTNA CREEK

2008 SUMMER PROGRAMEVENTS CALENDAR

INSPIRATION RIDGE PRESERVES NEW 150 ACRE EASEMENT

EFFLER FAMILY DONATES 18 ACRES

KHLT LAND AND EASEMENT PROGRAM

TALLEY HOUSE AND LAND FOR SALE

TAKE-A-TREASURE HOME DONORS

LAND TRUST WORKS TO PROTECT MORE ANCHOR RIVER LAND

UPDATE: KACHEMAK BAY RESEARCH RESERVE

UPDATE: COOK INLET-KEEPER/HOMER SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT

Last December, the Margaret Mullen Living Trust donated 20.42 acres to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust next to an 8-acre conservation easement the Mullen Family Trust

donated to the land trust in 1999. The donated property is outlined in the photo in orange and the conservation ease-ment property is outlined in yellow. Approximately 60% (12.3 acres) of this spectacular property is wetland and the remain-ing 40% (8.2 acres) is upland. Lush, natural vegetation on the property includes spruce, birch, willow, cottonwood, aspen, and alder. A rich mixture of grasses, mosses and lichen populate the forest floor and there is a large headwater fen is located in the southern portion. The wetlands provide for a healthy and diverse plant community, including lingonberries, blueberries, high bush cranberries, wild roses, violets, dogwood and ferns. Moose, caribou, black bear, otter, mink and weasel are common to the area. According to archeologist Dr. Alan Borass, it is likely that the Dena’ina Indians used this area as a summer fish camp.

In 1947, Francis and Margaret Mullen homesteaded 104 acres between mile 22.2 of the Kenai River and the Sterling Highway, in the middle of Soldotna. Soldotna Creek flows through this property, with wetlands extending along both sides of the creek before it finally flows into the Kenai River. Prior to his death in 1992, Francis established the Francis E. Mullen Trust. In 1999, the four Mullen children donated a conservation easement to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust through the family trust prior to selling the property to the State of Alaska. The State purchased the property using Exxon Valdez Oil Spill funds intended for

restoration and habitat protection, and this beautiful property is now managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. The Mullen family wanted the extra insurance of a third party monitoring and stewarding the land, and granted a conserva-tion easement to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust as a condition of the sale to the State.

The conservation easement protects 8 acres on the Kenai River, including the confluence of Soldotna Creek and the Kenai River, adjacent to Soldotna Creek Park. It contains high quality rear-ing habitat for juvenile king salmon, and provides spawning and rearing habitat for a variety of other Kenai River fish. The family closed the property to bank fishing in 1980 to mitigate streamside damage and bank fishing continues to be prohibited with enforcement by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. Future development of the property is limited to the possible construction of an educational center of no more than 3,000 square feet to be located on the upland habitat, along with two pedestrian trails.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Margaret Mullen for her fore-sight in protecting this important property.

Mullen Family Adds 20 Acres to Currently Protected Land on Soldotna Creek

“As a homestead kid, commercial fisherman, and advocate of all things good for Alaska it was a pleasure to be involved in a process whereby a small but vital portion of land was desig-nated to be held in perpetuity for habitat protection.” - Frank Mullen

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Margaret Mullen Photo courtesy Wild North Photography

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JUNE 7 HORSEBACK RIDE TO THE HEAD OF KACHEMAK BAY Time: 10:00 am to late afternoonMeeting Place: Top of Switchback TrailDonation: $85 pp for Mark Marette’s horses $40 for those bringing horses.Max. # of participants: 12 of Mark’s horses others with their own horses Pre-registration required by: June 6, call Mark at 235-6393 to reserve a horse. If you want to bring a horse, call Mark for head count.

Join local “cowboy“ Mark Marette for a day-long adventure with breathtaking scenery while traveling by horseback to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust’s 160-acre Barefooter’s property in Fox River Flats. This property is located at the head of Kachemak Bay and is reached by cross-ing huge intertidal mud flats and a complex of low-lying marshlands in an area that supports thousands of migratory birds every spring and fall. Bring lunch, appropriate clothing and wa-ter.

