Volume 35, No.

Winter 2009 Newsletter

Hiking the Jenner Headlands Were almost there!
by Sheri Cardo

Double the value of your year-end donation

by Beverly Scottland

In order to save our irreplaceable open spaces, the Sonoma Land Trust launched Redwoods to the Bay: Saving Sonoma Countys Signature Landscapes. Local philanthropist Jean Schulz has generously pledged $2 million toward this campaign and her pledge must be matched, dollar for dollar thus doubling the impact of each gift. So far we have raised $1.1 million were more than halfway there!
Land Trust staff recently got an introduction to the coastal loop trail at the Jenner Headlands, which will be available for guided hikes beginning early next year. Photo by Lance Kuehne Photography.

When people first learn about the impending acquisition of the Jenner Headlands, they ooh and aah at the views that will be protected forever. And then, without skipping a beat, they say, When can I get up there? And now we have a new answer: Very soon. As of this writing, the Sonoma Land Trust expects to close escrow on these 5,630 acres along the coast in mid-December. With the state funding freeze, its been a challenge to pull together the full $36 million purchase price, but acquisitions director Amy Chesnut has been working nonstop to secure alternative funding to bridge the states $16 million gap. We are almost there. Working along a parallel track, Jenner Headlands project manager Brook Edwards has been developing the Initial Public Access Plan. Protecting and enhancing the ecological resources of this property is the Land Trusts foremost goal. However, we are also committed to balancing the protection of its sensitive resources with public use.
(Continued on page 3)

Raising $900,000 by December 31

We have set a goal of raising the remaining $900,000 by December 31 to secure this additional $2 million. Special year-end gifts will help to accomplish four key objectives: ccelerate the pace of land a conservation in Sonoma County rotect our remaining large, p at-risk open spaces nhance public access and add e miles of networked trails ass on a legacy of natural p lands for future generations.
(Continued on page 5)

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Who we are
Board of Directors
Mark Jacobsen, chair, Robert Brent, Hall Cushman, Mary Hafner, Kirsten Lindquist, Pete Mattson, Johanna Patri, Harry Richardson, Peter Rogers, Allison Sanford, Tom Simone, David Smith, Denny Van Ness, Carol Williams

A quick pace
Here are a few long-lasting items from our eNewsletters over the last few months. Do we have your email address on file? If not, youre missing out on receiving breaking news from your Land Trust. Please send your email address, along with your name and mailing address, to stacey@sonomalandtrust.org. The Sonoma Land Trust never provides its members contact information to anyone else.

Staff
Executive Director: Ralph Benson
AcquiSitionS teAm

License plates to protect Bay Area open space

The new Nature Within Reach license plate project will protect open space and natural lands around the Bay Area. Buying the license plate will enable the California Coastal Conservancy to fund projects in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. When the goal of 7,500 plates sold is reached, the state DMV will issue the plates. Buying the plate is easy: Go to www.bayarealicenseplate.org and enter your current plate number and mailing address. The $50 fee can be paid with a credit card. By sporting a Nature Within Reach license plate, you will help ensure that the natural lands of the Bay Area are protected for generations to come!

Conservation Director: Wendy Eliot Acquisitions Director: Amy Chesnut Baylands Program Manager: Julian Meisler Jenner Headlands Project Manager: Brook Edwards Project Assistant: Tenley Wurglitz
SteWARDSHiP teAm

Stewardship Director: Bob Neale Easement Program & GIS Manager: Georgiana Hale Stewardship Project Manager: Tony Nelson Stewardship Project Manager: Shanti Wright
DeVeLoPment & mARKetinG teAm

Development Director: Beverly Scottland Donor Relations Director: Reta Lockert Public Relations & Marketing Officer: Sheri Cardo Membership & Development Manager: Stacey Kaufman
FinAnce & ADminiStRAtion teAm

if youre not yet a Facebook fan

Finance & Administration Director: Paul DeMarco Office Manager: Dale Carroll

SLt mission

The Sonoma Land Trust protects the scenic, natural, agricultural and open landscapes of Sonoma County for the benefit of the community and future generations by: Developing long-term land protection strategies; Promoting private and public funding for land and conservation; Acquiring land and conservation easements; Practicing stewardship, including the restoration of conservation properties; and Promoting a sense of place and a land ethic through activities, education and outreach.

