Spring 2011 Newsletter and Annual Report
Transcription
Spring 2011 Newsletter and Annual Report
Middlebury Area Land Trust News Conserving Land for Our Community’s Future Serving the Communities of Addison County Spring 2011 Castor Canadensis, or “Why on earth is my yard flooded?” Inside MALT News Spring 2011 Castor canadensis…....page 1 Conservation Programs ..............………………page 3 Summer Camp ……..page 4 TAM Highlights.…....page 6 Wildlife Walks …...... page 6 Special Thanks! ..........page 7 Champlain Valley Bird Initiative ...………......page 7 Annual Report 2010 …………………pages 8-15 Photo credit: Stephanie Garnett/FONZ Volume 20 Issue 1 by Josh Phillips, Executive Director Addison County is graced by three relatively common semiaquatic mammals- the North American river otter, the muskrat, and the North American beaver. Grace, of course, is not the first word that comes to mind when we think about these animals on land (though an otter on the run is a sight to behold). While all three leave their mark on the environment they inhabit, the beaver creates vexing land management conundrums for property owners regardless of land use. At MALT we’ve seen the power and persistence of these large rodents over time. In Wright Park, for instance, massive hemlocks and other trees along the banks of Otter Creek have been girdled or felled. Trails are submerged or blocked by fallen trees. At Otter View Park, young alder, ash, maple, and other native vegetation have proven irresistible snacks. Owners of more than one MALT easement property have faced major alterations to the character of both wild and cultivated lands. For all their perceived negative impacts on human land uses, beavers are a critical link in Vermont’s ecology. Their ponds create wetlands that are hotbeds of biodiversity and plant and animal productivity. Standing snags provide important habitat for birds and bats, and cool, deep pools create excellent conditions for trout and other fish. These wetlands also improve water quality by trapping sediment, filtering pollutants, and reducing flooding and erosion. In drier regions, beaver activity can even help to recharge drained aquifers and stabilize the water table. Unfortunately in our age of fast-moving invasive exotic species, new openings in the forest canopy provide opportunities for plants such as common buckthorn and Japanese honeysuckle. Some of the biodiversity benefits associated with beaver activity is negated by these invasives, which choke out slower growing native sedges, grasses, and woody plants. MALT and other land managers have struggled to find a balance between the conflicting needs of beavers and humans to manipulate our common environment. Fortunately several strategies have been developed in the last few years that help to mitigate beaver damage to select resources and direct their activity away from priority human uses such as roads, buildings, and even public recreation amenities. To protect desirable individual trees, many managers are using heavy wire mesh cylin- Middlebury Area Land Trust Working with our community to conserve natural and productive landscapes, and to enhance scenic, recreational, and educational opportunities. Board of Trustees: T. Story Jenks, President Benjamin Putnam, Vice President Susan DeWind, Secretary Fran Fraga, Treasurer Jim Bolton Bill Finger Victor Nuovo MALT Staff: Joshua Phillips Executive Director Rachael Gosselin Bookkeeper Renee Igo Intern Joni Osterhaudt Stewardship Coordinator Suzanne Young Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator ders that extend well above the highest snow level. Another similar option is to paint the base of the tree with an abrasive (sand-mixture) paint. For the prevention of damming in priority areas and the plugging of culverts, devices must either fool the beavers by masking the appearance of flowing water or by directing their efforts away from the culvert or stream outlet. A popular solution is the Beaver Deceiver, a trapezoidal fence (with a bottom, since beavers are comfortable diggers) invented by Vermonter Skip Lisle that confuses the beavers’ instinct to dam the water where it is obviously moving. Using these techniques, it is often possible to allow the beavers to do their work while protecting