serving lake, chaffee, fremont, saguache, and park...

Serving Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Saguache, and Park CountiesServing Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Saguache, and Park CountiesServing Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Saguache, and Park CountiesServing Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Saguache, and Park Counties

Summer Summer Summer Summer 2016201620162016 Issue 24Issue 24Issue 24Issue 24

by Kim Marquis

I t seems unlikely that a circle could be drawn on a map around important conservation lands and then those lands would be protected in perpetuity. But that’s exactly what happened

when the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas was founded fifteen years ago. Of course, it wasn’t a simple process. But preserving nearly 400 acres in the Game Trail

subdivision northwest of Buena Vista for a large herd of elk was not only the first land protection deal for the nonprofit, it prompted its start in the early 2000s.

Since then, LTUA has helped protect 10,000 acres, from Poncha Pass to Leadville and Salida to Cañon City, leading the way to preserve the Upper Arkansas River Valley’s farming and ranch lands, open space, waterways, and precious views. Many milestones were passed in the decade-and-a-half since the beginning, which resulted in land protection as well as miles of river restoration. At LTUA’s fifteenth anniversary, we’re taking a look back at how the organization began and what we’ve accomplished so far. Turn to Page 3 for the rest of the story.

LTUA’s Poncha Pass Initiative identified the land on the Chaffee and Saguache county lines as a key natural resource area. The 660-acre Campbell Ranch on top of Poncha Pass, pictured, was placed under conservation easement in 2013.

151515THTHTH A A ANNIVERSARYNNIVERSARYNNIVERSARY E E EDITIONDITIONDITION CELEBRATING FIFTEEN YEARS

OF LAND CONSERVATION IN CENTRAL COLORADO

LTUA

Land Trust of the Upper ArkansasLand Trust of the Upper ArkansasLand Trust of the Upper ArkansasLand Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 2Page 2Page 2

contactscontacts Office: PO Box 942 128 East First Street Salida, CO 81201 719-539-7700 [email protected] www.ltua.org Board of Directors Michael Scott

President (Salida)

James Keil Treasurer (Cotopaxi)

Gary Mason Secretary (Poncha Springs)

Robert White (Salida)

Hayden Mellsop (Salida)

Matthew Coen (Salida)

James Culbertson (Buena Vista)

Svata Louda (Salida)

Drew Peternell (Salida)

Elaine Kist (Hartsel)

Hallie Bare Mahowald (Salida)

Michael Fischer (Nathrop)

Cindy Williams (Salida)

Jeanne Herrick-Stare (Salida)

Finance Committee Jim Keil (Chair) Jeanne Herrick-Stare Michael Scott Hayden Mellsop Andrew Mackie

Fundraising Committee Hayden Mellsop Kim Marquis Jim Keil Andrew Mackie

Land Committee Lucy Waldo (Chair) Michael Scott Jim Culbertson Dan Larkin Boyd Clark Denny Radabaugh Bill Schuckert Lee Coveney Matthew Coen Gary Mason

Education/Outreach Committee

Andrew Mackie (Chair) Michael Fischer Dick Cuyler Jim Culbertson Sally Waterhouse Dan Smith Kelly Collins Samar Fay

Watershed Health Committee

Drew Peternell (Chair) Svata Louda Hallie Mahowald Elaine Kist Cliff Wurster Michael Blazewicz Andrew Mackie

Staff Andrew J. Mackie

Executive Director [email protected]

Lucy Waldo Conservation Director [email protected]

Julie Richardson Membership and Common Cents Coordinator [email protected]

Buffy Lenth Watershed Restoration Specialist [email protected]

Sally Waterhouse (volunteer) Naturalist [email protected]

LTUA received two major gifts this year. These dona-tions are making a major difference in completing conser-vation projects in Central Colorado. Funding from indi-viduals makes up over 90 percent of our budget.

A generous anonymous donor believing in the mission of LTUA has supported us with a direct gift from his IRA. This large donation of over $10,000 is making it possible for us to work on more land conservation projects.

Last year, Congress made permanent the ability of in-dividuals to donate directly from their IRA. If you are 70½ or older, you are required to take at least a minimum dis-tribution form your IRA. You can avoid a tax bill for this distribution by donating it to a charity, such as the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. This is a great way to support on-the-ground conservation work.

Another donor wanting to remain anonymous donated thirty acres to the Land Trust. This is our first real estate donation with the intent to sell for cash. This property was suitable for building and was outside of our service area. We were able to list and sell the property rather quickly, resulting in over $80,000 for the Land Trust. This money will be used for our conservation work in the Upper Ar-kansas Valley!

LTUA will look at various types of real estate as a pos-sible donation to generate funds for our work. These in-clude vacant land, residential homes, commercial real es-tate, and recreational properties.

LTUA recognizes that not every individual can make such generous gifts. We greatly appreciate the contribu-tions these two individuals have made towards protecting our precious natural and agricultural resources. As land prices again climb and the costs for carrying out land trans-actions continue to go up, we will need additional large gifts to protect our most important land and water re-sources.

If you’re interested in making a possible donation of real estate or a gift from your IRA, securities, life insur-ance, or pension plan please contact Andrew Mackie at [email protected] or 719-539-7700. We would very much like to talk to you.

Two Major Gifts to LTUA Chart a Course for the Future

Summer 2016Summer 2016Summer 2016Summer 2016 Page 3Page 3Page 3

CELEBRATING FIFTEEN YEARS, from page 1

Wildlife habitat preservation launches LTUA Platted in the 1970s, the initial plan for the Game Trail

subdivision included straight roads and square, ten-acre lots in the large neighborhood that sits at the toe of Mount Yale and Mount Columbia. The developer wanted to change up some of the lines to make winding roads and more interesting views for potential buyers. His request landed on the desk of state Division of Wildlife District Manager Randy Hancock, who knew the eastern side of the platted subdivision was critical winter range for a herd of American elk.

“Deer can live close to humans, and so long as they’re not bothered, they’ll stay. But an elk is a lot spookier,” Hancock said. “They don’t like to be around houses and need more open space. They use that Game Trail area for fifty days out of the winter and it’s critical for them. It’s open, gives them the space needed for their numbers, and has plenty of grass.”

Intrigued, the developer agreed to preserve half the land for the elk and, in return, develop five-acre lots on the higher ground.

“He could market the real estate next to the preserved wildlife habitat, so it was a good deal for him and a good deal for the elk,” Hancock said.

Tentative agreement in hand, Hancock initially could not find a land trust willing to seal the deal because the parcel was considered too small.

Hancock got together with Salida-area resident and state Division of Wildlife Regional Habitat Supervisor Bruce Go-forth, who had experience as a wildlife biologist for the state agency and worked for years in habitat protection. He also knew about land trusts as a board member for the Palmer Foundation in Colorado Springs, which eventually became the Palmer Land Trust.

Goforth, a Chaffee County resident since 1996, was inter-ested in preserving the ranching and farming heritage of the area, as well as managing growth to preserve wildlife habitat on the valley floor.

“I was hoping this part of the state would not start looking like the Front Range,” Goforth said. “The land trusts out here were small and sleepy at the time, mostly getting land through property donations. But by then, the GOCO funding was starting to come in.”

