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 1st Tuesday Program: Dave Chantler presents “Madagascar – the 8th Continent” and the “Endangered Birds of Paradise
April 1st, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub (The pub will open at 6:00 p.m. for attendees who would like to purchase drinks or something from the light menu).
In what is becoming an annual tradition, local world traveler and birding guru, Dave Chantler, will share amazing photos and interesting stories from a recent expedition. See beautiful birds, strange lizards and captivating lemurs from Madagascar then cruise over to four fascinating islands in the Indian Ocean where Dave will show photos of "endangered birds in paradise."
Free and open to everyone. For more information contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
Advance Notice for May’s Program!
1st Tuesday on the 1st Saturday: Donald Snow and the “Rurbinization” of the Inner Mountain West May 3rd, 7:00 p.m. at the Merc Playhouse (The Merc will open at 7:00 p.m. with light refreshments for purchase).
Whitman College professor, Don Snow, will provide an intriguing examination of growth in the "new west" and discuss a concept he calls “rurbia.” Please join us for this interesting and timely community discussion.
Free and open to everyone. For more information contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
Riparian Conservation Easement Protects 93 acres
We are happy to announce the completion of a 93 acre conservation easement along a visible and dynamic section of the Methow River between Winthrop and Twisp.
This riparian conservation easement conserves a half mile of river front including a large section of floodplain.  Conifer and deciduous riparian vegetation and old Methow River side channels define much of the easement property. These features provide riparian and in-stream habitat for many fish species including federally endangered Spring Chinook salmon, federally threatened steelhead and federally threatened bull trout. Portions of the property contain upland vegetation and open pasture land used for grazing cattle. Collectively, these habitats and land cover types provide excellent forage, security cover, and movement corridors for numerous bird, mammal, reptile, and amphibian species. The area provides important nesting and hunting areas for Golden Eagles; Great Horned and Pygmy Owls; Red-Tailed, Cooper’s and Sharp-Shinned Hawks; Kingfishers and many migratory waterfowl. The riparian habitat also provides vital ecosystem functions such as soil and stream-bank stability, flood control, stream temperature control, water purification, water storage, and a supply of food and nutrients for aquatic species.
Within a setting of working agriculture land, this conservation easement maintains a diversity of habitats and distinct open-space  characteristics within the relatively heavily populated middle Methow Valley. The undeveloped river banks of the meandering Methow River and side channel habitat make this stretch of river unique. The open space and natural qualities of the property, visible from both the Twisp-Winthrop Eastside County Road and State Highway 20, contribute to the rural feel of the valley so treasured and respected by residents and visitors alike. Additionally, this easement helps form a larger contiguous area of protected land with three Methow Conservancy conservations easements bordering it and public land owned by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to the north.
This conservation easement would not have been possible without the support of a willing private landowner committed to the rural character of the Methow Valley, multiple public funding sources and the support of our members. Thank You!
Spring Brings Interesting New Volunteer Opportunities
The Stewardship Program of the Methow Conservancy is gearing up for spring with several new opportunities  for you to help us with land stewardship. Sign up now for the great blue heron search, the rare monkey flower detective project, and/or the search and survey of a new shrub steppe invader.
Our Stewardship Program will also likely be involved with more projects that could benefit from volunteers like wildlife and plant monitoring, fence mending, beaver relocation, and several ongoing riparian restoration projects. If you’d like to be kept informed about volunteer opportunities like these, now and in the future, let us know, and stay tuned to E-News.
The projects span several weeks this spring & summer. Please feel free to volunteer as much or as little as you can.
We need volunteers to help us with the following jobs.:
- Monitoring activity at a known Great Blue Heron Rookery near Highway 20 upriver of Winthrop between April 1st and the first week of July. (Volunteers needed once per week).
- Monitoring activity at a potential Great Blue Heron Rookery near Twisp River Road between April 1st and the first week of July (Volunteers needed once per week).
- Searching for the Pulsifer’s Monkey Flower (Mimulus Patulus - a DNR listed sensitive plant) on a property near Mazama from the last week of April up until Memorial Day Weekend (Volunteers needed 1+ times/week).
- Help search for and locate, Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea Solstitialis), a new and dangerous invasive in the shrub steppe lands near Davis Lake. Survey while hiking in the scenic hills above Davis Lake from June until the first week of October (volunteers needed continuously).
