Appreciating Native Plants, Trees, Migratory Birds and More
From late April to mid May as plants sprout anew from the earth or buds become bright leaves and flowers on branches; birds return to their breeding grounds and many other animals come out from winter naps, we are moved to officially and formally celebrate them!  From the proverbial Earth Day on April 22nd to the perhaps lesser known Native Plant Appreciation Week or International Migratory Bird Day we are encouraged to learn and teach about, observe, appreciate and protect our “Mother Earth.”  Here in the Methow, there is bound to be an event you can attend – our wildflower and bird walk on May 12th for instance!  Wherever you are, raise your binoculars in celebration as that bird flies overhead; soak in the sound of frogs calling in the evening; investigate that flower’s flash of color and simply enjoy the season.  Here are some cool websites if you want to learn more or find an event near you.

• April 29th through May 5th is Native Plant Appreciation Week in Washington.
• May 12th is International Migratory Bird Day and the theme this year is “Birds in a Changing Climate.”
• April 27th was Arbor Day.
• Another great site with plant and animal information specific to Eastern Washington.
• And if these designated events aren’t enough for you…..The Pollinator Partnership is proud to announce that June 24-30, 2007 has been designated National Pollinator Week by the U.S. Senate and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Here’s to pollinators!

American Farmland Trust Examines the Costs of Community Services in the Methow
Through the winter of 2006-2007 the Methow Conservancy worked with the American Farmland Trust to complete a Cost of Community Services (COCS) Study for Okanogan County. The study designates County expenses and revenue into farmland, residential, industrial and commercial land uses, and determines the net cost for each land type.

The American Farmland Trust has conducted COCS Studies over the past 20 years throughout the United States, and has consistently found that working lands, such as farm and ranch land, generate more public revenues than they receive back in public services.

According to American Farmland Trust, “The findings of COCS studies… document the high cost of residential development and recommend commercial and industrial development to help balance local budgets. What is unique about COCS studies is that they show that agricultural land is similar to other commercial and industrial uses. In every community studied, farmland has generated a fiscal surplus to help offset the shortfall created by residential demand for public services.”

In other words, the public services (roads, emergency services, legal services, etc.) required by residential development costs more than the revenue that it generates. In contrast, farmland contributes more revenue than it requires in services.

The AFT is finalizing its report on Okanogan County and will be in the Methow in May to share their findings.  Please join us on Tuesday May 15th at the Twisp Grange from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to learn more about the COCS study and the possible implications for land use planning in Okanogan County.  A final written report will also be available, with the Executive Summary posted on our website later in the month.

Have a Methow Adventure (and Learn Something Too!)
Join us on an outing or field workshop!  Contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org to register or to ask questions. 

The Beauty of Spring in the Shrub-Steppe ~ A FREE Methow Conservancy and Native Plant Society field trip  Saturday, May 12th from 8:00 – 12:00  Registration is free but limited, so please call.  Celebrate spring wildflowers and Migratory Bird Day with a guided hike through a 232-acre conservation easement property in Twisp. Native Plant Society, Okanogan Chapter President, Denny O’Callaghan, will help us appreciate the wonders of spring in high-quality shrub-steppe as we search out colorful wildflowers and melodious songbirds.  This property is one the largest private holdings in single ownership in the Twisp River Valley, and is surrounded by public land on three sides.  Together, this vast protected area provides important foraging habitat, migration corridors, and shelter for birds and wildlife.   

Wildlife and Forest Health: A Class for Fledgling Forest Stewards
Sunday, May 20th, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Mazama.  $40
If you live on land with trees, no matter the acreage, you will enjoy and learn a lot from this class!  Connie Mehmel, Entomologist, and Kent Woodruff, Wildlife Biologist, will share the wonders and complexities of living with trees.  Learn from two of the Methow's most knowledgeable and fascinating forest experts about forest ecology and habitat, wildlife and insects, as well as how to create and take care of a safe and healthy wildlife-rich forest, whether it's just your backyard or 20+ acres.  We will visit Mazama area properties and hold as much of the class as possible outside.  Co-sponsored by the Methow Forest Owner's Cooperative. Catered lunch and drinks provided.
 
Balsamroot to Bunchgrass, Serviceberry to Saxifrage:  Plant Identification through Keying Workshop  June 9th & 10th, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., $30/day (sign up for one or both days).  Work with botanist and naturalist, Dana Visalli, in this unique, hands-on, educational workshop.  On Saturday, learn the basics of how to recognize families and “key” out and identify any plant.  On Sunday focus on the really challenging and fun ones: grasses, sedges and willows. Sign up for one or both days.  Sunday can be taken alone only if you already know how to key plants.  Limit 10 people/day.  Dana will provide hand lens and scopes, plants and keying books.  He is a fabulous instructor.  If you want to know more about wildflowers and plants, this is the class for you!  Bring a lunch. 