JUNE 14 BIRDING WALKABOUT ON THE KILCHER HOMESTEADTime: 11:00 am - 2:00 pmMeeting Place: Kilcher Homestead, Homer. Kilcher Road is on left about 12 miles East End road. Meet at Dutch Ditch gate (also know as the “Y”), half way in the road and please park to the side. Donation: $15 Max. # of participants: 15, call 235-5263 to register

Expert birder, Mossy Kilcher, will lead a birding workshop on the Kilcher Homestead, explor-ing different bird habitats and showing how to find and identify and “see” birds by their songs, flight patterns and behaviors. Mossy’s emphasis is on connecting with the bird world and our environment in a personal and artistic way. This 613-acre property is permanently protected by a conserva-tion easement held by KHLT.

2008 Summer ProgramEvents Calendar

JUNE 14-15 NEPTUNE BAY OVERNIGHT ADVENTURE Time: 1:00 pm Saturday - 1:00 pm Sunday Meeting Place: Homer HarborDonation: $150 pp, includes round trip boat trip, wine and cheeseMax. # of participants: 10, call 235-5263 to register

Zip across Kachemak Bay on Karl Stoltzfus’ Bay Excursions with expert naturalist Dale Chorman for an overnight adventure in spectacular Nep-tune Bay exploring birds, plants and magnificent across the Bay scen-ery. Stay overnight at Ken Hahn’s cabin complex neatly blended into the woods with boardwalks. Enjoy a roughly three-quarter-mile hike up the glacial Wosnesenki River with stream crossings across the river. Bring sleeping bags, breakfast, lunch, and ingredients for a BBQ dinner, water, layers of clothing (including raingear for inclement weather), and hip waders for river crossing.

JUNE 21 3RD ANNUAL TRAIL RIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE Entry Fee: $50/adults - $25/youth (includes demonstration on packing techniques and lunch)For More Information Contact: Shirley Schollenberg at shirley@horizonsatellite.com

Benefit Ride for Kachemak Heritage Land TrustCome enjoy this 10+ mile guided horse trail ride in the Caribou Hills east of Ninilchik

Beautiful scenery, open spaces and wildlife

Enter the Trail Trials and demonstrate your abil-ity to negotiate common trail obstacles such as creeks and bridges.

JUNE 28 GUIDED HIKE ON INSPIRATION RIDGE PRESERVE PROPERTY--“MEAD 40”Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pmMeeting Place: 59959 Skyline Drive, Homer Donation: $15 Max. # of participants: 6 Pre-registration required by: June 27, call 235-5263 Join a small group to traverse land owned by Ed Bailey and Nina Faust protected with a conservation easement held by KHLT. This view prop-erty is part of their spectacular Inspiration Ridge Preserve and contains small meadows with abundant wildflowers interspersed with spruce and alder thickets. Hear about the biological importance of this land, its interesting history, and the important role this property plays in pre-serving a wildlife corridor across Homer’s Skyline Drive. Bring water, lunch, and warm clothes for this leisurely hike followed by lunch next to one of the Preserve’s ponds. No dogs please. Carpooling encouraged as parking is limited.

JULY 11 DIAMOND BEACH GEOLOGY HIKETime: 5:00 pm - 9:00 pmMeeting Place: Head of Diamond Beach Trail Donation: $15

Learn about the fascinating geology of the southern Kenai Peninsula while hiking down Diamond Gulch and down the beach. You will learn how the interaction of giant colliding tectonic plates, folds & faults, vol-canoes, massive advancing and retreating glaciers, coastal erosion and stream channel processes have all interacted to form the landscape and scenery visible from the beach. This hike is lead by Taz Tally, a Ph.D. ge-ologist, photographer, and author of 50 Hikes of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. Bring your camera, and something to cook over a driftwood fire for a day of fascinating revelations, spectacular scenery and great beach walking. No special hiking skills required, although there is a significant drop in elevation. The route will meander, with lots of stops for discus-sion and photography.

