2007 Bodega Land Trust 15 Year Report

8/3/2019 2007 Bodega Land Trust 15 Year Report

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Bodega Land Trust

dedicated to the conservation and stewardship of land and community

Celebrating 15 years of stewardship and service


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Contents

History 2Mission 3Conservation Objectives 4Conservation Easements 6Programs 8Volunteers 10Financial Support 11How You Can Help 12

The Bodega Land Trust was formed in 1992 andreceived 501(c)3 tax-exempt status in 1997. Ini-tially formed by local sheep ranchers to encouragethe preservation of agricultural open space, theorganization has evolved into a vital grassroots or-ganization that encourages and supports communityinvolvement in land stewardship.

Local participants manage easements, conducteducational programs and restoration activities, andsupport community efforts. Protected land includesapproximately two miles of riparian corridor, old-growth redwood forests and coastal prairie.Most easements are located in or near the SalmonCreek Watershed, protecting important habitat for

salmonids and other threatened and endangeredspecies, and open space for visitors to the Sonomacoast.

The Bodega Land Trust is a founding member of the California Council of Land Trusts, and memberof the Land Trust Alliance and the Sonoma CountyFarm Bureau.

Sheep grazing the rolling hills northwest of Bodega are managed to preserve the Coastal Prairie habitat.

Jerry Dodrill

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Cover photo: Sunrise on Bay Hill Road. Jerry Dodrill


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Mission

Bodega Land Trust is dedicated to preservingand restoring land and its communities. Wepromote appreciation of human interactionindividuals with plant, animal, and other spe-cies by encouraging wise land use practices.We engage and draw from the community inmany of our efforts. Our primary focus isto maintain the agricultural and rural sceniccharacter of western Sonoma County. Bo-dega Land Trust helps to sustain our local re-sources through conservation and agriculturaleasements, restoration activities, educationand community support.

Western Sonoma County is resplendentwith the scenic beauty of rolling pastorallandscapes and sweeping ocean panoramas.Coastal prairie, forested hills and clear run-ning creeks abound in this rural agriculturalarea. Our coastal watersheds provide impor-tant habitat for threatened and endangeredspecies and an incredible biodiversity of plants and animals. We work to ensure thatfuture generations can enjoy these treasures.

We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.

- Aldo Leopold, A Sand County Almanac, 1949

Finley Creek sub watershed looking south from Coleman Valley Road. Jerry Dodrill

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Riparian and Watershed Values. Coastal watersheds in western SonomaCounty support a variety of endangered and threatened species such as steel-

head trout, California freshwater shrimp and red-legged frogs. Known causesfor the threatened demise of these and historically known populations of Cohosalmon include habitat degradation and decreasing summer time ow in thecreeks and tributaries. The Bodega Land Trust seeks to restore ecosystem bal-ance by targeting riparian corridors and aquifer recharge areas for protection.We work with local watershed councils and agencies to develop and imple-ment watershed plans that protect and restore riparian habitat, monitor andimprove water quality, and restore or protect instream ow. Appropriate forest

and grasslands management is encouraged.

Agriculture. Agriculture is an integral part of the western Sonoma Countylandscape and economy. Generations of ranchers and growers have raisedsheep, dairy and beef cattle, goats, grapes and other crops. Terrain, infrastruc-

ture and soil are well suited for agriculture. Corporate farming, estate taxes,regulations and development pressure make it dif cult for agricultural familiesto stay in business or to maintain agricultural uses of land when landownerspass away. At the same time, Sonoma County residents are placing increasingvalue on sustainable agriculture and eating locally grown food. Bodega LandTrust helps sustain the local agricultural community by encouraging agricul-tural easements. We also provide landowners with assistance and referralsto expert resources regarding best management practices and environmental

restoration.

The Fay Creek easement protects some of the best steelhead spawning grounds in the SalmonCreek Watershed. Jerry Dodrill

Historic barn on land currently in the process of receiving an agricultural easement.

