FALL 2013 Board of Directors The Trail to Stack Rock Nate Isaak President Susie Saad Vice President Nancy Werdel Secretary Jonathan Krutz Treasurer Rhonda Schaff Leif Elgethun Volunteer trail crew helping to maintain the trail with our partners REI and SWIMBA. Photo: Aileen Frey Kahle Becker Stack Rock is an icon of the Treasure Valley and has been a destination for recreationists for decades. But to get there can mean traveling on private land without permission. The only public trails access is over 9 miles long from Bogus Basin Ski Resort – too far for most hikers. When Boise City acquired Stack Rock with Foothills levy money and a private donation, the need for a direct route that was also legal became even more critical. Michelle Cooper Sam Sandmire Jon Munkers Scott Raeber Sarah Weppner Anne Woodhouse Staff Tim Breuer Executive Director Kim Gattiker Membership Coordinator Sam Roberts Trail Foreman Jill Baum Stewardship Coordinator The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley P.O. Box 106 Boise, ID 83701 208.345.1452 www.lttv.org [email protected] Stack Rock looms in distance. Thanks to Ridge to Rivers for providing tools. Photo: Tim Breuer We are pleased to announce that earlier this year the Land Trust succeeded in securing a trail easement across the private land. Three separate owners helped make the easement possible which now allows for public access to this great site. More work is needed as trailhead parking is limited. A small area to park exists near mile marker 13. Efforts are underway to identify an alternative parking area. Until a site is secured please respect signs and park only off the asphalt. We hope you find time to enjoy the hike or bike ride to Stack Rock. • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Conserving Nature Close to Home • More Land Saved in Hillside to the Hollow Area Save the Date Thurs, Dec. 5, 2013 5 - 7 pm Annual Members & Friends Holiday Party Join us at The Crux 1022 W. Main Street Downtown Boise The old adage, ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ could also be applied to nature preserves. In 1990 the Boise Heritage Preservation Report identified Harrison Hollow as an important natural area valued for its sense of solitude close to the urban core. Neighbors helped shine a light on it, and dubbed the larger area “Hillside to the Hollow.” When the first piece of the area, Harrison Hollow, came on the market the Land Trust moved quickly to secure the right to buy the land. With citizen’s help, the purchase was completed in the waning hours of 2011. Today we are pleased that Boise city Levy money has been used to purchase an additional 259 acres bringing the total to 310 acres of nature on the very edge of the north end of Boise. This is a tremendous victory for the community, for nature and for the concept of collaboration and community team work. We see this latest step not as an end but a new beginning. There will be more work ahead, and the Land Trust is pleased to be able to work closely with city leaders and neighbors as we develop a plan and begin caring for this newest addition to our foothills family. We are honored to be part of this ‘village’. Stewardship Success Volunteers complete all season trail in Harrison Hollow. We’ve been busy in the field since the last newsletter! Thanks to a multitude of volunteers, interested partners and generous donors, the stewardship program continues to make a difference on the ground. Projects have varied geographically from the Foothills to the River and from Stack Rock to Star. Over the past half year, the Land Trust engaged 106 volunteers on 10 different projects. These have included cottonwood planting, trail maintenance, purple loosestrife eradication, bitterbrush monitoring, and gravel spreading (a worthy and challenging project!). Additionally, we assisted with half a dozen classroom field trips, set up outreach materials at a variety of public events, engaged a College of Western Idaho horticulture class in propagating native plants for future projects and collected water samples for the annual Watershed Watch. In the words of one volunteer, “I would love to volunteer with you again. I know we did something positive for our community and I had fun!” Thank you, everyone, for putting our mission into action. Students plant cottonwood saplings at Star River Walk. Photo: Kim Gattiker Dinner in the Hollow: Celebrating the Conservation Community Thanks to more than 200 guests, sponsors, donors and volunteers, Dinner in the Hollow raised over $28,000 to support the work of the Land Trust. The evening began with a rousing set by Carmel & the Closers, a great band and supporters of the Harrison Hollow Purchase. Mayor Dave Bieter spoke to the crowd about the importance of the bond packages. After a fine meal of paella by the Basque Market, cooked during high winds, auctioneer Josh Houk entertained the crowd with lucky bidders winning trips, vacation rentals. local wine and lunch with Mayor Bieter. Thanks to all who helped, participated, donated food, beer, wine and auction items. Hats off to this community of supporters of nature. Members enjoy Dinner in the Hollow. Photo: Katie Saad • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Boise River Enhancement Network Awarded Federal Grant The Land Trust along with our colleagues at Trout Unlimited, Idaho Rivers United, South Boise Water Company and Ecosystem Sciences Foundation, succeeded in a proposal to the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program to strengthen the network of professionals and citizens interested in a healthy Boise River. The $50,000 grant will be used to broaden the network and create concepts for enhancement projects, providing a way for diverse stakeholders to connect, coordinate and cooperate. An