human interests, including priority trees and infrastructure. In many cases it is possible to install flow devices in such a way that the water level of the beaver pond is acceptable to its human neighbors while still promoting the habitat and watershed benefits of beaver activity. If we appreciate their positive place in our ecosystem and their role in improving the quality of our natural resources, we can learn to live with the unpredictability and impact of their land use. MALT News is the official news- letter of the Middlebury Area Land Trust, Inc. Edited and published twice-annually. Call 802-388-1007 for information or with your comments. E-mail us at info@maltvt.org All drawings by Mike Callahan, Beaver Solutions LLC MALT News Spring 2011—2 Conservation Programs - Vermont NRCS For Landowners: Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program The Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for people who want to develop and improve wildlife habitat primarily on private land. Through WHIP USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service provides both technical assistance and financial assistance to establish and improve fish and wildlife habitat. WHIP agreements between NRCS and the participant last up to one year after the last planned practice and generally not more than 5 years. WHIP has proven to be a highly effective and widely accepted program across the country. By targeting wildlife habitat projects on all lands and aquatic areas, WHIP provides assistance to conservation minded landowners who are unable to meet the specific eligibility requirements of other USDA conservation programs. Sign-up for this program is on a continuous basis. Landowners who are interested in this program can apply at their local county USDA Service Center. From the website: http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov/ programs/WHIP/Index.html. For Farmers: Vermont 2011 EQIP Information - General Program Description EQIP offers financial and technical help to assist eligible participants install or implement structural and management practices on eligible agricultural land. Persons who are engaged in livestock or agricultural production on eligible land may participate in the EQIP program. Contracted EQIP activities are carried out according to an environmental quality incentives program plan of operations which is developed with the producer. The EQIP Plan of Operations identifies the appropriate conservation practice or practices to address resource concerns. The contracted practices must be implemented according to NRCS technical standards adapted for local conditions. Sign-up for this program is on a continuous basis. EQIP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service. From the website: http://www.vt.nrcs.usda.gov/ programs/EQIP/. Aerial view of downtown Middlebury Photo Credit: Joni Osterhaudt MALT News Spring 2011—3 MALT Summer Camp 2011 This summer, MALT is at last able to host a nature camp again! Thanks to our counselors Katie McEachen and Mo Bissonette, for the first time in several years, MALT will offer four weeks of different level camps for 6-9 year olds, and 10-13 year olds. The camps will teach outdoor skills while letting children explore with their own sense of fun. Each will take place at Otter Creek Gorge Preserve, off of Morgan Horse Farm Road. Find a registration form online at http://www.maltvt.org/summercamp2011all.pdf. Nature Adventure Camp: Session 1: June 27-July 1, Session 2: July 18-22 Do you remember how it felt to play outside as a kid? Wandering, exploring, mud fights, fort making and make-believe until your parents called you home for dinner? At our camp, we encourage and create this feeling of timeless play with games like capture the flag, treasure maps and scavenger hunts, storytelling, animal tracking, sneaking and camouflage, and catching little critters. Come get dirty in the woods while discovering the mysteries of the nature, getting comfortable in the outdoors, and most of all, having FUN! Ages 6-9 Previous campers at the rock wall of Otter Creek Gorge Naturalist Camp: June 25-29 Have you ever wondered who left the footprints in the mud in your backyard? Or what the birds are singing about? Join us as we explore