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JULY 19 GUIDED HIKE ON NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON INSPIRATION RIDGE PRESERVE--THE “HOGBACK”Time: 10:30 am - 2:30 pmMeeting Place: School bus turnaround at the end of East Skyline DriveDonation: $15 Max. # of participants: 6Register by: July 18, call 235-5263 Join a small group for a moderate hike to the “Hogback” conservation easement prop-erty owned by Ed Bailey and Nina Faust. This property is the newest addition to their spec-tacular Inspiration Ridge Preserve and is their sixth conservation easement with KHLT. This 150-acre property completes the eastern arm of a wildlife corridor linking summer and winter moose habitats above and below the Homer bluff. This easement features grasslands, alder and spruce patches, bogs, and a willow riparian area. Several steep creek ravines descend from the property onto the adjoining Anchor River/Fritz Creek State Critical Habitat. There are spectacular 360-de-gree views of Kachemak Bay and volcanoes. The dominant landform is an oval-shaped hill rising to 1,176 feet called the “Hogback”. Bring wa-ter, lunch, and warm clothes for a 3-4 mile hike including a lunch stop on the summit. No dogs please. Carpooling encouraged.

JULY 26 BRUNCH AND FLOWERS OVERLOOKING SWIFT CREEK CANYONTime: 10:00 am to 1:00 pmMeeting Place: Russ and Coowe Walker’s home, 21 mile East RoadDonation: $20 Max. # of participants: 10Register by: July 25, call 235-5263 Join local biologist, Coowe Walker and her family for a mid-summer hike to take in the meadows and flowers on the rim of Swift Creek Canyon, just north of the Rainwater Ranch. This 35-acre parcel descends from the hill into beautiful wildflower meadows with spruce fringes, and has several nice promontories overlooking Swift Creek along the edge of the canyon. Enjoy an array of brunchy food while taking time out from your summer to enjoy the reason we live and visit Kachemak Bay.

AUGUST 9 GUIDED LONGER HIKE ON INSPIRATION RIDGE PRESERVE--THE “COTTONWOOD” TRAILTime: 10:30 am - 3:00 pmMeeting Place: 59959 Skyline DriveDonation: $15Max. # of participants: 6Register by: August 8, call 235-5263

Join a small group for a moderately strenu-ous 4-mile hike through the heart of Inspira-tion Ridge Preserve, owned by Ed Bailey and Nina Faust. The hike will traverse three of their conservation easement protected properties, providing scenic views across the preserve and into the nearby Anchor River/Fritz Creek State Critical Habitat Area. Fireweed should be in full bloom! The hike will visit a large cottonwood grove and a headwaters tributary of Fritz Creek. Bring water, lunch, and warm clothes, as the group will stop for lunch in a view spot along the trail. No dogs please. Carpooling encouraged.

AUGUST 10 GUIDED HIKE ON NEW CONSERVATION EASEMENT ON 120-ACRE KACHEMAK MOOSE HABITAT INC. PROPERTYTime: 1:00 pm - 4:00 pmDonation: $15Max. # of participants: 10Register by: August 8, call 235-5263

Join KHLT’s Land Manager for a visit to our new 120-acre hillside con-servation on property recently purchased by Kachemak Moose Habitat Inc. and visit with adjacent landowner, Walter Johnson. The hike will be over steep terrain, so wear appropriate footwear, and bring water and layers and a snack.

AUGUST 15 ANCHOR POINT BEACH WALKTime: 4:00 pm - 8:00 pmMeeting Place: Anchor Point Beach parking lotDonation: $20 Pre-registration required by: June 27, call 235-5263

Anchor Point beach is one of the great rock hounding beaches on the Kenai Peninsula! Come find out why, where all these rocks come from, and how they all arrived. You will learn about the geology of Cook Inlet and how the Alaska Range was formed. Be prepared for tales of massive fault systems, diving crustal plates, erupting volcanoes, grinding smothering glaciers, and retreat-ing shorelines. This hike is lead by Taz Tally, a by Ph.D. geologist, pho-tographer, and author of 50 Hikes of Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula. So bring your camera, your interest in the landscape, water, and something to cook over driftwood fire, for a day of fascinating revelations, spectacular scenery and great beach walking. No special hiking skills are required. The route will be meandering, and the pace leisurely, with lots of stop-ping for discussions and photography.

AUGUST 21 MONOTYPE PRINTING WITH MARIAN BECK IN HALIBUT COVETime: 9:30 am harbor pick up, return in late afternoonMeeting Place: Homer Harbor Donation: $90 pp includes round trip boat to Halibut CoveMax. # of participants: 10 Pre-registration required by: August 20, call 235-5263

Join local artist and lifelong Alaskan Marian Beck for a day-long class in monotype printing with glass in spectacular Halibut Cove. Marian will be introducing students to a monotype printing process where one-of-a-kind prints will be created by painting on a sheet of glass and transferring the still-wet painting to a sheet of paper by hand, making each print is unique. Please bring your own lunch, snacks, and brushes; other supplies provided.

