2017 Fall CHALLENGE GRANT TO MATCH UNRESTRICTED GIFTS THROUGH YEAR’S END! Give Now and Double Your Impact Helping Conservancy’s Four-Pronged Mission he Wolf River Conservancy is thrilled to announce concern, the Conservancy’s mission has evolved over Ta $150,000 challenge grant, offered by an its three decades of work, and today, rests on a fourfold anonymous friend. The grant will match all unrestricted foundation of conservation, education, recreation, and gifts up to a total of connection. $150,000, between Conservation now and December is always at the 31, doubling each Conservancy’s Photo by Ryan by Hall Photo Officers in value and the heart, not only in President, Chip Greer ability to further protecting the Wolf Vice-President, James McDonald III the Conservancy’s River watershed’s Secretary, Darin Blunck Treasurer, Carl J. “Skeet” Haag mission —Sustaining water, woods, and Past President, Jeanne Arthur the Wolf. wildlife, but also Directors “Dollar for dollar, in restoring them. Stewart Austin any unrestricted gift One recent effort is Kandy Bernskoetter that comes in will underway in Holly Adrian Blackney be matched,” said Springs National Will Bladt Gifts to the Wolf River Conservancy help fund four “-tions” needed to protect our drinking water Jody Brown Barbara Kabakoff, the and the Wonder of the Wolf: conservation, education, recreation, and connection. Forest, where a half- Susan Bryan Conservancy’s Chief mile wide tornado Diane Callahan L. Don Campbell, Jr. Development Officer. carved through the woods near the Wolf River’s Richard Chotard For over thirty years, the Wolf River Conservancy headwaters in December 2015. The Conservancy, Tyree Daniels and its supporters have worked diligently to protect Mississippi State University, and National Forest staff Lela Gerald Fred H. Geyer a diminishing resource: green space. Each and are partnering to replant the damaged area, including Stuart Harrington every donation the Conservancy receives ensures MSU research plots. Joe Jarratt Memphians, now and in the future, have safe water to “All the way through to the bottom of Baker’s Melvin Jones Kirkwood McClintock drink and natural places to connect with the invaluable Pond, a corridor was completely destroyed,” said Ryan Tom Roehm Wonder of the Wolf. Hall, the Conservancy’s Land Protection Associate. “Pine David Scully While preserving water and land are a core trees were lying on top of each other like toothpicks.” Brett Shanaman Russell Smith Continued on page 3 Charles W. Umsted Josh White H. McCall Wilson, Jr. THREE WOLF RIVER GREENWAY SECTION Executive Director - BREAKING NEWS - Keith Cole OPENINGS IN SIGHT; TWO MORE AFOOT Office Location $200,000 Land Acquisition s the natural world slows down, the Wolf River Conservancy looks 2693 Union Avenue Extended Grant Awarded forward to a season of growth. Three new Greenway segments will Suite 205 A The Tennessee Heritage Conserva- Memphis, TN 38112 open in the autumn and winter months, tion Trust Fund board has awarded (901) 452-6500 while two more are around the corner. a $200,000 grant to the Wolf River Construction on the Mud Island Conservancy to protect more than 160 acres of forested wetlands. This land to Second Street trail is winding acquisition fills in a gap and expands down, with a grand opening scheduled the Wolf River Wildlife Management for October 21. Area connecting fragile wetland and riverine habitats into permanent “We think this will probably be protection. Fayette County-based one of the most well-received segments Ring Container Technologies provided of the Greenway, keeping in mind that additional funding. Continued on page 4 The Wolf River Conservancy is dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the Wolf River watershed as a sustainable natural resource. FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD “Deliver on your mission” – this was the advice I received In September, the Conservancy hosted a preview party from a trusted and respected friend of mine several years ago in to unveil the new downtown leg of the Wolf River Greenway response to the question, “How do you generate financial support for donors, government officials, and other friends who to advance the work of the Wolf River Conservancy?” As the new were instrumental in making the trail possible. Among those Executive Director of a nonprofit, I was asking my friend a simple present were some of the Conservancy’s founding members: the question and her reply to “deliver on your visionaries who first advocated building a trail alongside the Wolf mission,” as simple as it may sound, is so River as a way to engage people with our neglected treasure and help true. My first responsibility to the board, them recognize its value. staff, and our community supporters is “to The ambience was invigorating. An imposing view of the Wolf preserve and enhance the Wolf River and its River flowing into the Mississippi has replaced overgrown brush watershed as a sustainable