perspectives on
Land
An old homesteader’s cabin at Sheep Bridge Canyon, Wood River Land Trust’s newest conservation purchase
Protecting Big Game Animals’ Room to Roam
W hen snow accumulates in the
high country, winter recreation-
ists in search of fresh snow venture uphill,
and big game animals trek in the opposite
direction. The high country’s deep snow
drives elk, mule deer, and pronghorn to
seek lower elevations where they can
more easily find food.
In April 2008, Wood River Land
Trust protected a critical piece of one
of these traditional migration corri-
dors when the John McDonald Family
agreed to sell the land at a bargain rate.
Safeguarding 306 acres at Sheep Bridge
Canyon from development maintains a
link for wildlife between the foothills of
the Smoky Mountains and the vast sage-
A publication of Wood River Land Trust
www.woodriverlandtrust.org info@woodriverlandtrust.org
wood
river
land
trust
Wood River Land Trust
winter 2008
brush steppe landscape surrounding Magic
Reservoir. The land also connects public
lands managed by the Idaho Department
of Fish & Game and the Bureau of Land
Management.
Sheep Bridge Canyon is covered by
sagebrush and other native vegetation that
provide habitat for wildlife; it also con-
tains nearly a mile of the Big Wood River
upstream from Magic Reservoir. Anglers
can fish on an unusual section of the Big
Wood River surrounded by basalt cliffs,
while others can enjoy the host of wildflow-
ers and wildlife. Last spring our staff found Protecting the heart
some of the season’s first wildflowers grow-
ing near seeps along the northern rim of the of the valley...now and
canyon and reveled in meadows of lupine for the future.
Continued on page 7
 who we are
Executive Director, Scott Boettger
Best of All . . .
Letter from Executive
Director, Scott Boettger
Y ou have probably heard someone
say that they came for the skiing but
stayed for the summers. I’ll let you in on
a little secret only the locals know—the
real magic happens in the fall. You can just
about name your pleasure and it is probably
heightened during the season we derogato-
rily call “slack.” The nights turn cold and
the leaves explode in their extravagance.
The trout sense the lean times of winter
and throw caution to the wind in their
attempts to get your fly. The valley wel-
comes a series of winged visitors from the
north starting with the gawky and boister-
ous sandhill cranes and followed by squad-
rons of ducks and geese. The fall also turns
the normally elusive elk into wide-eyed,
forest virtuosos with their haunted bugling.
In all, we are blessed to have all these
natural wonders intact and thriving just
out our back doors. It truly is paradise. We
must remain vigilant to ensure that the
most sensitive lands and waters that make
up the heart of the Wood River Valley
remain healthy.
Thanks again for your support. Please
get out and enjoy what remains of this
glorious fall. The snow will be flying soon.
2
Help Us Meet Our
Challenge Today!
I n these uncertain financial times, we need your support more than ever.
Please take this opportunity to prioritize your giving to support the things you
most value. For us, the Valley would not be the same if we could not spend the
day catching wild trout in our clean, healthy rivers or see the elk, moose, owls,
hawks, and other animals in our close-to-home natural areas. The greatest por-
tion of our annual funding comes from individuals like you—people who love
the land and water and want to see it protected and cared for not only today but
always.
Wood River Land Trust is the only locally-based organization focusing its
efforts on protecting local land, water, and wildlife habitat. This past year,
Wood River Land Trust protected ¾ mile of Big Wood Riverfront just south of
Hailey using voluntary conservation agreements with two local landowners; we
also restored a portion of the Croy Creek wetlands at the site of Hailey’s former
landfill and hosted events to get people out on the land and sharing experiences
through events like our Mushroom Walk at Draper Wood River Preserve and the
Heart of the Valley Contest. To continue protecting our nearby land, water, and
wildlife habitat now and for future generations, it takes the concerted efforts of
everyone who enjoys these things today.
Please consider making a gift to our year-end challenge grant. This year’s
challenge requires us to raise $360,000 in unrestricted gifts by December 31st
in order to receive $180,000 donated by an anonymous donor and Wood River
Land Trust’s Board of Directors. This means that every dollar you donate
before the end of the year will be matched by an additional $0.50. Your unre-
stricted gifts help pay for the basic necessities—dedicated professional staff, office
space, and general office needs—that make our work possible. This year it is
more important than ever that we reach our Challenge.
If, like us, you treasure the local wildlife, clean water, pristine landscapes,
and family farmland that Wood River Land Trust helps protect, please make a
contribution today!
Year-End Challenge Goal: $360,000
Amount Raised as of November 13: $225,165
Amount Needed to Meet Challenge: $134,835
We’ll be in the office during the holidays so feel free to stop by or call. For
questions about making a donation, contact Robyn Watson at 788-3947,
rwatson@woodriverlandtrust.org, or (818) 577-7811. Wood River Land Trust
is a tax-exempt non-profit organization; donations are tax-deductible.