nature’s mysteries through hiking, nature walks, observing animals, sneaking, asking questions, frog-catching, bird watching, making fairy houses, and games that get our bodies moving! If you like to get down on your belly in the grass to look for critters, look up in the trees and see who’s up there, and follow tracks until you find an animal, then this is the camp for you! Ages 6-9 Wild Skills Camp: July 11-15 How did humans survive thousands of years ago? And for that matter, how do animals survive in the wild today? Have you ever wanted to find out? Join us as we create a tight-knit group while building shelters, learning the basics of fire-making, cooking outdoors, learning to move like and track animals, listening to stories, singing, and playing LOTS of games! Learning these skills can be a doorway to discovering nature and our inner selves. Ages 10-13 MALT News Spring 2011—4 Wright Park meadow Photo Credit - Gioia Kuss Meet Our Camp Counselors Katie McEachen: Katie grew up in Bristol Vermont and has been a lover of nature her whole life. She received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Skidmore College, and then went on to spend two years at the Wilderness Awareness School in Washington, where she completed a course in wilderness survival and nature mentoring. She helped start an outdoor preschool program in WA, taught at the VT Audubon summer camps, and currently teaches outdoor education in Shelburne. She is also an afternoon teacher at Starksboro Cooperative Preschool. Katie loves wandering in the woods, playing the fiddle, solving nature’s mysteries, and is passionate about getting girls involved in wilderness skills, naturalism, and nature exploration. Mo Bissonette: Maurice Bissonnette grew up in Jerusalem, Vermont and has been a student of nature since he joined the Bristol tracking club in 8th grade. He soon found himself raised in the culture of naturalists, trackers and elders living in old ways. Mo has been trained in wilderness survival for over 10 years and has studied at the Vermont Wilderness School and Hawk Circle Wilderness Education center. He is currently teaching wilderness skills around the state, including Earthwalk VT and the Wisdom of the Herbs school in Montpelier. SUPPORT OTTER VIEW PARK Our board walk planks are engraved by Don Mason, of Vermont Laser Products. This is a great way to show your support of this in-town gem. You may choose to honor a family member, pet, civic group, or quote poetry on multiple planks! 25 character limit per plank. Engraved planks are $250. Please contact us for more information, at 3881007 or info@maltvt.org. MALT News Spring 2011—5 TAM Volunteers Make It Happen! Trail Work Days 2010 Saturday, June 4 is National Trails Day! Work on graveling wet areas, bridge repair, or clearing trails. Time: 9am - noon. Call or write for location, 388-1007 or info@maltvt.org. September 16 and 25 United Way Day of Caring Work Project on the TAM, various work such as clearing trails or graveling wet areas. Sign up at www.unitedwayaddisoncounty.org. TAM Trek Sunday, September 25 at 10:00 am MALT’s Eigth Annual Trail Around Middlebury Hike-Run-Bike-A-Thon, to benefit trail maintenance and imporvement activities. Hike a little or a lot, every step makes a difference! Meet at the Marbleworks’ Green across from Noonies. For event reigstration materials go to MALT’s website: www. maltvt.org. For sale at the MALT office! MALT organic cotton T-shirts and stickers. Tshirts come in two styles: T3 or TAM, and are $17 each. The stickers have the TAM logo on them (above), look great on your car and are $1 each. Stop by sometime and see! Various other merchandise is available through our website, or at www.cafepress. com/malt. Unplug for the Morning on the “Emerald Necklace” TAM Trek 2011 Take a break from stress and routine with the TAM Trek on Sunday, September 25th and join friends, old and new, on a morning hike on a segment of the Trail Around Middlebury, dubbed the “emerald necklace” of Middlebury by MALT founding executive director Amy Sheldon. The approximately five mile-long hike will begin at 10:00 a.m. with registration and free refreshments starting at 9:30 a.m. at Marbleworks. The TAM Trek is the major fund-raiser for TAM trail maintenance--individuals