In 1992, voters had approved the Great Outdoors Colo-rado (GOCO) Amendment, which redirected lottery pro-ceeds to be spent on projects that preserve, protect, and en-hance the state’s wildlife, park, river, trail, and open space heritage. The constitutional amendment also created a trust and board to distribute the funds.

“The GOCO money opened the doors about how land trusts could do their job more effectively and find money to pay for it,” Goforth said.

LTUA is founded Goforth initially

worked with Poncha Springs-area resident Dan Jones to get a $22,000 GOCO start-up grant to launch the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. Chaffee County contrib-uted a $5,000 matching grant.

Jones, who was inter-ested in preserving a state land board parcel near his home, was the primary author of the proposal that would eventually pay for the first informational pamphlet, articles of in-corporation, and other necessary steps to launch the 501(c)(3) organization.

LTUA’s first organizational meeting, held on April 27, 2001, in Salida, drew about forty people.

Ranchers Joe Cogan and Tim Canterbury became advisors to the organization, and rancher Steve Oswald, along with others, joined the Board of Directors. Goforth was elected the first President, eventually serving four years in that post and six on the board.

LTUA initially represented Lake, Chaffee, and Fremont counties, and hired Howard native Chanda Klco as the first part-time administrator. Photographer John Fielder provided use of a scenic photo of the Arkansas River, which inspired the logo designed by graphic artist Susan Dunn.

As an all-volunteer organization, the beginning was tough at times.

“It was a struggle because of the funding aspect,” said Oswald, who had worked on a ranch south of Cotopaxi in the 1970s but moved to British Columbia for nearly twenty years. Upon his return to work his family’s Taylor Ranch in 1991, Oswald was shocked at the valley’s transformation.

“Rampant subdivisions had taken over and the community that I left, that was one-hundred-percent agriculture, was no longer there,” he said. “I saw conservation easements as a vehi-cle to not only preserve land, but to assist those on the land monetarily to keep them from selling out.”

Oswald joined LTUA and served on the Board for its first five years.

“It was very much a shoestring budget in those days and a constant struggle,” he said. “But we really needed to be raising our line of sight with bigger projects and connecting with ranchers in the valley.” Celebrating continues on p. 4

Bruce Goforth was cofounder of LTUA in 2001.


Ranchland protection would come. But in the meantime, the Game Trail project led to smaller con-servation easements between the subdivision and Hecken-dorf State Wildlife area to the north, led by Goforth, Hancock, and neighbor Frosty Roe, who also served as LTUA Board President.

By the mid-2000s, LTUA had secured a dozen conservation easements with landowners that effectively doubled the size of the wild-life area and secured a migra-tion route for the elk.

“Without those con-servation easements, the six- to seven-hundred-head elk herd that use that part of the valley would have been cut in half, if not more,” Hancock said.

LTUA preserves Upper Arkansas Valley ranching heritage

By then, LTUA Board Members had begun discussions with the Moyer family, which owned a ranch in Lake County they wished to protect.

LTUA secured a 175-acre conservation easement on the ranch that included a mile of the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The relationship grew into a second deal, a three-way agreement among the family, LTUA, and the state Division of Wildlife (now called Colorado Parks & Wildlife) to protect about 3,400 total acres of the ranch.

The conservation easement included asso-ciated water rights and a parcel that went into the Paddock State Wildlife Area east of Highway 24. Goforth applied multiple times and eventually received a state Habitat Stamp program grant to help pay for the agreement, which was signed in 2007.

In 2009, LTUA advisor and long-time local rancher Joe Cogan protected 507 acres on his property at the base of Trout Creek Pass. Another deal that included the state Divi-sion of Wildlife, as well as The Trust for Public Land, Cogan decided to generously provide public access for hunting that is managed by the state agency.

“The Land Trust’s deal with Joe Cogan represented a turning point for the organization because it solidified a rela-

tionship with the local ranching and farming com-munities,” said Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Park Manager Rob White, who, along with past-President Hayden Mellsop and Treasurer Jim Keil, has now sat on the board for a decade or more. “Joe is a pillar of the community, very well re-spected, and he continues to do the right thing in terms of land management,” White said, adding that developing solid, trusting relationships with local ranchers and farmers was the biggest challenge —and biggest success—of the organization over its first fifteen years. “It felt like we were starting to move into the big-time,” Mellsop said of Cogan’s Chubb Park conservation easement. “We were now doing big acres and that was definitely satisfying.” Mellsop, a whitewater and fishing guide for twenty years, joined the LTUA Board in 2006. Also

a real estate agent, he became excited about the po-tential of conservation easements to protect the val-ues he loved about the valley.

With excellent connections in the tourism sector, he sig-nificantly expanded the organization’s “1% for conservation” program, which gives business owners the opportunity to con-tribute to the organization through sales. Today, the Common Cents for Conservation program is still one of the organiza-tion’s largest funding mechanisms.

LTUA hires full-time director Shortly after Mellsop joined the board, the organization

completed a needs assessment that determined a full-time ex-ecutive director was needed to continue making an impact. The all-volunteer board members had been working on land-owner agreements, expanding membership, and raising funds in their spare time, around regular careers and many other commitments.

“At that point, our annual budget was about $30,000 a year,” Mellsop said. “The option was to take the plunge and see what happened or else fade into insignificance.”

Celebrating continues next page

The hall was packed for a Black Tie Ball, held in 2003 at St. Joseph’s Church in Salida, to raise funds for LTUA.

Over the last fifteen years, LTUA has made tremendous progress and completed important work to protect our agricultural and natural

resources. Many individuals have been involved in making this happen, from Bruce Goforth co-founding the organization to our

current fourteen Board Members. The list is long, including past board members, donors, volunteers, contractors, past employees, VISTA

volunteers and others. In this article, not everyone can be mentioned by name. I do, however, want to thank each of them for their dedication and hard work in helping keep Central Colorado a

beautiful and vibrant place to live.

Andrew Mackie, Executive DirectorAndrew Mackie, Executive DirectorAndrew Mackie, Executive DirectorAndrew Mackie, Executive Director

Celebrating from page 3

LTUA


from page 4

In 2009, Andrew Mackie was hired as LTUA’s Executive Director.

“The single biggest thing has been Andrew’s involvement,” Mellsop said. “The energy and the vision that he has brought, the fact of having some-one full-time, increased the capacity of the organi-zation ten-fold.”

One of Mackie’s first projects involved looking at LTUA’s service area and identifying important conservation areas. The exercise would direct the organization’s efforts into the future, rather than reacting to individual opportunities that came knocking.

One result was the Poncha Pass Initiative, which identified the land on the Chaffee and Sa-guache county lines as a key natural resource area.

