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Spring 2012 Newsletter
sagebrush ste
LAND TRU
Stories From the Land
One year ago, Valerie joined the Sagebrush Steppe LandTrust board. The Land Trust is working to keep SoutheastIdaho intact, both or the sake o habitat and or the sake
o Idahos cultural heritage. Being a land trust, the bulko our job entails negotiating conservation easements
with landowners, speciically in Southeast Idaho. Theseconservation easements are voluntary, legally bindingagreements between the Land Trust and the landown-ers. These agreements run with the land and protect theconservation values ound on these parcels in perpetuity
while still allowing the landowners to work their land in away that supports natural habitat.
Wendell Berry is a well-known author who writesabout the dangers to local landscapes. Much o whathe writes relative to conserving land locally is linked to
his observations o communities and people. Similarlytwo very important aspects o our conservation eortsare the ace-to-ace interactions we maintain between
the people we work with (landowners and partnershipgroups, or example), and the language we all agree uponthat is later written into law, resulting in permanent landand habitat conservation.
Berry mentions that it is the accountability o theseinterchanges between the negotiating parties that are
the critical element in determining which conservationeorts are actually implemented on-the-ground. In orderor our conservation eorts to be eective over the
long term, all parties involved must be accountable orupholding the language that is written into the conserva-
tion easement agreements. I the connections betweenthe written agreements and on-the-ground practices arebroken, then conservation ails.
This is one example o why our relationships with theindividuals we partner with are invaluable. Fortunately or
the Land Trust, we have been able to make some(continued on page 2)
Written by Sally Averette, the Land Trusts newestemployee. Learn more about Sally on page 3.
Because their liestyle and ranching practices relect genera-tions o similar living, it is strange to think o the Robertsonsas newcomers to Idaho, yet technically they are reugees. In1997, Valerie and Marvin Robertson hopped the Wyoming-Idaho border and relocatedor a third timeto Bear LakeCounty, Idaho. This time around they have made the decision
to do everything they can to protect their way o lie by keep-ing the Southeast corner o Idaho in one piece.
Located on the eastern edge o our service area, whereIdaho and Wyoming meet, is the Bar Y Ranch. The Robertsonsoperate this 5,000-acre working ranch. Here the state lineis rather indiscriminate, deined artiicially by the two-laneHighway 89 and naturally by the north-to-south runningPreuss Mountains. Simply glimpsing out o the kitchen win-dow o their ranch house, the beneits o keeping the Bar
Y Ranch and the neighboring ranches intact seem obvious.There are acres and acres o healthy sagebrush steppe habi-
tat, both on the Bar Y and in the surrounding area. Also,
there is no development within eyesight; this is a act theRobertsons dont take or granted.
Valerie and her husband Marvin met in Jackson Hole,Wyoming where Marvin grew up on his amilys homesteadedworking ranch. By the time the two married, the surroundingJackson area was no longer recognizable, or aordable. Theydecided to sell their ranch in Jackson and move urther west
to Star Valley. Here they bought a working ranch and raisedtheir two daughters.
While the Robertsons speak highly o their lie in Star Valley,their story o the place carries with it a tone o impendingdoom: the development that chopped up the habitat and
landscape o their home in Jackson eventually made its wayto Star Valley, and the Robertsons were, once again, orcedto bump urther south into Idaho so that they could continuetheir working liestyle.
The intact piece o sagebrush steppe habitat they nowreside on is important to the ranching community. It is alsoessential or the survival o many o the species ound in thesouthwest corner o the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem(GYE), such as sage-grouse and pronghorn. Elk and muledeer reside here in the winter. Additionally, because this cor-ner o the GYE is arid, the sagebrush steppe habitat is criticalor capturing sparse snow and rainall.
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On behal o the Land Trust and the Idaho Coalition o LandTrusts, this April I had the opportunity to travel to WashingtonD.C. to advocate in support o ederal programs that areinstrumental in protecting wildlie habitat and working armsand ranches. We were one o 35 land trusts rom across theUnited States who met with key members o the Agriculture,
Appropriations and tax-writing committees. The Land TrustAlliance arranged these meetings to demonstrate the wide-spread support or land conservation programs throughout
the country. Scott Boettger (Executive Director o the WoodRiver Land Trust in Hailey), Jerry Reece (Board Chairman oTeton Regional Land Trust in Driggs), and I met with Idahossenators, representatives and sta members to discuss theederal conservation programs that directly aect Idahosquality o lie.
