spring 2006 sonoma land trust newsletter

8/3/2019 Spring 2006 Sonoma Land Trust Newsletter

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T O P R O T E C T T H E L A N D F O R E V E R

V O L U M E 3 1 , N O . 1

see page 4

Spring into Summer newsletter

Jenner Headlands protectionnegotiations are underway

There is a tide in the affairs of men,Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;Omitted, all the voyage of their lifeIs bound in shallows and in miseries.

William Shakespeare,Julius Caesar

Opportunities drive land conservation, and a big one has presented itself.The Jenner Headlandsmore than 5,600 acres just north of the Russian River

above the town of Jennermay be one of the most photographed parts of the

California Coast.The propertymost of which is historically known as the Rule Ranchis

owned by a set of business partnerships and has been held for development andtimber management. The property could be fragmented into 42 parcels, but theowners decided to explore a conservation alternative, and Sonoma Land Trust,with the full blessing of the Open Space District, has taken the lead in negotiat-ing a transaction. This is very much a work in progress with studies and analy-ses and appraisals of the complex property all underway; but the sheer beautyof the place, its resources and its setting on the coast all say, Seize the opportu-nity and protect it now, forever.

Acquisitions Director Amy Chesnut describes the land as one third coastalprairie and two thirds mixed redwood and Douglas fir forest and oak wood-lands. There are several important creeks and watersheds on the property,

including Jenner Gulch, the domestic water supply for the town of Jenner andthe headwaters of Sheephouse Creek in which several thousand Coho salmonwere recently released as a part of the California Department of Fish andGames Coho reintroduction program. Other species of special concern in the

Photo 2005 Stephen Joseph

Aliens among us

Sonoma County springlandscapes are green with thesweet promise of nativewildflowers, but beware: there areinvaders in our midstlots ofthem, from all over the world. Starthistle, pepperweed, and pampasgrass, to name but a few.Unchallenged, these non-nativeplant species push out native

plants and animals, threaten ourstreams and fish, and stokewildfires. Now, with the help of agrant from the California CoastalConservancy, Sonoma LandTrusts stewardship team, led byBob Neale, is developing anInvasive Plant Control Program toidentify and control these noxiouspests on our lands.

In 2006, teams of staff andvolunteers will comb each of ourproperties using new GPS units(thank you, FWS and NFWF)equipped with Weed InventoryManagement Systems (WIMS)software to locate and describe thelocation and distribution of leafyinvaders. Back in the office, ourcomputer mapping department(read Georgiana Hale) will use thedata to produce maps of theinfestations. Then we can developindividual, multi-year invasivecontrol plans for each of our

properties, focusing first on ouranchor preserves at SonomaBaylands/Sears Point, Little BlackMountain, Glen Oaks and theEstero Americano. Regularmonitoring and mapping willhelp us track our success andchange treatment methods ifnecessary.

see page 2


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2 Spring 2006 Volume 31, No. 1

Board of DirectorsPete Mattson, Chair; Robert Brent,Hall Cushman, Mary Hafner,

Mark Jacobsen, Johanna Patri,Harry Richardson, Lew Reid,Caryn Sachs, David Smith,Kathy Tierney, Denny Van Ness

Carol Williams

Who we are

Things we do

A note from theexecutive director

Putting fuel in the tankStaffExecutive Director: Ralph BensonProjects & Stewardship TeamLand Steward: Nathan BooneBaylands Project Manager:

John BrosnanAcquisitions Director: Amy ChesnutConservation Director: Wendy Eliot

Project Associate: Georgiana HaleStewardship Director: Bob Neale

Finance & Administration TeamFinance & Administration Director:Lois DownyAdministrative Assistant:Shanti Wright

Development TeamDevelopment Director: Mike HayesCommunications & Donor RelationsDirector: Reta LockertMembership & DevelopmentManager: Stacey Waltenspiel

For information contact:

SONOMA LAND TRUST(707) 526-6930e-mail: [email protected]

It is all but certain that the Board ofSupervisors will place thereauthorization of the Sonoma CountyAgricultural Preservation and OpenSpace District on the November, 2006ballot.

Nothing is more important to the

Land Trusts mission than continuedfunding for the District.

With a funded District, SonomaCounty will remain a national leaderin the protection of local agriculturalland; our communities can maintaintheir geographically distinctivecharacter; watersheds will be pro-tected; trails and greenspaces will beconnected; and beauty will flourishand nurture generations to come.

Without a funded District we startlosing ground quickly. Picture SantaClara Valley.