Our November 1 Sunset Bay Trail hike was a big hit with Facebook fans, who were allowed to bring their dogs, too. On leash, of course!

of the Sonoma Land Trust, you missed out on free concert tickets and a sunset hike along the Bay Trail last month. Facebook is the quickest way we can communicate breaking news and opportunities to our members. To join, go to www.facebook.com and search for Sonoma Land Trust. Then click on Become a fan!

check out our new Web site!

We are very excited to share with you our brand new Web site designed to make it easier for you to find what youre looking for. We hope you like it! Many thanks to Liz Linde of Athena Web Design for the many hours she spent creating it. You can visit our Web site at www.sonomalandtrust.org.

contact

Sheri Cardo, Managing Editor Sonoma Land Trust 966 Sonoma Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 (707) 526-6930 Fax (707) 526-3001 info@sonomalandtrust.org www.sonomalandtrust.org

Winter 2009 Volume 35, No. 3

Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks.

Hiking the Jenner Headlands (Continued from page 1)

We are committed to balancing the protection of sensitive resources with public use.
Once we purchase the property, SLTs first order of business will be to conduct natural and cultural resource assessments that will inform the development of a comprehensive resource management plan. During this time, guided hikes will be offered regularly by the Land Trust and its partners along a five-and-a-half mile loop trail on the coastal portion of the property. The route follows existing ranch roads and cattle paths, climbs 800 feet in elevation and is very strenuous. Several sections have no trail or path at all. On our usual scale of 14 in terms of difficulty, it is a 5. Yet, it is as spectacular as it is challenging. From the views over the Russian River estuary to Point Reyes, and from the woodlands and lush grasslands to the seasonal serpentine wildflower fields, the loop trail provides both a good workout and an excellent overview of the propertys diverse offerings. For those who want to enjoy the stunning vistas without too much exertion, a shorter and less rigorous hiking option is also in development. More than 13 habitat types have been identified on the Jenner Headlands thus far, and it is known to harbor certain threatened and endangered species as well. There are also several archeological and historical sites, including the Rule Ranch, which was established there in the late 1860s. Remnants of the ranch buildings still exist and can be seen along the loop trail. While only guided hikes will be permitted during this initial phase, which is expected to last about two years, we will explore ways to provide broader, multi-use access that will give visitors greater freedom to explore the landscape in the future. This may include a permit program, docent program and volunteer patrols. Ultimately, long-term recreational plans for the property will be formally developed and will include a 2.5-mile segment of the California Coastal Trail, and other formal access locations and recreational uses. When we protect the land forever, we vow to safeguard the wild animals who live there, the habitats they depend on, and the natural and cultural resources we all value. We hope you, as a proponent of wildland conservation, will appreciate the deliberate and thoughtful manner in which public access to this incomparable property will be integrated. To be among the first to hear when Jenner closes and how to reserve a spot on an upcoming hike, please be sure we have your email address on file. You may send it to: stacey@ sonomalandtrust.org. Please include your full name and mailing address as well.
Sheri Cardo is SLTs public relations and marketing officer.

Hikers will need to be mindful of cows who continue to graze the property to Brook Edwards is the Jenner Headlands project manager and responsible keep the native vegetation healthy. Photos by Lance Kuehne Photography. for assessing and protecting the propertys natural resources.

TO PROTECT THE LAND FOREVER

Your future, your legacy, your Sonoma county

by Beverly Scottland

There is a way you can shape the

Your legacy can inspire children. A $3,000 bequest in your will will help us to remove debris from trails so children and their teachers can be moved by raptors, bobcats and ocean A most meaningful way to donate is to designate a legacy gift. A legacy creatures at the remote and fjord-like or planned gift is an effective way for Estero Americano Preserve between Dillon Beach and Bodega Bay. a Land Trust supporter, of any age or economic means, to protect the Your legacy can save habitats and land they love. A legacy gift of any build new trails. size can be as simple as adding a few A $20,000 gift from your life insurlines to your trust or will, or adding ance policy can boost our work to Sonoma Land Trust to a life insurcreate a network of linked lands and ance policy. trails through the thriving forests and wide vistas of Sonoma Mountain. A create your legacy now signature landscape saved forever.

future of Sonoma County now The backbone of Sonoma Land Trusts ongoing land conservation work is private donations, small and large, from our members and supporters. Charitable gifts to the Sonoma Land Trust protect the stunning landscapes of today and make a lasting, positive difference for Sonoma Countys tomorrow.

in our annual report, acknowledging the long-term impact of a legacy gift. The generous, far-reaching support provided by members of the League allows us to pursue our mission to protect signature landscapes long into the future. Forever.