One key topic o discussion was making the EnhancedEasement Incentive permanent. This incentive helps land-owners o modest means choose to conserve their amily land
(including arms, ranches, and wildlands) by raising the maxi-mum deduction a donor can take or donating a conservationeasement rom 30% o their adjusted gross income (AGI) inany year to 50%; and allowing qualiied landowners (those
that earn their income o o their arm or ranch) to deduct upto 100% o their AGI. It also increases the years over whicha donor can take deductions rom 6 years to 16 years. This
incentive is a critical element in the many landowners dsions to place a conservation easement on their land.
In addition to advocating or the Enhanced EasemIncentive, we discussed maintaining other conservation ing programs, like the Farm and Ranchland Protection Prog(FRPP) and the North American Wetland Conservation
(NAWCA). The signiicance o these unds is huge; currewe are preparing to close a conservation easement that manently protects over 1,100 acres o working ranchlandimportant native trout habitat. Fity percent o this pr
was unded by the FRPP. This project would not have bpossible without the ederal program.
Another example o protection that is provided by a edprogramthe Land and Water Conservation Fundlies a
the South Fork o the Snake River, and in the shadows oSawtooth Range beside the Salmon River. With continsupport o this and other unding programs, Idahoans can orward to new conservation success stories rom all cor
o our amazing state!While we all understand that these are times o diinancial constraints, conservation unding comprises 1.25% o overall ederal spending. This investment supparmland and ranchland, and permanently protects open sand wild lands. We all beneit rom the protection provby these programs, now and or uture generations.
From the DirectorJoselin with Congressman Mike Simpson and other Idaho Conservation L
(stories rom the land, continued rom page 1)real and lasting relationships with individuals who arestill working the land or a living in the sagebrush stepperegion o Idaho. Valerie Robertson is one o our proudestexamples.
Valerie is a key player in her newound home o SoutheastIdaho. Her lie has been ranching. Along the way, she hascome to the conclusion that a unctioning and natural systemis the artery that keeps a working ranch working, and thati this artery is severed, her way o lie is lost. Plus, says
Valerie, theres no better pleasure and reassurance thatyour ranch works than watching it work or the wildliearound you. She is spreading the word throughout thisremote corner o our service area, and educating the LandTrust in the meantime.
While we are la great employe
the Land Trustcouldnt be m
thrilled to sup
Heidi in her adventure as a m
er! We are con
that Heidi and will instill a st
conservation eth
little William Alb
Welcome to World, William!
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See more online!sagebrushlandtrust.org
I am thrilled to be a part o the Sagebrush Steppe com-
munity, and am looking orward to exploring Southeast
Idaho.For the past nine years, Sally has been working seasonally
or the US Forest Service and the US Geological Survey in
remote areas o Idaho, Montana, and Utah. Her work hasranged rom Wildland Fireighting to Wilderness Rangering
These jobs have enabled Sally to spend time on-the-ground
living and working in some amazing country.The impact these places have made on her lie have been
the driving orce behind her proessional pursuits; not toolong ago, Sally decided to mix-up her backcountry ield
work with a graduate degree in environmental law and
policy rom Vermont Law School. She ocused on land use
speciically within large ecosystems. What she has beenable to gather rom her personal experiences is that the
permanent protection a land trust provides is critical in the
uture o conservation.
We are lucky to ind such talent in Sally. She is alreadyworking on transactions, undraising, and outreach.
Welcome to the Staff, SallyThe Land Trust welcomes Laurel Pumphrey as its newest Board
member. Laurel is a regional classical artist and vocal coach.I am a passionate musician; however, there is another side
o me that is in love with all things wild; be it herons lying by
o their evening roost, airy shrimp bizarrely thriving in theearby lavas or the symphony o an intact natural soundscape.
I have the heart and soul o a naturalist that was nurtured
s a child in the mountains and deserts o Southwest Idaho.
worked or the Idaho Conservation League while in schoolnd have more recently been looking or the right avenue to
eengage in the work o conservation. Last all I discovered theage Brush Steppe Land Trust and began volunteering with therganization. Since then I have been studying this movement
nd have learned that land trusts are an intriguing and power-
ul conservation tool. I am honored to join the Board and amxcited to contribute in urthering the eorts o preserving and
estoring lands in Southeast Idaho.