and teams raising the most money will be awarded prizes. This is a perfect opportunity to explore a part of the trail that you may not be familiar with and enjoy the outdoors. MALT Executive Director Joshua Phillips says the TAM Trek is a “trail festival” and with the combination of tasty food, friends, and the outdoors, it is a not-to-be-missed event. Warbler Warm-Up A large group gathers on a cool Mother’s Day for the Warbler Warm-Up at the Bristol Waterworks, led by Otter Creek Audubon’s Warren King and Ron Payne. There were 61 different bird species spotted, including twelve different warbler species, a Least Flycatcher, Solitary Sandpiper and a Veery. All were submitted to eBird, an online database with bird lists from around the planet, maps showing occurrence and other news. The eBird address is: http://ebird.org/content/ebird. Birdwatchers spot a brown creeper. Photo Credit: Josh Phillips MALT News Spring 2011—6 Special Thanks to: The Unitarian Universalist Society of Addison County for use of their sanctuary for our Annual Meeting in November David Brynn: Annual Meeting Guest Speaker Josh Phillips for photography for MALT Annual Meeting poster Mike Mayone for artwork for the TAM Trek poster Gale Hurd for hosting Wildlife Walks at her property Eagle Scout Sean Fahey for interpretive sign posts for Otter View Park John Derick for Trail Work Renee Igo for Trail Work Kirk Fisk for Trail Work Nola Kevra for leading Forays with Frost outing. Chris Robbins, Katherine Branch, Bill Huntington, and Sarah Harrison Lynn for help with Green Up Day on the TAM. Chris Robbins and Ron Payne for help cleaning up Otter View Park THANKS, SUZANNE! • • • • • • • • • • • • Audubon Vermont Champlain Valley Bird Initiative The Champlain Valley Bird Initiative (CVBI) was created to protect bird species in the valley, and contains important grassland, shrubland and wetland habitats. Much of the important land is privately owned, so this program will work with landowners to manage their lands for bird protection, such as bobolinks, meadowlarks, thrashers, towhees, wood ducks, bitterns, and common terns. The similar Forest Bird Initiative was launched in 2006 and has already sustainably managed over 40,000 forested acres as part of the East Coast flyway. The key to both initiatives is providing landowners with the information they need to make positive conservaton decisions; then working with them to make those decisions happen. By bringing landowners together, we can create a larger avian conservation footprint. For more information contact Marc LaBarr at 802-434-3068 or mlabarr@audubon.org. Larger bird conservation region containing wetlands , shrublands, and grasslands. Goodbye, Suzanne! We sadly say goodbye to our Volunteer Outreach Coordinator, Suzanne Young. She has been with MALT since 2003 when she came into the office with an education background and ideas about summer camps that became the Summer Camp Program, which ran from 2003-2007, and is . Suzanne is now working at Mary Johnson Children’s Center, as Cook and Nutrition Educator. She also teaches some workshops for pre-school providers in the county and works with pre-school providers who participate in the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and helps with the 5 classroom gardens. MALT News Spring 2011—7 Income Unrestricted Donations $30,195.00 Unrestricted Donations Grants $17,125.00 Grants Events and Activities $8,323.00 Events and Activities Investment Income $11,702.00 Investment Income Project Designated Donations Project Designated Donations $12,085.00 Total Total $79,430.00 Expense Expense Program Services Program Services $60,895.00 Management and General Management and General $57,446.00 Development and Fundraising Development and Fundraising $6,228.00 Total Total $124,569.00 38% $30,195.00 22% $17,125.00 10% $8,323.00 15% $11,702.00 $12,085.00 15% $79,430.00 100% $60,895.00 49% $57,446.00 46% $6,228.00 5% $124,569.00 100% 38% 22% 10% 15% 15% 100% 49% 46% 5% 100% Income Unrestricted Donations 15% Grants 38% 15% Events and Activities Investment Income 10% 22% Project Designated Donations Expense 5% Program Services 49% 46% Management and General Development and Fundraising MALT Statement of Financial Position for Fiscal Year 