“Poncha Pass is a significant location for wildlife corridors, ranching heritage, and water resources,” Mackie said. “We desig-nated it a critical wildlife migration corridor between the Sangre and the Sa-watch ranges and recognized it as an area of historic and continued ranching operations.” The 660-acre Campbell Ranch on top of Poncha Pass was placed under conservation easement in 2013. The Board had worked with the family mem-bers to protect the Chaffee County side of the pass since the early 2000s. “This conservation easement protects the highest-elevation property that connects those mountain ranges,” Mackie said. “It is important to keep those connections, because those mountain ranges are core habitat for lynx, black bear, and elk—some of our more wilderness-oriented wildlife.” LTUA continued to work with landowners while expanding its capabili-ties. A watershed health assessment on the South Arkansas River in 2010 led to restoration projects that will improve nearly two miles of the river near Poncha Springs and Salida. Lucy Waldo joined the staff in 2013 as Conservation Director, bringing more than a decade of experience working with ranchers to protect their properties. Julie Richardson also joined in 2013, as the Membership and Common Cents Coordinator. Buffy Lenth was recently hired to oversee restoration and watershed projects (see pages 6 and 7). Last year, the organization earned national accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, a comprehensive process that evaluated all aspects of the operation. And this year, seven new members were added to the board, including five women. “We have an active group of board members who are taking on different roles than previously, in fundraising and creating a new vision for the organi-zation,” Board President Michael Scott said. “It’s a very exciting time for the Land Trust because we’re projecting an aggressive growth plan in all our ar-eas, of conservation, restoration, and education.” Congratulations to all members, donors, staff, and volunteers for a suc-cessful first fifteen years! Please look forward to the next newsletter, coming in Winter 2017, for more on what’s to come for land and water protection and restoration through LTUA.

In 2009, LTUA advisor and long-time local rancher Joe Cogan protected 507 acres on his property at the base of Trout Creek Pass.

Mark the Date:Mark the Date:Mark the Date:Mark the Date: November 17November 17November 17November 17

LTUA’s Annual Event and Fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, November 17, 2016. The event will be at Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort. We are planning for a great event with a few special surprises!

This year’s speaker will be Jerry Tinianow, Chief Sustainability Officer for the City and County of Denver. Jerry was appointed by Mayor Hancock for this cabinet-level position in 2013. Before working for Denver, Jerry worked for Congressman (now US Ambassa-dor to China) Max Baucus of Montana, devel-oping energy and agriculture policy. During law school he clerked for the Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund. He has also worked for the National Audubon Society and the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission. As Chief Sustainability Officer, he works on numerous issues including energy efficiency, air quality, renewable energy, bike friendly communities, urban forestry, and much more. We are pleased to have Jerry join us and help relate how sustainability in Denver and the Front Range impacts all of Colorado.

We are thrilled to have a larger venue this year for our event. The evening’s high-lights will include recent Land Trust accom-plishments, a silent auction, and the presenta-tion of the Conservationist Award. Be sure to mark the date on your calendar! Also, Mount Princeton will have rooms available to anyone wanting to take advantage of their first class facilities, so consider spending the night. Tick-ets will go on sale later this fall.


L TUA has hired Salida resident Buffy Lenth to man-age several important restoration projects in a

year-round position. Lenth started work with us this summer as the coordi-

nator for the Salida Trail Ecological Resto-ration Project (STERP), a joint effort among LTUA, Salida-area Parks Open-space and Trails (SPOT), the Greater Ar-kansas River Nature Association (GARNA), City of Salida, and Chaffee County to improve the natural function of Salida’s trail system.

In July, the LTUA Board approved expanding and funding Lenth’s part-time position. In addition to managing STERP activities, she will oversee LTUA’s resto-ration projects and coordinate the Arkan-sas Headwaters Wetland Area Focus Com-mittee, a collaboration of organizations and agencies in the Upper Arkansas River watershed that focuses on wetland and riparian projects.

The committee works closely with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wetland Program. The committee currently includes state agencies, additional non-profits such as Trout Unlimited, and private companies working to create, re-store, and protect local wetlands. It was created five years ago by Bill Goosmann.

“Buffy’s new position as a dedicated coordinator will help all the groups in this collaborative work more effec-tively to accomplish the overall mission,” LTUA Executive Director Andrew Mackie said. “We’re really looking for-

ward to getting some projects going through her guidance.” The collaborative is already working with the Yale Lakes Property Owners Asso-ciation in Buena Vista to create a wet meadow on the site of a former lake, and has submitted a grant proposal to help pay for the project. Lenth holds a masters degree in ecology from Colorado State University. She is a former resident of Westcliffe, where she taught high school, lived on a ranch, served as a board member of the Wet Mountain Valley Food Coop and Sustainable Ways,

and helped found the Cliffs’ Park Community Garden. She has worked as a wildlife technician for the City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, the US Forest Service in Steamboat Springs, the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Montana on a grizzly bear study, Hawaii Volcanoes Na-tional Park, and served in the Peace Corps as a conservation specialist in Mexico. She and her husband moved to Salida in August, 2015, with their three children.

As the LTUA Watershed Restoration Specialist, Lenth will assume management of our work on the South Arkansas River near Poncha Springs, as well as additional river restoration projects. “Restoration is an important part of what we do,” Mackie said. “Land protection goes hand-in-hand with proper management and stewardship; providing for healthy ecosystems and watersheds are a part of every community.” The Land Trust began focusing on the South Arkansas River’s health six years ago, when we raised funding for an assessment of the water-shed’s health. Since then, LTUA has worked with landowners to restore well over a mile of the river. “The South Ark was the start of this natural expansion to connect land to water in what we

Ecologist continues next page

LTUA Hires Ecologist Buffy Lenth by Kim Marquis

LTUA Seeks Donation of Pickup LTUA Seeks Donation of Pickup LTUA Seeks Donation of Pickup LTUA Seeks Donation of Pickup

How many wheelbarrows, five-gallon buckets, shovels, rakes, trees and

shrubs, t-posts, and rolls of fencing can you fit into a 1997 Subaru Out-

back? Buffy Lenth has been testing out this question this summer as she

hauls equipment and plants to and from LTUA’s worksites on the

Monarch Spur Trail. While the results have been humorous, they have

also spurred staff to daydream about just how handy a pickup truck

would be for this line of work. Accordingly, the Land Trust of the Upper

Arkansas is currently seeking the donation of a used pickup truck. This

4-wheel drive vehicle would be used for monitoring hard-to-reach

conservation easements, for restoration work along the South Arkansas,

as well as the community-based restoration work along the Monarch Spur

Trail. If you have a used pickup truck that has served its purpose in your

life, please consider donating it to LTUA where it can live out a happy life

hauling tools and making Central Colorado a more beautiful place for all

of us to live. Your donation would of course be tax deductible. Please

contact Andrew Mackie if you are interested in donating a

pickup, and thanks in advance for any leads.


LTUA LTUA

T he Salida Trail Ecological Restoration Project, also known as STERP, continues to be a great way for

LTUA to engage with community members and other local conservation organizations, including Salida-area Parks Open-space and Trails (SPOT), and the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), to enhance the ecosystem function of the Monarch Spur Trail corridor. This summer has been a fruitful season on the trail, with two Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) crews joining our efforts in June and July to pull invasive weeds; seed native grasses and wild-flowers; and plant native wetland species, shrubs, and trees along the length of the trail. A third SCC crew will join us in September.