early outgrowth of this network is providing input into Boise City’s River Management Plan. Please add your comments regarding the future of the Boise River at the next pubic open house in January 2014. For more information see parks.cityofboise.org/8604.aspx. The Majestic Cottonwood The black cottonwood is an important piece of the habitat fabric along the Lower Boise River. But it is in jeopardy. The tree needs high flood flows for seed to germinate and grow. These flows are rare to non-existent since the dam system was built, and the large cottonwood is threatened. Without seed-produced trees, the remaining sucker trees are less genetically diverse putting trees at risk should a disease strike. The Land Trust is growing cottonwood trees using seed collected from our Eagle Island property, Perkins Nature Area. The seeds, having grown for a season with help from the Idaho Botanical Garden, have turned into robust yearlings. This fall and winter most of the trees will be planted on public or protected private lands, often with the help from volunteers like students at Star Elementary. The Land Trust is committed to growing native plants and future conservationists. Cottonwoods aglow along Star River Walk. Bird by Bird Connects Students with Nature As a kestrel soars above like a kite on a windy day, students from Highlands Elementary take notice. They are one of over 15 classes in the valley who are part of the Bird by Bird Program. This multi-agency effort was created by the US Fish and Wildlife Service so students of various ages would have the opportunity to become budding birders and lovers of nature. Meggan Mackey, Public Affairs Specialist for the Fish and Wildlife Service, has observed changes in student behavior after just a semester. Photo: birdbybirdidaho.com “Watching these students become excited about bird watching makes you encouraged for the future of nature. Many of these kids have not had a chance to learn about birds in their own backyard and by the time they finish a season, they are hooked.” The Land Trust’s stewardship coordinator helps organize the effort as part of our partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and other partners, BLM, Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Golden Eagle Audubon Society and Wild Birds Unlimited. Through this same partnership, the Land Trust additionally helps to coordinate the Sage Grouse in the Schools program for high school students. YOU ARE WHAT MAKES OUR COMMUNITY GREAT! Land Trust members like you allow us to conserve access to nature for current and future generations. Thank you. Not a member? Go to www.lttv.org and help leave a lasting legacy of nature. Interested in getting your hands dirty? Sign up to volunteer on our website. Ongoing opportunities include trail work, habitat restoration and cottonwood planting, to name a few. Join us! • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Thanks to our Business & Organizational Partners Please support the businesses and organizations that support conservation. Healthwise REI, Inc. Wells Fargo Tates Tents & Events Mackay Wilderness River Trips TerraGraphics Environmental Engineering Site Based Energy Idaho Wine Merchant Idaho Mountain Touring Ecosystems Sciences Foundation Sustainable Maintenance Solutions Western States Caterpillar Thornton Oliver Keller 10 Barrel Brewing Co. Highlands Hollow Brewhouse Ninkasi Brewing Co. Hells Canyon Winery World Cycle & XC Ski Aurora Power Bonefish Grill The Promo Shop The Basque Market The Boise Weekly Canyons River Company Meuleman Mollerup Intermountain Medical Imaging Bardenay Shu’s Idaho Running Co. Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area Vacasa Rentals Brundage Mountain Resort Sun Valley Trekking Crane Creek Country Club Sage Yoga The Knitting Factory The Flicks Boise Contemporary Theater Chandler’s Whole Foods Idaho Department of Fish & Game Boise City Ridge to Rivers Ada County The Bureau of Land Management US Forest Service US Fish & Wildlife Service The Bureau of Reclamation Idaho Conservation League Conservation Voters for Idaho Idaho Botanical Garden SWIMBA College of Western Idaho Idaho Rivers United Trout Unlimited Winter Wildlands Alliance Star Elementary White Pine Elementary Highlands Elementary Sage International School Riverstone International School Idaho Youth Ranch Idaho Master Naturalists Trey McIntyre Project Radio Boise Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation Idaho Community Foundation Boise State Public Radio The Land Trust of the Treasure Valley, Inc. P.O. Box 106 Boise, ID 83701-0106 www.lttv.org Conserving nature close to home. Vote Yes! Yes! for Boise on Nov. 5 Vibrant communities in which to live, work and raise a family don’t just happen. On November 5th, Boise voters have a chance to choose a future that will ensure our great city remains vibrant and sustainable. Two bond measures are on the ballot, one of which will create $10 million for acquisition of land in natural areas like the Boise Foothills and along the Boise River. The measure will cost an average homeowner about a $1/month. We think this is a sound investment in our future. Citizens of the past have worked hard to create things like the Boise River Greenbelt. Now it’s our turn. The Land Trust has endorsed this effort, and we hope you will join us in voting Yes Yes for Boise on November 5th. Leave a Legacy Please consider the Land Trust of the Treasure Valley in your estate planning. Gifts of cash, IRA’s or land all help to assure a legacy of nature in the Treasure Valley. And there may be significant tax benefits in doing so. Call the office at 345-1452 to learn more. Cottonwood sapling recently planted at Hyatt Wetlands. Photo: Jill Baum • Conserving Nature Close to Home • Conserving Nature Close to Home •