wood river land trust wood

river
land
trust

Ketchum resident Ton Yenphiboon, son Sum,

and dog Gem enjoy an afternoon stroll on the
completed stretch of boardwalk

We’re almost There

I n July, construction began on a long-awaited boardwalk at the Croy Creek
wetlands. K&M Construction is doing the work, and the crew relies on
rubber boots and waders to venture into the wetlands. They have set 62
cement piers so far, pounding four 6-foot metal pipes into each pier for sta-
bilization. Structural supports were installed and the decking is done to the
viewing platform.

Help us go the distance! Wood River Land Trust has raised

70% of the needed $210,000 in funding including a grant from
Wilson’s Phalarope seen at Croy Wetlands
the Department of Environmental Quality. We need your help
to complete this exciting project.
Go to our website
A donor board will be installed at the site to highlight every person and every
for more news and other family who contributes. Gifts to honor friends and memorial gifts are especially
customized features: appropriate for this community asset that will endure through the years.
www.woodriverlandtrust.org
Continued on page 4

Fall 2010 Protecting the heart of the valley...now and for the future.
 who we are
Meet the New President of
the Board, Jack Kueneman
t’s been a long and most interesting road
that led me to the Board of Directors of the
Wood River Land Trust and now to the role
of President.
Nearly forty years ago my wife and I began
visiting Sun Valley on winter ski vacations. I
wish I could visualize exactly what the Wood
River Valley looked like back then. During the
1990s my wife and children and I began to
Jack Kueneman spend summer vacations in the valley. Probably
the first thoughts of permanently settling here
began then. However it wasn’t until 1999 that my wife and
I realized the dream of moving to this beautiful Wood River
Valley.
My introduction to the Wood River Land Trust came
through my good friend and then President of the Land Trust,
John Flattery. I was looking for ways to give back to my new
community and maybe utilize some of the real estate skills
acquired in my business career. Seeming like a good fit, I was
invited to join the Board in August, 2005, hoping that I could
add value to an outstanding group.
I didn’t know as much about land, water and wildlife
protection and conservation as I should have but I wanted to
learn all I could. Over the past five years I’ve put a lot of time
into the Land Trust – serving on the Finance Committee of the
Board, and as Treasurer, Fundraising Chair, and Vice President.
I know more now, and together with fellow Board members
I believe we bring a diversified balance of business, legal, and
environmental skills.
I consider it an honor and privilege to serve as President
of the Board of the Wood River Land Trust. I pledge to make
the best effort possible to lead a great Board of Directors and
for this Board to provide our excellent staff with the oversight
and support necessary to achieve our conservation mission.
Lastly and most importantly, I want to thank our loyal
members and supporters throughout the Wood River Valley.
Without you it would be impossible to carry out the mission
of the Land Trust. I hope our members and supporters know
how important you are to our successes and how much we
appreciate you. Your support will impact the next 5, 10,
20…50 years for the conservation legacy you are helping to
create in this Valley and surrounding areas. m
Meet our Board
Jane Mason
J
ane Mason was nominated to
the Board in May of this year.
A Wood River Valley resi-
dent for 20 years, her family
roots in Idaho go back to 1934
when her pioneer grandfather
started Idaho Bank and Trust.
Jane attended The University of
Puget Sound and graduated from
the University of Utah with a Our newest Board
Member, Jane Mason
B.S. in Asian Studies. She worked
in marketing and finance for almost 10 years and,
because of her love of travel, owned and operated a
travel agency for five years.
Visiting her parents here and working on her fish-
ing skills, her father introduced her to his long-time
fishing guru, Bill Mason. They had two children; their
daughter attends Berkshire School in Massachusetts,
and their son attends Miami University in Ohio.
Her involvement with the Land Trust began in the
late 1990s when she met Scott Boettger, Executive
Director, and she was impressed by his commitment
and grass roots approach. She has supported the
Land Trust and its mission ever since. In 1999, Jane
and Bill, as participants in the East Fork Preservation
Association, worked with the Land Trust, Blaine
County, and the Idaho Transportation Department to
place an easement on land at the mouth of East Fork
Canyon ensuring it would not be developed and would
remain scenic open space.
Currently, she is president of the Richard K. and
Shirley S. Hemingway Foundation which supports
work in Idaho and Utah, and feels passionately about
preserving lands and wildlife. “The love of the area,”
she says, “nature, fishing, skiing, seem to be in my
DNA.” m
 meet our staff

