Annual Report 2007-2008

A publication of the Washtenaw Land Trust • Volume 7 • Number 2 • Summer 2008 Annual Report 2007-08: Today and Forever Congratulations! Thanks to you, our community can celebrate another successful year of protecting nature and farmland, here where you live. Our local landscapes inspire, nourish, and sustain us. They enhance our quality of life and make this a wonderful place to live, work, and play. In 2007-2008, your Land Trust: • Protected 1,116 additional acres of land, leading all local organizations in acres protected for the second year running. Since 1971, the Land Trust has protected 3,698 acres of natural and agricultural lands in Washtenaw, Jackson, and Ingham counties. (For details on lands protected in 2007-2008, please see pages 4-5.) • Launched the Land Trust’s Forever Fund for long- term stewardship and defense of protected lands, so lands protected today will stay protected forever. • Expanded our partnerships with like-minded organizations to identify and protect our most important local lands. • Led nature walks, workshops, and stewardship workdays at the Land Trust’s nature preserves, which are open to the public. • Continued to identify critical properties for protection and prioritize our landowner outreach efforts. This is solid progress toward the Land Trust’s 100 Year Vision to protect 25,000 acres of our most important local lands. Thank you for doing your part to make it all happen. In the year ahead, the Land Trust will step up the pace by refining our search for those critical parcels, contacting the owners of those lands, and protecting that land whenever we can. Our top local conservation priorities are: Protected forever: This rolling landscape on the River Raisin is one of seventeen projects completed by the Washtenaw Land Trust in • The gaps in the Waterloo-Pinckney natural corridor, 2007-2008. See pages 4-5 for more information about completed projects. the largest block of public protected land in southern Michigan • Working farmland in southwest Washtenaw County, where active agriculture can survive and thrive Inside • Our local waters: river corridors, lakes, wetlands, Projects Completed in 2007-2008 . p. 4-5 and streams. Top 23 Reasons to Protect Land . p. 6 Your gifts — of time, dollars, enthusiasm, and more — Financial Statements . p. 7 are truly making a difference to protect local lands for all Thank You!. p. 8-11 time. Thank you. OUR MISSION: Washtenaw Land Trust protects natural areas and farmland, here where you live. The Washtenaw Land Trust Journal, Summer 2008 Far Notes From The Land Country Conservation Incentives tary), James C. Adams, Rosanne Extended! Bloomer, Gavin Clabaugh, Peter H. By Susan Lackey Powerful tax incentives for DeLoof, Rob Ewing, Robert R. Hel- WLT Executive Director land conservation have been ber, Sr., Carol Peacock, Charity W. renewed through 2009. The in- Steere, Robert Tetens, and Rocky n Annual Report allows a satisfying look centives make conservation a fi- Ward. We welcome Scott Simonds Aback, and we certainly do that. But we take nancially viable option for many to the Board of Trustees as of July that look with humility, because we know that more landowners who wish to 2008. Board fellows Laura Kamin- the Land Trust’s success comes only due to your protect their forests, fields, and ski (2007) and Hugh Johnson (2008) commitment to local lands, and also, that much also serve and merit our thanks as work remains to be done. wetlands for future generations. well. Our goal is to protect land, but the successes To learn more, please contact us highlighted in this report mark only the mid- at 734-302-5263 or info@washt- Meet your Land Trust Staff point of a complex process that starts with land- enawlandtrust.org. The folks you may encounter in owner outreach and ends with a permanent com- What’s in a Name? the Land Trust office, ready and mitment to monitor and defend the conservation For the most recent decade of willing to answer your conservation agreements we accept. Much of our time focuses questions, are: on the two end points, and 2007-2008 was no ex- its 37-year history, the Land Trust ception. In 2007-2008, we: has protected some lands outside • Susan Lackey, Executive Director, Washtenaw County. Recently, • Began to move forward on our promise to leads the organization with aplomb our increased work beyond protect 25,000 acres of the most important lands and is always prepared to talk with in the area. Working with Michigan Depart- Washtenaw has forced us to ask you about conservation options and ment of Natural Resources, Huron River Water- the question: is it time for another strategies. shed Council, Washtenaw County Planning and name change? This summer and Environment, and a host of other partners, we fall, we’re looking at how people • Suzie Heiney, Development & are identifying the lands that are most important