ANNUAL REPORT July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
annual_report_O5.qxd:annual_report_O5.qxd 7/1/09 10:45 AM Page 3 ANNUAL REPORT July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005 Conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley SRT Director Jim Wells and his son, Tyndall, wander through expansive blue oak woodlands near the Kaweah River in Three Rivers, California. - Photo by Garry Crabbe/Enlightened Images © Highlights & Accomplishments Growth in grant support, membership and partnerships with agencies and landowners facilitated exciting progress in conservation, community outreach and scientific research positioning Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) to better capture future opportunities: • Provided permanent protection for the 445-acre Battle Mountain Ranch through a voluntary conservation agreement, conserving two miles of the North Fork of the Tule River, extensive blue oak woodland, rare wildflowers and remnants of local history • Purchased a 951-acre property in the Tule River watershed, creating a nature preserve with rolling blue oak woodland, chaparral and portions of Sycamore Creek • Added 550 acres to Pixley National Wildlife Refuge, providing additional habitat for rare wildlife species, in partnership with The Nature Conservancy, Bureau of Reclamation's Central Valley Project Conservation Program, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Preserving Wild California Program of the Resources Legacy Fund Foundation • Afforded protection for 300 acres of alkali vernal pools, amid the convergence of several creeks, rivers and sloughs in the proximity of Tulare Lake's ancient shoreline in the southern San Joaquin Valley • Continued restoration of native plant communities at the James K. Herbert Wetland Prairie Preserve by reintroducing 48 Valley oaks and 135 alkali sacaton, a perennial bunch grass; mapped and monitored all nesting bird species; and improved the quality of forage through prescribed fire and planned grazing, creating high-quality habitat for native plants, livestock and wildlife • Recontoured spoils piles; removed artificial barriers that prevented natural stream flows; sowed 20 exposed acres with native grasses and forbs; and planted over 100 Valley and blue oaks at Dry Creek Preserve, a former gravel quarry currently under intensive restoration • Presented curriculum-based education programs at Kaweah Oaks Preserve, fostering awareness of natural and agricultural systems to 1,103 Tulare County youth, doubling the number of students reached from last year • Awarded the 2005 Lee Wilson Scholarship for Youth Service to our Environment to Nolan Jenkins, Tulare Union High School graduate, now studying environmental engineering at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo • Purchased an historic building in Visalia to house our talented staff and volunteers and allow SRT to better accomplish its conservation goals annual_report_O5.qxd:annual_report_O5.qxd 7/1/09 10:45 AM Page 4 Dear Members, Friends and Partners, With your generous support during the past year, ANNUAL REPORT Sequoia Riverlands Trust permanently protected July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005 over 2,250 additional acres in our treasured Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) foothills and valley floor environments. These 427 South Garden Street beautiful lands—expansive oak woodlands, unique Visalia, California 93277 sycamore alluvial woodlands, grasslands and tel: 559.738.0211 fax: 559.622.9477 precious rivers and streams—represent some of email: [email protected] the best places in Tulare County. Together, we www.sequoiariverlands.org 2004 © Photo by SRT, can be proud to pass these special places on to tax id: #77-0347417 your children and mine. Conservation Leadership Leaders from the agricultural, business, planning, As one of the only land trusts in the nation focusing on education, Sequoia Riverlands education and scientific communities donate a bounty of time, talent, and financial and in-kind Trust is uniquely positioned to bring high-quality, standards-based education programs gifts to help SRT realize its conservation goals. to local youth, right on our own resource-rich preserves! With an established history Thank you! of teaching thousands of youngsters about the value of science, nature, agriculture Board of Directors and the outdoors, Sequoia Riverlands Trust focuses now on helping educators and R. Scott Spear, President, Visalia parents increase students’ test scores and improve matriculation rates to colleges. Rob Hansen, Vice President, Visalia Brian Newton, Secretary, Visalia Barbara Kidd, Treasurer, Visalia At the Dry Creek and James K. Herbert Wetland Prairie Preserves, Sequoia Riverlands Julie Allen, Springville Trust showcases restoration efforts that remind us all that the land around us