Erika Phillips natalie Spencer Ashley Wells

Project Coordinator
Erika and her family moved to Hailey
from Alaska in 2008. She served as a
Biologist/GIS Analyst for the Protected
Resources Division of NOAA Fisheries
Service in Juneau and worked extensively
on policy issues, including marine mam-
mal conservation, endangered species
protection and critical habitat designa-
tion. Prior to that position, she was the
regional restoration program coordina-
tor for NOAA a Erika has a Master’s
degree in Resource Ecology from Duke
University, and completed coursework
for the Idaho Master Naturalist certifi-
cation program last spring. In her free
time, she enjoys hiking, skiing and trav-
eling with her husband, Matt, and two
preschool-aged sons. m
major gifts officer
An Idaho Native, Natalie joins the WRLT
with a unique, professional background
in environmental science and program
development in North Africa, South
Asia, Europe and the Americas. She
holds a Master of Science in Advanced
Environmental & Energy Sciences
with a focus on Natural Building and
Remote Renewable Energy Applications
from the University of London and a
Bachelor Degree in Asian & Middle
Eastern Studies from the University of
Hawai’i. She is an avid skier, kayaker
and outdoor enthusiast with a passion
for language, dance, and fly fishing. m
Development Assistant
After graduating from the University of
Denver with a B.A. in Environmental
Science and a minor in Geology, Ashley
is glad to find herself back in the Wood
River Valley where she grew up a As
a student, Ashley spent four months in
Costa Rica where she studied Ecology
through the University of San Jose De
Heredia a For the past three years,
she has enjoyed working as a raft guide
on the Salmon River and as a Nordic ski
coach for the Sun Valley Ski Education
Foundation a Ashley will use her
background in Environmental Science
to assist Stewardship Coordinator Keri
York and Project Coordinator Erika
Phillips with program development. m

thank you Summer Interns

Over the summer our interns Stephanie
Thompson (top right) and Kristen
Doman (below right) assisted with a mul-
titude of stewardship and management
tasks—and always with smiling faces.
They monitored conservation easement
properties, managed data, participated
in preserve workdays, and communi-
cated with landowners and volunteers.
Our Anderson House suited their needs
perfectly a Stephanie is a graduate at
Duquesne University in Pittsburg pursu-
ing a master’s degree in Environmental
Science and Management a Kristen
currently lives in Salt Lake City. She has
a background in community health and
sustainable urban development. She
now plans on pursuing a career in land
conservation. m
A Note from intern Kristen
I came to work with the Wood River Land Trust to gain
experience in land conservation and learn about new
career opportunities. These expectations were by far
exceeded.
As the Preserve Assistant, I learned about noxious
weeds, ecological changes that occur over time, and
how to utilize GPS/GIS.
I also assisted with easement monitoring. Our visits
to these easements were incredible experiences; each
day was an adventure, a lesson in environmental biology,
and an inspiration to me. We met some of the easement
donors, many of whom wanted their property con-
served for wildlife habitat and to remain undeveloped.
This summer has been a great experience and one
that has changed my life. I am amazed at what the Wood
River Land Trust accomplishes on a daily basis. Thanks
to this internship, I now know that I want to find a
career in land conservation.
3
 connections
We’re Almost There 1
continued from cover
The boardwalk will provide public access to
one of the most biologically diverse places in
the valley where people can experience and
learn about these sensitive wetlands and wildlife
habitat. Designed to provide public access for
education and enjoyment while minimizing im-
pacts to the sensitive site, the boardwalk will be
wheelchair accessible.
When totally completed, this will be an en-
during community asset. Watch and listen for
ducks as they fly in and land on the ponds. Ob-
serve frogs and salamanders in the shallow areas
near the boardwalk. Moose and elk may wander
through. It is a fun and relaxing place to visit and
easily accessible from Main Street, Hailey.
The Croy Creek wetlands lie at the conflu-
ence of the Big Wood River and Croy Creek ad-
jacent to Lions Park.
Stop by and have a look. m

