| Thanks to our super-productive volunteers who have helped us in the months of January and February!
***If you volunteered in January or February but are not listed below, we sincerely apologize. Please give us a call so we can recognize you.***
Marty & John Shower
John Zicker
Emily Moghaddas
John Olofson
Jim Crane
Joyce Paczynski
Vicki Robbennolt
Deanne Henninger
Mavis Somers
Renewing & New Members for
January-February
Rose Wanken
Jack & Robyn Bullock
John Bennett & Karen Balabanian
Keith & Lori Linford
Lisa Oviatt
John Tull & Marlene Rebori-Tull
Rob Russell & Deb Whittaker
Jan Hunt Boucher
Bill & Mary Davis
Susan Hopkins
Robert & Sandra Davidson
Michael Morrison
Don Dailey
Kim Fluty
Peter Seidman
Phil Nemir
Suzannah Barbour
Barbara Gage
Frank Hanson
Linda Margaretic
Jean Graham-Gilliat
Zeke Lunder
Robert Cobb & Betty Moura
Norberta & Marvin Schmidt
Rob Kulakofsky
Bruce & Doris Livingston
Helen Green
Patrick Callahan & Holly Nordt
Tom Davis
Phil Gallagher & Karen Bentley
Lucinda Berdon & Mark Houston
Bob & Denise Stein
Terri Rust
Linda Alexander
Michael & Barbara Stewart
Vicki & Aldo Baggia
Valerie Sappingfield
Susan Kelley
Linda & Curry Jameson
Supplies Needed
Loppers, shovels, McLeod, Pulaski, drip torch, bow saws, trowels, weedpullers,
leather gloves,
chainsaw (in working order),
chainsaw chaps and helmet, livestock water tanks-plastic or aluminum, livestock gates and coral equipment, unused rolls of barbed wire and T-posts, working solar pumps and solar panels, rechargeable cordless electric drill (at least 18v), wheelbarrow, chipper
If you have any of these items or something else you think may be helpful, please contact Jason at jmoghaddas@frlt.org
Thanks to FRLT's Board of Directors:
Betsy Kraemer
Trina Cunningham
Mike Yost
Tom Wood
Beth McMorrow
Rob Wade
Bob Battigan
Pat Fites
Dona |
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FRLT's First E-Newsletter Has Arrived!
Welcome to our first quarterly e-newsletter! Our hope is that the newsletter will allow us to maintain consistent contact with our members and volunteers without the expense of postage and materials. Members who have not shared their email addresses with us will continue to receive a copy in the mail, but many of our supporters prefer to go paperless. If you know of a Land Trust member who has not received this email but would like to be added to our email list, please have them contact Eva Rocke at 530-283-5758 or erocke@frlt.org. |
Heart K Campaign in Full Swing
 While the snow was falling and Plumas County residents were skiing and taking annual winter trips to Mexico, a deadline has been creeping ever-closer for staff and members of the Land Trust. In December of this year, $2.6 million will be due to the David & Lucile Packard Foundation to pay back the bridge loan that allowed FRLT to save the Heart K Ranch back in 2006. The loan was for three years, which means that this is the third and final year for coming together to protect the Heart K once and for all. There has been plenty of recent press about the various funds associated with the Heart K payoff. Back in August 2008, the $1 million grant awarded to FRLT by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy was rescinded. On the bright side, FRLT's involvement in the Northern Sierra Partnership has gotten the Heart K on the Partnership's list of priority projects for the next few years. Just recently, the Partnership committed up to $1.5 million to the campaign, leaving FRLT to raise $1.1 million over the next 9 months, not counting the cost of staff time and other resources needed to conduct the campaign. Needless to say, the issue of money is on our minds everyday.
The current plan to buy the Ranch looks something like this: FRLT is exploring the possibility of selling an easement on the property (estimated value of about $700,000) to another conservation organization. Other possibilities include support from private foundations and wildlife organizations (in the $200,000 range) and building strong membership support (hopefully $100,000). We're also in the process of evaluating several Native American funding sources that may be interested in becoming part of the project. This kind of partnership would also allow FRLT to more effectively preserve and honor the cultural resources that are a key part of the property's role in our community.
Our Vision for the Heart K
- A healthy oak woodland, grassland, and riparian ecosystem with high quality habitat for native vegetation, fish, birds, and mammals, particularly summer and winter deer range.
- Star thistle and other invasive, non-native plant species have been replaced by native grasses.
- Important Native American cultural sites are protected and respected and the Mountain Maidu have a meaningful, ongoing relationship with the land that is shared with others.
- The property is open to public access for a variety of uses (e.g., fishing, hiking, birding, canoeing, gatherings), so long as these uses and the levels of use are compatible with ecological sustainablility.
