ssrlt fall 2009 nwslttr

8/8/2019 SSRLT Fall 2009 Nwslttr

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A publication o

Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land TrustPO Box 1404, Pocatello ID 83204

(208) [email protected]

www.sagebrushlandtrust.org

Fall 2009

Newslette

Fall 2009

NewsletteLetter from Executive Director

Joselin MatkinsThe mission o the Sagebrush SteppeRegional Land Trust is to protect andenhance natural and working lands inSoutheastern, Idaho, now and or uturegenerations. In 2004, a group o volun-teers ounded the Land Trust becausethey recognized that wildlie habitat, openspace, and productive arms and rancheswere disappearing at an alarming rate inthe ace o increased development. As a

community based, private non-proit, we work with willing land-owners because we want to be part o maintaining our regionsrich natural and agricultural resources; resources that provide orclean water, thriving wildlie populations, scenic open spaces, andworking arms and ranches, all o which contribute to our regionalcharacter and sense o place.

Using the tools in our conservation toolbox, we work withwilling armers and ranchers to place conservation easements ontheir property. We can also purchase land outright rom willingsellers, and work with landowners to enhance the wildlie habitaton their land by acilitating restoration projects. The articles inthis newsletter highlight the Land Trusts latest accomplishments,the people that make them possible, and whats around the cor-

ner. Through the vision o the Land Trust Board, and with thesupport o our community, we hope to increase the pace o ourconservation eorts beore the quality o lie we enjoy becomesjust a memory. With your continued support, we can all play arole in shaping the uture o our region.


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Board Feature: Deb Mignogno

Deb is back! Since retiring over a year ago, Deb hasenjoyed the opportunity to travel across the world.Included in her travels were excursions ranging romhelping with land management issues in Tajikistanto traveling deep into the Amazon jungle in searcho exotic birds. Deb resigned rom the Board latelast year and spent over 6 months in Peru; teachingEnglish, sightseeing, birdwatching, and meeting newpeople. Now that she has returned to Pocatello, sheis back on the Board, and ater attending Rally,the annual Land Trust Alliance Conerence, she isready to help the Land Trust continue to develop asa vital and relevant community organization. Rallywas very helpul to me. I enjoyed learning aboutthe issues conronting land trusts, and the tools

available to conserve land andperorm stewardship o it, Debsaid. I am very excited to helpthe Land Trust achieve its very

important mission.Deb learned about pri-vate land conservation duringher career with the United States Fish and WildlieService. Through interactions with other IdahoLand Trusts, she was impressed by the grassrootsapproach. She was eager to help Sagebrush SteppeRegional Land Trust get established and make adierence in Southeastern Idaho. Today, when sheis not traveling, hiking, and exploring the distantcorners o the world, Deb is dedicated to helpingthe Land Trust succeed by volunteering her timeand expertise.

Who We Are

Eliza Maher Hasselquist approached the Land Trustthis summer about volunteering. Eliza received herMasters degree in 2004 rom the Biology Departmentat ISU, but soon ater moved to Southern Caliorniaor several years. While living in Caliornia, Elizaworked in Western Riverside County as a Preserve

and Conservation Easement Manager or the Centeror Natural Lands Management. The Land Trust hasbeen very ortunate to have Elizas help and exper-tise. Because Eliza brings 5 years o experience inland management and monitoring to the Land Trust,weve had the opportunity to accelerate the develop-ment o our stewardship program. We have kept herbusy helping with conservation easement compliancemonitoring and reporting, developing conservationproject criteria, and contributing to the conservationplanning project explained later in this newsletter.

Ater doing conservation work in a very urbanenvironment, I really enjoyed learning about the pro-cess o land conservation in a relatively rural areasays Eliza. It has been great to ulfll my passion orpreserving the special way o lie we have here inIdaho. Sadly, Eliza will be moving to Sweden in a

couple o months with her husband who is taking apost-doctoral position there. We are hoping withtheir strong connection to Southeastern Idaho, theywill fnd their way back to Pocatello, and we can puther back to work.

You can see a picture o Eliza and stewardshipvolunteer, Sandra Thorne-Brown, monitoring theHenderson Conservation Easement earlier this allon page 7.