Here are the most popular ways to make a legacy gift: esignate a simple bequest in D your will or estate plan. Extended through 2009! Donate a gift from your IRA tax free. Donors over 70 1/2 can make tax-free gifts to charity of up to $100,000 from their IRA. reate a charitable remainder or C lead trust. ame us as a beneficiary of your N life insurance plan. The Sonoma Land Trust staff has the experience to help you explore options for making your gift simple and advantageous for you and your family. Working together, we can help you maximize the impacts of your gift. (We always recommend that you discuss your gift with your attorney, accountant and/or other financial advisors.) For more information, please contact me at (707) 526-6939 ext. 108 or Beverly@sonomalandtrust.org.
Beverly Scottland is SLTs development director.
Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.

join the Legacy League

In 2000, the Sonoma Land Trust formed the Legacy League to recognize the extraordinary commitment of people who give to the Land Trust in their estate plans. Members of the League receive invitations to special events and outings, and are recognized

Your legacy can protect our redwood forestland. A $100,000 gift from your IRA will keep our magnificent coastal properties from being fragmented and allow the redwood forest ecosystem to mitigate anticipated consequences of climate change.

4 Winter 2009 Volume 35, No. 3

Double the value of your year-end donation (Continued from page 1)

Redwoods to the Bay is an $18 million campaign. This matching gift from Jean Schulz, plus an additional $9.4 million, has already been pledged. Help us reach $12.3 million our next milestone. Most of the signature landscapes within Sonoma Countys one million acres are unprotected. In fact, only 15 percent of our lands are protected for future generations ranking Sonoma County among the lowest of Bay Area counties in protected lands. The state budget shortfall and the drop in the Open Space Districts sales tax revenues means that there is far less public funding available for land conservation. Today, strategic properties and key landscapes are slipping away due to a lack of funds.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Land conservation is critical to Sonoma Countys future. The Sonoma County Community Climate Action Plan lists land conservation as one of four solutions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 25 percent below 1990 levels by 2015. Farmland and forests have

tremendous potential to sequester or hold carbon in soil. By saving our coastal prairie grasslands and groves of towering redwood forests and oak woodlands throughout the county, we can lock up tons of carbon for generations to come. Redwoods to the Bay will supplement the Land Protection Fund that enables us to move quickly to secure key properties, develop a Conservation Easement and Stewardship Fund to maintain the increasing number of properties we manage, and enhance our programs that connect people to the land. During the past three decades, the Sonoma Land Trust has protected nearly 26,000 acres of incomparable open land. However, will the remaining beautiful open spaces that serve as the foundation of our community life endure without permanent protection? I think we can all agree that the answer is no, so we invite everyone to become part of this landmark campaign. It is vital that we protect and conserve the natural world for future generations the places where we can breathe and roam and relax,

says Ralph Benson, SLT executive director. Redwoods to the Bay will enhance access and bring more people to the very special lands that are and will be protected by the Sonoma Land Trust. For information on the campaign, please call (707) 526-6930, ext. 108 or email Beverly@sonomalandtrust.org.

From the Redwoods

to the Bay. Photos by Stephen Joseph Photography.

$18 Million $15 Million $12.3 Million Next Milestone $11.4 Million Pledged $9 Million $6 Million

Double the value of your gift and help match the $2 million matching gift from Jean Schulz.
Your name can be part of this campaign with a pledge of $1,000 or more:

$3 Million

$1,000 $2,500 $5,000 $10,000

Name listed in the Redwood Forest Circle Name listed in the Wildlife Habitat Circle Name listed in the Coastal Prairie Circle Name listed in the Sonoma Coast Circle

$1 Million

cAmPAiGn GoAL: $18 miLLion

Please call Beverly Scottland at (707) 526-6930, ext. 108 or email beverly@sonomalandtrust.org for information on these and higher recognition levels, or if you would like to make a donation of stock.