There are several non-native species that have been problematic along the Monarch Spur Trail, including cheat-grass, Canada thistle, kochia, Russian thistle, teasel, and mullein. These plants are highly successful at reproducing and tend to thrive in disturbed areas. They take valuable resources like water, soil nutrients, and space away from native plants. When we can replace them with native bunchgrasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees, we provide habitat for our native pollinators, songbirds, and mammals, knitting back together the species relationships that create a resilient ecosystem, which in turn provides services like soil rehabilitation, carbon sequestration, and pollination of our food crops

In addition to weeding and seeding, we have been busy caring for the existing habitat islands at Holman Avenue and 7th Street, and we have added two new habitat islands be-tween 1st and 2nd Streets and along the Striker Trail. These habitat islands add vertical structure and diversity along the trail, creating habitat niches for a wider variety of wildlife

species, as well as serving as a source of seeds for wild-life dispersal. They also add vis-ual diversity, en-hancing our own experience as trail users, and, when planted along fence lines, serve as a barrier to weed seeds dis-persing across property lines. You might also spot several new red-twig dog-woods and choke-cherries along Ditch Creek, which provide excellent songbird habitat.

One highlight of our work this summer was the creation of a stormwater mitigation wetland along Ditch Creek, in front of the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area building in late June. Heavy rainfall events wash motor oil, dog waste, and other pollutants from city streets and the resulting storm-water runoff is the number-one source of water pollution in the United States. Wetlands act as natural sponges, soaking up and filtering pollutants from stormwater. As this new stormwater mitigation wetland matures, we hope it will act as a natural water treatment plant, dropping sediment out of the creek and cleaning Salida’s stormwater runoff before it enters the Gold Medal trout waters of the Arkansas River.

Another highlight of our summer was working with a local high school SCC youth crew to map Monarch butter-fly habitat along the Monarch Spur Trail. The students used GPS units to walk a track around each patch of milkweed, the Monarch’s host plant. This baseline data will allow us to monitor changes in the Monarch butterfly’s habitat along the trail over time.

STERP is currently recruiting more volunteers for hands-on restoration activities this fall. If you’re interested in joining our efforts, please contact STERP Coordinator Buffy Lenth at [email protected].

Trail Restoration Activities Foster Connections, Ecosystem Health By Buffy Lenth

from page 8

do, but we are working to improve other waterways, and it will be invaluable to have Buffy’s expertise and guidance on these projects,” Mackie said.

“I feel passionate about community-based ecological restoration and feel that this position is a great fit for my interests and skill set,” Lenth said. “I love the idea of using my skills and abilities, both as an ecologist and a people-person, to further the land trust’s restoration projects.”

Please welcome Buffy Lenth to the LTUA staff. Con-tact her at [email protected] or 719-539-7700.

Southwest Conservation Crew works on a wetland project along the Monarch Spur Trail.


Individual and Family Individual and Family Individual and Family Individual and Family DonorsDonorsDonorsDonors

Angel of ShavanoAngel of ShavanoAngel of ShavanoAngel of Shavano Anonymous – 1

Royal GorgeRoyal GorgeRoyal GorgeRoyal Gorge Kate and Dan Larkin John McGowan Nancy Stead and William Pincus Doris and Cliff Wurster Leslie Champ and Mark Zander

Mount MassiveMount MassiveMount MassiveMount Massive Anonymous - 1 Denny Arter and Tim Martin Pamela and Jay Close James Culbertson Donald Dubin Marsha Brown and Michael Fischer Lina and Michael Forman Kattia and Bruce Fulmer Barbara Garrett Jess Campbell Family Corporation Dianne and James Keil Pamela and Peter Mackie Linda Mulka and Robert Sander Lynda Schwemmer Sally Waterhouse and Denny

Radabaugh

Mount AnteroMount AnteroMount AnteroMount Antero Anonymous – 1 Jack Abernathy Ellen and Don Bauder Donna and Ted Bauer Sally Price and Scott Beresford Peter Bond Deborah and Joseph Bowes Barb and Doug Brady Gloria and Irv Broudy Kim Hoover and Paul Brown Kathleen and Paul Campbell Joyce Cheney Patricia and Boyd Clark Deanna and Mark Clouse Laura Colby Kelly Collins The Conlin Family Gary Conover Carol DeStefanis Donna and Bruce Dickinson Lee Dodge Melodee Kennington and Oren

Dreeben Lawton Eddy and Tom Pokorny Priscilla Wright and Donald Felt Lisa and Tim Glenn Melissa and Bruce Goforth Dixie Goldsby Gayle Davis and Bill Goosmann Cynthia and Brett Gray Sally Griego Cup and Harry Harrison Mary Helen Dunn and Scott

Hartman Gloria and Phil Helfrich Katherine Henley and Michael

Schwarz Jeanne and Randall Herrick-Stare

David Hirt Amber and Mike Horton Roberta Nell Hoy and Robert Postle Nancy Feddersen Hyde Sandee and Sig Jaastad Hi Rocky Store Judith Kinzie Elaine and Dennis Kist Mary Ann and John Longwell Andrew Mackie Ann and Gary Mason Kathlyn and Steve Matre John McCarthy Michael Mowry Cookie Perl and Steve Harris Jamie and Drew Peternell Jeannie Peters and Charles Rose Fran Rulon-Miller and Larry Rice Janice and Dick Scar Lacey and Michael Scott Amy Shannon and Chris Boyer Marsha and Edwin Sherry Susan and Dale Shoemaker Ann Smith Elise Backinger and Kent Strickland Carson and John Taylor Mr. and Mrs. James L Walker Pat and Pete Watson Bill Weber Catherine and David Wood Connie Wright

FamilyFamilyFamilyFamily Anonymous - 3 Jodi Addis Marybeth and Lynn Anderson Beverly McBrien and John Andrick Jan and Chuck Azzopardi Sharon and Fred Balmos Ruth Runge-Barnes and Stan Barnes Deborah Bass and Ryan O’Brien Paula and Ed Berg Wendy Wyman and Tim Bliss Marilyn and John Bouldin Cheryl Brown-Kovacic and Larry

Kovacic Alys and Jim Bruffy Laura and Keith Chapman Katie and Roger Coit Lee Coveney and Dan Smith Margaret and Claude Dean Danielle DeForest Mark DeHaven Brenda and Dennis Dempsey Karen and Reed Dils Linda Erickson Tom Eve Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Michael Fay Elizabeth and Edmond Fellers Laurie and Thomas Ferber Elizabeth Cole Graettinger Ann and John Graham Laurie and Randall Hancock Delores and Ronald Harbeck Dr. and Mrs. David Hearn Ellen and Donald Hopkins Licia and Wayne Iverson Christa and James Johnston

Jane and Martin Jolley Christina and Joseph Jordan Suzy and Bryce Kelly Bonnie and Jim Konowitz Teresa and Andrew Koransky Buffy and Benjamin Lenth Svata Louda and Rodney Otley Chris and Andrew Ludwig Kate and Mike Madden Janet and Jeffrey Mancuso Scarlett and Robert Massine Mary Anne Mills Nancy and Steve Oswald Stephanie and Doug Ouren Phillip Periman Jeanne and Fred Rasmussen Julie Richardson and John Russell Richardson Family Trust Pat Riley Karen and Alan Robinson Vickie and Forrest Roe Susan Scheufele Vreda and Gordon Schieman Linda and Bill Schuckert Roberta Smith Patricia and Larry Smith Brita and Mike Sugaski Martha and Thomas Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Thompson Barbara and Charles Tidd Laura Barton and Chris Vely Dr. and Mrs. Josh Visitacion Jill Vogt Laurie Walters and Joel Schaler Jeanne Younghaus and Lyndon