The boardwalk
provides public access
to one of the most
biologically diverse places
in the valley.
A Virginia Rail at Croy Creek
 2 3

Above left: In step (1) of building the boardwalk, Erik and Colton (3) All the hard work pays off!!
align and install the concrete footings that will support the joists,
seen above in step (2).
Thank you to the following Boardwalk donors!

Help us finish the Boardwalk! Draper Family Foundation

Richard K. & Shirley S.
Anne Jeffery
Carole & Robbie Freund
All participants will be listed on the donor board onsite - a great Hemingway Foundation Tina & Jerry Winford
way to leave your legacy or honor a friend or loved one. Page Foundation Boettger Family: Emily, Gunner,
The Lightfoot Foundation Sally & Scott
Rinker Foundation Michael & Chris Boskin
$210,000 Anonymous Penny & Ed Glassmeyer
Seagraves Family Foundation Sue Woodyard
Invest in your section: The Deer Creek Fund, Lynn Campion Susan Bernatas
& Thomas B. Campion Gail & Doug Boettger
Dick Hay & Robyn Watson John & Daralene Finnell
$25 for one inch Victor Bernstein & Gail Landis, Trey Spaulding
in honor of Barbara Thrasher John & Diane Kahm
& Rick Koffey Julie & Brian Gallagher
Alison & Jim Luckman Dan Gilmore
$300 for one foot Susan & Jerry Flynt David Hertel
The Gerhardt Family John Hardin
Gail & Jack Thornton Melanie Dahl
Kristy & Tom Logan Chance Self
Brightman & Slonim Families Kingman & Cindy Lambert
Neil Clark, in memory of Jennifer & Kevin Embree,
Jill Clark-Engdahl in honor of Mattelyn
$1000 for one yard Joan Lamb & Camille Embree
Dale & Shearson Jones Dick & Bobbie Boyer
The Odell Family
Mark Kieckbusch & Kathryn Earhart

We’re amost There!

Melisa & Jeff Williams
Marcelle & Ridley Pearson
John & Wendy Henning
Maureen Groper
 connections
Big Wood River Below Magic Dam

W e’re excited about

our newest project
which would restore
and enhance a tailwater trout fishery
in the Big Wood River below Magic
The Land Trust is working with the
canal company to find innovative ways to
conserve water in the irrigation system
below Magic Reservoir. In exchange for
our participation in this process, we hope
Wood River to provide a clear picture of
how much water needs to be conserved
in order to accomplish our fishery
enhancement goals. We plan to enter
into a formal agreement with the canal
Reservoir. Currently, the river channel to acquire “shares” of water to bank in company to refine plans for water con-
below Magic Dam has only marginal the reservoir and release into the river servation, complete an environmental
flows for much of the year. During during times of low flow, creating suf- analysis, secure permits, implement con-
the spring/summer irrigation season, ficient year-round flows for fish and the servation measures, and begin releasing
the Big Wood Canal Company releases river ecosystem. The conserved water water into the river for fish.
water from the reservoir into the river will provide mutual benefits to the fishery For more information, contact
for diversion into the Richfield Canal and agricultural users. Erika Phillips, Project Coordinator, at
system. Once the irrigation season Currently, we are conducting a study ephillips@woodriverlandtrust.org. m
ends, no water is released. With the of stream flows in this section of the Big
exception of runoff and groundwater
seepage, water recharge to the lower
Big Wood River is non-existent for
much of the year.
The seasonal dewatering of the
river below Magic Dam has significant
impacts on survival and reproduction
of the wild rainbow and brown trout
populations.

