Water ~ A Dynamic Dance
Winter is beginning to sneak into the valley, which means our annual Methow Conservation Course isn’t far away. We are gearing up for our fourth annual course, which will be held on Monday evenings for six weeks beginning February 4th. As of this E-News, registration is open! The 2008 course is “WATER ~ A dynamic dance with the function, 
ecology and future of our Methow Watershed.” Eric Bard, our new stewardship assistant, is coordinating this year's course, and is very enthusiastic about the topic. Eric is busy lining up several local and regional experts on hydrology, wildlife, and ecology for interconnected presentations relating to water. The preliminary classes for the six weeks are shaping up to include an introductory primer on water and Methow hydrology; the unique geohydrology of the Methow Basin; the fish of our watershed; water quality issues, past/present/future; riparian habitat and channel migration; and finally a presentation and discussion on water use, constraints, future outlook (uses and climate change) and planning issues. Tuition is $125 for Methow Conservancy members. The tuition for non-members is $150, which includes a discounted membership. We expect the course to fill quickly so register now!
The Methow Conservancy initiated the Methow Conservation Course in 2005 to take a Methow-specific look at natural history and translate that knowledge into both local and universal conservation-based themes. Now in its fourth year, the Methow Conservation Course is designed for both the novice and the experienced naturalist (and for everyone in between). The course is offered with the goal of inspiring more observation and knowledge of, interest in and connections with the natural world.
We will also continue to offer two separate “mini-courses” in the spring (Dates TBA). These are field-oriented one or two-day weekend courses with expert instructors. This year’s topics will also involve water, so get out your waders and your swamp gear. Our first topic will be “Beavers: Nature’s water engineers.” We will learn about beaver ecology and travel to sites of past, present, and potential future beaver habitat and activity. John Rohrer (U.S.F.S.) and Steve Bondi (Methow Conservancy, Stewardship Director) will show us how these ingenious mammals have altered and greatly affected and benefited our riparian areas and waterways. They will also discuss plans for present and potential beaver reintroduction in the Methow area. The other mini-course will be on waterfowl and riparian bird species. We’ll learn to identify species and habitats as we travel to wetlands, riparian forests, and shoreline areas. Here we will learn about, and hopefully see and hear, unique bird species that depend on our rich functioning watershed (presenters and dates to be announced). These mini-courses are not yet open for registration, so stay tuned.
The 2008 Conservation Course is sure to fill quickly. For more information or to register, contact
Mary Kiesau, our Program Coordinator, by email or phone at 509-996-2870 if you have questions.
Get our online registration form.
Riparian Habitats Protected With Two More Conservation Easements
We are happy to announce the protection of 35.3 acres on two conservation easements in the upper valley!
The Cedarosa 
easement protects 13 acres of open space, river frontage, side-channel habitat, and riparian forest and wetlands. The Methow River and Cold Creek flow through parts of this easement. The property is undeveloped and has a diverse mixture of native plants, including dense forests of cottonwood, aspen, water birch, red-osier dogwood, willow and other deciduous trees and shrubs. There are also mature groves of western red cedar and Engelmann spruce. The area provides excellent habitat for fish, songbirds, amphibians, raptors, and large and small mammals. The property is situated in a corridor of 7 other conservation easements and other protected land so that a vast area of nearly 1000 acres and 4 miles of riverfront remain wild and undeveloped.
Arnie & Debra Prentice are the owners of our 62nd conservation easement, which is their third Methow Conservancy easement over ten years! This easement protects 22.3 
acres and 1800 feet of shoreline on the Methow River. The property contains riparian forest, the dynamic Methow River floodplain, open space and conifer woodlands. This excellent habitat provides important forage, security cover and movement corridors for fish and wildlife, including endangered summer steelhead trout and spring Chinook salmon, and threatened bull trout as well as bald eagles, mule deer, waterfowl, cougar and bear. The Prentice easement is also in a corridor of other conservation properties and public lands along the Methow River, permanently protecting a mosaic of habitat-rich riparian areas and open spaces. Deb and Arnie told us, “This new easement includes riparian habitat that is contiguous to our first easement. During the past ten years we have watched the river meandering below us and have appreciated its quiet solitude and magnificent wildlife. We are so pleased to join again with the Methow Conservancy in protecting this wonderfully diverse part of the river."
We’d like to thank these “conservators” and the other 80 families that have helped protect the intact and important lands of the Methow Valley – from rich wildlife habitats to prime soils and farmland to floodplains and scenic views. Thank You!
A Fall Full of Events
One of the best parts of doing what we at the Methow Conservancy do is getting to know all the people that care so deeply about the Methow Valley. Two of our fall events, the Cider Squeeze and the Methow Mixer, are wonderful ways to do this as we celebrate community and support of conservation in the valley. This year’s events were bigger and better than ever thanks to everyone that was able to attend one (or both!) of the gatherings.