The picturesque village of Halibut Cove, on Ismailof Island, was the scene of a thriving herring fishery in the early 1900’s, however, the fish-ery collapsed in 1928. Halibut Cove is currently home to a small group of residents, primarily fishermen and artists.

SEPT 6 & 7 DIAMOND CREEK NATURAL HISTORY ENCOUNTER Time: Noon Saturday to 1:00 pm Sunday Donation: $100 ppMax. # of participants: 10Pre-registration required by: September 4, call 235-5263

Enjoy a relaxing early fall escape with expert naturalist Dale Chorman and Ken Hahn for an overnight adventure at Ken’s Diamond Creek cabins. You will explore bird life, learn about invertebrates, and take a natural history mean-der to Overlook Park and back. Stay overnight at Ken Hahn’s wonderful cabin, and unwind from your busy summer. Bring sleeping bags, breakfast, lunch, and ingredients for dinner, water, layers of clothing (including raingear for inclement weather). Indoor cooking facilities available.

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Inspiration Ridge Preserve Now Includes New 150-Acre “Hogback” Conservation Easement

Last December, Edgar Bailey and Nina Faust, owners of land they call Inspiration Ridge Preserve near the east end of Skyline Drive in Homer, dedicated an additional 150-acre

conservation easement to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. This is their sixth easement and brings the total amount of land they have protected in the past 10 years to 495 acres. Bailey and Faust also own more than 200 additional acres as part of the wildlife preserve that are not yet protected by conservation easements.Their wildlife sanctuary preserves two important wildlife corri-dors. “This150-acre parcel is a valuable addition to a continuous wild-life corridor linking the Anchor River/Fritz Creek Critical Habitat Area to the north with the Homer bluff,” Bailey said. “It completes the eastern arm of the wildlife corridors linking summer and winter habitat above and below the bluff. We strongly believe in land stewardship. Protecting habitat, watershed, and wildlife corridors fulfills a vision we have of saving some significant in-tact lands so wildlife can continue traveling and foreign relative-ly unimpeded as more development occurs in the Homer area,” explained Bailey, a retired wildlife biologist. “We were fortunate enough to be able to preserve this corridor while still possible,” added Faust, a retired high school teacher. “Subdivisions are appearing in rural areas on or near the Homer

bluff. Unfortunately, most communities decide to do something about sprawl and preserving open space and wildlife habitat af-ter it is too late.”

This 150-acre easement known as the “Hogback” features a mix of grasslands, alder and spruce patches, bogs, and willow ripar-ian areas. Several steep creek ravines flow onto the adjoining Anchor River/Fritz Creek Critical Habitat Area. The dominant landform is an oval-shaped, largely grass-covered, northwest to southeast hill, rising to a central summit of 1,176 feet. This “Hog-back” is a fairly unique feature in the area. Bailey and Faust started working in earnest to create Inspiration Ridge Preserve when they both retired in 1995. The Preserve has seven waterfowl ponds and over 50 swallow, owl, and Barrow’s Goldeneye nest boxes. An extensive network of trails is often used by some wildlife to avoid numerous fallen trees killed by beetles. “We both love the outdoors and wildlife, so living on a wildlife preserve is really a retirement dream come true, not withstanding leaving a conservation legacy,” said Bailey. We extend our thanks to Ed and Nina for their generous dona-tion and permanently preserving this important land! See our Summer Program Events Calendar, page 4 - 5, to find out when you can visit this property.

Edgar Baily and Nina Faust

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“We strongly believe in land stewardship. Protecting habitat, wa-tershed, and wildlife corridors fulfills a vision we have of saving some significant intact lands so wildlife can continue traveling and foraging relatively unimpeded as more development occurs in the Homer area.”

- Edgar Bailey, retired wildlife biologist- Nina Faust, retired high school teacher

Gene and Mim Effler began their life in Alaska by home-steading high on the Homer bluff in 1949. They were witnesses to many changes over their years here, but

the legacy of these early homesteaders will live on due to care-ful planning and a wish fulfilled.

