1st Tuesday Program (on a 2nd Wednesday): “Bound for the Methow: A Pictorial History of the Methow Valley”
Wednesday, August 12th, 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Shafer Historical Museum

Working on a drainage ditch along the runway at the Pasayten airstrip in 1935. From the book Bound for the Methow

The Shafer Historical Museum is at 285 Castle Ave in Winthrop, which is one street above and parallel to Riverside Ave (Hwy 20).

The event is free and open to everyone.  Contact Mary at 996-2870 or  info@methowconservancy.org if you have questions.

Imagine the Methow Campaign Corner
“I imagine a Methow where local businesses are thriving and many small farmers grow food for the valley and beyond; food security is highly valued and a reality; the land is carefully stewarded by generations of families that deeply love the valley; mountain wilderness remains the soul of the valley, along with wild open spaces and rolling hills and sky, as well as sparkling lakes and rivers and healthy wildlife.”  -- from a Share Your Story postcard submitted to the Imagine the Methow Community Campaign.

Help Us Meet Our Campaign Goal! As you likely know, the Methow Conservancy is leading a once-in-a-lifetime capital campaign, Imagine the Methow, to protect the best wildlife habitat, farmland, and scenic views in the Methow Valley forever. This campaign allows us to take advantage of a window of opportunity to invest strategically in the land with the greatest conservation values, creating a real, tangible and visible impact for generations.

Please help us reach our goal of 1000 donors / leaves on the tree!

As we’ve been sharing our campaign story this summer at neighborhood gatherings, in mailings, and in conversations throughout the community, we are often asked why we are focused on the ambitious goal of 1,000 donors by the end of summer. 

Why 1,000 donors? We believe that our conservation efforts and our capital campaign will be much stronger after achieving such a milestone.  After September, we will still have several million dollars to raise to meet our campaign goal of $20M in public and private funds and the value of donated conservation easements.  We know that being able to demonstrate such a significant amount of community support will help us in securing the support we will need from foundations, businesses, major donors, and public agencies. 

As of July 31st, we have received 342 gifts to the campaign….so we need 658 more to reach our goal.  More than ever, every gift counts!  Whether someone can give $5, $50, $500, $5000, or $50,000, every gift counts as a vote for conservation, a vote for farming and wildlife habitat and scenic views, and a vote for future generations.

You can help us!  Here’s how:

Our next party is in Carlton! 
Celebrate what you love about the Methow Valley with friends and neighbors, and join us for free food and beverages, and a beautiful 5-minute film about the Methow Conservancy’s Imagine the Methow Campaign. Saturday, August 15th, 2:00pm at the 153 Roadhouse restaurant (formerly the Carlton Restaurant)

We’ll also host a gathering on September 6th in Winthrop, and we’ll be in Seattle in mid-September.  This summer is our chance to do something truly extraordinary.  Add your voice to the Imagine the Methow Campaign and make sure future generations know a Methow Valley as special as we all do today. 

Cool Pools of Water for Fish
Shaded, cool pools, riffles and side-channels make up the stretch of the Methow River that flows past Laurel Canan and Sara Jinks’ property.  Here, endangered Upper Columbia River spring Chinook salmon, endangered Upper Columbia summer steelhead trout, and threatened bull trout use the river to spawn, raise young and survive.  These fish, and many others, can continue to find a safe haven in the upper Methow River drainage with one more permanently protected property added to a string of conservation easements in the area.

In July, Laurel and Sara completed a conservation easement for their 44 acres which includes 3,200 feet of Methow River shoreline.  This new easement, one mile east of the Mazama junction, is one of many protected properties in the area.  Within the four miles between this property and the Weeman Bridge eight additional conservation easements totaling over 250 acres protect over 16,000 feet of the north and south banks of the Methow River.

The Canan/Jinks property is predominantly forested, riparian land - habitat that contains plant and soil systems with attributes of both wetland and upland areas and provides the transition between forest and stream, hillside and valley, and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.  A diverse mixture of native habitat zones, including dense areas of aspen and cottonwood, wetlands, open meadows, shrub-steppe, and coniferous woodlands provide important forage, security cover and movement corridors for fish, songbirds, amphibians, raptors, and large and small mammals. 