2010 Assets: Cash and Equivalents Notes and grant receivable Benficial interest in net asseds held by Vermont Community Foundation Investments Property Total Assets $15,397 $0 $114,731 $2,777 $1,005,660 $1,138,565 Liabilities and Equity: Current liabilities $1,950 Net Assets: Unrestricted $13,444 Temporarily Restricted $114,731 Permanently Restricted $1,008,440 Total Liabilities and Equity MALT Annual Report 2010—8 $1,138,565 In Fiscal Year 2010 (October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010), we: • Conserved the Dodge-Katz property in Cornwall, a 60-acre parcel within the Beaver Brook watershed. This property contains no known rare communities or species but is home to beaver, deer, wood ducks, bobcats, and many other species. The land will go into Current Use and will also be part of the Champlain Valley Bird Initiative. • Contructed a new trail in Otter Creek Gorge, built by the Counseling Service of Addison County students. The trail leads from the northern trail along the meadow, south to the southern trail through the paddock. This enables a safe route from parking lots away from the traffic on Morgan Horse Farm Rd. John Derick, Rachael Pentecost and Renee Igo provided guidance to the students, and Marc Lapin and Josh Sky gave advice about trail placement. • Were lucky enough to have an intern from Middlebury College, Rachael Pentecost, who spent many hours on the TAM maintaining the trail. She spent just as many hours in the GIS lab at the college, creating maps of new easements. • Hired Amy Sheldon, of Landslide, Inc. to complete a conservation study of the Beaver Brook watershed in Cornwall. MALT holds one conservation easement within this watershed, and VLT holds several of their own. This watershed covers about 1/3 of Cornwall, and includes a great diversity of land uses and natural habitats. • We convened the Lincoln Committee, and began planning for a recreational trail around Lincoln, which would connect different parts of Lincoln in the same way the TAM does Middlebury. The Committee would raise money for land conservation projects around the town of Lincoln and enhance outdoor recreation opportunities. • Continued our Wildlife Walks a second year with Otter Creek Audubon, which have been very successful. The walks take place at Otter View Park and Hurd Grassland, and highlight the birds and other wildlife that live or migrate through the park. Thanks for your support in 2010! Board of Trustees 2009-2010 Story Jenks, President Benj Putnam, Vice President Fran Fraga, Treasurer Susan DeWind, Secretary James Bolton Bill Finger Victor Nuovo MALT Annual Report 2010—9 Donors, October 1, 2009 -- September 30, 2010 Donations from our end of the year Annual Appeal and Membership Programs go to support MALT’s programs, such as maintenance of our trails and parks, our hike series, events and educational materials, as well as land conservtiation programs. We are grateful to tye following individuals for their generosity. If your name has been inadvertently omitted or misrepresented on any of the lists, please contact us at info@maltvt.org. $1000+ Barbara Greenewalt Gale Hurd Martha Roper $500-999 Rob & Sarah Alberts Julia Alvarez Ray & Mary Doyle Christie Harris Dave Holbrook Story & Dia Jenks Angelo Lynn Caroline McBride Michael Paretti James & Theresa Phillips William Roper James & Evelyn Taylor Nancy Ward Anonymous $250-499 George & Paula Bellerose John Derick Caroline Donnan Churchill & Janet Franklin Will & Carolyn Jackson Linda Johnson Susan Keniston Patty Martin John & Mireille McWilliams Lisa Meyer Eben Punderson Benjamin & Erin Putnam Bud & Molly Reed Steve Trombulak Cathy Trudel Tom Walsh James & Helen Wright $100-249 Martha Alexander & William Porter Jean Andrews Jim Arnold & Monica McKenna Susan Arnold Alexandra Baker Diana Barnard Lisa Bernardin William Bernhardt Larry Blanford James & Krissa Bolton Richard Boutcher & Linda Wakefield Katherine Branch & Michael Collier Cathy & Bradley Braun Amy Briggs & Daniel Scharstein Avis Butler George & Susan Cady Ted Chambo Jen Chapin David & Patrice Colander Ross Conrad Roger & Susan Cox Judi Danforth Daniel DaPolito Susan DeWind Ryan Emilio Virginia Faurote John Fish Bruce Fleming John & Jackie Flickinger Fran Fraga Paul & Mary