Member Spotlight

Volunteer Spotlight

Heidi Albano is the LandTrusts frst intern and anew member this year!Heidi jumped right in thisspring by helping withoutreach at the PocatelloEnvironmental Fair, theLand Trusts frst annualundraiser, and the Poca-

tello Riverest. While she enjoyed being involvedat these outreach events, as a biologist Heidi is moreinterested in applying her biological expertise to helpus urther our mission, something she will be doing

more ater fnishing her Masters degree. Heidi hadto take a break rom the Land Trust this all to fn-ish her degree at Idaho State University (ISU). Herresearch ocused on the relationship between theinvasive grass species, Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass),the native plant communities, and the soil nitrogencycle o the sagebrush steppe. Ater graduating, shewill work with the Land Trust on our conservationplanning project (explained later in this newsletter)

and other stewardship and outreach related projects.We are so grateul or her help last spring and sum-mer, and cant wait or her to successully deend herthesis this November!

See more online!sagbushadtust.g


3/8

Dont Miss Next Years Events!

The Land Trust sponsored several diverse events thisyear. Our irst event was a tour of the Mink CreekCanyon Conservation Easement (near Preston) in

late May. Despite the rain, over 15 people made thetrek, and ISU proessor, Karl Holte, provided the groupwith a botanical and ecological interpretation o thelandscape. Land Trust sta and Board members alsoexplained how conservation easements on workinglands protect critical habitat or ish and wildlie andreduce the development ootprint. For those o youthat missed it, see the YouTube video posted on theEvent Calendar page o our website or a retelling o thelegendary Ghost Story o Mink Creek.

In June, we held our irst annual Great Outdoors Fundraiser at the Mink Creek Group Site (nearPocatello). We enjoyed live music by Steelhead Redd,a rack o lamb dinner, a silent auction, and the oppor-tunity to enjoy the coming summer season while sup-porting a great cause! We raised almost $5,000 whichcontributed to nearly 5% o our annual budget. Alsoin June, 25 community members attended the RobertLehman Cedar Creek Preserve restoration workday.

The group included a local Boy Scout troop (Troop 38rom near Blackoot), members o the Land Trust, PeggyStolworthy (the property owner), and other individu-als rom the community. With everyones hard work,we were able to remove non-native thistles and otherexotics rom along the recently restored streambank.

It was really un to see so many people willing to spenda Saturday morning or a great restoration cause! Youcan view a video rom this event by clicking on placeslink on the right side o our homepage.

The latest event was a day float down the BearRiver. In mid-September, we launched in the Oneida

Narrows and ended the trip about 4 hours downriverwith a picnic along the banks o the Bear River at theHenderson Preserve, a 212 acre conservation easementheld by the Land Trust. No one caught any ish, buteveryone had a great time and learned a lot about theRiver. Join us next year!

Young voter chooses favorite bird at Riv

Above, boyscout troop helps out at Cedar Creek restoration

day; above right, members enjoy fly fishing on the Bear River

Throughout the summer, the Land Trust held a vote atvarious community events to determine what our com-munity considers its avorite bird o the sagebrush steppe.

The Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) was the winner byjust one vote! Runners up included the mountain blue-bird and the golden eagle.

The Sandhill crane is a quintessential part othe Western Landscape, and those o us that live inSoutheastern Idaho are lucky to see them regularly! Inact, the Grays Lake Valley, near Soda Springs, hoststhe largest nesting population o greater Sandhill cranesin the world. These prehistoric looking birds use GraysLake National Wildlie Reugeto stage their migration whereeach year nearly 3,000 birds takelight.

The Sandhill crane is alarge, gray bird with a long neck,long legs, and a red orehead.These birds are ound in Idahoduring the summer and all inopen marshes, wetlands, grass-lands, and meadows. In thewinter, they migrate south toareas such as Florida and Texas. During the summermonths they migrate to their nesting grounds, such asthose ound in Idaho. Sandhill cranes mate or lie andreturn to the same nesting grounds year ater year to mate

and raise their young. Sandhill cranes are amous ortheir courtship dance. I you ever have the opportunityto observe the dance it is well worth the time. They willbow, jump around, and throw sticks. Once one bird inthe lock begins dancing, many other birds begin to ollowuntil almost the entire lock is dancing. This dance is anamazing sight to see. Once the courtship has taken place,they will build their nests on large mounds o vegetationin water and typically lay two oval shaped eggs. Whenthe chicks hatch, they are covered with down eathers andare able to walk shortly ater hatching. Both parents helpraise the young and migrate south with them at the end osummer to warmer, sunny pastures.