TO PROTECT THE LAND FOREVER

in celebration

From February through October 2009, Land Trust friends made gifts to honor these happy events and exceptional people.
Celebrating Bernice Curtis: Sandra Curtis Celebrating Elaine Meltzner: Craig Meltzner Celebrating Emily McKibben: Winton and Margaret McKibben Celebrating Fran George: Kathleen Mugele Celebrating Graham Wolfes graduation: Constance and Graham Wolfe Celebrating Jane Gilmore: Dabney Smith Celebrating Justin Aff and Rebecca Kihslingers marriage: Bill Aff, Susanne Goodman-Hallstein Celebrating Karen Collins: Maggie Salenger and Peter Haywood Celebrating Kathi and Terrys 30th anniversary: Kathleen Mugele Celebrating Kihslinger/Aff wedding guests: Rebecca Kihslinger Celebrating Ken and Victoria Wikle: Mary Ellen Strote Celebrating Lorraine Gnecco: John and Ann Buller, Amy Chesnut Celebrating Louise and Neil Gainer: Stephen Gainer Celebrating Mr. and Mrs. John Robb: Betty Pommon Celebrating Owen Keith Marshall: Keith Marshall Celebrating Pat Eliot and Mickey Cooke: Lura Hutchinson

in memoriam

The singer lasts a season long while the song remains forever.
In memory of Art Toms: Christina Toms In memory of Bob Cannard: Walter and Lu Benson In memory of Carter Thacher: Agrium, Alice and Forrest Anderson, Barbara Scavullo Designs, Bruce Beretta and Melissa Fortune, Eugenia Callan, A. Crawford and Jessie Cooley, Ted and Pat Eliot, Freeland Cooper & Foreman LLP, Carla Hall and Ben-Ami Friedman, William Alston Hayne, Totton and Joanne Heffelfinger, Mary Hofmann, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Hume, Mike and Sue Karasiewicz, Nancy and Kyle Kirwan, James Rowland Lowe Jr., Anne McWilliams,

Winifred Noble, Elizabeth Peters, Rabobank International, Adolph Rosekrans, Ann Stone, Syngenta, Anne Teller, The Humphreys Group, Blaine and Marcy Trunnell, Joseph and Deborah Votek, Olive and Richard Waugh In memory of Chris Hendrickson: James and Dody Corcoran In memory of Clark Nattkemper: Peter and Olivia Leveque In memory of David Nelson: Patricia Nelson In memory of David Van Winkle: Dorothy Van Winkle In memory of David Weed: Rob Lawrence, Henry Siegel In memory of David Yenni: Walter and Lu Benson In memory of Duncan MacNaughton: Nancy Austerman, Annette Lomont and Charles Raaberg, Mikell Smith, Andy Trochet In memory of Eloise Hoffman: Family of Ludwig Saccomano, Arnold and Vida Santucci In memory of Eric Friedlander: Malcolm and Joan Ross In memory of Fred Beeman: Nell Kneibler In memory of George Ellman: Ted and Pat Eliot In memory of Iride Boren: Laura Graham In memory of James and Dorothy Dierke: Jim and John Dierke In memory of Jennifer Perrin English: Robert and Dolores Zeni In memory of Jerry Seaver: Don Seaver In memory of Jimmie: Jana Denegri In memory of Joann Reinhardt: Iryne Black, Nan Hudson, Dorothy Killion, Malcolm and Joan Ross In memory of Joellyn Weiss: Lance Carnes In memory of John Armer: Trudy Armer In memory of John Paul Shaughnessy: Tricia OBrien In memory of Lars Holbek: Walter and Lu Benson In memory of Les Poehner: Edna Poehner In memory of Lester Cobb: Marion Elmore In memory of Marie Ludemann: Mike Nelligan In memory of Nancy Rutherford: Mary Rutherford In memory of Nicholas Bobby Musser-Kirby: Kimberly Musser In memory of Peggy Love: Martin and Joyce Griffin

In memory of Peter Quinn: Carol and Bill White In memory of Phyllis Ellman: George Ellman, Don and Gail Wilhelm In memory of Rie Rogers: Walter and Lu Benson In memory of Robert Schreck: Laura Graham In memory of Ruth Carlos Stevens: P. Lynn Woodward In memory of Suzanne Gooding and Leland McCormick: Rich Kuehn and Dean Schuler In memory of Virginia Ginny Jones: Walter and Lu Benson, Simon and Kimberly Blattner, Fred and Kate Carney, Vic and Kit Conforti, George Fernbacher, Judith Friedman, Mary Beth Halsey, Herb and Magrita Klassen, Johanna and Remo Patri, Patricia Raney In memory of Wayne and Gertrude Alcorn: Joyce Bender In memory of William Virdee: Kat Stephens

make a holiday gift in honor or memory of a special person Unsure about what to get that friend, co-worker or family member? How about making a donation to the Sonoma Land Trust? Simply use the enclosed envelope and fill in the requested information. Once received, we will send a note acknowledging your gift to the honoree. What better way to celebrate the holidays!