On a parallel track, we need toreplenish State funds for land protec-tion. Major projects like our Baylandspurchases and the Jenner Headlandsproject featured in this newsletterrequire the participation of Stateagencies along with the local OpenSpace District. The big projects are all

partnerships. An initiative has quali-fied for the November ballot to fundclean water and land protectionthroughout California, and the LandTrust will work to promote thatmeasure as well.

Of necessity, this will be a rather

political year for the Land Trust. TheLand Trust is never involved in thecampaigns of candidates for politicaloffice; but we are permitted and needto be involved with measures thatdirectly affect our ability to carry outour mission of protecting forever thescenic, natural, agricultural and openlandscapes of Sonoma County.

Im hoping our members, whoknow the value of land conservationin Sonoma County, will be leading thecharge in support of these necessarymeasures among friends, family,coworkers and neighbors.

The conservation we can accom-plish with a reauthorized District andreplenished State funds will besomething to behold. For generations.

Volunteers will be key, helpinginventory and monitor properties andproviding muscle for pulling weedslike French broom, ice plant, andvarious foreign thistles. If you havetime and muscle to be part of thiseffort, contact our Volunteer Coordina-tor, Shanti Wright, at 707 526-6930extension 100.

Stewardship director Bob Neale

acknowledges the Marin-SonomaWeed Management Agency, theNature Conservancy, the CaliforniaInvasive Plant Council, the NationalPark Service, and all the otherssharing their experience and successwith us. Working together we canprotect and restore our native habitatso future generations enjoy the annualwildflowers we love now.

Aliens among us from Page 1

Develop long term land protectionstrategies

Promote private and publicfunding for land conservation

Acquire land and conservationeasements

Manage and restore conservationproperties

Promote a sense of place and aland ethic through activities,education and outreach


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TO PROTECT THE LAND FOREVER 3

Harry Richardson joins the Board

Were long termsupporters of SonomaLand Trust and the

practical preservationof open space. SonomaCounty has been awonderful home forus, and we hope tohelp maintain itsuniqueness and beautyfor future genera-tions, explains thenewest member of Sonoma LandTrusts Board of Directors.

Harry Richardson grew up inKentucky, went to college in North

Carolina and medical school in NewYork City, then spent a year in VietNam as an Army flight surgeon. Afterfinishing his medical training in SanFrancisco, he and his wife Dee choseSanta Rosa as a place to raise theirfamily and practice medicine. After 30years of cancer treatment practice, 3years ago he retired from activepractice but continues to serve asMedical Director of Blood Bank of theRedwoods and on the boards of two

medical liability insurance companies.Dr. Richardson also serves on the

Community FoundationSonoma County board.

My wife and I are

preservationists at heart,affirms Harry Richardson.Dee Richardson has beendeeply involved in revital-izing the Railroad Squarearea, where they ownWhistle Stop Antiques.We have trouble throwinganything away that might

be used again in the future, he smiles.In tallying favorite ways to spend freetime, he says, Im slowly hiking thePacific Crest Trail northwards with a

friend and our son. Another friendand I are restoring a 1929 woodenmotor launch berthed in Petaluma. Wehave a lakeside cabin in Maine whereIm up to my ears in classicreadpollutingoutboard motors and morewooden boats and canoes, all of whichtake constant work and never seem tobe finished.

Now to his list of tasks that takeconstant work and never seem to befinished, Harry Richardson addshelping Sonoma Land Trust in ourwork to protect the land forever.

A planned giftas an investmentin the future ofSonoma County

Im an investor, said a memberof Sonoma Land Trusts LegacyLeague at an April gathering, andI cant think of any betterinvestment than the work Ralphand his bunch are doing.

If youd like to make a long-terminvestment in the protection ofSonoma Countys wild and beauti-ful open lands, you can become a

Legacy League member too. Youaccomplish that by includingSonoma Land Trust in your estateplan, using any of a number ofmechanisms. The simplest is abequest via will or trust.

Among the most popular formsof bequests are

A fixed amount of money or adesignated property:

I give to Sonoma Land Trust, anonprofit organization with TaxIdentification Number 51-0197006,located in Santa Rose, California,$_________(or describe the real or personalproperty, including exact location.)

A percentage of the estate:I give to Sonoma Land Trust, anonprofit organization with TaxIdentification Number 51-0197006,located in Santa Rosa, California,________% of my estate.

A residual bequest:I give all the residue of my estate,

including real and personalproperty, to Sonoma Land Trust, anonprofit organization with TaxIdentification Number 51-0197006,located in Santa Rosa, California.