continually Bill Christian, Pasadena James K. Herbert, Fillmore changes. By composing a natural landscape through earth moving, seeding native Roger Laverty, Manhattan Beach grasses and trees and removing weeds, we create additional habitat for wildlife, Terry Manning, Springville protect water quality and ensure adequate forage for livestock grazing. Mike Olmos, Visalia Jim Wells, Three Rivers As you can see, your partnership with Sequoia Riverlands Trust, through your financial Advisors donations, in-kind gifts, volunteer time and support, helps to do so much in addition Gordon Bergthold Mike Chrisman to protecting the working farms and ranches and scenic beauty we all cherish. From Charley Clouse the Board of Directors, Advisors and staff of Sequoia Riverlands Trust, thank you Dan Dooley for your growing level of support and your assistance in bringing Sequoia Riverlands John Grant Russell F. Hurley Trust to its current level of success. Jim C. Johnson Dennis R. Keller Together, we achieve great strides in conserving California's heartland. Thank you. Rick Lagatella Philip B. Laird Jane T. Olson With warm holiday wishes, Ronald L. Olson Amy Pack Cliff Ronk William C. Tweed Staff R. Scott Spear Sopac McCarthy Mulholland, Executive Director President Jane Caputo, Education & Volunteer Coordinator Hilary Dustin, Land Steward Nathan Higgins, Land Steward “The fight to save family farms isn't just about farmers. It's Johanna Lombard, Communications Manager Teri Van Huss, Financial Administrator about making sure that there is a safe and healthy food supply Mike White, Seasonal Restoration Technician for all of us. It's about jobs, from Main Street to Wall Street. It's Hired after July 1, 2005 about a better America.” – Willie Nelson Chuck Ellis, Director of Development Donnie Ludekens, Operations Manager 2 annual_report_O5.qxd:annual_report_O5.qxd 7/1/09 10:45 AM Page 5 Financial Statement for July 1, 2004 - June 30, 2005 Assets Liabilities & Equity Cash & Operating Reserves $83,832 Current Liabilities $149,864 Accounts Receivable $60,603 Note Payable $207,008 Other Current Assets $7,263 Equity $9,855,928 Endowments $170,226 Total Liabilities & Equity $10,212,799 Note Receivable $238,850 Fixed Assets $9,652,025 Total Assets $10,212,799 Support & Revenue Expenses Total Revenue $982,940 Total Expenses $959,577 Additional grant revenue for land acquisition totaled $3,762,400 this fiscal year. Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) is a local, community-based, 501 (c)(3) non-profit conserving the natural and agricultural legacy of the southern Sierra Nevada and San Joaquin Valley. A copy of the latest financial statement and registration filed with the Registry of Charitable Trusts may be obtained by contacting the SRT office. Contributions are deductible to the extent allowed by law. Grant Support The following businesses, organizations, foundations and government agencies provided invaluable support and assistance for operations and conservation activities. Sequoia Riverlands Trust thanks you! Bank of the Sierra, Sierra Grant Program U.S. Bureau of Reclamation & U.S. Fish and Wildlife California Department of Transportation Service, Central Valley Project Conservation Program National Fish & Wildlife Foundation USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Wildlife Resources Legacy Fund Foundation, Preserving Wild Habitat Incentives Program California Program USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, State of California Wildlife Conservation Board Environmental Quality Incentives Program The Nature Conservancy 3 annual_report_O5.qxd:annual_report_O5.qxd 7/1/09 10:45 AM Page 6 ‘Above & Beyond’ Recognition Sequoia Riverlands Trust (SRT) sincerely expresses appreciation and gratitude for the extraordinary assistance given to the organization by the following individuals, helping to bring us to our current levels of success: • Docents Lee Akins, Carol Manning, Steven Peterson, Shirley Vierra and Dave Wachner for leading exceptional standards- based programs for youth at Kaweah Oaks Preserve • Jim Allen, Athena Demetry, Travis Godeaux, Melanie Keeley and Elizabeth Palmer for their instrumental assistance guiding the Dry Creek restoration plan implementation; and Merrill Bates for his skill and conscientious approach to restoration earth work at Dry Creek Preserve • Nancy and Wayne Badovinus and Jane and Ronald Olson for generously opening their lovely homes to host informative events John Dofflemyer shares cowboy poetry at the dedication of the 1,819-acre Homer Ranch. - Photo by SRT 2005 © exposing donors to SRT's successful conservation work • Caroline Berry and Jody Graves for providing outstanding training opportunities and organizational development guidance to SRT's Board and staff • Amanda Bohl, Ed Hastey, Jim Maddy, Michael Mantell, Kristen LaVine Merrill, Maureen Rose and Julie Turini