spring 2011 horizons, muir heritage land trust newsletter

8/3/2019 Spring 2011 Horizons, Muir Heritage Land Trust Newsletter

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S p r i n g 2 0 1 1

M u i r He r i t a g e La n d t r u s t

As the ant said to the grasshopper

in the ancient fable, its best toprepare for whats ahead. The

Muir Heritage Land Trusts mission to

preserve land for future generations

fits in with that goal. But it is only

part of it.

Once our wild lands are protected,

we must ensure they always remain

healthy, beautiful habitat with well-

maintained recreational facilities for

everyone to enjoy. Those goals are

a significant part of the Land Trusts

commitment when it comes toprotecting 23 acres of scenic open

space in Acalanes Ridge.

The great news is that our partners

the City of Lafayette, the City of

Walnut Creek and the East Bay

Regional Park Districtall made

significant contributions that allowed

the recent purchase of the land. While

the Land Trust holds fee title, our

partners hold a conservation easement

on the property. Yet this is just the

first big hurdle on the path to success.

To fulfill our commitment to ourpartners, we must raise $400,000 to

cover project costs associated with the

acquisition, stewardship, administration,

planning, and long-range management.

As the Land Trust continues to

raise funds to complete the project, we

are working closely with our project

partners to open the land to the public.

We are developing plans for trails and

have scheduled a volunteer trail-building

weekend from May 20th through the

22nd. In addition, we have scheduled adedication on Saturday, June 4th, which

will open the property for all to explore.

The grasshopper played while

the ant worked to ensure the future.

Weve been working hard to secure this

Acalanes Ridge land, with its stunning

views and scenic prominence. But come

May and June, well be playing a little,

too (see our Calendar of Events on page

4). Have some fun with us digging in

the dirt, or sauntering on the land.

tHe Futureon acaLanes ridge

Message fromthe ExecutiveDirector

Celebrate SuCCeSS!

Muir Heritage Land

Trust plays a leading role

land conservation endeav

that benefit our entire

community. Realizationof that work would not

be possible without the

support of individuals lik

you. Thank you.

This spring, come

celebrate our success

together by participating

one or more unforgettab

Land Trust activities.

Opportunities abound

and theres something for

everyone. Take a vigorouhike or a gentle walk in

the woods. Bring your

bike or ride a horse.

Enjoy beautiful music,

a meaningful dedication

ceremony and a glamorou

gala. Or why not conside

volunteering for our

upcoming trail building

event on Acalanes Ridge?

Youll find more

information about theseand other activities on ou

website calendar or inside

this issue of Horizons.

All are welcome. I

hope to see you there!

Linus EukelExecutive Director

AcalanesRidgePhotos:RichardGylgayton


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M u i r Her i tage

La n d tr u s t

P.O. Box 2452

Martinez, CA 94553

925-228-5460 925-372-5460fax

[email protected]

www.muirheritagelandtrust.org

Staff

Linus Eukel

Executive Director

Johna Winters

Administrative Manager

Glen Lewis

Open Space Ranger

Gunther Korshak

Membership & Development Coordinator

board

of direCtorS

Steve Hutchcraft

Chair

Denis Huston

Vice Chair

Paul Craig

Secretary

Louis E. Stoddard

Treasurer

Bob Aston

Ann Cormack

Beth Mallonee

Mark Wilson

editor

Linus Eukel

newSletterContributorS

Sherida Bush

Linus Eukel

Johna Winters

Gunther Korshak

FrankLin canyon: PLans are aFoot

The thrill of victory has not

subsided. After the Muir

Heritage Land Trust succeeded in

purchasing 483 acres in Franklin Canyon

last June, our eager supporters started

asking when the land would be open to

the public.After two decades of waiting to see

this property protected and accessible, its

difficult to wait even longer. Yet wait we

mustjust a bit more.

Magnificent Franklin Canyon

is replete with resources, including

significant watershed, important

riparian areas, dense bay-oak forests and

abundant wildlife. Along with our

adjacent Fernandez Ranch, the

land provides 1,185 acres of

contiguous wildlife habitat.Scattered patches of freshwater

marsh and seeps occur

throughout the property,

which provide an important

source of surface water for

aquatic and terrestrial species,

especially during the dry summer.

Special-status species seen on the

property include the Diablo sunflower,

California red-legged frog, Alameda

whipsnake

and

Coopers

hawk.

Among

the special

status specieslikely to be found on the land are the

Western pond turtle, white-tailed kite

and northern harrier. We plan to do an

updated biological assessment to provide

information about the animals and

vegetation on the property so we can

better protect all of the native wildlife,

trees and plants.

In addition to a biological assessment,

our action list includes coordinating trail

linkages with other organizations, (such as

a possible link with the 550-mile Bay AreaRidge Trail), designing and building trails,

creating interpretive signage and other

needed improvements.

The considerable work involved in

preparing Franklin Canyon for public

access will take the Land Trusts Board,

volunteers and small staff some time.

Our goal is to open the property to the

public in 2012, and we all look forward

to celebrating that day with you.

Frank

linCanyonPhotos:SteveHutchcraft


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a new cHaPterFortHe BodFisH ProPerty

While Margaret Bodfishs wish

to preserve her seven-acre

property as a public park

seemed straightforward enough, fulfilling

that goal was anything but simple.

Before her death in 1999, Bodfish

had stated in a trust that she wanted topreserve the land which also included a

house. She left both to an organization

that did not want to accept long-

term responsibility for the

property. Trying to find an

alternative, the Canyon

Ranch Homeowners

Association, the Orinda

Highlands Homeowners

Association and the Orinda

Parks and Recreation

Foundation all worked

together to protect the oak-

covered property, but had found

no permanent solution by the time a

deadline approached.