Berry

IndividualIndividualIndividualIndividual Anonymous – 2 Sheryl and All Archuleta Mary Ann Bavaria Mark Beardsley Marilyn Laverty and Robert Birney Michael Blazewicz

Douglas Chapman David Clark-Barol Andrea and Matthew Coen Betty Cole Sandy Cruz Alexander Drummond Ann Dukett Patricia and Ron Duletsky Dee and Bill Fabian Colleen Finley Floyd Freeman Bill Gardner Brenda Geisler Fay Golson Jan Harrison Judy Hiatt Rebecca Hinds Teresa Hoffman Anne Marie Holen Doann Houghton Gail Hunter Kay Hutchings Pam Judd William Kaempfer Merna Kerss Sally Keiebel Rebecca and Scott Leonard Erika Wallace Lindebraekke Kim and Ken Luedke Joseph Lyford Kim Marquis Joanne McGrew Thomas Mountfort Kathleen Murphy and John Seines Kristie Nackord Sheena O’Hara Steve O’Neill Zechariah Papp Joanne and Tom Parkes Susan Patterson Amy and Gregori Reed Barbara and Jim Rees Hope Rheingans

The Board of Directors and Staff of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas The Board of Directors and Staff of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas The Board of Directors and Staff of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas The Board of Directors and Staff of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas would like to thank the following donors for their support in 2015would like to thank the following donors for their support in 2015would like to thank the following donors for their support in 2015would like to thank the following donors for their support in 2015----2016201620162016

Stan Barnes, left, chooses among the salad selections at the LTUA Annual Family Picnic for Members, held on June 22 in the barn at Jamie and Drew Peternell’s property in Salida.


Lisa and Gordon Riegel Elizabeth Ritchie Susan Roebuck Wendy Rombold Wayne Sawyer Rod Schleicher Bruce Scott Christine Sturgeon John Sulley Dave Taliaferro Philip Urban Maria Weber and Jim Bassett Rob White Cindy Williams and Brad Leach Denise Woodruff

Business/Corporate DonorsBusiness/Corporate DonorsBusiness/Corporate DonorsBusiness/Corporate Donors

IndependenceIndependenceIndependenceIndependence Joshua Been/Virtuosity Gallery Pinon Real Estate Group Central Colorado Title & Escrow F Street Five & Dime

Trout CreekTrout CreekTrout CreekTrout Creek Allan Beezley Mary and Richard Cuyler Powell & Murphy, P.C. Julia and Greg Powell

HaydenHaydenHaydenHayden Anonymous - 1 Sally Griego/River Run Inn Erin Hunter/Timberline Partners Andrea Jones and Douglas Busch Brett Jordon/Hydrogeo Designs LLC Elevation Beer Company High County Bank Moonlight Pizza and Brewpub Vino Salida

CottonwoodCottonwoodCottonwoodCottonwood Bunny Dines Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home BG Financial Advisors Pueblo Bank & Trust James McGannon Peter Nichols

Common Cents for Conserva-Common Cents for Conserva-Common Cents for Conserva-Common Cents for Conserva-tion Partnerstion Partnerstion Partnerstion Partners Amicas Pizza Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors BeadSong Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden Dvorak Expeditions Fattees In the Current Imports Insight Database Design and

Consulting Kym and Hayden Mellsop Lifestream Water Systems Monarch Mountain Salida Mountain Sports San Isabel Bed and Breakfast Susan Dunn, Grand Slam Design Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop The Book Haven The Maverick Potter The Palace Hotel

NatureNatureNatureNature----aaaa----thon 2016thon 2016thon 2016thon 2016 Anonymous - 1 Jodi Addis Beverly McBrien and John Andrick

Denny Arter Deborah and Joseph Bowes Cheryl Brown-Kovacic Central Colorado Kitchens Douglas Chapman Joyce Cheney Pat and Boyd Clark Laura Colby Elizabeth Graettinger Cole Gary Conover Jim Culbertson Mary and Dick Cuyler Dori Denning Melodee Kennington and Oren

Dreeben Alex Drummond Ann Dukett Linda Erickson Tom Ferber Marsha Brown and Michael Fischer Bruce Fulmer Brenda Geisler Ann Graham Mary Helen Dunn and Scott

Hartman Jeanne and Randy Herrick-Stare Hi Rocky Store Judy Hiatt June Dubreuil and Harvey Hoffman Anne Marie Holen Amber and Mike Horton Doann Houghton Kay Hutchings Dianne and Jim Keil Judith Kinzie Elaine and Dennis Kist Bonnie and Jim Konowitz Pamela and Peter Mackie Tim Martin Ann and Gary Mason Scarlett and Robert Massine John McCarthy John McGowan Marilyn Moore Michael Mowry Nancy and Steve Oswald Joanne Parkes Jeanne Rasmussen Pat Riley Connie and Gordon Schieman Rod Schleicher Linda Schuckert Schwab Charitable Lacey and Michael Scott Scott Mountain Rentals Marsha and EJ Sherry Ann Smith Christine Sturgeon John Sulley Bill Weber Cindy Williams Denise Woodruff Doris and Cliff Wurster

Ecological Restoration ProjectsEcological Restoration ProjectsEcological Restoration ProjectsEcological Restoration Projects Anonymous - 2 Peter Bond Kim Hoover and Paul Brown Kathleen and Paul Campbell Joyce Cheney Pamela and Jay Close Betty Cole Mike Conlin

Lee Coveney Lawton Eddy Dixie Goldsby Jess Campbell Family Kate and Dan Larkin Kym and Hayden Mellsop Tom Pokorny Jeanne and Fred Rasmussen Fran Rulon-Miller and Larry Rice Jan and Dick Scar Elise Backinger and Kent Strickland Pat and Pete Watson Maria Weber Robert White Forrest Whitman

Annual Event SponsorsAnnual Event SponsorsAnnual Event SponsorsAnnual Event Sponsors Berg Hill Greenleaf & Ruscitti LLP Central Colorado Title & Escrow Denny Arter and Tim Martin F Street Five & Dime High Country Bank Hydrogeo Designs LLC Jan and Dick Scar Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home Mary and Dick Cuyler Michael D. Scott, Attorney Pinon Real Estate Group Powell and Murphy, P.C. Pueblo Bank & Trust Sartucci Appraisals Tax Credit Connection, Inc. Timberline Law LLC

Silent Auction ContributorsSilent Auction ContributorsSilent Auction ContributorsSilent Auction Contributors Arc’teryx Big Agnes Boathouse Distillery Casio Chaco Hayden Mellsop/Clear Creek Ranch Denver ART Museum Dvorak Rafting and Kayak Expeditions Frank Haas High Country News Independent White Water Julbo JoAnn Kalenak Tim Kennedy Keith Ladzinski Kate and Dan Larkin

Natalie and Bobby Lewis LTUA Board of Directors Andrew Mackie Marmot Mont-bell Mt. Princeton Hot Springs Mt. Shavano Ski Shop Ojo Caliente Resort Orient Land Trust Osprey Packs Oswald Cattle Company Outdoor Research Patagonia Terry Peterson – Dove Graphics of

Gunnison, CO Pioneer Wine and Spirits Princeton Tec Denny Radabaugh Fred Rasmussen REI Dana Richardson Royal Gorge Route Railroad Nate Porter/Salida Mountain Sports Norman Vieira Lucy Waldo Denny Arter and Tim Martin Pat and Boyd Clark Denny Radabaugh and Sally

Waterhouse Wood’s High Mountain Distillery Zeljko Medved

Government, Foundation, and Government, Foundation, and Government, Foundation, and Government, Foundation, and Organization GrantsOrganization GrantsOrganization GrantsOrganization Grants City of Salida Collegiate Peaks Chapter of Trout

Unlimited Colorado Garden Foundation Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing

Is Fun Intermountain West Joint Venture National Byway Program Norcross Wildlife Foundation Salida-area Parks, Open-space and

Trails Sunrise Rotary The Summit Foundation United States Fish and Wildlife Upper Arkansas Conservation

District

New LTUA members Greg Reed, left, and his wife, Amy, join Lyn Berry during the meet-and-greet part of the

LTUA Annual Family Picnic for Members on June 22.