Joe Mortenson

Conservation Objectives

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Coastal Prairie and Forests . The coastal prairie and coastal mist forestsfound in western Sonoma County constitute rare, threatened and importantecosystems in California. Both support great biodiversity. Much of thecoastal prairie is currently utilized for agriculture. Private, non-industriallandowners own over 65% of the forestland. A number of factors includingpopulation growth, regulations and changes in the economy are creating pres-sure to convert forests and prairie to other uses. Ensuring the continuity of these forests and prairies will allow for their continued good health and habitatvalue. Bodega Land Trust works with various groups to identify large andsmall properties for protection that link habitat, pastures, forests, and nearbyprotected land. Appropriate grazing protective of the coastal prairie ecosystemis supported via agricultural easements.

View Sheds. The country roads of western Sonoma County provide some of the most delightful scenery in California. Tourists and residents alike cher-ish the open pastoral panoramas, ocean views, rolling hills, and driving roadsthrough redwood and coastal oak forests. Over two million visitors travel upthe Sonoma Coast each year. Lands targeted for attention include those adja-cent to or visible from Highway 12 between Sebastopol and the Coast Road,Highway 1, Coleman Valley Road, Bay Hill Road, Salmon Creek Road, JoyRoad and Bohemian Highway. BLT volunteers are actively photo-document-ing the spectacular scenery.

Magni cent views from Bay Hill Road make it one of West Sonoma Countys most trea-sured back roads. Joe Mortenson

Coastal prairie is one of the most threatened ecosystems in the United States.

Jerry Dodrill

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Bodega Land Trust EasementsNamed for the original donor, numbered in the order they were acquired.

1. Burnett-Barry, Coleman Creek Headwaters and Ridgetop Forest2. Delia Moon, Fay Creek Riparian Corridor3. Wheeler Ranch, Coleman and Finley Creek Riparian Corridors4. Amanda Moon, Finley Creek Riparian Corridor

5. Khysie Horn, Browns Canyon Creek

6. Silberschatz-Owyang, Redwood Forest7. Sone, Wildlife Sanctuary8. Sone, Redwood Creek Wildlife Corridor9. Sherer, Fay Creek Headwaters and Redwood Forest

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2005 - 2006: Invasive Species Eradication and Revegetation Project

Bodega Land Trust assisted a local landowner to obtain funding from the USFish and Wildlife Partners for Wildlife Program to remove the invasive spe-cies Vinca major from the banks of Green Creek, a tributary of Salmon Creek.

Bodega Land Trust assisted with coordination of volunteers for the restoration/education project. Several techniques were demonstrated for Vinca removaland replacement with native plants that provide ecological bene ts for theriparian system. Sharon Sadler managed the project as part of the HabitatPositive Program, which educates landowners and nurseries on the bene ts of using native plants.

2004 2008: Redwood Planting

In cooperation with Forests Unlimited and many other local groups, BodegaLand Trust helps plant redwood seedlings on various properties including itsthe Burnett-Barry and Sherer easements, helping to restore the crown forestthat existed prior to heavy logging and grazing during the 1800s and 1900s.

BLT Volunteers learn several eco-friendly methods of removing invasivespecies on Green Creek. Abigail Myers

Quinlan Gulch, adjacent to Bay Hill Road, site of proposed gravel quarry and targeted for protection as part of a local vision to protect sensitive coastal prairie and local agriculture. Jerry Dodrill

Community Support

Bodega Land Trust supports local community groups and initiatives by pro-viding start-up, duciary, volunteer, and technical support. We:

Helped form the Salmon Creek Watershed Council and sponsored and partici-pated in Salmon Creek Watershed Days. Ongoing collaborative efforts includeassistance with water quality monitoring and working with Gold Ridge RCD tocreate and implement a watershed plan.

Provided start up assistance for the Paula Lane Action Network, a group workingto protect wildlife habitat and open space near Petaluma;

Serve as the community Joint Use Partner in the Salmon Creek Falls Environmen-tal Center at Salmon Creek School;

Support and participate with local groups and conservation agencies such as theWest County Conservation Acquisition Group and the Small Forests Coalition toplan and prioritize conservation activities, and establish a green belt of protect-ed ranches and parcels that encompass coastal prairie, forests and riparian habitatstretching from the Estero Americano to the Russian River.