In order to honor the memory of these pioneers and long-time Homer residents, Gene and Mim Effler’s children and grandchil-dren recently donated over 18 acres to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. The property on Skyline Drive is within the Bridge Creek Watershed Protection District, and is at the headwaters of a ma-jor tributary to the Bridge Creek Reservoir, the drinking supply for the City of Homer. This property contains valuable wetlands and also provides excellent bird and moose habitat.

Preserving this property for its habitat values is important to KHLT, and we plan to work with the Effler family to construct a trail and viewing platform with interpretive signs describing the conservation values on this land. This nature trail was a long time aspiration of the Effler family, and Gene Effler devoted much time to considering how it could be done before he passed away in 2004. It is KHLT’s hope that current and future generations of Homer residents will enjoy this property that Gene and Mim Ef-fler and their family found so important to preserve.

We thank the Effler family for their dedication to preserving this important wetland.

Effler Family Donates 18 Acres on Homer Bluff

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Effler Map

Mim and Gene Effler, 50th Anniversary (1997)

In order to honor the memory of these pioneers and long-time Homer

residents, Gene and Mim Effler’s children and grandchildren recently donated over 18 acres to Kachemak

Heritage Land Trust.

Kachemak Heritage Land Trust2OO8 At-a-glance

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To date, Kachemak Heritage Land Trust has preserved more than 3,000 acres on the Kenai Peninsula through conservation easements and donations of land for conservation.

• The Alaskan partnership of Ellis, Taylor and Schaafsma donated 43-acres in Kenai to Kachemak Heritage Land Trust. This property was subsequently donated by Kachemak Heri-tage Land Trust to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, IRA, protected by a restrictive conservation easement allowing traditional Na-tive subsistence uses to continue forever.

• Beryl Myhill’s 11 acres of open space and valuable habitat within Homer City limits is preserved for the benefit of the neighborhood and community.

• The City of Homer’s conservation easement donation of 26 acres on the Homer Spit, known as Louie’s Lagoon, preserved by the City as important habitat for migratory birds and ma-rine invertebrates.

• Eileen Harrington’s 33 acres in the Baycrest/Diamond Ridge area, preserved for scenic values, water quality, wildlife habitat and native vegetation.

• 68 acres along Stariski Creek protecting a valuable wetland system.

• 120 acres of exceptional moose habitat on the Homer bench owned by Kachemak Moose Habitat Inc.

• 120 acres of significant moose habitat on the Homer bluff formerly owned by The Nature Conservancy and sold through their conservation buyer program protected by a restrictive conservation easement held by Kachemak Heritage Land Trust.

CONSERVATION EASEMENTS

Kachemak Heritage Land Trust has helped land-owners permanently protect the following signifi-cant properties with conservation easements:

• Yule Kilcher’s 613 acre homestead at 10 Mile East End Road, Homer preserving historic, open space, scenic, agricultural and habitat values.

• Michael and Janet O’Meara’s and Ed Fogel’s 120 acres located partially within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game’s Anchor River/Fritz Creek Critical Habitat Area preserv-ing critical moose habitat.

• Gerald and Janet Brookman’s 20 acre property adjacent to O’Meara’s land also located within the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Critical Habitat Area.

• Toby Tyler’s 20 acre property in Homer containing valuable wildlife habitat and serving as an important link in the corridor between the moose summer range and the Beluga Wetlands wintering grounds.

• Dale Bondurant’s 6.98 acre property with nearly 2,000 feet of Kenai River frontage including an island at mile 39.5 on the river near Soldotna, valuable for its rearing habitat for juvenile salmon.

• Calvin and Martha Jane Fair’s 46 acres of riparian habitat adjacent to the Kenai River including a quarter mile of river frontage important as chinook and sockeye salmon habitat.

• The Edgar P. Bailey Trust’s six easements totaling 495 acres at the edge of the Homer bluff containing a popular moose travel corridor between the summer range and lower winter-ing grounds.

• The Mullen Family Trust’s 8+ acres at the confluence of Sol-dotna Creek and the Kenai River, important as high quality Chinook salmon rearing habitat.