Magic Dam

See
The seasonal dewatering
more of the river below Magic Dam has
online!
significant impacts on survival
and reproduction of the rainbow
and brown trout populations.
6
Timbered Dome – Wildlife Habitat Protected
I n August, the Wood River Land Trust
closed on our largest land acquisition
ever. The 1609-acre Timbered Dome
Ranch was purchased from co-owners
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW)
Timbered Dome provides year-round
habitat for chukar, raptors, migratory
songbirds, and other birds. The ranch is
also a migratory corridor for elk, deer and
antelope. Last winter approximately 250
to Ketchum

Hailey to Arco
and Southeastern Idaho Mule Deer elk and 500 mule deer made Timbered
Foundation (SIMDF) to protect impor- Dome their home. Hwy 75 Craters of
tant wildlife habitat, and is especially The property is located approximate- Hwy 20
the Moon
National
important for sagebrush-obligate species ly 10 miles west of the town of Arco and Monument

like pygmy rabbits and sage grouse. With just east of Craters of the Moon National
the addition of this property, the Land Carey
Monument. Sagebrush and native grasses
Trust has protected 11,930 acres in and are predominant vegetation except at to Twin Falls
around the Wood River Valley. the summit of Timbered Dome, where
Sage grouse are currently classified various species of pine give the property
in Idaho as warranting endangered spe- its name.
cies status. Timbered Dome offers ideal Scott Boettger, Wood River Land Timbered
sage grouse habitat and has active sage Trust Executive Director, noted, “Working Dome
grouse leks on and near the property .
with the neighboring landowners and t.
Rd
that need protection. through our continued partnership with rd
M
za
The pygmy rabbits are highly vulner- the Pioneers Alliance, the Land Trust Bl
iz
able to loss of sagebrush steppe habi- hopes to leverage our ownership of this
tat, and Timbered Dome offers ideal property into even greater area-wide
habitat for its population of pygmy rabbit agricultural and wildlife habitat conserva-
which is a candidate for endangered spe- tion.” to Arco
cies protection. Pygmy rabbits need soil The purchase of this property was Hwy 20
to Carey
suited for burrow excavation, as well as made possible by generous donations
healthy sagebrush for nutrition and con- from individuals and foundations to the See
cealment from predators. Land Trust’s Open Space Fund and the more
online!
cooperation of SFW and SIMDF. m

Last winter
approximately 250 elk
and 500 mule deer
made Timbered Dome
their home.

7
 connections
Neher Preserve Workday, May 26
Volunteers Spotlight

E d and Carmen Northen moved

to the Wood River Valley in June,
2003. Since they had lived near the
ocean for so many years, they thought
they should experience the mountain win-
ter before taking the plunge. They moved
here for two years and fell in love with the

Back row, left to right: Joy Cimmiyotti, Emily Andrews, Alisa Reed, Fred Partridge,
S u m m e r W o r k d ay s 2 0 1 0

Polly Huggins. Front row: Steve Grupe, Kristen Doman, Stephanie Thompson,
Rhett Gomes, Ed Papenberg, Carl Freg, Terry Gregory

Howard Preserve Workday, June 5

uncrowded spaces, the nearness of the Big

Wood River and Silver Creek, and easily
accessible mountain ranges for hiking, fish-
ing, mountain biking, and camping.
They are involved with the Hemingway
Chapter of Trout Unlimited, which they
helped revive. Ed is currently president of
Left to right: Kim Mazik, Fran MacDonald, Gail Wenger, Tom McAuliffe, Florence the Hemingway Chapter, and Carmen is
Blanchard, Tom Blanchard, Carol Blackburn, Mike Mattias, Linda Johnston, on the Idaho Trout Unlimited state coun-
Stephanie Thompson, Steve Carlisle, Kristen Doman cil. Both are fishing guides for Silver Creek
Outfitters.
The two of them are committed to
Boxcar Bend Preserve Workday, June 19 being good stewards of the Land Trust’s
Boxcar Bend Preserve, and they have
spent countless hours maintaining trails,
pulling weeds, and performing other land
management duties.
Of their association with the Land
Trust, Carmen notes that they liked the
idea of being involved with a local conser-
vation group. “It seemed a natural choice
to team up on projects since we have the
same goals in wanting to protect the river
and the wild areas of the valley.” m