T he acknowledged champion of long-distance insect fliers is the Monarch Butterfly (Danaus

plexippus). Its mind-boggling migration from Canada and the US

to Mexico makes it a favorite with nature lovers.

With its instantly-recognizable orange-and-black wing coloration, the Monarch visits Colorado, although we’re outside main migration routes.

Consider what we know about this magnificent migra-tory marvel: Monarchs travel from summer breeding grounds to overwinter in specific areas in central Mex-ico—a 3,000-mile journey. Breeding grounds are primar-ily east of the Rocky Mountains, although there are west-ern populations. Some small populations travel to the Cali-fornia coast, a much shorter western migration.

You’ve probably heard that milkweed is important to Monarchs, but that’s an understatement, considering that the larva, (the caterpillars), exist solely on this plant to grow into the butterfly.

You may remember the caterpillars from childhood, hatching from small leaf-laid eggs, spinning their chrysalis on milkweed leaves, and entering the world as the colorful Monarch, a process taking about a month depending on temperature.

This unique insect has been around for thousands of years, but now faces numerous modern challenges, includ-ing habitat loss, environmental chemicals, predators, para-sitic disease, climate change, and more. Still, they persist in their unique life-cycle.

Summer Monarch generations live about two to six weeks as adults. Monarchs that emerge later live much longer. They don’t reproduce, instead migrating south to the overwintering grounds in Mexico, using critical stop-over sites such as those in Texas, where they seek nectar sources and shelter en route to a place they’ve never been before.

The Monarchs that reach the overwintering forests of Oyamel Fir trees on south-facing slopes find ideal tem-peratures and shelter from predators and weather. The dense cover allows them to conserve energy for the later, multi-stage flights back north. The sight of these Mon-archs, clustered by the hundreds of thousands in their win-ter habitat, is amazing.

The first generation of these overwintering butterflies makes its way further north in late April and May. The butterflies collect nectar, breed, and lay eggs en route back through the southern states. Second and third genera-tions populate their breeding grounds through summer, until a later generation again puts off breeding and begins the mega-journey south once again.

Wendy Caldwell is a staff member of the National Monarch Joint Venture (MJV; www.monarchjoint-venture.org), headquartered at the University of Minne-sota. MJV is comprised of more than fifty organizations. Caldwell says the Mexican government has taken steps to try to halt destruction of trees in the core Monarch areas and create a zone buffered from illegal logging, but sadly, due to economic conditions, the logging still goes on.

The populations are distributed in multiple Oyamel Fir areas, she notes. “They’re broken up into five up to about fourteen different sites, and they’ll focus on the mi-croclimate that the forest provides,” she said.

Monarch continues next page

SPECIES PROFILE Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

by Daniel Smith

Photo by Hannalore Gabriel

LTUA


from page 10

“They go to high enough elevations where they’re pro-tected from the elements, but stay relatively cool, so that they don’t have to fly and nectar, because while they’re there, they don’t have nectar resources—they don’t have those food resources to sustain them,” Caldwell adds, “so basically, they get to Mexico and try to stay as dormant as possible during the winter to survive before they migrate north again.”

Western Monarch populations, according to MJV, roost in groves of Monterey cypress and pine and other trees along the California coast. The western colonies dis-perse back north earlier than the Mexican populations.

How do these generations pass along the migration location information? Much of that’s still a mystery, ac-cording to Caldwell, although, similar to bird migrations, day length, temperature, and other environmental triggers cause a reproductive halt in favor of building up fats for their journey southward.

Navigation, scientists believe, relies on a combination of sun and time of day orientation involving the brain and the Mon-arch’s antennae.

How many Mon-archs exist? Estimating total population size obviously is difficult. Annual studies under-taken by professionals and citizen scientists studying the over-wintering populations showed a huge decline in Monarch numbers as recently as 2013, with some indications of im-provements in recent years. Still, one source, Journey North, estimates the current population at about 200 mil-lion, which is 30 percent below the long-term average.

Global warming, Calwell notes, can produce droughts in critical areas like Texas, the first stop on the northward route, which can have devastating effects on the survival of migrating populations.

While growing milkweed, the sole food of Monarch caterpillars, is important for their survival, they are also a flagship species for pollinator conservation, and MJV en-

courages habitat preservation and growth for all pollinators, grassland birds, and other species reliant on that habitat.

Habitat identification and preservation is beneficial for Monarchs but also critical for other wildlife species, water quality, and desirable land areas, which is why LTUA, along with other partners, works hard to educate citizens on these issues and encourage public and private participa-tion in these important goals.

Hannalore Gabriel, a local self-taught butterfly enthu-siast, says the Monarch faces many environmental and hu-man-caused challenges. She’s read that milkweed popula-tions in the corn belt, for example, have been reduced by an estimated 60 percent.

She has taken many photographs, and studies and reads extensively on the subject. She shares what she’s learned through presentations to organizations locally.

“My credentials are, as a child I caught butterflies with my bare hands, and mounted them,” she said. She has given presentations for local organizations on butterflies. Among the advice for butterfly fanciers: “Don’t use herbi-

cides and pesticides, and plant milkweed—but milkweed needs water...you can see that wherever there is water, like Sand Lake or Frantz Lake, the ditches...that’s where the milkweed grows naturally.” Hannalore was re-cently disappointed to discover that a large patch of milkweed along a trail near Sands Lake had been cut down. Sadly, the cut-

ters were apparently unaware how vital the milkweed is as the sole food source for Monarch caterpillars.

Monarch preservation organizations, such as South-west Monarchs (swmonarchs.org), encourage study and even tagging by citizen scientists in our region to help with migration research and preservation.

Citizen education and interaction is important to spe-cies and habitat preservation, something the LTUA deems vitally important to its mission. Interested in more species information? Visit the LTUA website.

Photo by Hannalore Gabriel


Common Cents for Conservation™ Partner Profile: SWEETIE’S SANDWICH SHOP

Soft, Chewy, Sweet, and Salty: Mouthwatering Creations are Sweetie’s Specialty by Kim Marquis

True chefs are some of the most interpretive, sensual people on the planet. Ask them about their food creations and you’ll get a string of descriptors, the words running together into a long, breathless sentence.