For more information, you oryour attorney can call Reta Lockertat (707) 526-6930 ext. 105 or [email protected].

Sonoma Land Trust uses the termanchor preserves to identify propertieswe own and manage and which give

us a visible presence in the region ofSonoma County in which the land islocated. We consider the preserves afoundation for ongoing landprotection efforts for the Trust and awide spectrum of partners.

The Natural Resources Conserva-tion Service (NRCS) recently approvedSonoma Land Trusts EnvironmentalQuality Incentives Program for both

our Estero Americano Preserve andthe Sears Point Restoration Project.

On both these properties, the NRCS

will provide technical assistance aswell as cost-share funding to developoff-stream water storage and distribu-tion and to build wildlife-friendlylivestock fencing to boost native plantpopulations and protect streams andwetlands. When managed properly,cattle and sheep promote healthyplant populations, reduce wildfirerisk, and promote our local economy.

Green light for EQIP program on twoSonoma Land Trust anchor preserves


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Volume 31, No. 1

One huge present from back page

ongoing groups that meet to thinkabout the land and innovative conser-vation. People like coming to BoltonHouse. It has a great central location atthe corner of Brookwood and SonomaAvenue. And thanks to Daphne, itsparkles like a jewel.

An ace birder and a stalwart

volunteer for a number of SonomaCounty organizations, Daphne isamong the rare community leaderswhose actions speak far louder thantheir words. We are ceaselesslygrateful for her commitment to thisplace and her generosity to the Trust.

Land Trust volunteers provide anamazing spectrum of expertiseand service, and Julie English isour case in point. Julie, whoseday job is at the National ParksService Sign Shop in GGNRA onthe Marin Headlands, has becomethe Sonoma Land Trust full-service signage counselor.

Julie first connected with SLTat a native plant event at Luther

Burbank Center. She begancoming on member hikes, wefound out she knew about signsand realized she could be a greatresource as we consideredsignage for Trust-protected lands.A chat at last years volunteerappreciation party with Conser-vation Director Wendy Eliot ledto Julies being drafted by theland projects team to help withsigns at the Sonoma Baylands.Having access to someone with

so much practical experience withoutdoor signs is a big help to theLand Trust; Julies backgroundwith National Parks makes herthe perfect person to answerquestions and make recommen-dations.

Her love for hiking (screenname: juleslafoot) made Julie signup as a property monitor forSonoma Land Trust and also as avolunteer patrol ranger at BeltaneRanch for the Open Space Dis-

trict. She participated in thissprings trail maintenanceworkday at Glen Oaks Ranch,and just before had refinished therouted wooden entrance sign atthe gate. Fortunately she livesright around the corner fromBolton House, and we get waymore than a cup of sugar fromthis neighbor.

The signof a greatvolunteer

Jim McConnell, head of the fix-it team he christened the Go-to Gang, says hisbunch needs hand or power tools to keep our anchor preserves in good shape.He wants you to think about donating or willing yours to the Land Trust. Fromwire cutters to a table saw, Jim says his gang will put them to good use, and he

pledges to come to your shop to sort through the contents. Call Bob Neale,Stewardship Director, to set up a Go-to rendezvous. Bob is at (707) 526-6930extension 102.

Clint Kellner, a Novato resident and professional botanist, reported after ourhike to our anchor preserve above Alexander Valley on March 19, The whiteflowered buttercup growing as an aquatic plant in the second vernal pool abovethe trail is Lobbs aquatic buttercup (Ranunculus lobbii) a California Native PlantSociety list 4 plant. It is on the CNPS watch list, which means that it is veryuncommon but not rare enough to be listed. In any event, uncommon plantsshould be protected, if possible. Were proud to do our part.

Plant watch at White Rock

A use for the tools you no longer need

Jenner Headlands protection from page 1

area include Northern Spotted Owl,Red Tree Vole, Bank Swallow andSteelhead Trout.

The property, on the north side ofthe Russian River, is a perfect comple-ment to the recently acquired Willow

Creek watershed on the south side ofthe River, now a part of Sonoma CoastState Beach. Both are large, scenic,forested, coastal treasures withwonderful recreational potential.

The project is not unlike our recentmajor acquisitions at the SonomaBaylands. Sonoma Land Trusts role isto recognize and seize the opportunity,develop good partner relationships,structure a transaction and marshal

the funds needed from local, State,federal and philanthropic sources.And then to see that there is a longterm strategy in place for the steward-ship of the property. We startedworking on this project last year and

will be working on it into 2007.The Press-Democrat stated in an

editorial, The Jenner Headlands haveit alloceanfront location, coastalhills, watersheds, redwood forests,spectacular views and more. Execu-tive Director Ralph Benson added,What a magnificent addition thisland would make to our network ofprotected, publicly accessible places.