6 Winter 2009 Volume 35, No. 3

monitoring grasses at the estero Americano Preserve

by Caroline Christian, PhD, and Shanti Wright

As with all grasslands throughout California, exotic grasses dominate the Estero. Photo by Shanti Wright.

Whenever possible, the Sonoma Land Trust makes its properties available for scientific research. Currently, our Estero Americano Preserve is the site of a grassland management and monitoring project evaluating the effectiveness of cattle grazing for coastal grassland enhancement. This 127-acre property contains a mix of coastal grasslands, coastal scrub and brackish water marshes flanking the Estero Americano a scenic tidal estuary that forms the Sonoma-Marin border south of Bodega Bay. Drawing on previous research conducted in California grassland ecosystems, we believe that livestock grazing will promote native flora found in the Estero grasslands by reducing the biomass and cover of exotic grasses. To better understand the role of livestock grazing at the

Estero, SLT is working with multiple partners to assess the coastal grasslands, improve grazing infrastructure, and develop plans for grazing management and ecological monitoring for the coastal prairie grassland found on the property. The California Coastal Conservancy, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service have provided technical assistance and funding, and Gold Ridge Resource Conservation District (RCD) has supported the development of grazing management and grassland monitoring plans. The plans are aimed at highlighting conservation values, such as the preservation of native species, healthy soils and water quality, while at the same time, supporting a working landscape that promotes historical uses of the land. Local certified

rangeland manager Lisa Bush is part of a team assessing the preserve to determine grassland production values and appropriate stocking levels, and Dr. Caroline Christian is taking a lead role in developing the grassland monitoring plan. Livestock are managed by local operator Joe Pozzi, recently honored with the Farm Bureaus first Luther Burbank Conservation Award for his efforts to protect the countys natural resources. During this past fall and spring, SLT worked with several partner organizations to collect data for the first year of the monitoring study. Members of the California Native Plant Society, Gold Ridge RCD staff, and Sonoma State interns and faculty worked together to measure the percent cover, frequency and richness of all native and exotic plant species at 28 permanent sampling
(Continued on back page)

TO PROTECT THE LAND FOREVER

966 Sonoma Ave., Santa Rosa, CA 95404 www.SonomaLandTrust.org

Nonprofit u.S. Postage PAID Permit #201 Petaluma, CA

Seasons Greetings!
monitoring grasses at the estero Americano Preserve (Continued from page 7)

plots throughout the preserve. Measurement of these variables will help to provide a more complete picture about the health of the grasslands through time. As with all grasslands found throughout California, exotic grasses dominate the Estero grasslands. Overall, 80 percent of the grassland is covered by exotic species, mostly annual grasses. Grassland ecosystems have been hit hard by invasive species, leaving little room for native plant species to thrive. The monitoring program is designed to look at

several noxious grassland weeds and to detect the arrival of new species. Given the dominance of invasive grasses, the team was pleased to learn that the Estero has a phenomenal amount of native perennial grass, rush and sedge species, which together make up more than 20 percent of the vegetation cover in the grasslands. During the spring, tall stands of California hairgrass, purple needlegrass, and California brome undulate over the hillsides as coastal breezes sweep in. Some notable native wildflowers also found in the

spring include ground brodiaea, blue-eyed grass, California acaena, lupine and a multitude of clovers. For more information about the vegetation management and monitoring activities occurring at the Estero Americano Preserve, please contact Shanti Wright at (707) 544-5614 ext. 2.
Dr. Caroline Christian is a faculty member of Sonoma State Universitys Environmental Studies and Planning Department; Shanti Wright is an SLT stewardship project manager.

Despite the dominance of invasive grasses, the Estero grasslands have a significant amount of native vegetation cover. Photo by Shanti Wright.

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