As you can see, these are unique opportunities that could use a lot of volunteers. To sign-up or ask questions call us at 996-2870 or email us:
News Briefs
Keeping Susie’s Spirit Alive
On a cool but sunny, March 21st, ten folks came out to honor our friend and former Development Director, Susie Stephens. Susie was an avid cyclist. In March, 2002 she was tragically hit and killed by a bus. We honor her every year with this ride, and remind ourselves of the many benefits (and joys) of riding a bike.
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The 2008 Crew: Dawn, Sarah, Fred, Frauke, Denny, Chris, Jay, Wendy, Emily & Mary |
It’s In the Mail
The latest newsletter that is. If you are on our mailing list, you should have received our biannual newsletter recently. If you did not get a newsletter and would like to, please contact us at info@methowconservancy.org or 509-996-2870 and we’ll be happy to send you one. You can also see or download a PDF version of the newsletter here.
Thanks to Larry and Dave
Larry Lund and David Sabold both completed six years of service on our Board of Directors this March. Larry served one term as president from 2005 to 2006, and Dave has been our current president since 2006. We extend our deep appreciation and gratitude to Larry and Dave, whose leadership and wealth of contributions to the Conservancy are far more than we can outline here. We look forward to working with them in new capacities in the future!
Mending Fences
On Saturday March 29th, from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m., we are hosting a fence-mending workshop with local rancher and Methow Conservancy Conservator, Vic Stokes. The workshop is free and a few spots are available. If you would like to attend, just show up! You’ll want to bring work gloves; all weather attire; snacks and water; and any first aid/sunscreen needs. To get there: follow Hwy 20 towards the Loup. After Tice Ranch travel about 1 mile. Look for a Methow Conservancy sign and turn left to the old Stokes Place just off the highway (the turn is approximately .6 miles past lower Beaver Creek Road and .5 miles before Upper Beaver Creek Road).
Know Your Water Rights
Monday, April 14th, 6:30- 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub
Ever wonder what a water right looks like, whether you have water rights, and how water rights function in the Methow watershed? This workshop, sponsored by the Washington Rivers Conservancy and the Methow Watershed Council will help to clarify the often obscure topic of Washington State Water Law and the State Trust Water Right Program. Presenters Lisa Pelly and Mary McCrea have worked on water trust projects, water transfers, and water law for many years. Katharine Bill will also present a brief overview of the watershed planning work that is underway for the Methow basin. The Pub will serve drinks from 6:00 - 6:30, so come early.
Land Trust Alliance Comes to Winthrop
The 2008 Northwest regional conference for the Land Trust Alliance is being held in Winthrop May 1st – 3rd at Sun Mountain Lodge! The conference provides focused learning experiences for a variety of land conservation professionals and other interested people through 20 high-caliber workshops, as well as several full and half-day seminars and field-workshops that allow for in-depth discussion. Get more information here.
Board of Directors Online Auction Was A Success!
Thank you to everyone that participated in our 2nd Annual Online Auction! Due to the generosity of our Board Members, Advisory Council and past Board Members, we had several great items which many supporters competed for to aid our work here at the Methow Conservancy. Congratulations and thank you to all the auction winners. With their support we raised over $3,000 to help protect the beauty and character of the Methow Valley.
Good Neighbor Workshop & Handbook Help New Landowners
Building or restoring your property after building can be a daunting thing in the Methow Valley. The Methow Conservancy is offering its third annual Good Neighbor Workshop to help new landowners consider more sustainable building practices and be good stewards of their land.
Saturday, April 5th from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
at the Winthrop Barn in the upstairs meeting room. Refreshments and the Methow Conservancy’s Good Neighbor Handbook and Restoring Shrub-Steppe Handbook will be freely available. |
The workshop is designed for anyone thinking about building or currently building or remodeling in the Methow Valley. Attendees will learn about some sustainable building materials and energy efficient options, plus restoring and landscaping their property with native plants and the Methow Valley climate and environment in mind. A small panel of experienced landowners and land restoration experts will provide the information. Attendees will be invited to share questions, concerns and ideas. Even not so new landowners could glean some helpful tips! If you can't attend the workshop but would still like a copy of either of the handbooks, come by our office at 315 Riverside Ave in Winthrop or contact us at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
The Dynamic Dance of Water Moves from the Classroom to the Field
Our 4th annual Conservation Course on water came to a close on March 10th but we are continuing the water theme with three “mini conservation courses” this Spring. There are still a few spots left in these field-oriented, one-day weekend courses taught by expert instructors. Contact Mary by email or phone (996-2870) to reserve your spot.