Laurel lives in the mountains above Lava Hot Springs in aabin built by hersel and her husband.
Welcome to the Board, Laurel
Mary McAleeseMary McAleese
Lucinda Klein is the Land Trusts newest volunteer. She has
been working in the oice three days a week. She has helpedwith general administrative work, and special projects like
preparing the poster or Pocatellos Environmental Fair. Like
the rest o the sta, she is excited or spring and anxiousto get in the ield. In May and June, she will have plenty o
opportunities to get out on the land. A long-time Pocatello
resident, Lucinda volunteers her time or the Land Trustbecause she wants to give back to the wonderul commu-
nity she is a part o and enjoys working with great people
who care about the land and environment.
Volunteer ProfileThanks for your hard work Lucinda!
Sally Averette and Lucinda Kle
See more online!sagebrushlandtrust.org
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Thunder Ridge Preserve200 acres of important winter range protectedthrough a donation from Keith and Jan Rasmu
Soda Hills Conservation Easement
The 200-acre Thunder Ridge Preserve is in Bear LakeCounty, located up Sleight Creek Canyon just outside o
the community o Paris.
Jan and I are pleased to work with the Land Trust toprotect this critical wildlie habitat. Over the years, ouramily has enjoyed observing elk, deer, moose, eagles,and sage grouse on the property during all seasons, said
Keith. The Land Trust was a pleasure to work with, and
we are happy to know the wildlie will be there or years
The Soda Hills Conservation Easement is a 120-acre par-
cel located in Caribou County, Idaho. This conservation
easement protects open space or agricultural practicesand provides winter range or local species, such as mule
deer.
The Land Trust acilitated the Soda Hills ConservationEasement between the Bureau o Land Management and
P4 Productions/Monsanto in February o 2012. Now thatthis parcel has been placed under easement, the ranch-
land is protected rom development in perpetuity, as arethe conservation values o the wildlie habitat and scenic
vistas. These values both support and allow or the con-
tinued agricultural use o this parcel, which has historicallyincluded ranching. The Soda Hills Conservation Easement
ensures the quality o these values and practices by main-
taining a seasonal closure (winter) to motorized vehicles,in addition to prohibiting grading, dumping and mining.
to come.The Land Trust holds Thunder Ridge in ee title owne
ship and will manage the property primarily or elk and m
deer winter range, grouse habitat, and scenic open spaThunder Ridge maintains other sagebrush steppe attbutes, such as bitterbrush. Additionally, the Land Trust wacilitate educational and recreational opportunities on t
Thunder Ridge Preserve in an eort to promote responsi
stewardship throughout the Bear River Watershed.
New Projects
SodaHills
Alexander Reservoir
to Sod(~
Private Land
ConservationEasement
to Lava Hot Springs(~25 miles)
BLMLand
StateIdah
Highway30/34
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See more online!sagebrushlandtrust.org
Public Access
Where is it? The 435-acre Deep Creek Preserve is located inFranklin County, Idaho. It is approximately ive miles north othe Utah border. The property borders United States Forest
Service Land to the east and is an access point or the trail
systems associated with the Mt. Naomi Wilderness Area.
Why is it Protected? The preserve is protected to improvewetland unction, riparian condition, water quality, and ishand wildlie habitat. The Land Trust will sustain priority natu-
ral resource eatures or the long-term through monitoring
and adaptive management.
Where is it? The 157-acre Kackley property is located on bothsides o the Bear River in Caribou County, just downstream o
Black Canyon.
Why is it Protected? The Kackley property is managed topreserve a character o undeveloped and natural open space.The property is also managed to protect ish, wildlie, scenic,
historic, archaeological, and cultural values. Additionally, weare paying special attention to the restoration o the BonnevilleCutthroat Trout (BCT) on the Kackley Preserve. With our
partners, we have built a ish trap near the mouth o Kackley
Springs to capture ish moving up into the spring. We willmanage the trap to ensure that only BCT are able to move
upstream. This will allow the BCT to access key spawning
habitat, and as a result will reduce hybridization with othernon-native trout species.
What can I do there?To visit the property, please call the LandTrust at 208-241-4662.
What can I do there? From the Deep Creek Preserve, youcan access the Mt. Naomi Wilderness trail system, or spend
part o the day walking through the 435-acre property. In
the spring, Deep Creek explodes with native wildlowersthat make or a wonderul picture-taking opportunity.