• Shelley Gill’s 77 acres of the original Reuben Call homestead below Diamond Ridge Road above Homer is preserved for its habitat, scenic and recreational values. Two public recreation trails provided by Shelley Gill will expand the Homestead Trail and the Nordic Ski Club trail system. ph

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• The Pate homestead, 64 acres along the Anchor River, in-cluding 1 mile of both sides of the river bank, protected for its wetlands and riparian habitat.

• 258 acres of valuable wetlands and surroundings adjacent to Stariski Creek.

• 124 acres on the Kenai River near its mouth acquired with funding provided by The Conservation Fund.

• The Talley property, 37 acres of important moose habitat also containing a two bedroom home, off of the North Fork in Anchor Point.

• The Mullen property, 20.42 acres adjacent to 8 acres of land protected by a conservation easement with KHLT.

• The Effler property, 18.1 acres in Homer’s Bridge Creek Wa-tershed Protection district at the head of a major tributary to the Bridge Creek reservoir, the drinking supply for Homer.

LAND OWNED BY KHLT FOR CONSERVATION

A tax-deductible donation of land for conserva-tion can be made and guarantees that the proper-ty will be protected for its conservation values for-ever. Kachemak Heritage Land Trust has received the following conservation properties by gift and “bargain sale”:

• 4.5 acres of land in Neptune Bay adjacent to Kachemak Bay State Park.

• 11 acres at Calvin & Coyle Woodland Park off Homer’s Mari-ner Drive where we are reconstructing a nature trail and wild-life viewing platform overlooking the Beluga wetlands.

• 18 acres between Calvin & Coyle Woodland Park and Paul Banks Elementary School in Homer through which we will Re-construct a connector trail to the school.

• The Victor Holm Historic Site-1.37 acres on the Kasilof River, on which stands what are reputedly some of the oldest struc-tures on the lower Kenai Peninsula, is preserved for its cultural values. The original cabin, built around 1890, and four addi-tional buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. KHLT sponsored a log cabin restoration workshop on site in 2004.

• 2 acres in Homer’s Thurston Canyon preserving an impor-tant wildlife movement corridor.

• 160 acres known as the Krishna Venta Conservation Area at the head of Kachemak Bay very near Fox River Critical Habi-tat Area, donated by homesteader and former “Barefooter” Thomas Boblick.

• The Terry-Comerford property, 200 acres of spruce forest and arctic bog on Tall Trees Avenue, north of Anchor Point.

• The Morris property, 40 acres adjacent to the Terry-Comer-ford property.

• The Billberg property, 20 acres adjacent to the Terry-Com-erford property.

• The Starr property, 5 acres with Sterling Highway and river frontage on the anadromous Anchor River, preserved for its valuable king and silver salmon rearing and spawning habi-tat, significant moose and small mammal habitat, and recre-ational uses.

• 3.47 acres in downtown Homer, acquired by Kachemak Heritage Land Trust through a capital campaign, preserved as parkland. Our office is located on this property.

• The Alaska International Education Foundation property, 8.4 acres of open space off Skyline Drive in Homer.

LAND PROTECTED THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS

Kachemak Heritage Land Trust also works with partners to protect land and has helped other or-ganizations to preserve the following properties:

• 275 acres permanently preserved through Kachemak Heritage Land Trust’s purchase from the University of Alaska. Kachemak Heritage Land Trust subsequently donated the land to the City of Homer to preserve forestland and the Homer ski trails. Kachemak Nordic Ski Club manages the ski trails.

• Approximately 46 acres at the mouth of the Anchor River purchased by The Nature Conservancy with a portion of the funds from private donations obtained by Kachemak Heritage Land Trust, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council and Ducks Unlimited.

• 166.2 acres on the Homer Spit and in nearby Beluga Slough that are preserved forever, in partnership with the City of Homer and the Trust for Public Land, through acquisition by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustees Council. These sites are especially important habitat for marine invertebrates and for migratory shorebirds and waterfowl.

• 90 acres below Homer’s Baycrest scenic overlook are pro-tected forever, through acquisition by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council. This area, known as Overlook Park, is maintained as part of the Kachemak Bay State Park system.

• 60 acres donated by Edmund Schuster to Alaska State Parks, forming the Eveline State Recreation Site out East End Road in Homer. Kachemak Nordic Ski Club manages the property.