Over 200 kids of all ages joined us for food, fun, music and of course apple cider at the Sabold’s property in Winthrop on the last Saturday in September. The music of the local Rivertown Ramblers had everyone in a festive spirit, 
keeping the crank on the Sabold’s historic apple press turning. Kids canoed in the pond, and instructed adults in making origami animals and plants. Dave reports that over 160 gallons of cider were pressed and distributed! If you missed the event, be sure to keep this weekend open next year!
We filled the Seattle REI with the friendly Methow spirit of 130+ people at our annual Methow Mixer on Oct 2nd. Twelve lucky people took home great prizes, including a weekend at Sun Mountain Lodge, and dinner at Winthrop’s Arrowleaf Bistro. This year’s theme was, “The Methow Conservancy: For Wildlife, For Farming, For Community.” Methow Valley coffee roasters, Backcountry Coffee Roasters, made the trek over the mountains with us and helped keep event goers alert and moving around to the booths, searching for the answers to the Great Methow Treasure Hunt. Everyone that joined or renewed as members took home a Methow Valley thank you gift, and we’d like to thank you again for helping us raise over $10,000 for our conservation efforts. Your support is greatly appreciated!
We’d also like to thank all the people and businesses that donated time, raffle items and services, and helped make this event a resounding success. Thanks go to REI, Sun Mountain Lodge, North Cascade Heli-Ski, Arrowleaf Bistro, Heenan’s Burnt Finger BBQ, Bluebird Grain Farms, MVSTA, Molly’s Soap, Gardner Gardens and the Sabolds, Chris Hartwig, the Shafer Museum and Roxie Miller, Backcountry Coffee Roasters, Cinnamon Twisp Bakery, and all the Methow Conservancy volunteers that helped out.
We hope to see you next year at our fifth annual Methow Mixer and Cider Squeeze events!
News From Other Organizations
Local Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists are looking for some help building a handful of Lynx traps to assist with their current research of the elusive and at risk species. WDFW will supply all the materials (mostly PVC pipe and chicken wire), instructions, and a training day if needed. Construction will likely take place at the
Methow Wildlife Area office, but it may also be possible to arrange to work at home. No construction expertise is needed for basic trap assembly. At some point WDFW might also need the help of a welder for some minor work on the doors for traps. If you are at all interested, please call Scott Fitkin at 997-4373 and let him know of your interest and availability over the next month or so.
The Washington State University Okanogan County Extension is offering a 10-week course in the Methow Valley this winter on “sustaining the small farm.” The course is designed to help small and mid-size farmers and ranchers quickly adapt to new markets and meet the growing consumer demand for sustainably-raised products. Participants could include established farmers seeking to sustain their existing operations as well as beginning farmers. Course presenters include successful local producers and Extension Educators with expertise in direct marketing, value-added processing, production planning and more. Spring farm tours and field visits to see different operations and processing options will be offered as part of the course. Enrollment is open, and the course begins December 3rd. Classes will be held at the Confluence Gallery, 104 Glover in Twisp, WA. There is a $75 registration fee for the course which includes a course notebook and refreshments. For more details and to register, contact Norman Suverly at the WSU Okanogan County Extension office at (509) 422-7245 or suverly@wsu.edu. The registration deadline is November 26th.
The offices of Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell are hosting a Federal funding symposium in Omak. The presentation on federal grants and the appropriations process will include: Tips on submitting a successful grant application; Finding the right funding source for your project; Working with your congressional delegation; and the current outlook and trends for Appropriations. The symposium is Tuesday, November 13, from 2:00pm-4:00pm, at the Omak City Council Chambers on 2 North Ash Street. Please RSVP to workshop@murray.senate.gov.
Annual Open House and Holiday Party - December 12th 
You are invited to join the Methow Conservancy for a bit of holiday cheer and festivities on Wednesday, December 12th from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at our annual open house. Help us celebrate another great year of conservation at our office at 315 Riverside in downtown Winthrop. Partake in refreshments; help us honor our two 2007 Conservation Award Winners; and chat with Board members and staff. We welcome the chance to thank you for your support this past year and to hear your thoughts about what you hope we'll accomplish in the next year. We hope to see you on the 12th!
Events
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.
- November 6th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” program: Living with Deer in the Methow Valley, 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub. See more info above.
- November 28th: Natural History Book Club discussion of “Round the Next Bend: Pendleton, Walla Walla and the Transformation of the Rural West,” a lecture by Donald Snow. This lecture is online at http://oregonhum.org/pdf/round-the-next-bend.pdf. The discussion is at 6:00 p.m. at the Methow Conservancy office.
- November 13th: Federal Funding Symposium with Senator Murray and Senator Cantwell staff, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. at the Omak City Council Chambers on 2 North Ash Street. See above for more info.
- December 12th: Methow Conservancy Open House & Holiday Social, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Methow Conservancy office on 315 Riverside Ave in Winthrop.
- December 4th: Methow Conservancy “1st Tuesday” program: How Nature Works: Biology at Work and Play in the Fields of the Methow, with Dana Visalli presenting; 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub.