Community

See more online!sagbushadtust.g

See more online!

sagbushadtust.g

Species Spotlight: Bird Contest

Winner, The Sandhill Crane


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In previous newsletters weve told you about ourpartnership with PaciiCorp and the ECC. Thispartnership helps route and leverage unds or landand water conservation easement and ee title acqui-sitions in the Bear River watershed. By workingwith willing landowners to protect habitat in andaround the Bear River and its tributaries, the goal

o the partnership is to contribute to the viabilityo native Bonneville cutthroat trout (BCT) popula-tions. So ar, the Land Trust has protected just over1,000 acres in the Bear River Watershed. By years-end, we will close on at least one new project thatwill increase the total protected acreage.

The Cove Conservation Area speaks to the greatwork already accomplished through the partnership.In 2006 PaciiCorp removed the 89-year old CoveDam. This project was a collaborative eort withstate and ederal agencies, as well as recreationaland natural resources groups. They came togetheras a result o the hydropower relicensing process orPaciiCorps Bear River project. The multi millionproject reconnected 29.3 miles o important tributarystreams to the main stem o the Bear River, improvedish habitat and water quality o the river!

Once the dam and lume was removed, theLand Trust worked with PaciiCorp, the ECC, andlandowners to place conservation easements alongthe riverbanks to protect them rom excessive cattlegrazing, and to allow or the recovery o riparian,and streamside vegetation. The Land Trust alsopurchased the 160 acre Kackley Preserve. Thisreclaimed land and habitat, along with the conser-

vation easements brought the total protected acre-age to 165 acres including over a mile o riverbank.This section is now ree lowing and connected withBlack Canyon just upstream. Even more exciting,the partnership has another conservation easementproject in the works that will almost double the sizeo the Cove Conservation Area.

Another project in the Cove Conservation Areais the restoration o Kackley Springs. For many years,only a small amount o the water rom the Springslowed rom PaciiCorps property through the Land

Our Partnership with PacifiCorp and the Bear River

Environmental Coordination Committee (ECC)

continues to grow!

Land Project Updat

Restored headwaters of Kackley Springs

Conservation easements and Land Trust ownership protect riverbank

This reclaimed land and habitat, along with the

conservation easements, brought the total protected a

to 165 acres including over a mile of riverbank


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Trusts Kackley preserve and into the Bear River. Most o thesprings low had been diverted upstream o the Cove Damto provide additional water or power generation. With theremoval o the Cove Dam, this water is no longer diverted orpower generation, and PaciiCorp has undertaken the restora-tion o Kackley Springs. Working with the Idaho Departmento Fish and Game and others, they created new channels andimproved ish passage providing new spawning and rearinghabitat or the native cutthroat trout. The channel construc-tion was completed this August. Right now, only a portion othe spring water is running through the new channel allowingor the banks to stabilize as vegetation takes hold. But by theend o the next growing season, we will see the water levelincrease. As a result, the new spawning habitat will be con-nected to the main stem o the Bear River. This is a uniqueproject or us in Southeast Idaho, said Dave Teuscher, IdahoDepartment o Fish and Games Regional Fisheries Manageror Southeastern Idaho. Very seldom do we have the oppor-tunity to manage an entire system or native species. Theresstill more work to be done on the system at Kackley Springs,

but the ultimate goal is very exciting.So ar, the restoration activities have occurred onPaciiCorp land upstream rom the Land Trusts Preserve. Asthe system stabilizes and the water low increases, the LandTrust will work with our partners to ensure there are no barri-ers between the Bear River and the spawning habitat. Rightnow there is a cascade on the Land Trusts Kackley Preservethat we believe blocks ish movement upstream rom the BearRiver into the springs, Dave explains. We will work withthe Land Trust to build a ish trap at the cascades so that wecan catch ish moving into the spring. We will manage thistrap to ensure only Bonneville cutthroat trout are able tomove upstream and keep non-native ish rom moving into

the system.The Land Trust is thrilled with the project! The suc-

cessul restoration o the Kackley Springs and its associ-ated wetland complex will provide important habitat or thenative cutthroat, migratory birds, including waterowl, rogsand other wetland dependent species on both PaciiCorplands and our Kackley Preserve! We are grateul or theopportunity to participate in the protection and restorationo the natural and recreational resources along this stretch othe Bear River. The Kackley Preserve is open to the public.Contact the Land Trust to learn more or get directions.

