perspectives on

Land

Wood River Land Trust

winter 2007
A fall afternoon along the Big Wood River at Howard Preserve in Bellevue

Innovative Conservation in a Changing Valley

Thoughts from Executive Director, Scott Boettger

i like to say that it took nine years and

three governors to complete Wood
River Land Trust’s newest preserve,
the Draper Wood River Preserve. The
80-plus-acre land trade with the State
of Idaho in the heart of Hailey took so
long because of its complexity, and we
are increasingly undertaking these kinds
of large, complex, and time-consuming
projects because they have the potential
to achieve greater conservation benefits
for our local lands, waters, people, and
wildlife. Such complicated projects take
years of perseverance to see through to
completion. In comparison, the volun-
tary conservation agreements our quali-
fied staff creates with caring landowners
(we are currently working on eight) come
to fruition quite quickly.
Wood River Land Trust was uniquely
positioned to create the Draper Wood River
Preserve in what I think is the best example
of a win-win collaborative conservation
effort the Valley has ever seen: when the
trade was complete, the State of Idaho
owned a marketable lot it could sell to raise
school endowment funds, and residents
gained the largest stretch of protected river-
front land in our area. In addition to work-
ing with individual landowners, we have Protecting the heart
long used an array of tools to protect land,
such as partnering with the City of Bellevue of the valley...now and
to create the Howard Preserve (2004) and for the future.
Continued on page 4