Gill Rachael Gosselin Charlotte Greenewalt David and Patty Hallam Bruce & Ginny Hiland Doris Jackson & Michael Fiveash Fred Jacobson & Posie Scheibner Heather Karlson & Bill Leeson Stewart Kirkaldy Edward & Huguette Knox Robert & Ann LaFiandra Marc Lapin & Laura Basili Perry Lessing Harry & Bobbie Mankey George & Nancy Marcus Margaret Martin Peg & Sandy Martin Robert Martin & Holly McKenzie Brett Millier & Karl Lindholm Thomas Munschauer Karl & Diane Neuse Jeffrey Olson & Christina Wadsworth Ken & Carolyn Perine Lance Phelps Fran & Spence Putnam MALT Annual Report 2010—10 David Raphael David & Cordelia Reimers Ron & Nancy Rucker Robert Ruggiero & Elizabeth Stabler Amy Sheldon & Ashar Nelson A. Joshua Sherman Steve Smith & Mary O’Shea Thomas Smith David Starr Gary & Kathy Starr Al & Barbara Stiles Charlotte Tate & Christopher Zeoli Bob & Judy Taylor Bill Townsend Christine Turner Robin Vaughn Mary Alice Veitch Thomas Ward Janet Warren & William Warren Howard Widelitz & Sarah Bourne Joan Wilson Frank & Janet Winkler Sanford Witherell & Margaret Camara Abbott Wright Emily Wright Tom Yurista $75-99 Ray Collins Joanna Colwell Shelley Gustafson Robert Huth Susan Klaiber Adrienne Matunas Marilyn Mead Jane Miller William Mraz Philip Picotte Amy Scanes-Wolfe Dave Tier John Wetzel $50-74 Jan Albers & Paul Monod Alice & John Berninghausen Tom Bisson Jennifer Bleich Donors, October 1, 2009 -- September 30, 2010 Bruce & Sue Byers Sandra Carletti & Kevin Hurley Gordon & Helen Cawood Douglas & Margaret Clifton Polly Darnell Becky Dayton Brenda Ellis Bill Finger Timothy & Anna Fisher Hilarie Gade & John Peters Barbara Georgi Judith Gibson Louise Giovanella Robert & Betsy Gleason Carol & Harvey Green Kirke & Mika Hart Jean & Roderick Isham Woody & Ingrid Jackson Scott Jacobs Douglas & Eleanor James Robert Kingsley Porter & William Knight Max & Lois Kraus Marianne Lust & Deborah Lubar James & Nancy Malcolm Ariana & Ryan McBride Kathryn Morse Amy & Jenry Morsman Patricia & Bill Mraz Alison Parker & Robert Fuller Robert Phillips Susan Polk John & Mary Pratt Foster Provencher Alice & Chris Redondo Douglas Richards & Colleen Brown Christine Robbins & Peter Hamlin Deem & Carol Schoenfeld Thomas Shepherd & Nancy Shepherd Dutton & Kathleen Smith Derwin & Bonnie Stevens Will & Judy Stevens Bill Suhr Sasha Swerdloff Robert & Susan Tucker Robert & Jennifer Turner Suzanne Ward Christopher & Cynthia Watters Helen Young & Don Stratton Up to $49 Maria Allen Patricia & David Anderson Barbara & David Andrews Laura Asermily Barrie Bailey Megan Battey & George Todd Jan Becker Katherine Beers Dan Borden & Judy Werner Gayl Braisted PriscillaBremser & Steven Maier Benjamin Bruno Sara Burchard Carol Callahan Nick & Carol Causton Geoffrey Cobden & Nancy Slater Solon Coburn Ted Colwell Peter & Mary Conlon Eric Covey & Helen Toomey-Covey Richard & Ann Crumb M. Emelda Dahms Michael & Susan Davis Gregory Dennis Emmie & Stephen Donadio Harry & Sharon Doty Louise Drake & Katherine King Robert & Anita Duclos John & Rita Elder Bob & Juliet Gerlin Seth Gibson Michael Giorgio & Kathy Foley-Giorgio Amanda Hall & Tyler Delorme Jay & Tracey Harrington Andrew Hirsch Anne Hoover John Huddleston & Suzanne Potente Frances Hutner Edith Illick Richard & Annette Jack Holmes Jacobs George & Patricia Jaeger Allen Karnatz & Lynn Goldsmith Kathleen Kaster Robert & Marya Kellogg Penney Kimball Warren & Barry King Joan Kline Mitchell Kramer Linn Larson & Rendol Barlow Kaye-Lani Laughna Gerry & Barbara Loney Rosie Lovshin & Allen Smith Stephen & Margaret Lowe Glenn Lower Ernest Malzac Carla Mayo & Neil Kamman Barry & Barbi McDonald MALT Annual Report 2010—11 Janet McKinnon Louis & Beverly Megyesi Ginger & Lawrence Miller John & Georgia Milligan Terry Mitchell Nancy & John Morgan Andrea Morgante Aimee Motta James & Andrea Murray Dottie & Eric Nelson David Nienow Helen & Bartley Nourse Larry Novins & Eleanor Smith Dennis & Judith O’Brien Christopher Olson & Amy Roberts Barbara Otsuka Stanton & Jean Payne Nancy & Donald Perdue Mark Perrin Bryan Phelps Jan Phelps Dean & Liz Pierce Hannah Powell Jim Ralph Hans Raum Robert Reed Ann & Jim Ross Robin & Ted Scheu Hannah Sessions Abigail Shure Patricia Stevenson Christopher Straub Andrea Suozzo Ian Sutherland Megan & Clark Sutton