Before After

Decommissioned

Cove Dam

Riparian

Conservation

Easement

Riparian

ConservationEasement

Grace Power Plant

(PacifiCorp)

Kackley Springs

Headwater Restoration

Reclaimed habitat

after flume removal

Kackley Springs flows

into Bear River

Kackley

Preserve

Riparian

Conservation

Easement

Map of Key Areas


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This January and February the Land Trust will holda series o stakeholder outreach meetings across ourservice area. These meetings will be geared towardslandowners, community leaders, sportsmen, andothers interested in learning more about the LandTrusts mission and how we work. At these meetings,we will give a short power-point presentation thatexplains who we are, what we have accomplished,and what tools we use to protect natural and workinglands. The meeting schedule will be posted on ourwebsite and through local news outlets. I you wouldlike to be inormed about meeting dates, locations,or special guests such as landowners that have placeda conservation easement on their land, please sendan email to [email protected].

Whats Next

This summer the Land Trust obtained grant undsrom the Heart o the Rockies and the WilburorceFoundation to undertake a comprehensive conser-vation planning eort. The goal o this project is toidentiy and prioritize the lands within our servicearea that are the highest priority or our land pro-tection eorts. This project includes several phaseswith several opportunities or public input. We arecurrently in the irst phase. We are gathering spatialinormation and data to help us understand the bio-

logical and agricultural resources across our servicearea. This inormation includes: biological attri-butes, such as streams and riparian areas, migrationcorridors, and winter range; agricultural attributessuch as arms with prime soils and ranches that alsoharbor critical habitat; and community attributessuch as access to bread and butter hunting or ish-ing areas or avorite hiking trails. This inormationwill be incorporated into a series o maps that willbe used in phase 2. During phase 2, which we are

Conservation Planning

undertaking late this all, we will meet with naturalresource experts and community leaders to ensurethat the data we gathered and mapped encompassesthe critical natural areas and working lands oundon private lands in Southeastern Idaho. This inor-mation will provide us with a comprehensive viewo our service area that highlights private landsthat contain important biological, agricultural, andcommunity values. During phase 3 o the planningeort, we will reach out to Land Trust members and

the community, and present the inormation gainedrom this process to get eedback. In the end, thegoal o this project is to identiy private lands that areo high conservation value, and use this inormationto prioritize those areas where the Land Trust canwork with willing landowners to achieve the great-est conservation impact. I you have any questionsabout this process, want to be involved, or want to beinormed when we are ready or public input, pleasecontact the Land Trust.

Stakeholder Outreach Meetings

Thank you to all the volunteers that donated their time this year. Thanks to the SSRLT Board for

the donation of your time and resources. Thanks to Kate Delate, Bob Bloxham, Sandra Thorne-

Brown, Muriel Roberts, Heidi Albano, Ellory Maughan, Clark Parker, Steelhead Redd, Board

members, and John and Carol Matkins for all your help at the June Fundraiser. Thanks to Sandra

Thorne-Brown and Eliza Maher Hasselquist for all the work you put into annual conservation ease-

ment monitoring! Also, a thank you goes out to Rick Nordseth, Matt Lucia, and Jessica McAleese

for running boats on our first Bear River day trip. It is great to have the help of such dedicated,

energetic volunteers! We couldnt do it without you! ....and to those I forgot to mention, I apolo-

gize, we couldnt do it without you either!

Thanks Volunteers!


7/8You Can Also Donate Online! Safe and Secure, www.sagebrushlandtrust.org

Thanks to those that contributed so far this year.