Meet Our Board
Barbara Thrasher
B arbara Thrasher and her husband,
Rick Koffey, became part-time resi-
dents of the Wood River Valley in 1999.
In the winter, Barbara is an avid down-
hill and cross-country skier; in the sum-
mer, she enjoys hiking in the mountains
that surround our community. These
activities have given her an appreciation
of our unique open spaces and the need
to protect them.
Barbara was concerned that many
families, like hers, live here only part
time, and she wondered who was keeping
watch over the Valley when she wasn’t
here. In 2001, Clark Gerhardt intro-
duced her to Wood River Land Trust,
and she became convinced that Wood
River Land Trust was the ideal organiza-
tion to protect the Valley’s natural beau-
ty. She joined our Board of Directors at
that time and has served as a member for
the last eight years.
Barbara has numerous other interests
as well. Three years ago she co-founded
the Wood River Women’s Charitable
Foundation, which has distributed more
than $250,000 to charities in our com-
munity. She has been active in fundrais-
ing for the Blaine County Recreation
District in support of the Harriman
Trails Endowment and was the origina-
tor of the annual high tea, which raises
money to support the trail system (and
provides perhaps the only opportunity
for women in the Wood River Valley
to wear extremely large hats and long
gloves in the summer). In Seattle, where
she and Rick live when they are not in
the Valley, Barbara served for many years
on the Board of the Fred Hutchinson
Cancer Research Center.
Visit the
Building Material Thrift Store
at its new location
3930 S. Woodside
Barbara Thrasher (208) 788-0014
buildingmaterialthriftstore.org
Meet Our Staff
Kathryn Goldman, Project
Coordinator
K athryn moved to the Wood River
Valley from Durango, Colorado
in 2003 and joined our staff in March
of 2005. Originally from Vermont, she
graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
English from the University of Vermont
and, after traveling and living in several
Western states, earned her Masters of
Science in Environmental Studies from
the University of Montana in Missoula. Kathryn Goldman, Project Coordinator
The Big Wood River is the focus of
Kathryn’s work here at the Land Trust. and Colorado. When not working for
She is responsible for the Trout Friendly the environment, she likes to enjoy
Lawn program, which has just com- all things outdoors: backcountry and
pleted its 2nd successful year, the Healthy cross-country skiing, mountain bik-
Water, Healthy Future project, and she ing, hiking, gardening, and, in a more
has worked with waterfront homeowners introspective mood, yoga. She lives
to help them deal with floodplain issues. in Bellevue with her husband, Carl
While many people think that the moun- Evenson, and their lucky dog, Mattie.
tains define our wonderful Valley, Kathryn
is passionate in her belief that the River is
the most important feature.
Kathryn is a member of the Bellevue
Planning & Zoning Commission, and
she has worked on various state and
county ballot measures both in Idaho
3
 connecting
Winter 2008 Events DECEMBER
Share the Spirit Reception
Friday, December 5, 5:00-7:00 p.m.
Kick off the Share the Spirit weekend with a reception
generously catered by Riccabona’s.
Silver Creek Outfitters, Ketchum

Share the Spirit

Friday-Sunday, December 5-7
Complete your holiday shopping this weekend when
Silver Creek Outfitters will donate 15% of the weekend’s
sales to Wood River Land Trust.
Silver Creek Outfitters, Ketchum

Sagebrush Seed Collection

Wednesday, December 10, 10:00 a.m.
Join us to collect sagebrush seed for restoration work with Idaho
Fish and Game. Please dress for the weather and bring a lunch.
Meet at Wood River Land Trust’s Hailey office to carpool.
Wood River Land Trust, 119 E. Bullion Hailey

JANUARY
Business After Hours
Thursday, January 15, 5:30 p.m.
Join Bruce Tidwell and the Building Material Thrift Store
crew for an open house in their new space.
Building Material Thrift Store, 3930 S. Woodside

Be the First to See this Year’s
Heart of the Valley Photographs
Save the Date for Wednesday, January 21st
when we will announce this year’s contest winners
at a public reception.
Sponsored by: Media sponsor: Special thanks to:
Heart of the Valley Contest Awards Reception
Wednesday, January 21, 6:00 p.m.
Join us for the announcement of this year’s contest winners
and view photography submissions. Light hors d’oeuvres will
be served.
684 4th Street (corner of 4th & Spruce), Ketchum
Fish Tales
Wednesday, January 28, 6:00 p.m.
Share your stories about the Big Wood River at this
family-friendly storytelling event.
Location to be announced