The numerous side channels and deep pools, as well as intact riparian vegetation, which provide shade and help keep the river cool, combine to create a productive stretch of the river for fisheries.

The property also contains approximately 1200 feet of the Methow Community Trail, a year-round recreational trail maintained by the Methow Valley Sport Trail Association (MVSTA).  This is the 15th Methow Conservancy conservation easement that contains a portion of an MVSTA trail.

In finalizing the easement, Laurel Canan wrote, “Without a bunch of private owners making decisions for the public benefit, the Valley will be changed irrevocably…  I’m grateful to the Methow Conservancy for the work it has done and promises to do in ushering private owners to think like public stewards.  I’m grateful to those who have made decisions to conserve their private spots for the benefit of the public.  I’m thankful that I can participate.  To me, a conservation easement is a sort of membership due to the Valley…”

Sixth Annual Cider Squeeze & Social
Saturday, September 26th from 2:00 – 4:00pm

Mark your calendars and start saving jugs for our annual Cider Squeeze at Dave and Marilyn Sabold’s house just south of Winthrop.  This sweet event is always a special, fun-filled time to celebrate community, conservation and the harvest season.  It's free and anyone is welcome.  Meet new friends and old friends plus Methow Conservancy staff and board members.  Enjoy great food, music and much more.  There will be activities for kids of all ages, and of course you’ll want to take a turn working the unique and historic apple press.

Please bring your own jugs for taking home cider.  We usually have enough apples, but if you have some cider apples to share feel free to bring them.  Bringing a potluck item is optional but not necessary for attendance!  RSVPs are appreciated but not required.  Contact us at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org if you have questions or need directions.

Cage-A-Tree, Save a Riparian Area, Go for a Swim
Stewardship Volunteers Needed Thursday August 6th

Our project to improve the health of riparian habitats by caging naturally regenerating tree saplings and shrubs to prevent over-browsing by deer is going great.  Thank you to all the people who have contributed time to this project!  Our next work-party is Thursday, August 6th from 8am to Noon at a property on a beautiful stretch of the Twisp River.  There is a good swimming hole for those wanting to take a dip, and snacks and drinks will be provided.  If you’d like to help out, even for part of the time, or if you’d like more details, please call the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870 or email us.

Do you have unwanted T-Posts??
In addition to volunteers, we are looking for a few more t-posts for this project.  If you have any laying around that you’d like to donate to us, we’d be happy to take them off your hands!  Please use the phone or email above to contact us.  Thanks!

Methow Airport Planning Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to submit written comments to the Washington State Department of Transportation Aviation Division as part of the draft Airport Layout Plan for Methow Valley State Airport.

Craig Boesel's farmland adjacent to the airport.

Methow Conservancy Executive Director Jason Paulsen met recently with officials from the State Department of Transportation, Okanogan County and landowner/conservator Craig Boesel whose conserved farmland was identified for significant impact associated with several of the early alternatives identified in the draft plan.  At this meeting, WSDOT Director of Aviation, John Sibold, communicated that it would be the intent of the State to develop an alternative that does not impact in any way the adjacent properties protected Methow Conservancy conservation easements.

The formal press release from the WSDOT is posted here.

Thank you again to all of you who took the time to get involved, attend the public meetings, and speak to the value of conserved farm and riparian land in our community. 

Thanks also for your continued support that makes it possible for the Methow Conservancy to play an active role in supporting our conservation easement landowners like Craig Boesel as issues such as this one arise.

“Restoring Native Habitat Around Your Home” Workshop Series
Our monthly restoration workshop series continues with tour of landowner projects on August 8th.  The series has been a big hit with both full and part-time landowners, providing them with hands-on experience in planning, designing and implementing native plant restoration and landscaping projects around their house.  Many people are attending individual classes, so come along anytime.  Classes are once a month through October, on a Saturday, from 9am to noon at Methow Natives.  Learn do-it-yourself, low-cost strategies to beautify your surroundings, attract birds and butterflies, and help native plants thrive.  For all the details, including a list of workshop dates and topics, and how to sign-up, click here.  

