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Preserving Land for Future Generations

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Preserving Land for Future Generations Preserving Land For Future Generations 1 Sands Ranch (Liz Petterson, ALWT) Protecting the FUTURE by preserving our land and water TODAY. ARIZONA LANDAND The Trust is committed to protecting southern WATER Arizona’s western landscapes, its heritage of TRUST working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat and the water resources that sustain them. 2 Cover: Gunsight Pass (David Putnam) A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Do tough economic times make conservation a luxury we can’t afford? Or is land and water conservation an evergreen imperative, rain or shine? Previously available sources of conservation funding, such as Open Space Bond initiatives and State grant programs, seem to have all but evaporated like a desert puddle in the summertime. In spite of economic drought, Arizona Land and Water Trust’s creative spirit thrives. We believe that Arizona’s western landscapes, streams and rivers cannot wait for the next bond cycle, and our perseverance is paying off with the discovery of new and previously untapped resources for conservation. Even with the down economy of 2010-11 the Trust proceeded swiftly to pursue rare land protection opportunities. We preserved important migratory bird habitat on the Whitewater Draw with private funding and a grant under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act. We also recently partnered with the Jelks family to protect their grassland ranch in the San Pedro River Watershed with funding from the Department of Defense. Looking forward, Arizona Land and Water Trust’s Board of Directors has invested its time and resources wisely by applying for accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance. Accreditation will enhance the Trust’s ability to attract funds from new sources that are looking for a secure and productive investment of their conservation dollars. In the coming months the Land Trust Alliance will complete its review of Arizona Land and Water Trust’s operations as part of the year long accreditation process. With a long-range perspective in mind, we have also created new opportunities for our donors to support the Trust. Planned giving (making arrangements for future financial support of the Trust through a Will, Revocable Living Trust, Gift Annuities, or any number of other charitable and estate planning options) allows donors to invest creatively and comfortably in future conservation projects in southern Arizona. The mission of conserving our precious land, air and water for future generations should not be slowed by prolonged economic drought. Arizona Land and Water Trust is moving full steam ahead to secure that future. We gratefully acknowledge your support and urge you to continue to help us in our efforts. Sincerely, Alex Hobson Arizona Land and Water Trust Board President 3 Rancho Seco (Randy Prentice) Jeff Hampton at Trust event (Denise Barnes) Petroglyph (Henry Wallace) Hiking in Sabino Canyon (iStock) WHAT SETS ARIZONA APART? With its desert streams and rivers, endless grasslands, rich cultural history, and striking mountain ranges, Arizona captures imaginations and hearts. Arizona’s rich landscape is a treasure we’ve inherited, and which we feel compelled to leave to future generations. With help from donors like you, Arizona Land and Water Trust is hard at work protecting that treasure today. Our work has urgency. Although Arizona’s growth rate has slowed, its pace will certainly resume and we simply cannot let the important places slip away in the future because we did not act now. 4 Protecting our natural systems of land and water for future generations – one acre, one partner at a time. Partner with us. 5 Aravaipa Creek WHAT SETS ARIZONA LAND AND WATER TRUST APART? The Trust is a local, nimble and effective land and water conservation organization with a long history of successful projects. Through the strength of key programs and strategic partnerships we have protected 36,126 acres since 1978. KEY PROGRAMS: Desert Rivers Initiative Family Ranchland Protection Fund Ranching Into the Future We are leading the way with This Fund is a critical part of This outreach program brings a solutions for landowners and the moving land and water conservation wide range of useful information environment as we protect Arizona’s projects forward with landowners to rural landowners. Topics range streams and rivers. Our water who want to stay on their land and from tax and estate planning to conservation strategies are tailored sustain Arizona’s traditional rural solar energy and land planning. to farmers and ranchers producing economies and communities. We use Our longtime workshop partners local food and fiber. With generous the Fund to provide professional at The University of Arizona support from Nina Mason Pulliam estate planning services, studies, and Cooperative Extension continue Charitable Trust we published appraisals. Our ability to provide to receive requests from farmers Arizona’s first water conservation these resources to landowners early and ranchers for these workshops handbook for landowners. in the process is often essential to throughout southern Arizona. ultimately protecting their working farm or ranch in perpetuity. Poppies at Santa Lucia (Trilby Dupont, ALWT) Sonoran Oasis in Altar Valley (David Putnam) Ranching Into the Future, McNeal (Liz Petterson, ALWT) San Rafael Valley (Jessica Fraver, ALWT) THE INVESTMENT AND THE RETURN In the past year the Trust protected another 1,680 acres adding wetland habitat, Class A grassland, and creek-side riparian woodland habitat to the list of natural assets permanently protected for future generations. At an average cost of $1,648 per acre, these three projects offer multiple benefits: securing wildlife movement corridors and migratory bird habitat; expanding existing protected areas; and preserving functioning watersheds. 