How do I get there?For detailed directions, please call theLand Trust at 208-241-4662 prior to venturing out onto the
Deep Creek Property.
Public
Access
ParkingBear River
Black Canyon
Kackley
Preserve
Deep Creek Preserve
Kackley Preserve
To Grac(~5 mile
Cove
PowerPlant
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Thanks!$5,000 - $25,999Anonymous Donor
Heart of the Rockies Initiative
Ifft Foundation in the Idaho
Community Foundation
Intermountain West
Joint Venture
Land Trust Alliance
Pacificorp
P4/Monsanto
Keith and Jan Rasmussen
Wilburforce Foundation
$1,000 - $4,999
Tim and Jessica Lindstrom
Garry and Terry Ratzlaff
$500 - $999
Bob and Betti Bohus
Bob and Judy Flandro
Jim FrancfortAlvin Kackley
Mike Thomas
and Alissa Salmore
Scaup & Willet, LLC
Jim and Bonnie Shaw
$250 - $499
Allen and Mary Eng
Randy and Keri Fowler
Frank and Judy Harmon
June Heilman
Tom Lucia
Matt Lucia
Joselin Matkins
Rick Nordseth
Matt and Hannah Sanger
Babette Thorpe
$100 - $249Lance and Karen Bethke
Margaret Hudson
and Bernd Beutenmuller
Bob Bloxham and Kate Delate
Randy and Becky Budge
Tim Flandro
Robert and Sheri Frasure
Craig Groves and Victoria Saab
H. Hilbert
Geoff Hogander
Patty Isaeff and Tim ReynoldsPaula Jones
Mike Katsilometes
Matthew Lewis
Marilynne Manguba
Kevin Marsh and Erika Kuhlman
Deb Mignogno
Michelle Pak
Marvin and Valerie Robertson
Gene and Cherryl Rose
Stella and David Sandquist
Pete and Sarah SavageMark and Beth Stenberg
Craig Groves and Victoria Saab
Rick Williams
and Rosemary Smith
Angier Wills
$50 - $99
Victoria Abrams
Fred Belzer
and Theresa Kaufmann
Thomas and Nancy Burkhart
Richard and Peggy Garvin
Sallee Gasser
Melissa and Daniel Green
Betty and Brent Holbrook
Laurel Pumphrey
Every eort has been made to ensure accurate representation o contributions between
October 15, 2011 and April 30, 2012. I you fnd an error, please let us know.
$50 - $99 continuedRay Lappan and Cathy Kriloff
Michael and Dorothy Lower
Matt MacMillan
Dave and Pam Maguire
James and Sharon Manning
Robert Marcinko
Jane Matkins
Peter and Sandra McDermott
Johnny Mendive
David and Sheila Mills
Greg MladenkaRuth Anne Moorhead
Porter Office Products
Peggy Stolworthy
Stanley and Floreen Thyberg
Coby and Linda Tigert
up to $49
Anonymous Donor
Bill and Jean Davidson
Pat HarrisMelinda Jahsman
Kathleen and Joe Lehman
Ralph and Jackie Maughan
Jerry and Wendy Ransbottom
Norman Showalter
Guy and Doreen Smith
Richard and Judy Wabrek
Lee Purser
Betty and John Sigler
Bill Waterfield
and Hollie Beckman
Memorial Donation
In memory of Mike Delate
Recent Grants
ROCKY MOUNTAINPOWER OUTREACHThe Rocky Mountain PoFoundation awarded a$4000 grant to SagebruSteppe Regional Land Tto increase awareness ovoluntary land conservaopportunities facilitated
the Land Trust.
INTERMOUNTAINWEST JOINT VENTUThe IWJV awarded a se$5,000 grant to continuworking in the Bear LakValley. The grant will hethe Land Trust work wilandowners to protectcritical wetlands and birhabitat.
IDAHO COMMUNITFOUNDATIONThe Ifft Foundation Funin the Idaho CommunitFoundation awarded $5to SSLT. The Land Trusdevelop and install intertive signage to describerestoration process andcate visitors on river heand water quality.
LAND TRUST ALLIAThe Land Trust Allianceawarded $10,000 to SSfor a strategic organizational advancement proover the next year to hus develop our 2013-20Strategic Plan that integour Conservation Plan, raising goals, and visionthe next 5 years.