- The property continues to be used for sustainable cattle grazing and other agricultural uses, supporting local agriculture, culture, and economy.
- The restoration of Indian Creek into a thriving fishery and the mangement of forested areas for ecosystem sustainability and reduced community fire hazard.
- The property as a venue for a variety of outdoor education opportunities for local and regional students.
- A place people come to reconnect to nature and our cultural heritage, and to celebrate the lands of the Feather River Region.
To help us create this vision and for the latest update on the Imagine the Heart K Campaign, FRLT will be holding an informational meeting on Thursday, April 9 (5:30 p.m.) at Mike and Sally Yost's home in Taylorsville (4330 Warren Street, Taylorsville, corner of Ann and Warren). Please call Karen or Eva at 530 283-5758 for more information. |
Plumas Residents Receive 2008 Vision Awards
Paul Hardy, Executive Director of the Feather River Land Trust, and Gary Romano of Sierra Valley Farms have each received a Sierra Business Council Vision 2020 Award for 2008. The awards recognize outstanding leadership and vision, as well as efforts to foster "community vitality, environmental quality, economic prosperity, and social fairness" in the Sierra Nevada.
Paul Hardy has been awarded the 2008 Vision Award for his "achievement in building one of the most effective and enduring land trusts in California" and for "demonstrating a remarkable commitment to partnership and collaboration." He was also commended for his ability to impart "a strong ethic of conservation" among other leaders in our community.
Gary Romano from Sierra Valley Farms shares his award with Executive Chef Mark Estee of Moody's Bistro & Lounge in Truckee for their "demonstrated support for sustainable food in the Sierra Valley, Lake Tahoe and Placer County areas." The award also recognizes that "Gary and Mark's relationship demonstrates commitment to local farmers and sustainable agriculture." Congratulations to these two very deserving and hardworking Plumas County citizens!
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Google Earth is Coming to the FRLT Website
 Google Earth lets you fly anywhere on Earth to view satellite imagery, maps, terrain, 3D buildings, from galaxies in outer space to the canyons of the ocean and now to properties conserved by the Feather River Land Trust.
Allison O'Brien, our talented Education Coordinator, has created a flyover of properties throughout the watershed that FRLT has conserved. Each property noted on the map will include a brief narrative, information on public access, and additional photos.
This new feature should be up on the FRLT website in the next two weeks for your enjoyment. We will make sure to send a separate email announcement when it is officially ready to go. Members with dial-up internet access may have trouble with viewing this particular feature. Our apologies for the inconvenience! |
Familiar Faces at Your Local Land Trust Office
While many of our members are already familiar with the entire Land Trust team, some of you may not have had the chance to meet three of our newest staff, Karen Kleven, Gabe Miller, and Allison O'Brien.
 Karen Kleven, Development Director since October 2008, has a background in social finance and non-profit management and previously worked as an investment advisor in Marin County from 1999 - 2006. She also worked as a division director at Plumas Rural Services from 1988-1999. Karen believes that the key to the Land Trust's financial success is in connecting people to the local landscape.
Gabe Miller, our new Stewardship Coordinator, previously worked for the  Feather River Resource Conservation District and the Plumas National Forest Interpretive Association. He came to Plumas County in 1994 to attend Feather River College and later graduated from CSU, Humboldt with a degree in Natural Resource Planning. He is a lover of all things outdoors and is getting married this summer to Elizabeth Powell.
The third "new face," Allison O'Brien, technically isn't new but has been recently  made an official FRLT staff member. Last year, Allison coordinated volunteers and conducted outdoor education through FRLT as the organization's AmeriCorps member. While she is no longer serving with AmeriCorps, she is responsible for many of the same tasks in her new position as the Land Trust's Education Coordinator. Originally from Minnesota, Allison's background is in Environmental Education and Interpretation. At the moment, Allison is participating in Feather River College's Outdoor Recreation Leadership program for a semester so that she can explore the Sierra Nevada in all seasons while learning valuable outdoor skills. FRLT is excited to have three such talented and energetic community members on board to help us tackle our goals for 2009!
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Win a Beautiful Handcrafted Rocking Chair!
The Feather River Land Trust is giving away a beautiful handmade blue pine rocking chair by Nancy Neer. Tickets are $20.00 each and can be purchased at Quincy Thrift, Bank of America, Young's Market in Taylorsville, Evergreen Market and Plumas Bank in Greenville, and at the Land Trust office in Quincy. The drawing will be on June 12, 2009 at the FRLT office.
All proceeds go to the Imagine the Heart K Campaign. Call 530 283-5758 for more information. | |
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