Gallatin Valley Land Trust connects people, communities, and open lands through conservation of working farms and ranches, healthy rivers, and wildlife habitat, and the creation of trails in the Montana headwaters of the Missouri and Upper Yellowstone Rivers.
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| monthly news April / 2014 |
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TRAILS
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April Showers Bring May Trail Crews
It's been a long winter and our trails and pathways are starting to thaw! As you are out enjoying the spring, please help us keep our trails in good condition. Avoid using trails that are muddy. If you encounter a muddy stretch, stay on the trail and don't create side trails. Help us clean up litter and pet waste that is exposed after the snow melts. Use caution and be on the lookout for variable trail conditions. You can also help us inventory trail maintenance issues. As you explore Main Street to the Mountains and shake off the cabin fever, let us know if you encounter trail segments that have blown out from spring flooding or are in need of other repair after the winter. Email gary@gvlt.org with the details, and we'll add it to our work list for the summer.  Spring flooding this year at Snowfill Recreation Area
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STAFF
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EJ Porth - Communications and Outreach Manager
GVLT is pleased to welcome EJ Porth as our new Communications and Outreach Manager.
EJ will be spreading the word about GVLT's projects and accomplishments and building our community partnerships. She spent her previous 5 years in Bozeman as the Development Coordinator for HAVEN and Marketing Director at Buffalo Restoration. EJ also works part time with local high school students through the Bozeman Youth Initiative.
Read more about EJ >>
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LANDS
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GVLT Awarded $75K to Conserve Wildlife Habitat on the Madison River
GVLT is pleased to announce that we have been awarded $75,000 from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) federal grants program to permanently conserve important bird and wildlife habitat on the Madison River near Headwaters State Park. The project will protect a mix of flood-irrigated agricultural lands, emergent and riparian wetlands, and river bottomlands, home to Trumpeter Swans, Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagles, Golden Eagles, Northern Pintails, Long-billed Curlews, as well as moose, deer and many other species. GVLT was just one of 3 projects in Montana to receive this funding.
Read more >>
Annual Stewardship Breakfast Social
When: Thursday April 24th, 7:30 - 9:00 am
Where: Stockman Bank, Belgrade, upstairs
6050 Jackrabbit Lane, ¼ mile south of I-90
What: Please join Gallatin Valley Land Trust and our conservation easement landowners for a breakfast social. This event allows GVLT to thank our past and present conservation easement donors in person for their generous donation of a conservation easement.
At this meeting we will discuss: - GVLT Land program updates and successes over the past year.
- How GVLT can support you with a cost share program to fund conservation enhancement opportunities on your easement property.
- Tips on creating a Stewardship Plan for your conservation easement property which will help you develop and strategically plan conservation enhancement ideas specific to your property for the future.
We have encouraged natural resource professionals from several local government agencies and non-profit organizations to attend, answer questions, and provide information about their stewardship programs. Complimentary coffee, tea, pastries and special gifts will be offered to all attendees.  Madden conservation easement; near Springhill community on the western face of the Bridger Mountains
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LAND SNORKELING
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"Land Snorkeling" is taking the time to look closer at the nature around us, like slowly snorkeling over a reef. In celebration of that concept we offer a continuing series celebrating the texture and rhythm of the land - its phenology. To learn more about Land Snorkel, visit landsnorkel.com.
Robins, Cranes, and Mud. A Story of Spring.
The Spring Equinox announces the arrival of spring, at least its arrival on the calendar. But in Montana it's a little early to start looking for spring flowers, budding trees, or laying out the vegetable garden. Appropriate harbingers of a Montana spring might be captured, instead, in a tale of color, sound, and feel - for example, the color of American Robins huddled against new fallen snow; the distinctive calls of returning Sandhill Cranes, and the feel of mud tugging at our boots as we yearn to break the cabin fever and endeavor to enjoy the outdoors.
Read more >>
 
Sandhill Cranes on the McLeod easement Spring trail volunteers at Triple Tree
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GIVING
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Ways to Give
If you love our trails, but don't love the smell or sight of dog poop (which is becoming more prevalent with the coming of spring and the melting of winter's snow), please help us maintain the trails and keep them clean by sponsoring one of our many dog stations. Also, we are always in need of poop bags and generous individuals/user groups to help with the maintenance of the stations. Thanks for helping up to keep our trails enjoyable and safe for everyone. Woof!
For more information on how to help us stay on top of a pesky issue, contact Gary Vodehnal at 587-8404 x4 or gary@gvlt.org.
Charitable giving to GVLT allows you to make a tangible difference by helping to continue GVLT's land conservation and trail building efforts. GVLT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your gift may provide you with valuable tax deductions.
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SPECIAL THANKS: VOLUNTEERS
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Each month we spotlight a volunteer who has made special contributions to GVLT's work. Volunteers are critical to GVLT's success and help by serving on our board and committees, joining in our events, participating in trail work projects, pitching in around the office, and countless other ways. We couldn't do it without our volunteers!
GVLT Welcomes Two New Board Members - Signe Farris and Hal Stanley
GVLT is delighted to announce the addition of Signe Farris and Hal Stanley to our Board of Directors beginning March 1, 2014.
 Signe is a fourth generation Bozemanite who grew up traveling as a "military brat". She and her husband of forty years, Don Farris, retired to Bozeman in December, 2009 after thirty years in commercial banking in Los Angeles. Since arriving in Bozeman she and her husband have become actively involved in the Bozeman community, sitting on various Boards and supporting cultural and civic organizations. Signe obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Master of International Management at the American Graduate School of International Management (Thunderbird) in Phoenix, Arizona. Her interests include studying piano, hiking and reading.
Hal was born and raised in Bozeman. With a strong love of the outdoors, he spent much of his time camping, backpacking, hunting, and fishing. During High School, he worked for farms and ranches including the Flying D. Hal graduated from the US Air Force Academy where he was on the Ski Team and competed in NCAA Championships. After serving in the Air Force and graduating from UCLA with a Masters in Finance, he spent most of his career in corporate finance positions at technology firms in Silicon Valley. He came back to Bozeman part-time starting in 1999. He has two grown, married children and three grandchildren. Thanks to a second marriage to Jackie, he also has a four year old daughter, who helps to keep him young.
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MAKING IT HAPPEN
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Each month we spotlight a partnering business so our readers can learn how different businesses help us achieve our goals.
  Bozeman Brewing Company has been supplying Bozeman with quality microbrewed beer since 2001 and has been supporting GVLT events for almost 8 years. We thank Bozeman Brewing for generously donating an assortment of canned beers to Make Tracks for Trails in February to help thirsty skiers. We also appreciate being selected as the beneficiary of the March 23 Sunday FUNDay at Bozeman Brewing. Bozeman Brewing donated 50 cents of each pint sold that day to GVLT. We'll drink to that! "We at Bozeman Brewing Company feel it's important to support our local community and non-profits through philanthropic measures to ensure that the state we love is preserved for generations to come." To learn more, visit bozemanbrewing.com
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Gallatin Valley Land Trust
25 North Willson Ave, Ste E - Bozeman, MT 59715
406.587.8404 p.
406.582.1136 f.
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