Steve Terry & Sally Johnson David & Laura Turner Harry & Alice Van Tuyl Jill Vickers & Jerry Charboneau Nancy Viola & Peter Garrison John & Margaret Wesley Heidi Willis Mike & Kira Winslow Dan & Peggy Wright Joyce Zwickel TAM Trek 2010 The TAM Trek is an annual celebration and fundraiser for MALT and the Trail Around Middlebury. We at the Middlebury Area Land Trust would like to thank all the participants, volunteers, and business sponsors who made the seventh annual TAM Trek such a great event! The TAM Trek team Muffintops hike along the trail during the event. Photo credit: Josh Phillips TAM Trek Business Sponsors Carrara & Sons Champlain Valley Equipment Champlain Valley Orthopedics Coldwell Banker Bill Beck Real Estate Deppman & Foley Dwight Asset Management English, Carroll, & Boe PC Key Bank Landworks Lodge at Otter Creek Marbleworks Pharmacy Landslide, Inc. National Bank of Middlebury Neuse, Duprey & Putnam PC OMYA Phelps Engineering r.k. MILES TAM Trek In-Kind Business Sponsors Addison Independent Agway Farm and Garden Alpine Shop American Flatbread Bike Center Champlain Orchards Danforth Pewterer Forth ‘N Goal Sports Green Mountain Coffee Green Peppers Hannaford Supermarkets Little Pressroom Middlebury Natural Foods Coop Mike Mayone, Vermont aritst Mitchell’s T’s National Bank of Middlebury Noonie Deli Otter Creek Brewing Company Ramunto’s Silician Pizza Two Brother’s Tavern Vermont Book Shop Vermont Soap Works WMUD Radio 89.3FM MALT Annual Report 2010—12 TAM Trek Participants 2010 Mia Allen Chris Anderson Jan Becker Sam Beguin Lisa Bernardin Ben Bruno George Cady Carol Callahan RobertClark William Conlon Sam Craft Gottfried Csala Joe Damron Jack Davies David Dolifka David Dregallo Bill Eichhorn Shannon Gair Melake Getabecha Kathleen Gill Barbara Greenewalt Katherine Harris Patrick Hebble Story Jenks Gento Kato John Kiernan Ben Kingstone Linn Larson Anthony Lee Adrienne Matunas Marilyn Mead Hannah Meier Ellie Moore MALT Legal Services Anna Mysliwiec Nathaniel Nelson Dean Pierce Heather Potter Jeremy Rathburn Amy Roberts Emma Robson Katie Rominger Stephanie Roush Michael Ryba Simran Sabharwal Kaitlynn Saldanha Nate Sans Amy Scanes-Wolfe Michael Schmidt BarrettSmith Connor Smith Hannah Spielberg SophiaSpring Ian Sutherland Addison Tate Alan Tate Jack Terrett David Tier Laura Turner Chelsea Ward-Waller Jeanie Ward-Waller Ben Weir The creations of conservation easements, the review of deeds, the sale of land and the donation of developement rights all require a trememdous amount of legal counsel. The cost of legal time can be crippling, but the Middlebury Area Land Trust has been lucky enough to receive generous pro bono support from the following individual: Benjamin Putnam -Neuse, Duprey & Putnam MALT Gifts In-Kind John Derick Monument Farms Kirk Fisk Michael Mayone Amy Sheldon MALT Organizational Partners Addison County Chamber of Commerce Addison County Regional Planning Commission Addison County Transit Resources Battell Park Trust Hannaford Career Center Land Trust Alliance Middlebury College - Department of Geography - Program in Environmental Studies National Park Service The Nature Conservancy North Country Trail Association Orton Family Foundation Otter Creek Audubon Society RSVP of Addison County Town of Middlebury Vermont Community Foundation Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Vermont Housing & Conservation Coalistion Vermont Land Trust MALT Annual Report 2010—13 MALT Volunteers 2010 In addition to our amazing donors, MALT relies upon an equally generous set of volunteers to help with tasks ranging from filing, arranging bulk mailings, and monitoring our lands to tending the native plantings in Otter View Park and trail work on the TAM. We thank the following individuals for their dedication to our work. Couseling Service students Julia Alvarez William Eichner Faith Angier Megan Battey George Todd Jennifer Bleich Michael Blust Jamie Bolton Kathy Boyer Katherine Branch John Chamberlain Barbara Brosnan Jono Chapin Alyce Schermerhorn Jake Chapline Maggie Paine Barbara Merz Paul Dennis John Derick Amy Brown Ray Dora An Duclos Sylvia Fisk Shelley Gustafson David and Patty Hallam Hartland Heffernan Bill Huntington Jennifer Murdoch Gale Hurd Warren & Barry King Brad Koehler Amy