New Members!
Thank you to our new members who donated in the month of July!  Tony Andersen, Sarah Berns & Daren Belsby, Cynthia Berger, Kathleen Kunz & Murray Bogue, Laura McCormick & Robert Boiko, Donna & Wayne Bonn, Lisa Brock, Barbara Clark, Linda & Rich Davis, Raymond Deardorf, Satyabodhi Densmore, Yevonne & Steve Dodge, Ronald Dow, Valerie & Christopher Ensor, Jane Faulkner, Patricia Feathermann-Zeisler, Molly Filer, Wendy Forselius, Lazo Gitchos, Mary Gray, Eric Hartmann, Lorelei & Jerry Hixson, Lawrence Hooper, Dan Hovee, Kay Hummel, Cindy Jatul, Eric Johnson, Amy & Steve Jones, Ana & Tom Larson, Michelle Lesourd, Ray Lucero, David & Ruth Mahan, Jill & Larry Miller, Lisa Tabbut & Stanley Munger, John Narver, Karen & Henry Nichols, Melissa & Christopher Norment, Lisa & Bruce Parker, Joanie Parsons, Kari Bown & Eric Portmann, Kenneth Rice, Mary Ann & Ted Schwarz, Rachel & Arnold Scown, Elizabeth Sims, Sue & Jay Smith, Gloria & Bob Spiwak, Polly Feehan & Jamie Tackman, Dawn & Peter Tarzian, Marcy Tobin, Barbara Trafton, Mary Hughes & Robert Wells, Paula & Bill Westhusing, Mary Jean Wiegert, David Wright, Loy & Ken Young, Valerie Stouffer & Eric Zytowski, and two anonymous donors.

News from Other Organizations - Helping with Hiking Trails
Hiking trails in the Methow Valley are getting some help from Washington Trails Association (WTA), and you can help too!  Washington Trails Association began repair work on several Methow Valley trails earlier this summer, and is seeking volunteers to come try a day of trail maintenance with them.  No prior trail work experience is necessary, and two days of volunteering earns you a free Northwest Forest Parking Pass!  WTA is primarily working on a new log bridge at the Lone Fir campground just west of Mazama.  There are a few other projects including rehabilitating a four-mile stretch of the Pacific Northwest Trail obscured by trees that have fallen since the Tatoosh fire swept through in 2006.  For more details, including the full schedule of dates and places, click here. 

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

August 8th:  Methow Conservancy & Methow Natives Workshop Series Restoring a Native Landscape around the Home.  Class #5:  A Tour of Landowner Projects, 9am – noon at Methow Natives.  See our workshop series page for more details.

August 12th:  Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” Program, “Bound for the Methow:  A Pictorial History of the Methow Valley,” with Kit McLean and Karen West, 7 - 8:30pm at the Shafer Historical Museum.  See above for more details.

August 15th: Carlton Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party, 2:00 -4:00pm at the Roadhouse 153 Restaurant (formerly Carlton Restaurant) in Carlton.  Free Food!

September 6th:  Greater Winthrop / Eastern Mid-Valley Neighborhood Imagine the Methow Campaign Party.

September 8th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” Program (on a 2nd Tuesday!):  “The North Cascades and Our National Parks” A preview of the new Ken Burns National Parks film plus a North Cascades National Park update. 7:00 - 8:30pm at the Merc Playhouse in Twisp. Watch the stunning 45-minute film, "This is America," and hear from and ask questions of North Cascades National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins. "This is America" is a preview of the Ken Burns series, "The National Parks: America’s Best Idea," which will air nationally on PBS later this month.

September 12th:  “The Art of Wildlife Tracking” Field Class with Gabe Spence, 8am to 2pm. Explore the Methow’s wild side with professional wildlife tracker, Gabe Spence.  This class will focus on learning to identify the wide variety of species that use the Methow Valley through the tracks and signs that they leave behind.  Take away some knowledge that you can use on your next hike, trip down the river, or in your backyard.  Topics to be covered will be the foundations of how to identify tracks, basic track measurements, foot morphology, scat and sign identification and routines to continue learning.  This unique outdoor class costs just $30 but registration is necessary and space is limited to ten people.  To register, contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.

Sept 12th:  Methow Conservancy & Methow Natives Workshop Series Restoring a Native Landscape around the Home.  Class #6 - “Watering and Irrigation Systems" 9am – noon at Methow Natives.  Registration recommended.  See our workshop series page for more details.

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