resource.” and illegally dumped rubbish that previously The Conservancy does this as an concealed the Wolf. Adjacent to the new accredited land trust by identifying critically Greenway trail, Mississippi Greenbelt Park was important land parcels in the Wolf River alive with people out walking, running, biking, Watershed and then protecting them, or just relaxing while watching the river roll. through a fee simple purchase, through an outright donation of The Greenway extends this pleasant corridor of land, or a conservation easement. nature in downtown Memphis another mile. It We are extremely grateful to our anonymous was an afternoon for celebrating, but not solely Friend of the Conservancy who is providing a $150,000 the completion of another Greenway section. challenge grant beginning now until December 31, 2017, We were there because of the Wolf River—the for all unrestricted financial gifts to the Conservancy – gifts such reason the Greenway and the Conservancy exist. as these allow us to carry out our mission through conservation, When I joined the board of the Wolf River Conservancy in 2012, education and recreation. (See full article on front page with details.) we had just started the task of drafting a 3-year strategic plan as a I am also pleased to share with you that Jim Gilliland, Ben road map for our aspirations. Among the goals were: Livingston, and Carl Ring are providing a $100,000 financial (1) Identifying and protecting threatened lands with significant gift from Ring Container Technologies toward future conservation values; land conservation projects. We are very appreciative of the (2) Maintaining and enhancing protected properties; continued generosity from Jim, Ben, and Carl, and all the good (3) Increasing community ties to the Wolf River as a place of beauty, folks at Ring for supporting our core mission in protecting land. recreation, and ecological importance; As we approach the holiday season and the end of another (4) Beginning the funding, land acquisition, and public awareness for productive year for the Conservancy, we also must say thank you, a 22-mile Greenway; and recognize all our “contributaries” – our dedicated members, (5) Providing the resources and leadership needed to carry out the donors, volunteers, board members, and staff. During this season Conservancy’s mission of protecting the Wolf River watershed. of giving and throughout the year, thanks to each and every one of We accomplished every objective that plan set out to do, you for helping us “deliver on our mission”! including achieving prestigious accreditation by the Land Trust Alliance. The Conservancy is now undertaking the steps for creating a new strategic plan that will chart our goals going forward over the next five to ten years. The process is in the beginning phase without Keith Cole adopting specifics yet. However, some targets to expect might Executive Director include: finishing the Greenway in a couple of years; continuing to conserve key wetlands, woods, and wildlife habitats in the Wolf River watershed; educating people of all ages about water stewardship; and IN GRATEFUL APPRECIATION TO providing recreation opportunities. Jim Gilliland, Ben Livingston, and Carl Ring Most important will be continuing our work to safeguard the Wolf River watershed and its aquifer recharge areas. As the primary source of our city’s drinking water, the health of the river impacts everyone and must be preserved in perpetuity. Thank you for your support! $100,000 IN SUPPORT OF LAND CONSERVATION PROJECTS Chip Greer Board of Directors Protecting the Wonder of the Wolf President 2 $150,000 Challenge Grant, continued from page 1 Spring-fed Baker’s Pond is where the Wolf River begins. HOW YOU CAN The Conservancy is working to breathe new life into the affected area, planting saplings PARTNER WITH including upland oaks, hickories, and shortleaf pine. US IN 2018 “We’re establishing from the get-go a mixed shortleaf pine/hardwood forest habitat,” Hall said. “That’s a pretty favorable habitat for a lot of different species.” We would like to thank our In addition to replanting, the Conservancy and National Forest staff plan to clear the Baker’s Benefactors for their support and commitment to the work Pond trail. Volunteers are welcome, with the effort planned for sometime this winter. and mission of the Wolf River The Conservancy also maintains a vibrant education program. Spanning nature walks, lectures, Conservancy. school visits, and more, the program teaches Memphians of all ages to better understand their local If you are interested in learning land and water. In 2016, the Conservancy reached over 2,000 children and over 1,000 adults through more about how your company or all the programs counted as educational outreach. organization can partner with us, Water science is a particular focus. “We talk a lot about water quality, local water issues,” said please contact the Development Cathy Justis, Director of Education.