5/7TO PROTECT THE LAND FOREVER 5

Land Trust staffers begin meetingseach Wednesday morning withappreciations, and the praises ofShanti Wright predictablyoutnumber all the rest. Shantibegan as Administrative Assistantin 2004, arriving at Bolton Housewith her resume at the perfect time.Ralph Benson answered the doorand affirmed thoughtfully, Shehas a nice presence, as he passed

on the information.Recently promoted to OfficeManager and taking the initiativeto become Volunteer Coordinator,Shanti dazzles the SLT crew withher commitment and skill-build-ing. Her warm welcomes are oftenthe first contact a caller or visitor tothe Land Trust has, but her firm-ness and tenacity in unsnarlingvendors billing errors serve usequally well. Shes key to theworking of every SLT team, the one

who makes sure gutters arerepaired, meeting packets areorganized, signs tell the story, andthe PowerPoint presentation isready for the road. She constantlytakes classes, whether in manage-ment for native plants or becominga more powerful user of special-ized computer programs.

Shanti grew up in MendocinoCounty and graduated fromSonoma State in EnvironmentalStudies. Before coming to Sonoma

Land Trust she lived and workedin Hawaii, where her experienceranged from work as a nanny topublic relations and event coordi-nation. Always a devotee of thenatural world, Shanti is an avidhiker and has for years attendedthe Womens Herbal Symposium.

A master baker, Shanti sweetensall our days in innumerable ways.

The onewho makesit all work

Honoring some who loved the land

In the last few months, friends of the Sonoma Land Trust have made giftstoward the Trusts work to honor the memories of loved ones who have crossedon over.

Remembering Fred Beeman: MaryMueller

Remembering Libby Calcagno: LauraGraham

RememberingJim Farnkopf: MikeArdito, Denise Chassot, DebbieChing & Jack Lee, Bruce Fong &Virginia Lim, Robert Hilton, PeterJacobsen, Steven Lee & AlysonGeller, Robert & Nancy Praetzel

Remembering Elenor Gonzales: LauraGraham

Remembering Teresa Johnson: ClaireStewart

Remembering Michael PaulLetourneau: Pam Letourneau

Remembering Sylvia Olcott: BethHadley

Remembering Virginia Rollow: HelenOMara & Duane Larson

Remembering Eugene Russell:Thomas Higley

Monitoring class of 2006Thanks to the staff and volunteers who took

part in the April training at Glen Oaks Ranch$1.1 million more for trail and restorationprep down by the Bay

In April the California State Coastal Conservancy approved a million dollars tohelp SLT plan wetland restoration and trail location as part of the 2,327-acreSears Point Restoration Project at Sonoma Baylands. In addition, the SanFrancisco Bay Trail Project Steering Committee awarded us a grant of $100,000to investigate a network of public trails on the Sears Point site. And this summerwell be cutting the ribbon on the first 1.5-mile stretch of the Bay Trail were

finishing on the west side of Restoration Road. It will ultimately be connected tothe trails on the Sears Point (east side) part of the property. Its the money thatmakes it all happen!


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6 Spring 2006 Volume 31, No. 1

These businessesshow their commitment to

Sonoma Countyand contribute each year

to Sonoma Land Trust

P a r t n e r sin

Conservation

Partners in bold have contributed$1,000 or more in a year

In Celebration

Since the publication of our lastnewsletter, Land Trust friends havemade gifts to honor these happyevents and exceptional people.

Cow Patty Paddle

Braving wind, tides and mud, dozensof sturdy paddlers raced from ValleyFord to the Estero Americano in earlyFebruary during the Cow PattyPaddle. To our delight, the sponsorsmade Sonoma Land Trust the 2006beneficiary of the annual fundraiser.Thank you very much to PatrickCampbell, the Bay Area Sea Kayakers,Sequoia Paddle Club, Wavechaser,Petaluma Paddlers, Benicia Surfskiand Outrigger Clubs and all their

members and racers who donatedtime, energy, and entrance fees.