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See more online!sagebrushlandtrust.org
On behal o the amily o Michael Birdman De
(Kate DeLate, Bob & Skyler Bloxham) we would
to oer our sincerest appreciation or the donatreceived in his name. The Sagebrush Steppe Land T
has set up a und in his memory to acknowledge B
connection to Southeast Idaho. Donations are bdedicated to strengthening the partnership between
Sagebrush Steppe and the Teton Regional Land Trust
the objective to increase protection o bird habitat.
organizations are working together to strengthen tpartnership and protect important avian habitat in Gr
Lake and the Blackoot River Watershed where tservice areas overlap.
Bird was very proud o the advances the Sageb
Steppe Land Trust had made in the past ew years. passion and excitement or the outdoors is well re
sented by the memorial und created.
Thanks so much to those that donated in Birdm
memory.
A Legacy of Conservation
FIND USwww.sagebrushlandtrust.org
(208) 241-4662
Ofce: 123 N Main, Ste 4, Pocatello
Mail: PO Box 1404, Pocatello, ID 83204
AND TRUST BOARDance Bethke
Bill Davidson
Bob Flandro
essica McAleeseaurel Pumphrey
Garry Ratzla
Valerie Robertson
Martha Wackenhut
XECUTIVE DIRECTORoselin Matkins
PROGRAM ASSOCIATEally Averette
The Land Trusts mission
is to protect and enhance
natural lands, wildlie habi-
tat, and working arms
and ranches in
Southeast Idaho,
now and or uture
generations.
dar Creek Restoration Workdayurday, June 2 rom 8:30am-1:00pmunteers and local Boy Scouts will participate in the 4th Annual Res-ation Workday along Cedar Creek, a tributary o the Blackoot River.
e began this restoration project in 2006, and have since recreated otretch o Cedar Creek that had been flled and diverted into a ditch.e stream was restored to improve habitat or Yellowstone cutthroatut and other native species. Call (208) 241-4662 or more details.
h Annual Summer Fundraiserednesday, July 25 rom 5:00-9:00pmlp maintain our high quality o lie by attending our 4th Annual Fund-ser. This community event raises unds to keep the Land Trust work-or you -- protecting our regions irreplaceable wildlie, wild land, and
rking arms and ranches. Dont miss great ood and riends and newivities like garlic planting, ly casting, and a wildlie treasure hunt!
her Activities (date to be determined, check the website)ant to volunteer in the feld? email: [email protected]
e will be in the feld nearly every week this summer monitoring ournservation easement and managing the land we own in ee title. Weed all sorts o skill sets in the feld including map reading, GPS, speciesntifcation, and photography. Call (208) 241-4662 or send an email
the address above.
it www.sagebrushlandtrust.org/events_calendar.php or updates
Volunteers enjoying the view of the Blackfoot River
pcoming Activities
nless otherwise noted, photos in this newsletter were taken by SSLT sta.
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NON-PROFIT ORg
U.S. POSTAgE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 51
POcATEllO, ID
Acres Permanently Protected With Your Support: 2,260
PO Box 1404, Pocatello ID 83204
sagebrush steppe
LAND TRUST
Mark Your Calendar!
Land Trust FundraiserWednesday, July 25
Buddys RestaurantButcher BlockCoHO Coffee HouseCourtesy FordCynthia Louise BoutiqueDel Monte MeatDL Evans BankDr. Michael FlandroElectric ServiceEngelson, Capell, & EngelsonFish off the Old BlockHailey PaintHanson Supply
Heinz Frozen Food CompanyHenrys Hair DesignISU Outdoor RecreationJuniper Hills Country ClubKruse InsuranceKZBQ 93.7 and KORR 104LadyBird FarmsLive Water PropertiesMama Inez
Meyers Law OfficeMyers Anderson ArchitectsPacific Steel & RecyclingPartner Steel CampingPhil Meador ToyotaPinehurst Nursery and FloralPocatello Co-OpPortneuf Valley BreweryPortneuf Healthcare FoundationPro BuildersRemosScotts Lock and KeyScotts Ski and Sports
SimplotSnugfleece Inc.Steve Wallace ArchitectsTEC Distributing of IdahoThe Bag LadyThe GoldsmithThe Paperwork PlaceThe Ravens Nest
Thanks Again 2011 Business Sponsors!
Also, see us online at www.sagebrushlandtrust.org, visit us on
IN THIS ISSUE:Policy Update
...Page 2Meet our New Sta
...Page 3
On the Land
...Page 7
New Projects
...Page 5