$10,000 - $24,999

Heart of the Rockies Initiative

Wilburforce Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

The Doris Duke Foundation

The Nature Conservancy

$1,000 - $4,999

Babette Thorpe

$500 - $999

John and Kathy Albano

Bob and Jude Flandro

Randall and Keri FowlerMonsanto

Simplot

Walmart

$250 - $499

June Heilman

Geoff Hogander

Matt Lucia

Deb Mignogno

Rick Nordseth

The Ravens Nest

$100 - $249

Lance and Karen Bethke

Kate Delate and Bob Bloxham

Robert Brown and Sandra

Thorne-Browne

Jessica Buckles and Jay Routson

Frank and Judy Harmon

Bruce and Carol Hodges

Congregational United

Church of Christ

Paula JonesMerrill Lynch and Co. Foundation

Brent and Anne Nichols

Gerand and Candia Payne

Garry and Terry Ratzlaff

Dale and Holly Reaves

Darrell and Barbara Scott

John and Betty Sigler

Mark and Beth Stenberg

Bruce Thomas

Nick Tsakrios and Family

Charles TrostUnited Way of Southeast Idaho

$50 - $99

Ben and Heidi Albano

Bernd Beutenmuller

and Margaret Hudson

Bill and Jean Davidson

Brad and Debbie Chilton

Ed and Marsha Desano

Bob and Sherri Frasure

Joan HansenMarjanna Hulet

Jody Lewis

Tom Lucia

David and Pam Maguire

Douglas Norman

Dana Olson

Muriel Roberts

Bonnie and Jim Shaw

$49 and under

Douglas and Suzanne Balfour

Henry Buescher

Thomas and Nancy BurkhartDiane Bilyeu

Randy and Rebecca Budge

Ben Coffin

Tom and Julie Cook

Karen and Craig Cordell

Melanie Dahl

Rae Lowe Dahmer

Richard and Peggy Garvin

Priscilla Hearst

Paula Jull

Virgina KellyD. Byron Kelley

Steven and LeeAnn Kenison

Kevin Marsh and Erika Kuhlman

Melinda Leiby

Joe and Kathleen Lehman

David and Lori Mead

Bob and LaVoy Myers

Mark and Eva Nye

David and Janet Pacioretty

Tracy Payne

Lee PurserMathew and Hannah Sanger

Jim and Bonnie Shaw

Archie and Shea Service

Faith Rudebusch and Richard Pongratz

Charles Williams and Rosemary Smith

In Kind Contributions

Bruce Brown

Kate Delate and Bob Bloxham

Gate City DistributingNiccole Fuhriman

Glacier Graphics

Ladybird Farms

John and Carol Matkins

ISU Outdoor Program

Juniper Hills Country Club

Ellory Maughan

Pebble Creek Ski Area

Rocky Mountain Environmental

Scotts Ski and Sports

The Paperworks PlaceThe Sheep Shop

Turn It Up Productions

Memorial Donations

In memory of John Darrow

Planned Giving and Bequests

Priscilla Hearst

Every effort has been made t

ensure accurate representatiof contributions.


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Printed locally on recycled paper

NON-PROFIT ORg

U.S. POSTAgE

PAID

PERMIT NO. 51

POcATEllO, ID

NEW! Land Trust Consignment

Program and Scotts Ski and Spor

Do you have sporting gear kicking aroundyour garage that you really dont want? Do

you wish you had an easy way to contribute

to your local Land Trust? The Land Trust an

Scotts Ski and Sports have the

answer. Bring your new or used

gear down to Scotts, indicate that

you want the proceeds to be

donated to the Land Trust,

take a donation receipt for

your item, and thats it. You have

cleaned out your garage, and the Land Trust

receives the donation once the item has sol

If you have any questions, or want to learn

more about the program, please contact the

Land Trust office.

PO Box 1404, Pocatello ID 83204(208) 241-4662

[email protected]

www.sagebrushlandtrust.org

Protecting and enhancing

natural and working landscapes

across Southeastern Idaho.

Fall 2009

N THIS ISSUE:

Member Spotlight

...Page 2

Overview of 2009

Events...Page 3

Conservation Suc

Story - One Step

Time...Page 4

Favorite Bird Contest

Winner...Page 3

Also, see us online at www.sagebrushlandtrust.org, visit us on and watch us on

ssrlt fall 2009 nwslttr

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