A publication of Wood River Land Trust

www.woodriverlandtrust.org info@woodriverlandtrust.org
 who we are
Meet the Board
John Fell Stevenson, Director
J ohn Fell Stevenson’s involvement
with Wood River Land Trust stems
from his love of the land his family has
worked for 35 years. John’s family has
lived and worked on their ranch on the
headwaters of Stalker Creek since 1972,
and, remarkably, almost nothing has
changed.
John attributes this largely to the
many landowners working with The
Nature Conservancy and Wood River
Land Trust to create conservation agree-
ments that protect their land in perpetu-
ity, making it increasingly valuable.
“In addition,” he says, “the movement
opposing unplanned development might
not be effective if not for Wood River
Land Trust’s expertise, advice, and
dedication, and their ability to influ-
ence public policy.” Describing his first
meeting with Executive Director Scott
help us meet our challenge!
As 2007 draws to a
close we need your Year-End Challenge Goal.............$340,000
help! Anonymous
donors and our Board
Amount Raised as of 11/26......$171,500
of Directors have Amount Needed to
generously pledged Meet Challenge........................$168,500
a $170,000 matching
grant. To receive this
gift, we must raise $340,000 by December 31, 2007. This means that
every dollar you donate between now and the end of the year will be
matched by an additional $.50.
The Year-End Challenge provides and excellent opportunity to make
your gift go even further in the protection of the Valley’s land, water,
and wildlife habitat. All donations are tax-deductible. Please help us
reach our goal today!
2 3
John Fell Stevenson and his pal, Barley
Boettger over ten years ago when they
discussed Transfers of Development
Rights (TDRs), he says, “Scott was an
expert on the subject. Now, we finally
have a TDR ordinance. The next step
is to make them work, and we can be
sure the Land Trust will be involved in
that effort too.” Thanks to alternatives
like TDRs, we are successfully guiding
growth away from sensitive areas like
wetlands and streams and towards more
appropriate places closer to County ser-
vices.
“We constantly hear talk about
how the valley has changed,” John says,
“and it has, with more subdivisions and
ever-increasing traffic. This is true all
over the mountain west. The pressure
on these mountain valleys will only
increase as baby boomers retire.” John
considers his involvement with Wood
River Land Trust and motivation for
getting involved, explaining that “the
future of the open space, wildlife, and
waters of this whole area is enhanced by
having Wood River Land Trust with its
team of experts on the job for us, and
that is why I was happy to accept Scott’s
invitation this year to join the board.”
Wood River Land Trust is honored
to have John’s support and appreciates
the time, dedication, and expertise he
contributes to our work!
Meet our Staff As a long-term resident and
occasional civic leader, Melanie
Melanie Dahl, Executive Assistant has witnessed the fast pace and
I f you’ve visited or called the Wood River
Land Trust office, most likely you’ve
character of change in the Wood
River Valley. “Things are changing
so fast in the Valley that I’m really
shared a few words and a smile with Melanie
worried about the future of wildlife,”
Dahl. Our conspicuous voice behind the
she explains. She cites the Square
front desk is most enthusiastic about our
Lake Preserve and its sage-grouse
more visible efforts, especially those in the
as a favorite example of how Wood
centers of our communities and critical wild-
River Land Trust is working to pro-
life areas.
tect wildlife and its habitat.
Over the past 30 years, Melanie has
Melanie is a key member of the
been an active member of the Wood River
Wood Rive Land Trust team. Her
Valley community. She’s worked with local
presence and talents contribute to
media, including newspaper and radio, and
the success of our organization and
the Blaine County Recreation District. As
make the office a wonderful space
a founder of the Bellevue Historical Society,
for work. And she shares the abun-
she continues to be involved in preserv-
dant plums from her fruit trees with
ing Bellevue’s past by restoring structures Melanie Dahl tending the flowers
all of us.
and archiving documents. For example,
the Society saved Old City Hall and later
opened it as a museum.
Recognizing the importance of guid-
ing the future of her community, Melanie
spent a combined 12 years on the Bellevue
Planning & Zoning Commission and City
Council. Based on her rich experiences in
the Valley, she provides valuable perspec-
Board of Directors
Clark Gerhardt, President
WRLT Staff
Scott Boettger
Advisory Committee
David Anderson
tives on where the Valley’s been, where it’s Ed Cutter, Vice President Executive Director Peter Becker
headed, and how best to share these ideas Joan Swift, Treasurer Morgan Buckert Ranney Draper
with others. Robin Garwood, Secretary Membership Assistant Rebekah Helzel
Jerry Bashaw Dave Parrish
Melanie joined the Wood River Land Melanie Dahl
Trust staff as the Executive Assistant almost William Burnham Executive Assistant Larry Schoen
John Flattery John Seiller
five years ago. In recent years, she’s watched Kate Giese
Trent Jones Director of Conservation Bruce Tidwell
the organization’s staff double and is proud of Heather King
the work they’ve accomplished. Molly and Kathryn Goldman
Patricia Klahr Project Coordinator
This newsletter
Nicolas, Melanie’s grown children, played Jack Kueneman is published by:
at the present day Howard Preserve when Diane Kahm
Bill Lehman Development Assistant Wood River Land Trust
they were young. This was years before we Liz Mitchell
helped the City of Bellevue purchase the John Fell Stevenson
Heather Kimmel 119 East Bullion Street
Program & Membership Hailey, Idaho 83333
area as a park to guarantee its enjoyment by Steve Strandberg Coordinator 208-788-3947 (telephone)
future generations. Tom Swift
Robyn Watson 208-788-5991 (fax)
Chris Thompson Major Gifts Officer
info@woodriverlandtrust.org
Barbara Thrasher
Doris Tunney
Nathan Welch
Planning Coordinator
www.woodriverlandtrust.org
Tax ID# 82-0474191
Liz Warrick
 connecting to the land
Be the First to See this
Year’s Heart of the Valley
Photographs
Join us at Images of Nature Gallery in Ketchum
on December 28th during the Gallery Walk for the
first public showing of this year’s Heart of the Valley
photography submissions. Thanks to
Images of Nature for providing a beautiful space in
which to highlight this year’s photographs.
Join us too at 6:30 p.m. on January 23rd when we
announce this year’s contest winners at a public
reception at Images of Nature Gallery.
This year’s contest is generously sponsored by:
4 5
Innovative Conservation Sheep Bridge Canyon Project
in a Changing Valley
Continued from cover W ood River Land Trust’s new
Sheep Bridge Canyon Project
seeks to protect approximately 300 acres
To Bellevue
with the City of Hailey to create Riverside Pond
just east of Timmerman junction. Each
(2003) and a protected greenway along the Big Wood Highway 75
spring and fall, huge numbers of elk, mule
River (2002). But with a limited amount of private-
deer, and antelope migrate through the
ly-owned land and ongoing development pressure, we
area as they leave the Smoky Mountains
must be creative and proactive to make a difference
and Rock Creek drainage west of the
on a larger scale. 0
As important riverfront, recreational, and scenic
Wood River Valley on their way to the
h w ay 2
more temperate lava rock landscape near H ig
lands become increasingly expensive, we recognize
Shoshone.
that simply raising money to purchase land will no
The Sheep Bridge Canyon Project
longer be adequate or effective. With that in mind,
would protect over a mile of Big Wood
Wood River Land Trust is evaluating key projects
River frontage in an area that is home
that will require more time, patience, and creativity
to bald eagles and other raptors and
but that will yield important conservation returns.
where trout spawn in the cold, clear
Our current Sheep Bridge Canyon Project is a great
r
Ri
water as they wend their way from Magic
ve
example. Still in its infancy, this project has the Ro
Reservoir. The Idaho Department of ck ood
potential to protect land and water resources while
Fish and Game notes that the forested To Fairfield C r e ek W
stretching our conservation dollars.
areas around rivers like those near Sheep
Big
You will be reading more about Sheep Bridge
Bridge Canyon are the most threatened
Canyon and other projects and about our use of
habitat type in Idaho.
revolving funds, bargain sales, land trades, and part-
nering successes in our upcoming newsletters. With
Your support of Wood River Land
Trust makes possible projects like Sheep
all the challenges our valley faces, one thing is cer-
tain—we live in a remarkable, beautiful place. And
Bridge Canyon that protect land so large
game animals have room to roam and
as the valley grows, so will Wood River Land Trust
and our ability to protect and conserve our land,
areas around rivers and streams remain
healthy for an array of animals, raptors,
water, and wildlife habitat.
and songbirds.
Visit the Building
Material Thrift
Store at its
new location
3930 S. Woodside
(208) 788-0014
www.buildingmaterialthriftstore.org
Reeling them in at Sheep Bridge Canyon
 thank you
for helping us achieve our goals
A Short Commute for Our Staff A Tribute to the Places you Love
R obert Antonioli, a long time Wood River Valley hom-
eowner, was an avid fisherman, tennis player, skier and
biker. He loved the Wood River Valley’s scenic vistas, open
landscapes, and the Big Wood River. Robert showed his affec-
tion for the Valley by bequeathing, upon his passing last summer,
a portion of his estate to Wood River Land Trust to foster the
protection of the valley he loved. In honor of his memory, we
are placing a bench at our Trail Creek Overlook at 2nd Avenue
and Spruce Street in Ketchum. The Trail Creek Overlook in
downtown Ketchum is the perfect place to get outside for lunch
or await a dinner reservation.