perceive our work, and how we Communications Director, wel- to the health of our water, the sustainability of can make our conservation mes- comes your calls or visits (and our agricultural community, and the retention of sage more compelling across all would also welcome a break from wildlife habitat and open spaces. the lands we serve. The James A. writing all those grants, letters, and • Inaugurated our Forever Fund, for stewardship & Faith Knight Foundation has newsletters!). and defense of our conservation agreements in generously supported this ef- • Mark Patrick, Land & Operations perpetuity. We know that the question of legal fort. Thank you to everyone who Manager, is just as good with the defense is not if, but when, and we intend to be responded to our online survey. ins-and-outs of conservation op- prepared. We look forward to sharing the tions as he is with bookkeeping and • Became one of the first 23 land trusts in the results! the other necessities of operations nation selected to pursue accreditation. In the management. fall we’ll hear a final decision from the national Your Land Trust Land Trust Alliance accreditation committee. Leadership, 2007-2008 • Jackie Bilello, Stewardship Intern The Land Trust is led by the • Co-hosted our first landowner education pro- for summer 2008, is probably out on grams in Jackson County. The excellent turn- Board of Trustees, a group of someone’s back forty for an annual out and subsequent interest from landowners volunteers committed to protect- monitoring visit to one of the Land prompted the Board to formally include all ing local lands. Please join us Trust’s many protected sites. of Jackson County as part of our service area. in thanking: Guy O. Williams We’re excited about this, and we look forward to (President), Phil Surratt (Vice If you’re in the area of our NEW getting to know the land and its people better. President), Janet Crone (Trea- Center office, please swing by! • Brought a part time Stewardship Manager on surer), James W. Govert (Secre- board to help with annual monitoring and with management plans for five preserves, as well as a part time work-study student to assist in volunteer coordination and communication activities. Washtenaw Land Trust • Expanded our volunteer base (thank you, all!) 1100 N. Main Street #203, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 (734) 302-LAND (5263), fax (734) 302-1804 • [email protected], to ensure that we can accomplish all the work www.washtenawlandtrust.org we’ve taken on. Washtenaw Land Trust Board of Trustees: James C. Adams, Rosanne Bloomer, Gavin Clabaugh, Janet Crone, Peter H. DeLoof, Rob Ewing, James W. Govert, Robert R. Helber, Thank you to all of you who donated land or Carol Peacock, Scott Simonds, Charity W. Steere, Phil Surratt, Robert Tetens, Rocky Ward, conservation agreements, volunteered your time, Guy O. Williams gave generous financial gifts, or just stopped to Washtenaw Land Trust Staff: Susan A. Lackey, Suzie Heiney, Mark Patrick, say “good job.” The Land Trust’s work happens Jackie Bilello only thanks to all of you. Editor: Suzie Heiney Published periodically by the Washtenaw Land Trust. Vol.7, Num. 2, Summer 2008 2 The Washtenaw Land Trust Journal, Summer 2008 You’re Invited Across Rancho Tranquilico Concert Series — and Bonfire! Saturday Sep. 6, 7:00 pm: Billy King and the Idylls. Come out to the the Board countryside! This award-winning indie-folk band By Guy Williams will have you dancing in no time. Summer’s con- WLT President cert was great, and this Sept. 6 will be the last for the season. You don’t want to miss it! We’ll bring refreshments and marshmallows for toasting on hat a great year — or should I say, an- the bonfire. Bring your blankets or lawn chairs. Location: Rancho Tranquilico, home of host Wother great year here at the Washtenaw Barry Lonik, 11300 Island Lake Rd, Dexter. Suggested donation: $10. All Land Trust. My first order of business is to proceeds benefit the Land Trust’s Forever Fund: Protecting nature and thank all of you who have made it so. For farmland — forever. the second year in a row we have broken our record for number of acres protected while Save the date! continuing to build our capacity for caring for Land Protection Bus Tour • Saturday Oct. 18 those acres already entrusted to our care. Your unprecedented support has helped us The Latest News begin to refine and build on our strengths and at the same time, build our reserves for from the Field long-term protection. It is such a pleasure to be able to use this annual report as a forum The past few months have been busy, with conservation Q&A for reflection and expressions of gratitude. sessions, annual site visits to protected properties, volunteer workdays My hope is that each of you who are loyal at the nature preserves, lots of community events, and more.

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