The Bodfish trust specified that the

property had to become a park in four

years or be transferred to UC Santa

Cruz. Had that happened, the land most

likely would have been sold at auction

to a developer for subdivision. In July of

2003, the land was just days from being

transferred when the Muir Heritage Land

Trust took ownership of the propertyto preserve it as public open space and a

wildlife sanctuary, according to the wishes

of Bodfish and many in the surrounding

community.

The project was a favorable

acquisition for both the community and

the Land Trust. Over the years, however,

rental management and maintenance of

the run-down residence had become afinancial burden.

In order to more effectively preserve

the nearly six acres of open space

surrounding the house, the

Land Trust recently sold the

property to a private party,

according to provisions in

our initial agreement, and

permanently protected the

property with a well-crafted

conservation easement

including stipulations for

public access to all previously

established social trails.

As in the case of the Bodfish

property, a local land trust can be a

resource for protecting land that no

other agency has the will or the means

to acquire and manage. For four years,

local organizations tried to find a way

to preserve the Bodfish land. No other

organization would take on the project

before the Land Trusts 11th-hour

intervention, which has now permanently

achieved the goal of protecting theproperty as publicly accessible open space.

The Muir Heritage Land Trust is grateful for the service and contributions of our

Board of Directors and staff and extends its sincere gratitude to the following

departing members.

Ken Fischer-Ken Fischer served on the MHLT Board of Directors for more than eight

years. During his tenure he served as Chair of the Board and also served on our Finance

Committee for many years. We thank Ken for his significant contributions to the LandTrust which has benefitted from his leadership.

DonnWalKlet- Donn Walklet most recently served as Board Chair. Throughout hisseven years of service on the MHLT Board of Directors, Donn provided key support and

leadership for our organization in focused and knowledgeable ways. Were very grateful

for his gifts of energy and ideas towards land conservation throughout our region.

ellenVisser- Outreach Coordinator Ellen Visser was a member of the Muir Her itage

Land Trust staff for more than three years, where her hard work and professionalism

were sincerely appreciated. Ellen designed our logo, so we will have an ever-present

reminder of her beautiful talent and important contributions to the Land Trust.

FareweLLs

Welcome

Gunther Korshak

The Muir Heritage Land

Trust is pleased to announce the

addition of Gunther Korshak as t

new Membership & Development

Coordinator. Working closely with

Executive Director, Board and staf

Gunther will support the manage

and growth of contributed incom

oversee membership and donor

relations and help secure funding

goals of the Muir Heritage Land T

Gunther brings five years of

development experience and ten

of nonprofit sector experience to

organization. He joins Muir Herita

Land Trust after working with Pes

Action Network in San Francisco

the Continental Divide Trail Allian

in Colorado.

A native of the state of Verm

Gunther grew up on an agricultufarm cultivating ginseng roots for

export nationally and internation

His rural upbringing and embrace

of four seasons fueled his attract

to the natural environment,

ultimately leading to a Bachelor o

Science degree in Natural Resour

Management from the University

of Vermont Rubenstein School of

Environment & Natural Resources

2000. In 2005 he received a Mas

of Nonprofit Management gradua

degree from Regis University inDenver, CO. In his spare time Gun

enjoys a variety of hobbies includ

gardening and landscaping, hikin

backpacking, playing an occasion

over 30-soccer game, and spendi

time with his family. Gunther cur

lives in El Cerrito with his wife Ev

Orinda native) and their son Gus.


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ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

P.O. Box 2452, Martinez CA 94553

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U.S. Postage

PAID

Martinez, CA

Permit No. 18

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PAPER

acaLanes ridge Music ceLeBration

Saturday, May 1 | 3:00 p.m. | Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church

A special concert featuring extraordinary singers and instrumentalists from the San Francisco Opera along with the Acalanes High School Chamb

Singers, all to benefit the Acalanes Ridge Acquisition Project. Suggested contribution of $25 at the door. Visit www.muirheritagelandtrust.org or

the Land Trust at 925-228-5460 for more information.

acaLanes ridge traiLBuiLding weekend

Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22

Find out how rewarding building a trail can be! We will hold a three-day event to build trails on Acalanes Ridge, with the help ofVolunt

for Outdoor California (V-O-Cal). Sign up for just one day, or bring your camping gear and spend some fun time camping Friday and Satur

nights with fellow volunteers. We bring the tools, you bring the person-power. Breakfast and lunch provided, and a delicious dinner awaits th

who camp overnight. Registration with V-O-Cal is required: register at www.v-o-cal.org or call (650) 298-9774.

acaLanes ridge dedication

Saturday, June 4 | 10:00 a.m.

Join us for the dedication of our newest property. Wear your hiking shoes and plan to explore the new trails.

More details to comefor information, call (925) 228-5460 or see our website: www.muirheritagelandtrust.org.

FresH aire aFFaire gaLa

Saturday, August 13 | 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. | John Muir National Historic Site

Look for your invitation in the mail this summer!

Our much-anticipated annual gala will again be an elegant evening under the stars in the pear orchards of John Muirs Victorian estate.

We will all look forward to very special guests, celebratory wines, a delicious dinner, and lively auctions.

Dont miss any of these great MHLT eventspost this calendar!

Visit our website for more details at: www.muirheritagelandtrust.org.

Muir Heritage land truSt - Calendarof eventS

spring 2011 horizons, muir heritage land trust newsletter

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