Robert Antonioli

Planned gifts to Wood

The new house at 119 2nd Avenue North
River Land Trust help us
I n September, Wood River Land Trust purchased the house
next door to our Hailey office. Purchasing the Second
Avenue home helped us achieve two goals: providing staff hous-
protect the Valley’s land, water, and wildlife
habitat for years to come. Planned gifts can
be made by:
ing and saving another small piece of Hailey’s history.
The lot next door has contained a dwelling since at least • Including a cash gift in your estate plan
1885, and the current house has all the earmarks of a building such as a will or living trust
that has gone through more than a few incarnations. As we did
with our office at 119 E. Bullion, we will restore and revitalize • Donating land or a conservation
the new house. We are currently looking for a fitting historic agreement in your estate plan
Hailey style to guide our restoration of the house. Architect
• Directing a portion of your IRA or
Eddy Svidgal, a member of the Hailey Historic Preservation
401(k) to Wood River Land Trust
Commission, has offered us his professional talents.
How were we able to take this step? Long-time supporters • Naming Wood River Land Trust as a
and advisors Lyn and David Anderson donated a Sun Valley beneficiary of a life insurance policy
condominium to Wood River Land Trust late in 2006 with the
condition that proceeds from its sale be used to fund staff hous-
To learn how you can make a difference
ing. The condominium sold quickly, and an Employee Housing
Assistance Fund was established. with your planned gift, please call Robyn
Our Planning Coordinator, Nathan Welch, and his wife, Watson at 208 788-3947, or contact your
Lara, have moved in and will have a hand in the restoration estate planner to learn about the ways
work that will be going on around them. We would like to thank
planned giving can benefit your estate and
Gayle Stevenson of Sotheby’s for her encouragement and assis-
tance in this transaction as well as previous owner, Debra Evans, Wood River Land Trust.
and neighbors Todd and Nancie Krankkala.
3
6 7
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U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT NO. 21
83333
119 East Bullion Street
Hailey, Idaho 83333
www.woodriverlandtrust.org

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Printed on recycled paper

winter 2007 Acres Permanently Protected

In This issue: With Your Support: 6,421

Innovative Conservation
in a Changing Valley
...Page 1

Be the First to See this

Year’s Heart of the
Valley Photographs!
...Page 4

Sheep Bridge Canyon

Project ...Page 5

A Short Commute for

Our Staff ...Page 6

Snowshoeing at Draper
Wood River Preserve