FEBRUARY
Heart of the Valley Contest Readings
Dates to be announced, 6:30 p.m.
Prizes generously donated by: Join us for selected readings from the 5th Annual Heart of
the Valley Contest.
Iconoclast Books, Ketchum

Winter Wildlife Walk

Friday, February 27, 10:30 a.m.
Join our resident naturalist, Nathan Welch for a family-friendly
walk along the Big Wood River as he shares his expertise on
birds and animal tracks.
Draper Wood River Preserve, Cedar Bend Entrance, Hailey
4
to the land
A Record Crowd Attends the Howard Community Picnic
A beautiful early fall evening on the banks
of the Big Wood River: blue skies, warm
weather. A neighborhood gathering of good
friends, old and new. On September 13th, the
Howard Community Picnic in Bellevue drew
200 people who enjoyed a feast of barbequed
lamb donated by Lava Lake, quail, local trout
and morels, chili and beans, salads, garlic bread,
and an array of drinks and desserts. The annual
event is sponsored by Wood River Land Trust
and the City of Bellevue with an open invita-
tion to all Valley residents to visit the Howard
Preserve.
Carol Blackburn, our favorite botanist, led
a nature walk along the quiet canal road under
cottonwood trees to point out the plants, trees,
and animals inhabiting the 12-acre Howard
Preserve. Music perfect for the location was
provided by Matt Renner and Slow Children
Playing.
The Howard Preserve was created in 2004
thanks to a partnership between the Howard
family, Wood River Land Trust, the City of
Bellevue, Friends of Howard, and many inter-
Picnicking at Howard Preserve in Bellevue
ested organizations and individuals. The Howard
family had owned the parcel since 1972 and,
in order to protect it in perpetuity and keep it WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST
as a natural preserve with public access, they Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future
approached Wood River Land Trust to facilitate
a bargain sale with the City of Bellevue. Mike Board of Directors WRLT Staff Advisory Committee
Howard returns each fall to manage the annual Ed Cutter, President Scott Boettger Peter Becker
picnic. He brings with him help from the restau- Jack Kueneman, Executive Director Ranney Draper
rant at his Tres Pinos Inn in California and his Vice President Morgan Buckert Rebekah Helzel
cooking expertise. Joan Swift, Treasurer Membership Assistant Dave Parrish
“It makes me happy to do this picnic each Robin Garwood, Melanie Dahl Larry Schoen
year,” Mike said. “Involvement with the Land Secretary Executive Assistant John Seiller
David Anderson Tom Swift
Trust and friendships I’ve made in Bellevue and Kathryn Goldman
Jerry Bashaw Project Coordinator Bruce Tidwell
the Valley bring me back each year. I love it John Flattery
here.” We thank Mike and the Howard family Diane Kahm
John French This newsletter
Development Assistant
for their generosity. Kudos too to Tom Blanchard Clark Gerhardt is published by:
who grilled the mouthwateringly delicious lamb, Heather Kimmel
Trent Jones Program & Membership Wood River Land Trust
and thanks to all the volunteers who make this Heather King Coordinator
119 East Bullion Street
picnic such fun each year! Liz Mitchell Robyn Watson Hailey, Idaho 83333
Wolf Riehle Major Gifts Officer
208.788.3947 (telephone)
John Fell Stevenson Nathan Welch 208.788.5991 (fax)
Steve Strandberg Planning Coordinator
info@woodriverlandtrust.org
Barbara Thrasher Keri York www.woodriverlandtrust.org
Doris Tunney Stewardship Coordinator
Tax ID# 82-0474191
Liz Warrick
5
 thank you
for helping us achieve our goals
A Gift to Protect Land and Inspire Others
Gloria and John Osberg outside their Baker Creek cabin
Non-Profit & Government Partners
Thank you to the non-profit organizations and government
entities who have partnered with us on projects and
programs between November 2007 and October 2008!
Blaine County
Blaine County Citizens for Water & Wildlife
Blaine County Flood District
Blaine County Probation Department
Blaine County Weed Management Area
Blaine Soil Conservation District
City of Hailey
City of Ketchum
ERC
Hailey Department of Parks & Lands
Hailey Environmental Leadership Program (HELP)
Idaho Association of Soil Conservation Districts
Idaho Department of Environmental Quality
Idaho Department of Fish & Game
Idaho Rivers United
Lava Lake Institute for Science & Conservation
Sawtooth Botanical Garden
Sustain Blaine
The Nature Conservancy
Trout Unlimited
YAK!
6
J ohn and Gloria Osberg have lived and skied in the Sun
Valley area for over 50 years. In 2006, they donated
their longtime home to Idaho Conservation League, The
Wilderness Society, and Wood River Land Trust. The
home was recently appraised at over $2 million, and pro-
ceeds from the home’s sale will be shared equally by the
three organizations.
The Osbergs hope that sharing their story will inspire
others to make similar gifts of “appreciated real estate.” “I
think it feels great,” Osberg says, “to see money doing good
things while you are still around to experience it.”
Having supported a number of local, state, and nation-
al conservation groups over the years, the Osbergs set about
using what John calls their “appreciated real estate” to
advance the causes in which they believe. “The appreci-
ated value of our home was unearned income,” he explains,
“and we want to see that appreciated value put to work to
protect the Idaho we love and that has enriched our life
so very much.” He added, “I see no advantage to holding
on to it and being one of the rich guys in the cemetery.”
This is why the Osbergs drew up an estate plan, known as a
“life estate reserved.” This approach allows homeowners to
donate real estate to non-profit organizations while remain-
ing in their homes as long as they wish and providing
immediate tax deductions and avoiding capital gains tax.
The Osbergs have shared an eventful life in the Sun
Valley area. Gloria worked for Sun Valley and the Union
Pacific Railroad during the 1950s and is the author of Day
Hiking Near Sun Valley and Easy Hiking Near Sun Valley.
John is an avid skier and long-time member of the Ancient
Skiers club from the Seattle area. Together, they have
travelled extensively on Arctic rivers and other wilder-
ness adventures. Now, after years of enjoying natural areas
in the Wood River Valley, they can see the home they’ve
lived in all these years go to protect the places they love.
To learn more about how you too can use
“appreciated real estate” to support Wood River
Land Trust’s protection of the places you love,
contact your estate planner or our Major Gifts
Officer, Robyn Watson, at (208) 788-3947 or
rwatson@woodriverlandtrust.org.
 BLM Land Original Conservation Agreement Boundary
State Land Wood River Land Trust Land
New Conservation Agreement Boundary