April 12th: Beavers ~ Nature’s water engineers, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Instructors John Rohrer and Steve Bondi will teach participants about beaver ecology and as we travel to sites of past, present, and potential future beaver habitat and activity. Learn how these ingenious mammals have altered and greatly affected and benefited our riparian areas and waterways. Cost $30/person.
May 18th: The Riparian Connection ~ Birds, Water and Avian Romance, 6:00 a.m. to Noon. Instructors Libby Mills and Kent Woodruff will give students an introduction to the life history and important habitat relationships of riparian bird species.  We will travel to wetlands, riparian forests, and shoreline areas to learn about, and hopefully see and hear, unique bird species that depend on our rich functioning watershed. Why isriparian habitat so important? Find out as we take a good look at this special world. Cost $40/person.
June 22nd: Our Dynamic Rivers ~ 2nd Annual River Ecology Raft Trip, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Join us for an on-the-water exploration of the Methow River with a variety of instructors. This float trip, guided by trained, local river orienteers, will meander through wildlife habitat, floodplain development, and pristine, tranquil areas on unique and ever-changing river channels. Learn about salmon migration, riparian ecology, river dynamics (hydrology and geology) and watershed planning. Cost $80/person.
Events
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.
April 1st: “1st Tuesday” Program: Dave Chantler presents “ Madagascar – the 8th Continent” and the “Endangered Birds of Paradise”, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub.
April 5th: Good Neighbor Workshop: Practical Advice for Building and Living in the Methow Valley, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn’s upstairs meeting room. See information above for details.
April 7th: Farm-to-Table Workshop, 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the Okanogan County Fairgrounds Annex. Farmers, ranchers, winemakers, cheese-makers, chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, produce and food service managers are all encouraged to attend and learn how to increase local consumption of local production at this workshop sponsored by Cascade Harvest Coalition, in partnership with Washington State University – Okanogan County Extension. Interested parties should register by March 31st . Registration is free, but space is limited and participation is on a first come first serve basis. To register, contact Mark McIntyre (206) 632-0606 or farmtotable2008@gmail.com .
April 19th: Earth Day Celebration, 10:30 a.m. to Noon at Pearrygin Lake State Park. The Park’s Earth Day event is a "Community Partnership Day" designed to help clean-up the park, plant some trees, learn about the significance of Earth Day,  the importance of recycling, and share a meal with neighbors, friends, and visitors to the park.
April 28th: Natural History Book Club Discussion of: Eating Stone: Imagination And The Loss Of The Wild by Ellen Meloy, 6:00 -7:15 p.m. at the Methow Conservancy office. Note this month’s discussion is on the fourth Monday not the fourth Wednesday. Visit our Book Club page for a list of what we have read.
May 3rd: “1st Tuesday” on the 1st Saturday with Professor Donald Snow 7:00 p.m. at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp.
May 6th: Sharp-tailed Grouse Program in Okanogan,  7 p.m. at the Okanogan PUD Auditorium. The Okanogan Valley Land Council is hosting a free talk by Jeff Heinlen, Wildlife Field Biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife on the behavior, habitat requirements and importance of the rare Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, to which Okanogan County is home. The Okanogan PUD Auditorium is at 1331 2nd Avenue North, Okanogan. Call the OVLC for more information at (509) 486-2765 or 1-877-486-2765.
May 8th – 11th: Spring Naturalists’ Retreat with instructors Libby Mills and Dana Visalli. This fantastic educational field class costs $125/person. For more details see our events page or contact Mary.
June 3rd: “1st Tuesday” Program - Annual Methow Conservancy and Methow Natives “Native Plant Workshop and Social” outdoors at Methow Natives. Enjoy food, drinks and native plants with local botanists. Get tips on what to plant where, how to restore your property, landscaping ideas and what deer won’t eat! Free with donations accepted. Time TBA.
June 22nd: Our Dynamic Rivers ~ River Ecology Raft Trip Mini Conservation Course. See information above for details.
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