Job Opportunity:  Conservation Planner
We are currently seeking a full-time Conservation Planner to guide our land conservation project development and to coordinate relationships with public funding agencies.  Duties include project prioritization and management; grant writing; effective communication with landowners; and coordination of partner projects.  We are a team-oriented, fun place to work, and we are seeking someone with a solid grounding in conservation principles, excellent people skills, and an ability to see the big picture while dealing with the details.  Click here for a detailed job description.  Please feel free to call our office at 509-996-2870 for more information.  To apply, mail resume and cover letter to PO Box 71, Winthrop WA 98862 by May 25th.

Morel Mushrooms – Not Your Average Fungus
A walk in the woods in the coming weeks would be a great idea if you want to look for morel mushrooms.  But, don’t be surprised if you bump into other folks doing the same thing. 
Wild morel mushrooms are a spring treasure in coniferous forests, especially in areas recently burned or disturbed.  Many folks collect them for personal use but over the last couple decades a multi-million dollar industry has developed with commercial pickers scouring the previous year’s forest fire areas.  Below you will find an article from last week’s Methow Valley News about the Tripod fire area and mushroom harvesting.

Like all mushrooms, the part that we see above ground and eat is the fruiting part of the fungus.  The main body is the mycelium and is spread out underground.  It is important when collecting mushrooms to cut the stem at the ground, leaving the mycelium in the earth.  It is also a good idea to leave about one out of every three mushrooms you pick.  No one really knows what the relationship is between morels and fire (or other disturbances) other than it’s thought that there is in increase in nutrients that favor the mushrooms.  Morels spread spores as well though and do not absolutely need fire to reproduce.  So another “should do” when collecting mushrooms is to carry them in a mesh or porous bucket or bag so that spores can fall out as you continue to walk.  Here in the Methow, you can buy special bags created by local ‘shroomer, Helen LaMarche.  They hold up to 2 gallons and can be purchased at the Forest Service office or Glover St Market.

If you don’t know your mushrooms, watch out for the “false” morel, go with a friend, use a good guidebook (try“Mushrooms Demystified by David Arora), and only eat mushrooms that you can absolutely, positively identify! 

News from Other Organizations 
The Washington Dept of Fish and Wildlife is holding a fence fixing “work party” at Deadhorse Lake in Twisp on May 7th from 9am to 1pm.  Volunteers would be of great assistance in helping fix the fence, restrand barbed wire, and add posts to keep cattle out of Deadhorse Lake.  Please RSVP to Kim Romain-Bondi by email or call 996-2559 and she can give you more details.  WDFW will supply the materials

The Okanogan Valley Land Council is hosting a free public lecture on May 11th at 7pm.  Dr. Richard Knight will give a talk entitled “Ranchers as a Keystone Species.”  The talk will focus on how ranchers, a tiny minority of the American West’s population, keep the West functioning…ecologically, economically, and culturally.  Dr. Knight is a professor in the Department of Forest, Rangeland, and Watershed Stewardship at the Warner College of Natural Resources, Colorado State University.  His research interests focus on the effects of outdoor recreation on wildlife, and how the loss of rural private lands to residential development is changing regional biodiversity.  The talk will be at the Mt. Olive Grange in Riverside, Friday, May 11th, at 7 p.m.  Contact Christine Olson at (509) 486-2765 or info@ovlandcouncil.org.

Methow Recycles is holding a Metal Drive!  Find out all the details at http://www.methowrecycles.org/metal_drive_2007.php.  The public scrap days are May 12 and 27th from 9am to 3pm.  This is a great opportunity to clean up and get rid of all those metal things that you don’t want in a landfill!  They could also use some volunteers.

Events
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.

May 1st:  First Tuesday Program  Fire in the Methow: The Evolution of Fire Management Policy and A Memorial to Fallen Fire Fighters 7:00 - 8:30 pm at the Twisp River Pub (pub opens at 6pm for program attendees).  Forest fire experts, Bill Moody and Tom Leuschen, will give a presentation on the history of wildfires, forest conditions, and fire management in the Methow, including how major policy changes have played out.  Tom will also provide an update on the Memorial to fallen firefighters that will be in the Winthrop Park.  Join us for this important and educational evening! 

May 21st: Reducing Fire, Producing Power: Electricity From the Forest   A Community Discussion About Sustainable Energy Choices For The Valley, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at LOCAL 98856 (1017 Hwy 20, Twisp). Free appetizers! Beverages, beer & wine available.  The Okanogan Biomass Partnership recently completed a one-year study evaluating the feasibility of converting forest fuels to electricity and other products, in order to support forest restoration and community energy needs. Come hear about this Partnership, the history and trajectory of biomass use around the region, the results of the 2006 feasibility study, and options for continued exploration. Help us with a community discussion to evaluate the true costs, benefits and sustainability of this type of local energy production, and to determine the level of community interest and support for continuing to explore biomass-to-energy solutions in the valley.  For more information, contact Lorah at 509-923-1944 or lorah@nwi.net.  Sponsored by the Okanogan Biomass Partnership, the Partnership for a Sustainable Methow, and the Methow Conservancy.