Talley House and Land for Sale

This adorable home on 37 acres is located in Anchor Point at 34848 North Fork Road, roughly 4.5 miles out of town. This cozy and quiet home is in good condition with mod-

ern conveniences on a large parcel of wildlife habitat. A conser-vation easement will be agreed to and signed by the new own-ers at closing, preserving the property’s conservation resources with some future residential development and horse pasture allowed. This property is listed by Coastal Realty of Anchor Point for $189,000. Please contact realtor Mary Trimble at (907) 235-7141 if you are interested, or go online to lookup thelisting at:http://www.coastalrealtyalaska.com/listings/our_listings.php.

10 LANDMARKS • NEWSLETTER FOR KACHEMAK HERITAGE LAND TRUST • SPRING/SUMMER 08 • www.KachemakLandTrust.org

Please let us know if we have inadvertently left you off of our list!

Virginia Talley2-2-TangoAlaska Heritage ToursAlaska Wildland AdventuresMarian BeckDave BrannCaptain’s CoffeeFresh Sourdough ExpressHallo Bay Bear CampHomer Theater

Dotti HarnessHomer AirLarsen KlingelFat OlivesMoose Run MetalRichard PuringtonNordic MetalWorks/ Doug SchwiesowToby TylerWesterburg Law Offices

Thanks to our Take-a-Treasure Home Annual Auction Donors

At our fifth annual auction, everyone had a fantastic time dining on Fat Olives food, enjoying the relaxed, yet caus-ally elegant candlelit atmosphere at Alice’s Champagne

Palace. In an evening offering vintage treasures, auctioneer Gary Thomas led our guests to an understanding of the virtue of electric bicycles, the purpose of Ethiopian bread baskets, and taught us how to say Addis Ababa quickly without tripping on our tongues. Many thanks to all who contributed to this fun eve-ning, to those who joined us, and to the staff of Fat Olives and Alice’s Champagne Palace.

Thanks to our Fabulous Funders!

Alaska Community FoundationAlaska Conservation FoundationFederal Forest Legacy ProgramING FoundationKodak American Greenways through The Conservation FundLand Trust AllianceOregon Community Foundation Beck Family FundPacific Coast Joint VenturePikes Peak Community Foundation, the Webb Family FundRasmuson FoundationShelby Cullom Davis FoundationSkaggs FoundationThe City of Homer through The Homer Foundation

The Conservation FundThe Homer FoundationThe Land Trust AllianceThe Raymond James Charitable Foundation, through the Stutzer Family FoundationThe Vanguard FoundationTrue North FoundationU.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal ProgramU.S. Forest Service

And Thanks to our Fantastic Business Donors

2-2-TangoAgnew:: Beck ConsultingAlaska Heritage ToursAlaska Wildland AdventuresANL CorporationAurora Taxes and Accounting

Bay Excursions Water TaxiBay RealtyBest Western BidarkaCaptain’s CoffeeChris Arend PhotographyClinic of Chiropractic HealthCoastal RealtyConoco PhillipsERA AviationESRIFat OlivesFresh Sourdough ExpressFritz Creek General StoreHABCOHallo Bay Wilderness LodgeHomer AirHomer Electric AssociationHomer TheaterGrog ShopJars of Clay PotteryJay Brandt General ContractorsKachemak Auto Parts dba NAPA

Kachemak Bay FerryKachemak Bay Wilderness LodgeKNS MarineLaw Offices of Dan WesterburgMarine Services of AlaskaMartin RealtyMoose Run MetalNordic MetalWorksPioneer Land CompanySaltry RestaurantSkyline B&BSpenard Builders SupplyStory Real EstateTutka Bay Wilderness LodgeSafewaySea Flight ChartersSeal Rock B&BSweet Berries CaféSundog ConsultantsTrails End AdventuresZak’s Realty

• SALE PENDING

Thank you!