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H o w Y o u C a n H e l p

T h e r e a r e m a n y w a y s y o u c a n h e l p t h e B o d e g a L a n d T r u s t c o n s e r v e a n d p r o - t e c t o u r b e a u t i f u l l a n d a n d c o m m u n i t y . W e h o p e y o u w i l l p r o v i d e s u p p o r t i n a n y o f t h e w a y s l i s t e d b e l o w :

D o n a t e a n E a s e m e n t . D o n a t e d e a s e m e n t s a r e t h e m o s t o b v i o u s w a y y o u c a n s u p p o r t l a n d a n d a g r i c u l t u r a l c o n s e r v a t i o n . Y o u r t a x s a v i n g s m a y e a s - i l y c o v e r t h e s t e w a r d s h i p c o s t s f o r y o u r e a s e m e n t .

M a k e a M a j o r D o n a t i o n . Y o u r d o n a t i o n s n o t o n l y v i t a l i z e o u r o p e r a t i o n

b u t a l s o h e l p u s t o s e e k a n d m a t c h f u n d i n g p r o v i d e d b y f o u n d a t i o n s a n d o t h e r a g e n c i e s . M a j o r d o n a t i o n s m a y b e e a r m a r k e d f o r s p e c i a l p r o j e c t s o r p r o p e r t i e s , o r g i v e n i n s u p p o r t o f o u r g e n e r a l o p e r a t i n g n e e d s .

L e a v e a L e g a c y . D o n a t i n g l a n d f o r c o n s e r v a t i o n i s t r u l y o n e o f t h e n e s t l e g a c i e s a p e r s o n c a n l e a v e t o f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n s . T h e d o n a t i o n o f r e m a i n - d e r i n t e r e s t o r a r e s e r v e d l i f e e s t a t e a l l o w s y o u o r o t h e r n a m e d p e r s o n s t o c o n t i n u e t o l i v e o n t h e p r o p e r t y t h r o u g h o u t y o u r l i f e t i m e . P r o v i d i n g f o r t h e B o d e g a L a n d T r u s t i n y o u r w i l l a l l o w s t h e w o r k t o c a r r y o n i n p e r p e t u -

i t y , a s i t m u s t .

B e c o m e a n A n n u a l D o n o r . Y o u r d o n a t i o n i s e s s e n t i a l f o r s u p p o r t i n g t h e o n - g o i n g c o s t s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h t h e L a n d T r u s t .

A t t e n d a F u n d r a i s i n g E v e n t . H a v e f u n , b u y i t e m s c o n t r i b u t e d b y l o c a l d o n o r s , o r c o n t r i b u t e s o m e t h i n g t o o u r a u c t i o n . N e w e v e n t s a r e a n t i c i p a t e d s o o n . T h e f o o d i s s u r e t o b e g r e a t !

B e c o m e a V o l u n t e e r . W e a r e p r i m a r i l y s u p p o r t e d b y v o l u n t e e r s a n d w e n e e d y o u ! W e n e e d h e l p m o n i t o r i n g e a s e m e n t s , c o m m u n i c a t i n g , a n d n e t w o r k i n g . W e n e e d t e c h n i c a l e x p e r t s , a d m i n i s t r a t o r s , a n d l e a d e r s o r h e l p e r s f o r r e s t o r a t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n p r o j e c t s .

H e l p F u n d r a i s e . D o y o u k n o w a n y o n e w h o m i g h t b e c o m e a c o n s e r v a - t i o n b u y e r ? C a n y o u p l a n , o r g a n i z e , o r h o s t a n e v e n t ? C a n y o u p r o v i d e u s w i t h i d e a s o r i n f o r m a t i o n t o h e l p u s o b t a i n f u n d i n g ? P l e a s e l e t u s

k n o w !

B o d e g a L a n d T r u s t d e d i c a t e d t o t h e c o n s e r v a t i o n a n d s t e w a r d s h i p

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2007 Bodega Land Trust 15 Year Report