J.H. Cushman, Jr. by J. Hall & MarionCushman

Madelyn & Joseph Gough by CindaMast-Gough & Michael Gough

Dick Hafners birthday by Nelson &Jane Weller

Mary & Dick Hafner by Laurie

WilliamsRose Knight by Nan ThomasPaul Leach by Suzanne CartierPeter & Patty Mattson by Theresa

CaygillDaphne Smiths birthday by Betty

BurridgeErnie Smith by Betty BurridgeBill & Mary Weinholds 44th wedding

anniversary by Sylvia Bray &Bernardo Larque

Plenty of pats on the back came from360 degrees when we learned in Aprilthat Sonoma Land Trust won one of

100 H-P Technology for Communitygrants awarded in 2006.In the notification, H-P wrote, This

was a very competitive grant processwith over 2,000 applications, so beingselected is in itself a sign of success.We are very excited to have theopportunity to partner with you andyour organization as you implementyour project and develop yourorganizations technology skills for thebenefit of your clients. Of course, ourclients include a number of feath-

ered, finned and furred creatures whoare pretty oblivious to the develop-ment of our technology skills.

As winners of this grant, we willreceive 5 notebook PCs, 1 tablet PC, 1iPAQ pocket PC, 1 wireless-ready all-in-one printer/scanner/fax/copier, 1digital projector and wireless remotecontrol, a wireless access point, a

digital camera bundle, a stipend of$1,000, and training to set up a newwireless network. The package will

make us much more effective ingetting information back and forthfrom field to office, enabling us to typeup and download field notes andphotos on the spot. Besides lettingLand Steward Nathan Boonewhodoesnt have DSL where he lives atGlen Oaks Ranch, much less in thefield, where he spends most of hisworkweekget his files neatly backedup to the server with the wirelesssetup, well be able to make offsitepresentations, pull GIS data and

generally be able to get the informa-tion we need when were on the road.Kudos to CFO Lois Downy, Develop-ment Director Mike Hayes, and ProjectAssociate Georgiana Hale who puttheir heads together, analyzed ourneeds and made our application riseto the top of thousands from all overthe US and Puerto Rico.

Technology for Community

Advent Office Furniture

Alexander Valley Vineyards

American AgCredit

Amys Kitchen Inc.

Bank of PetalumaCarlile Macy

Codding Foundation

Estate Wines Ltd.

Exchange Bank

Michael Friedenberg, FrankHoward Allen Realtors

Hafner Vineyard

Hanford ARC

HMS Travel

Hohum ConcoJulie Atwood Event Design

Kurt West Design Services

Laurel Glen Vineyard

Leff Construction

Olivers Market

Ray Carlson & Associates, Inc.

Redwood Credit Union

Redwood Hill Farm

Sebastopol Hardware Center

Sonoma National Bank

Strozzi Ranch

T & Design

Weeks Drilling and Pump

Westamerica Bank

Wetlands and Water Resources

Wright Contracting, Inc.

line drawing by Mary Studer


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966 SONOMA AVE SANTA ROSA, CA 95404

NonprofitOrganizationPRSRT STDU.S. Postage

PAIDPermit #751Santa Rosa

T O P R O T E C T T H E L A N D F O R E V E R

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Mission statement:

The land provides the very foundation of ourcommunity. It is vital that we protect and conservethe land and the natural world for future

generations. Our mission is to provide permanentprotection of Sonoma County land, its naturalbeauty and its biotic resources, offeringstewardship, education, and guidance for thepreservation and enhancement of agricultural,natural, scenic, and open lands.

Save the date for our party

Celebrating threedecades of SLTsland-saving

This year Sonoma Land Trust is 30 years old. Were observing that anniversarywith a series of events, and another big reason for celebration is the magnificentgift by Daphne Smith of Bolton House, the Queen Anne building where SonomaLand Trust has had our office since 2002.

Bolton House, built more than a century ago and survivor of three majorearthquakes, is a landmark building between Santa Rosa and Matanzas Creekson Santa Rosas list of 20 stand-alone historic buildings. Designed by renownedPetaluma architect Brainerd Jones, the homes exterior was meticulously re-paired and restored during the last half of 2005 before Daphne made her gift.She had done extensive interior repairs and upgrading before we moved in fouryears ago, and leased us the building at a fraction of the market rate because shebelieves so strongly in the Land Trust mission.

Executive Director Ralph Benson says, We hope that Bolton House canbecome a real center for conservation in Sonoma County. We are hosting some

One hugebirthday present

see page 4

Yes, were really 30 years intothe work of protecting SonomaCounty landscapes! Toast thepast and future decades ofSonoma Land Trusts

conservation success atLaufenburg Ranch in KnightsValley on September 30. Enjoymusic, walks, stories andupdates at this family-friendlyanniversary bash on one of ourmost picturesque anchorpreserves. Members will bereceiving invitations in the mailthis summer with all the specs.

spring 2006 sonoma land trust newsletter

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