Just to hear Sarah Gartzman talk about the sourdough ba-guettes she makes every day at Sweetie’s Sand-wich Shop—the “brown, golden-red color” of the crust that “crackles” as you bite into it, its “pillowy, pull-apart” mid-dle “chewy and soft”—or the peanut butter-butter cream topping on the Buckeye Bar that’s “silky and sweet and salty” and surely tastes like heaven, is intoxicating.

A trained pastry chef and former culinary school in-structor, Sarah talks of her live bread yeast like it’s a valued business partner. She has impeccable tastebuds that can identify every ingredient in a dish, and she worked in “a million” food and beverage positions, learning something from each one.

Yet Sweetie’s in Salida is undoubtedly the result of a successful partnership with her husband, Rob Gartzman.

Originally from Chicago, Sarah describes herself as a “super-city girl” who thought Boulder was a small town before the couple relocated from Colorado’s Front Range in 2012. All in one year, they moved, married, and opened the shop on F Street in downtown.

A bike mechanic for fifteen years, Rob had always wanted to move to the mountains. His perfectionist person-ality stood out in the shop’s sandwich line, where he stacked deli meats, homemade condiments, and accouter-ments like thinly sliced ribeye and chopped New York-style kosher pickles, a thousand times over. With a degree in entrepreneurship, he was the brains behind the business and also a great chef.

“The first year was hard,” Sarah said. “We worked so many hours. Being a chef and owning a restaurant is one of the most intense jobs there is. It was hard to have friends, connect with the community, and have any kind of balance.”

The couple’s shared love of food propelled the menu, and the business. With crisp salads, famous pastry bars that include many choices in addition to Sarah’s favorite Buck-eye Bar, hot and cold sandwiches, homemade loaves of bread, cookies and ice cream, the shop became a local fa-vorite.

Its covered patio with sidewalk tables bustles during lunchtime, when there’s almost always a queue in front of the brightly colored sandwich board and glass case of mouth-watering goodies inside.

Everything on the menu is made from scratch, with Sarah starting all its delectable baked goods by scooping into huge bags of sugar. Individual ingredients add up to 350, including house-made pastry glazes and frostings.

“This became a mixture of both of our dreams,” Sarah said of the business. “It just took us a little while to figure out that it was the right thing for us.”

Last year, the couple took on a manager partner, Natalie Penny, at Sweetie’s, and this year the Gartzmans and Penny opened a second restau-rant, Mo Bur-rito, at Third and H streets in downtown Salida.

With two young chil-dren, Sarah says they now have found a good balance in their life and work, and she is able to enjoy the outdoors as much as Rob.

Sweetie’s continues next page

Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop on F Street bustles during lunchtime, serving salads, sandwiches, homemade

bread, pastries, cookies, and ice cream.

Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop 124 F St., Salida 719-539-4248

www.sweetiesinsalida.com Open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday


from page 12

They decided to join LTUA’s Common Cents for Con-servation program, dedicating a portion of Sweetie’s sales to the organization to support its mission.

“We both really want to support the integrity of the land here, to preserve as much as possible and make sure it’s well maintained and enjoyed the way it is for as long as possible,” Sarah said. “We love it here, and we’re happy to give back in a way that people can continue to enjoy the same reasons we fell in love with Salida.” LTUA

Our Our Our Our CCCCOMMONOMMONOMMONOMMON C C C CENTSENTSENTSENTS FORFORFORFOR C C C CONSERVATIONONSERVATIONONSERVATIONONSERVATION P P P PROGRAMROGRAMROGRAMROGRAM™™™™ partners with area businesses, who collect partners with area businesses, who collect partners with area businesses, who collect partners with area businesses, who collect voluntary contributions from customers or make an annual donation from the business voluntary contributions from customers or make an annual donation from the business voluntary contributions from customers or make an annual donation from the business voluntary contributions from customers or make an annual donation from the business

to support land and water conservation in Central Colorado.to support land and water conservation in Central Colorado.to support land and water conservation in Central Colorado.to support land and water conservation in Central Colorado.

The following businesses are part of the Common Cents program. They play a significant role in supporting the work of

the Land Trust. Their participation and your patronage of these businesses are greatly appreciated. Thank You!Thank You!Thank You!Thank You!

The Adventure Company The Adventure Company The Adventure Company The Adventure Company – Premier whitewater rafting. 1-800-497-RAFT (7238) www.theadventurecompany.com

Amicas Pizza Amicas Pizza Amicas Pizza Amicas Pizza – Best wood-fired pizza around. 719-539-5219 www.amicassalida.com

Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors – Your source for wine, beer, and liquor in Salida. 719-539-0111 http://www.jugliquors.com/

Beadsong Beadsong Beadsong Beadsong – Find all the beads you need for any project. 719-530-0110 https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beadsong/189301643554)

Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden – Quench your thirst or try something off their menu. 719-539-9391 http://bensonstavern.com/

The Book Haven The Book Haven The Book Haven The Book Haven – Our independent, locally owned bookstore. 719-539-9629 www.thebookhavenonline.com

Dvorak’s Expeditions Dvorak’s Expeditions Dvorak’s Expeditions Dvorak’s Expeditions – Colorado’s first licensed outfitter, providing trips across the West. 800-824-3795 www.dvorakexpeditions.com

Fattees Fattees Fattees Fattees – The premier T-shirt shop and screen printing business. 719-539-4599 www.fattees-printing.com

Grand Slam Design, Susan Dunn Grand Slam Design, Susan Dunn Grand Slam Design, Susan Dunn Grand Slam Design, Susan Dunn – Graphic design done right. 719-395-4099 www.susandunndesign.com

In the Current Imports In the Current Imports In the Current Imports In the Current Imports – Unique gifts from around the world. 719-539-2321 http://inthecurrentimports.com

Kym and Hayden Mellsop, Pinon Real Estate Group Kym and Hayden Mellsop, Pinon Real Estate Group Kym and Hayden Mellsop, Pinon Real Estate Group Kym and Hayden Mellsop, Pinon Real Estate Group – Meeting all your real estate needs in the Valley. 719-539-0200 http://home-waters.com

LifeStream Water Systems LifeStream Water Systems LifeStream Water Systems LifeStream Water Systems – Providing water filtration systems worldwide. 719-530-0522 www.lifestreamsystemsinc.com

The Maverick Potter The Maverick Potter The Maverick Potter The Maverick Potter – A variety of pottery and other art by hand-picked artists. 719-539-5112 http://maverickpotter.com/

Monarch Mountain Monarch Mountain Monarch Mountain Monarch Mountain – Powder and excitement with no waiting. 719-530-5000 www.skimonarch.com

The Palace Hotel The Palace Hotel The Palace Hotel The Palace Hotel – A boutique hotel in the heart of Salida. 719-207-4175 www.salidapalacehotel.com

Salida Mountain Sports Salida Mountain Sports Salida Mountain Sports Salida Mountain Sports – Gear up for your outdoor needs. 719-539-4400 http://salidamountainsports.com

Snowy Peaks RV Park Snowy Peaks RV Park Snowy Peaks RV Park Snowy Peaks RV Park – Just north of Buena Vista, filling all your RV needs. 719-395-8481 www.snowypeaksrvpark.com

Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop – The perfect spot for a sandwich or that sweet treat. 719-539-4248 www.sweetiesinsalida.com

Rob and Sarah Gartzman opened Sweetie’s in downtown Salida in 2012. They joined LTUA’s Common Cents for Conservation program,

dedicating a portion of sales to the organization to ensure that everyone can enjoy the Arkansas Valley they fell in love with.