Colorado Gulch in winter

Protecting Big Game Animals’ Room to
Additional Protection for Roam Continued from cover
Colorado Gulch and sage stretching as far as our eyes could see. As winter
advances, tracks throughout the Wood River Valley will tell

T hanks to two generous families, Wood River Land

Trust protected an additional 51 acres at Colorado
Gulch this fall. Grant, Sheri, and Cat Stevens and Jeff
the story of animals passing through the area seeking refuge
from the harsh higher elevation winters and the hardy peo-
ple enjoying winter’s fresh snow and crisp blue skies.
Pfaeffle have donated a 51-acre conservation agreement in
Colorado Gulch to Wood River Land Trust that includes Thank you to everyone who made this
¾ mile of riverfront on the east side of the Big Wood purchase possible!
River. This area is adjacent to the 103 acres the Stevens’ Lyn and David Anderson
and Pfaeffle protected in 2007 using another voluntary The Lennox Foundation
conservation agreement. Together, these agreements pro- The Draper Family Foundation Fund
tect 154 acres in Colorado Gulch and contribute to the Elaine and John French
corridor of protected or restored land that stretches from The Macauley and Helen Dow Whiting Foundation
Lions Park in Hailey south to Colorado Gulch. The Lightfoot Foundation
This second conservation agreement limits develop- Richard C. Barker
ment on the property’s farmland and protects the cot- The Richard K. & Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation
tonwood forest and native plants in the floodplain. The Dave Perkins and Nancy Mackinnon
cottonwood forest provides winter habitat for bald eagles, Mark Benjamin
elk, moose, and mule deer while the native plants preserve Chris Thompson
the area’s floodplain functions. The area is an important Martha and Ross Jennings
link in the future of the fishery, and protecting this area Lee D. Rowe, MD
safeguards habitat for wildlife and allows the river to move Diane and John Kahm
within the floodplain to create and maintain fish habitat. Susan and Rudy Boesch
This area along the Big Wood River is also a popular desti- Bobbie Boyer
nation for fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Dan Gilmore

7
 WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST NON-PROFIT
STANDARD
Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 21
83333
119 East Bullion Street
Hailey, Idaho 83333
www.woodriverlandtrust.org

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Printed locally on 50% recycled paper

using soy-based inks

winter 2008 Acres Permanently Protected

In This issue: With Your Support: 9,860

Protecting Big Game

Animals’ Room to Roam
...Page 1

Winter 2008 Events

...Page 4

A Record Crowd Attends

the Howard Community
Picnic...Page 5

A Gift to Protect Land &

Inspire Others...Page 6

Additional Protection for

Colorado Gulch...Page 7

May’s Creek, permanently

protected in 1999