Members of the Hemingway Chapter of Trout Unlimited and Wood River Land Trust
volunteered for weed pulling and putting new wood chips on the trails.
8 A BBQ was presented when the work was done
Birding at Croy Creek Wetlands

I n May, Wood River High School biology teacher Larry Barnes and his
“Birds of the Rockies” class conducted mist netting of birds at the Croy
Creek wetlands in Hailey. The thin mesh-like nets are designed to snare
birds in flight without injuring them and allow for banding birds and tracking
bird populations. This is the fourth year Larry and his students have done
their bird survey at Croy Creek. “North of Silver Creek, the Croy Creek
wetlands are the best” for biodiversity, said Barnes.
The information gleaned from the bird studies will be incorporat-
ed in the interpretive signage to be installed at the Croy Creek Wetlands
Boardwalk (see story on pages 1, 4 and 5). m
Yellow Warbler in the gentle hands of a student

Howard Community Picnic 2010

O n September 18, the Land

Trust presented the 7th annual
Howard Community Picnic
which was held along the river in Bellevue
at the Howard Preserve. Over 300 friends
joined us on a beautiful day. The improve-
ments made at the preserve were made
possible by the Friends of the Howard
Preserve.
Mike Howard brought his fiancée
Mary, family, and Tres Pinos Inn staff from
California to set up and cook some of his
specialties. The lamb sirloin from Lava Lake
Lamb was grilled perfectly thanks to Tom
Blanchard and Larry Meyers. Everyone Poo Wright Pulliam and Jean
brought all kinds of side dishes, salads, Seymour at the 7th annual
and desserts, so there was no shortage Howard Community Picnic
of good homemade food. Once again, the
band Slow Children Playing gave a crowd-
pleasing performance. m

New Signs at Draper

Wood River Preserve

T he old Cedar Bend entrance to the

Draper Wood River Preserve has a new
sign at the south-east entrance to the
Preserve along Cedar Street in Hailey. There
are also trail markers at other entrance points
along the street. m

9
 news
Aspen Drive House

I n 2007, the Land Trust completed a land trade with the State
of Idaho that increased the size of the existing Cedar Bend
Preserve by 80 acres – the new preserve was renamed Drap-
er Wood River Preserve.
Adjacent to the new preserve land were a house and lot at
541 Aspen Drive that came up for sale in 2008. The Land Trust
purchased the house for staff housing and began renovation soon
after. The first order of business was putting on a new roof.
The Aspen Drive side of the house had an unattractive fea-
tureless façade. Working with Eddy Svidgal Architects and K&M
Construction we gave the
entrance a bit of panache,
adding a porch and sidelights,
posts and beams, paver
walkway, and stone retaining
wall. A new coat of paint, as
well as some landscaping, has
made a big difference.
Our Stewardship Co-
ordinator lives in the Aspen
East facing wall, seen at left, was flat and featureless. The new entry,
Drive house now and keeps
seen above, gives the home a needed facelift and brings light in
an eye on the Preserve. m

See
more
online!

A Note from the Building Material Thrift Store

T he Building Material Thrift Store motto has always been

to find a complementary use for salvaged material or to
promote an entirely new use.
After Hailey won approval for new rodeo grounds and other
recreational facilities, we talked with the City about dismantling
the old Hailey Rodeo grounds arena and saving the murals on the
fence.
Most of the salvaged materials were sold to be used in the
remodeling of a home near Hagerman. The non-profit Hunger
Coalition claimed bleacher seats to build raised beds in the Hope
Garden, the community garden near the old Courthouse in Hailey.
Our customers are certainly visionaries in the ways they re-use
salvaged material.
The rodeo vignettes around the arena fence were painted
around 1997 by local artist Mary Roberson. We very carefully re-
moved those sections of the fence, and they are stored with the
City of Hailey for later installation.
BMTS is a service-oriented recycling outlet for high qual-
ity construction materials and furniture. Besides keeping building
materials out of the landfill waste stream, proceeds from sales at
BMTS support the work of the Wood River Land Trust. Come visit
our store at 3930 S. Woodside Blvd. and see what’s new! Call us at
788-0014 or see our website: buildingmaterialthriftstore.org. m