You know someone is a good teacher when they ask a lot of questions. In fact, LTUA Volunteer Naturalist Sally Waterhouse admits to sometimes an-swering a question with another question.

Why? Well, she believes in discovery and her favorite field—the out-doors—is the perfect classroom for that.

Go on a hike with Sally, and she might bring you to a patch of sagebrush that, at first, looks like a bunch of bushes. But before you know it, you’re down on your hands and knees, becoming more curious about what you see.

The question-question technique allows people to discover the answers for themselves and, Sally believes, helps them develop a deeper, more direct connection to their environment.

Sally continues next page

Teach me, Sally! Volunteer Naturalist Develops Deeper Connections through Discovery

by Kim Marquis

Volunteers needed!Volunteers needed!

Do you have free time that would allow you to engage with the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas in a more hands-on

fashion? LTUA is currently seeking volunteers for a number of exciting projects!

Would you like to work along a stream bank to control erosion by establishing native vegetation? Or work to promote in-stream fish habitat? Do you enjoy spending time near water and observing how it flows, where it erodes, and where it deposits material? Hands-on restoration work along the South Arkansas might be your niche. Do you regularly walk the Monarch Spur Trail and wonder whether what you’re seeing is native vegetation or a noxious weed? Do you like to watch birds and butterflies along the trail and wonder what draws them to use the trail corridor? Do you want to mitigate Salida’s stormwater runoff through the green infrastructure provided by riparian plantings? Volunteering with the Salida Trail Ecological Restoration Project could be a great fit for you. Are you concerned about the fate of ranching in the American West? Did you grow up working on a family farm or ranch and miss those chores you used to help out with? Do you need a break away from the computer and a chance to do some manual labor? LTUA’s new Ranch Hands/Land Stewardship Corps could be just the way for you to get involved. Through this program, LTUA volunteers will help our local ranchers with a variety of projects, from fence repairs to restoring riparian areas, from clearing rocks to digging weeds. Contact us to learn more about the various ways to get involved as a volunteer and forge a new connection to your local landscape.

Please contact Julie Richardson at [email protected] or 719-539-7700 to sign up.

In addition to longerIn addition to longerIn addition to longerIn addition to longer----term volunteer term volunteer term volunteer term volunteer opportunities, the Land Trust of the Upper opportunities, the Land Trust of the Upper opportunities, the Land Trust of the Upper opportunities, the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas needs help with booth staffing Arkansas needs help with booth staffing Arkansas needs help with booth staffing Arkansas needs help with booth staffing

and hosting at events. Sign up to help and hosting at events. Sign up to help and hosting at events. Sign up to help and hosting at events. Sign up to help get the word out about conservation get the word out about conservation get the word out about conservation get the word out about conservation

and who we are! and who we are! and who we are! and who we are!

Flaming Foliage RelayFlaming Foliage RelayFlaming Foliage RelayFlaming Foliage Relay Saturday, September 10, at Exchange 29 (Railroad Bridge Recreation Site). We need two volunteers for our time slot of 7:29 a.m. to 1:29 p.m.

Fiber Arts FestivalFiber Arts FestivalFiber Arts FestivalFiber Arts Festival Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11

Buena Vista Farmers MarketBuena Vista Farmers MarketBuena Vista Farmers MarketBuena Vista Farmers Market Sunday, September 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Salida Farmer’s Market Salida Farmer’s Market Salida Farmer’s Market Salida Farmer’s Market Saturday, September 24

Moonlight Monday PizzaMoonlight Monday PizzaMoonlight Monday PizzaMoonlight Monday Pizza to benefit LTUA Monday, October 10

ShedFestShedFestShedFestShedFest Saturday, October 15, 8 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.

Mountain Film FestivalMountain Film FestivalMountain Film FestivalMountain Film Festival in partnership with GARNA Saturday, October 22

LTUA Annual EventLTUA Annual EventLTUA Annual EventLTUA Annual Event Thursday, November 17

Benefit Art Show with Joshua BeenBenefit Art Show with Joshua BeenBenefit Art Show with Joshua BeenBenefit Art Show with Joshua Been Saturday, December 10

Sally Waterhouse, LTUA Naturalist

Already a member of LTUA? Pass this form along to a friend!

Individuals and Families:

� Individual ($25) � Family ($50) � Mount Antero ($100) � Mount Massive ($500) � Royal Gorge ($1,000) � Angel of Shavano ($5,000) � Other $

� I would like to make an additional gift

in the amount of $

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Telephone: Email:

� I wish to remain anonymous; please do not list my name in LTUA publications.

� I am interested in making a gift of securities or real estate; please send me more information.

� Please send me more information on estate planning and making a bequest to LTUA.

� I am interested in volunteering with LTUA; please contact me about volunteer opportunities.

LTUA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. Make checks payable to LTUA. Return to: Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas, PO Box 942, Salida, CO 81201. For more information call 719-539-7700.

Business/Corporate:

� Cottonwood ($100) � Hayden ($250)

� Trout Creek ($500) Includes website link from LTUA page

� Independence ($1,000) Includes website link from LTUA page, press release about gift, and special invitations to LTUA events.

� Monarch ($5,000) Includes all benefits at Independence level, plus LTUA newsletter article about business.

� Other $


LTUA

from page 14

“I’m really enthusiastic about how the world works, and I love sharing that with other people,” she says. “I love following their interests, getting them excited.”

As the LTUA Volunteer Naturalist, Sally leads hikes and walks on properties LTUA holds in trust. Some of these locations cannot be accessed by the public, so the events can be a one-time chance to see certain special lands.

The volunteer position was created to increase oppor-tunities for LTUA members to experience these lands, and receive an interpretation of their conservation values.

With a master’s in zoology, Sally taught general ecol-ogy classes at Ohio Wesleyan University for nearly twenty years. Before that, she worked as a naturalist for a decade, for the state of Ohio, Acadia National Park, and a private nature center in Cincinnati.

She has been teaching since high school, when she worked as a camp counselor. But her love of the natural world started in her childhood backyard in western New York, outside of Buffalo.

“I played in the creeks and had a rock collection and an insect collection,” she says. “I started looking at birds in ele-

mentary school, but in those years I didn’t know anyone else who did that sort of thing. It was just me, catching frogs.”

Retired for three years, Sally lives in Nathrop and also volunteers with the Greater Arkansas River Nature Associa-tion.

In August, she led an LTUA tour on the Colorado Out-ward Bound School property south of Leadville, where Lake Fork Creek was restored through the EPA’s Super-fund program. The 472-acre parcel was preserved by LTUA for its riparian values and is also a wonderful high-elevation alpine meadow.

Her next assignment, in September, is to introduce our members to a twelve-acre property LTUA owns in the Pi-non Hills subdivision overlooking Salida. The property pro-tects the views from the top of a hill, and the easy walk through a piñon juniper forest is likely to generate plenty of questions from attendees.

So what will you find under the juniper trees at Pinon Hills? Join Sally and find out!

For more information on September’s hike with LTUA Volunteer Naturalist Sally Waterhouse, contact the office at 539-7700 or [email protected].

serving lake, chaffee, fremont, saguache, and park...

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