Land Trust Works to Protect More Anchor River Land, Will Incorporate New Research into KHLT’s Kenai Peninsula Resource Mapping

Kchemak Heritage Land Trust recently received funding from the Pacific Coast Joint Venture to build on the previ-ous successes of our Anchor River Project. We are contact-

ing Anchor River landowners with properties ranking as “high pri-ority“ in our recent conservation resource mapping. Landowners will receive information describing our work and the importance of riparian lands. In previous outreach, we provided these land-owners with a fact sheet describing the Anchor River. See KHLT website http://kachemaklandtrust.org/Anchor%20River.htm. In the current packet, KHLT will brief landowners about new Anchor River research by Kachemak Bay Research Reserve, Homer Soil and Water District, and Cook Inletkeeper. KHLT will add the new data to the maps created in our recent resource mapping. This important layer will strengthen the maps to help identify conser-vation priorities. By prioritizing conservation of land with impor-tant salmon habitat, KHLT will play an important role in protecting the Anchor River.

Update on Kachemak Bay Research Reserve Research

Pacific salmon give perhaps the ultimate sacrifice when they die after spawning, contributing their decompos-ing carcasses as food not only for young salmon, but also

for the entire watershed ecosystem. Young salmon are born in freshwater streams. They travel out to the ocean as soon as they are old enough, where they spend several years growing, gaining 90% of their weight before returning to the freshwater streams where they were born to spawn, die and decompose. Kachemak Bay Research Reserve scientists teamed-up with researchers from the US Geological Survey, the University of Alaska and Alaska Department of Sport Fish Division to study the effects of the nutrients brought into the Anchor River water-shed, and other local streams, when the returning salmon die. The nutrients are called “marine derived’ because the bulk of the body mass of the adult salmon developed in the ocean. Using intensive field sampling coupled with sophisticated laboratory analysis (stable-isotope analysis and fatty acid analysis), Kache-mak Bay Research reserve scientists were able to track the pres-ence of marine-derived nutrients in the Anchor River’s stream food webs, and to understand the importance of these nutrients to juvenile salmon and Dolly Varden health. Through this study, they gained a better understanding of how returning salmon af-fect the productivity local watersheds.

Additional research by Kachemak Bay Research Reserve, in col-laboration with Baylor University and the Smithsonian Environ-mental Research Center, conducted on streams in the upper-most reaches of the Anchor River, Stariski Creek, Deep Creek, and the Ninilchik River revealed that juvenile salmon and stream use different types of headwater streams at different life stages. This means that is important to maintain a diversity of habitats for these salmonid species that spend a year or more in freshwa-ter. For more information, contact Coowe Walker at 226-4651 or email: coowe.walker@alaska.gov.

Update on Cook Inletkeeper and the Homer Soil and Water Conservation District Research

Homer Soil and Water Conservation District and Cook In-letkeeper have been monitoring water quality on lower Kenai Peninsula salmon streams for 10 years in an effort

to keep our community informed of changes occurring within our watersheds. As early as 2002, these organizations measured water temperatures consistently above Alaska’s water quality standards set to protect salmon health and productivity. Tem-peratures even soared above 21°c (70 f ) in the summers of 2004 and 2005 in the Anchor River. Water temperature plays a critical role in all phases of the salmonid life cycle, especially in fresh-water systems where fish hatch from eggs and later return to spawn. Warm stream temperatures are frequently associated with increased stress in fish, making them increasingly vulner-able to pollution, predation and disease

In 2006 and 2007, Cook Inletkeeper’s Stream Ecologist worked with a UAF graduate student to identify what types of habitat provide cooler water conditions for salmon in the Anchor River. Habitat types, such as deep pools, overhanging vegetation, un-dercut banks and large woody debris, have the potential to pro-vide some refuge from the warmest temperatures. Other habi-tat conditions that influence stream temperatures are shade, flow rate, channel width, channel depth, solar angle and aspect. Once critical habitat types were determined, the next step was to identify reaches along the lower Anchor River that provide these habitat types and to encourage their protection in an effort to improve watershed resiliency to climate change. These reaches can lose their critical habitat features by human activities, such as: loss of shade by removal of stream-side vegetation, loss of floodplain connectivity due to channel straightening, and less water storage due to wetland loss. For more information, con-tact Sue Mauger at 235-4068, or email: sue@inletkeeper.org.

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Preserving, for public benefit, land on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula with significant natural, recreational, or cultural values by working with willing landowners.

www.KachemakLandTrust.org

315 Klondike Ave.Homer, Alaska 99603

2008 Summer ProgramEvents Calendar

Inside!photo © Yvonne Prucha

photo © Wild North Photography