Trubek Mark Labarr Matt & Angela Landis Marc Lapin Laura Basili Peter Lebenbaum Perry Lessing Steven Lindemann Karri Ingerson Peg & Sandy Martin Mike Mayone Julie Mitchell Nancy & John Morgan Agnes Novak Barbara Osterhaudt Barbara Otsuka James & Theresa Phillips Philip Picotte Jeff Pratt Kim Callahan John & Mary Pratt Phyllis Quesnel Anton Rifelj Christine Robbins Peter Hamlin Martha Roper Helen Ryan Robin Scheu Josh Sky Alcott Smith Reg & Carol Spooner Gary & Kathy Starr Al & Barbara Stiles Ronald Strickland Charlotte Tate Christopher Zeoli Steve Trombulak George Tucker Mike Winslow Helen Young Don Stratton Alison Zimmer The Falls of Otter Creek in Middlebury MALT Annual Report 2010—14 MALT is grateful for the following foundations for their generous support: Otter Creek Audubon Society Middlebury College National Park Service South Lake Champlain Trust Town of Middlebury United Way of Addison County Vermont Community Foundation Vermont Dept of Environmental Conservation Vermont State Dept of Forests, Parks and Recreation Vermont Housing and Conservation Board Forays with Frost Hike with Nola Kevra in April Photo credit: Joni Osterhaudt MALT Business Members Addison County Snowmobile Club VAST Addison Press Inc. Agway Farm and Garden Butler Farms Champlain Valley Apairies Coldwell Banker Bill Beck Real Estate Danforth Pewterers Ltd. Deppman and Foley Dwight Asset Management Good Point Recycling Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Gustafson Environmental LLC J.P. Carrara and Sons Inc. Key Bank Landslide Inc. LandWorks Little Pressroom Marbleworks Partnership Middlebury Animal Hospital Middlebury College Controller’s Office Middlebury Eye Associates Middlebury Muffintops National Bank of Middlebury Neuse Duprey & Putnam OMYA Industries Inc. Otter Creek Brewing Company Otter Creek Yoga Phelps Engineering Inc. R.K. Miles Stoneleaf Teahouse LLC The Bike Center The Lodge at Otter Creek The Middlebury Area Land Trust works hard to make every donated dollar count, focusing our efforts directly on protecting land in Addison County and its natural resources. Your continued (and new) support is testament to our work. We encourage you to get out and explore the sixteen plus miles of the Trail Around Middlebury, or take a leisurely lunchtime walk through Otter View Park, and enjoy the view of Otter Creek and the aquatic birds and wildlife that migrate through or make their homes there. After all, it’s because of donors like you that these resources are available now and for generations to come. MALT Annual Report 2010—15 Middlebury Area Land Trust PO Box 804 The Marbleworks 211 Maple Street, Suite 27 A Middlebury, VT 05753 Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Middlebury, VT Permit No. 99 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED W etland Plants Saturday, June 25 at 10:00am Led by Shelley Gustafson, Consulting Wetland Scientist, Shelley Gustafson Environmental Visit one of MALT’s new conservation easement properties in Cornwall. This gorgeous land is part of the Beaver Brook watershed and is home to a varied abundance of wild animals and plants. This program takes place at a private residence. Please call MALT office for directions. 388-1007. M arsh, Meadow, and Grassland Wildlife Walks Join us as we survey birds and other wildlife of Otter View Park and the Hurd Grassland. All walks start at Otter View Park in Middlebury on Pulp Mill Bridge Rd and Weybridge St. Shorter and longer routes possible. OVP is universally accessible. Walks run from 7:30am9:30am in the summer months. Saturday, June 11 Thursday, Sept 8 Thursday, July 14 Saturday, Oct 8 Saturday, August 13 Upcoming Outings In collaboration with: F amily Bird Quest Saturday, July 9 at 10:00am Led by Carol Ramsayer, Otter Creek Audubon Society Member. Join us as we explore this self-guided scavenger hunt about birds in Wright Park. Quests are place-based educational programs using treasure hunts to celebrate community, natural history, cultural sites, stories and special places. Meet at Wright Park lot north of Pulp Mill Bridge on Seymour St. Ext. Vermont State Bird: Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), adopted in 1927. Credit: Lee Karney, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service