10
Planned Giving: Charitable Remainder Trust
Kingman and Cindy Lambert
Members of the Wood River Land Trust since 2003

Background:
King graduated from the University of Virginia after
World War II, and then spent 22 years as an aviator in the
Marines. After he concluded his military career, he built
and managed two tennis facilities in southern California.
His top priorities are his wife Cindy, their two daughters
and circuit tennis. In 1994, King and Cindy moved to Sun
Valley where they reside for the majority of the year; the
remaining time they spend in the California desert.

Why King and Cindy named the Wood River Land Trust
as a beneficiary of a Charitable Remainder Trust: “It’s
quite obvious. The Land Trust does such a good job in this
area, especially with the river. Being close to the environ-
ment in which you live—it’s not only the way you live but
“It’s quite obvious.
what you participate in. The Land Trust understands that. The Land Trust does such
There is no better place to contribute.”
a good job in this area,
If you would like more information on planned giving,
contact Natalie Spencer, Major Gifts Officer, at 788-3947, especially with the river...”
or nspencer@woodriverlandtrust.org.

Planned Giving Options: Meeting Your Charitable and Financial Goals

Planned Giving is a term that refers to setting up a mechanism to make a gift that benefits a charitable organization at some
time in the future. No matter how you arrange your planned gift, it will have distinct tax, financial, and charitable benefits.
Always consult with your financial advisor.
a A Bequest is the simplest method of
Planned Giving. A provision in the donor’s will
WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST provides a gift to charity out of the donor’s
Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future estate.

Board of Directors Staff Advisory Committee

Jack Kueneman, President Scott Boettger Ranney Draper
a Other ways to make a charitable gift are
Trent Jones, Vice President Executive Director Larry Schoen the Charitable Remainder Trust, Charitable
John French, Treasurer Melanie Dahl John Seiller Lead Trust, and Gift Annuity. These can be
Robin Garwood, Executive Assistant Tom Swift structured in such a way that a fund is estab-
Secretary Erika Phillips Bruce Tidwell
lished so that the donor receives some income
David Anderson Senior Project Coordinator Liz Warrick
Ed Cutter Trey Spaulding
for a specific period of time or until the time
John Flattery Director of Operations This newsletter is published by: of the donor’s death. For this type of Planned
Heather King Natalie Spencer Wood River Land Trust
Gift, the Land Trust recommends that donors
Jane Mason Director of Development look to a large charitable fund such as the
119 East Bullion Street
Liz Mitchell Ashley Wells Hailey, Idaho 83333 Idaho Community Foundation (idcomfdn.org)
Rebecca Patton Development Assistant
Wolf Riehle
208.788.3947 (telephone) to administer the gift.
Keri York 208.788.5991 (fax)
John Fell Stevenson Stewardship Coordinator
info@woodriverlandtrust.org
Megan Stevenson
www.woodriverlandtrust.org
A charitable gift to the Wood River Land Trust
Steve Strandberg provides for the enduring protection of land,
Tax ID# 82-0474191
Joan Swift
Barbara Thrasher
water, and wildlife in the Wood River Valley and
Doris Tunney surrounding areas.

11
 wood Brown trout caught in Big Wood River below Magic Reservoir
river Acres permanently protected with your support: 11,930
land
trust

fall 2010
We’re Almost There,
pages 1, 4, and 5
Water Below Magic Dam, page 6
Timbered Dome, page 7
Birding at Croy Creek
Wetlands, page 9
Howard Community Picnic 2010,
page 9
New Signs at Draper Wood River
Preserve, page 9
Aspen Drive House, page 10

dtru
an

See
iverl

st
.org

more
dr

woo
Wood River Land Trust protects and restores land, water, and wildlife habitat in the Wood
online!
River Valley and its surrounding areas. We work cooperatively with private landowners and
local communities to ensure these areas are protected now and for future generations.

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