6 PROTECTION HIGHLIGHTS SANDHILL FARM: 1,000 acres of migratory waterfowl wetland habitat on the Whitewater Draw. Cochise County, Arizona San Pedro River Valley (Lighthawk) PLAN, PARTNER, PROTECT DIAMOND C 36,126 ACRES PERMANENTLY PROTECTED SINCE 1978. RANCH: 600 acres of Class A The following is a partial list of properties protected by Arizona Land and Water Trust. grassland habitat along the Sandhill Farm, Whitewater Draw Buckelew Farms, Three Points Diamond C Ranch, Elgin Cochie Canyon, Tortolita Mountains Babocomari, a tributary High Haven Ranch, Sonoita Madera Highlands, Altar Valley of the San Pedro River. Sands Ranch, Elgin Poteet, Cienega Creek Santa Cruz County, Arizona Clyne Ranch, Sonoita Knez, Cienega Creek Sopori Ranch, Amado Baker, Agua Verde Creek Canoa Ranch, Amado Cates, Cienega Creek Carpenter Ranch, Tortolita Mountain Park Chess, Cienega Creek Jacobs Trust, Tucson Mountain Park Amadon, Cienega Creek Belvedere, Tucson Mountain Park Nunez, Cienega Creek Route 606, Tucson Mountain Park Bee/Sorita, Brawley Wash Pacheco, Tucson Mountain Park Mordka, Brawley Wash Whitaker, Tucson Mountain Park Furrow, Tucson Serr, Tucson Mountain Park Huggett, Oracle Matesich, Tucson Mountain Park Lazy J2, San Rafael Valley Berard, Tucson Mountain Park O-O Ranch, Sulphur Springs Valley Hyntington, Tucson Mountain Park Middleton Ranch, Amado Firkins, Tucson Mountain Park 262 Ranch, San Rafael Valley HIGH HAVEN ß Caliente Creek, Tucson C6 Ranch, Patagonia Rancho Seco and Santa Lucia Ranch, Poco Toro Ranch, San Rafael Valley RANCH: Altar Valley Milagrosa Canyon, Rincon Mountains 105 acres of Class A Six Bar Ranch, San Pedro River 47 Ranch, Sulphur Springs Valley grassland habitat adjacent Empirita Ranch, Cienega Creek to Las Cienegas National Conservation Area. Pima County, Arizona 7 All photos: iStock SANDHILL FARM: 1,000 acres of migratory waterfowl habitat protected Jeff Hampton, Alex Hobson, Blanton Belk at Sandhill Farm Blanton Belk, Jeff Hampton, Liz Petterson and Aaron Citronn at Sandhill Farm Whitewater Draw (Charlene Mitchell) (Inset Top) Liz Petterson, ALWT; (Inset Center) Alex Hobson, ALWT; Sandhill Cranes at Whitewater Draw 8 (Inset Bottom) George Vensel. THE STORY OF SANDHILL FARM AND J. BLANTON BELK In 2011, Arizona Land and Water Trust worked with so years, Sandhill Farm’s wetlands and nearby corn fields landowner/conservationist J. Blanton Belk and his wife have drawn increasing numbers of Sandhill Cranes; more Betty to successfully acquire a conservation easement which than 40,000 of the birds were counted in one day last year serves to permanently protect the 1,000-acre Sandhill Farm alone. They each consume about two pounds of grain per in southeastern Arizona. This project expands migratory day in the fields, returning to loaf in the water, which they bird preserves in the Sulphur Springs Valley, including the drink. They cannot swim so they stand there safe in their 1,500-acre Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area to the south numbers and able to fly away in an instant should a hungry owned by Arizona Game and Fish. coyote make a splashing approach. Sandhill Farm straddles the Whitewater Draw, the “Do it now. Don’t let the moment slip away.” headwaters of the Rio Yaqui; a river which runs all the - J. Blanton Belk on land and water conservation. way through Sonora, Mexico to the Gulf of California at Guaymas; where Blanton Belk, incidentally, enjoys fishing In March, observers can witness the large birds testing the for sailfish. shifting wind. As soon as they feel it coming out of the south, the majority of them will vanish overnight in their Many who know Blanton Belk call him a Visionary and amazing migration to lands as far away as Siberia, where he doesn’t mind the label one bit. He’s proud of his ability they spend the spring and summer breeding, laying eggs to take action today to create better tomorrows and he and hatching their young. encourages others to do the same. Cranes aren’t the only wildlife in the area. “We have all “Being visionary is a gift,” explains the southern Arizona kinds of water fowl, mallards, pintails, blue wing, teal, conservationist who is better recognized around the world cinnamon teal, redhead, bluebills, canvasback....” Belk as founder of Up with People. In the 46 years since he rattles off the species like he’s naming old friends he’s made founded the global education program, more than 21,000 around the world through Up With People.
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