Stewardship

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines stewardship as: "the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one's care." As a land trust and an educational organization, we at the Methow Conservancy like to define stewardship as: "ongoing care for the land to benefit both the human and natural communities of the Methow Valley." Thoughtful land stewardship is central to everything we do at the Methow Conservancy.

Mariposa Lily on a shrub-steppe conservation easement

The Methow Conservancy creates conservation easements with private landowners to permanently protect certain conservation values here in the Methow Valley. These values include wildlife habitats, rich agricultural lands, and scenic landscapes, among others. These easements not only restrict future development, they also require that the Conservancy partner with current and future easement landowners to help steward the land. Methow Conservancy staff also create stewardship plans for non-easement landowners in the Valley, and stewardship concepts drive our educational programs like the Good Neighbor Handbook and our First Tuesday Lecture series. Inspiring people to care for the land is, ultimately, our mission.

Stewardship is not always easy. According to Stewardship Coordinator, Steve Bondi, good stewardship requires getting to know the land as well as getting to know the landowners and their concerns, interests, and experiences with the land. "Landowners in the Methow Valley care about their land and most want to do everything they can to be good stewards of it," notes Bondi. "While the Methow Conservancy shares good stewardship information with residents of the Valley, we also learn from the landowners we work with."

Stewardship begins with a baseline analysis of a piece of land. Our Stewardship Coordinator, a trained biologist, will meet with the landowner to discuss land use and landownership history, rare plant and animal sightings, etc. He then conducts a survey of the property to create maps of habitat, existing infrastructure (roads, wells, fences, etc.) and land uses (agriculture, residential, forestry, etc.). We next establish photopoints-photographs will be taken from a fixed location in a fixed direction every year to monitor the conditions and uses of the land over time. Finally, our Stewardship Coordinator creates a written report-the Baseline Survey-that provides a narrative description of the landscape context when the easement is established.

Steve Bondi at a conservation easement near Davis Lake

At least once a year, we then meet with each easement landowner to monitor the easement and discuss changes in the land and landowner concerns. We take photographs at each photopoint, and visually survey the land to document man-made (e.g., irrigation installation, fence repair) and natural alterations (e.g., from flood, fire, weeds) to the landscape. We also list any other observations-bird sightings, plants, etc. This annual visit is a chance to be one part monitor and one part partner in stewardship by checking in with the landowner and making suggestions/ alterations to stewardship plans.

Sometimes the issues that arise are straightforward-like which bird likes which tree. Sometimes they are more complicated-like forest health and fire protection in heavily wooded areas. In these cases, we might recommend that a detailed, multi-year stewardship plan be created, and we would consult with other experts to help us develop the best plan possible.

While detailed stewardship plans are often important and necessary in caring for especially sensitive areas like rangelands and forests, it is important to remember that stewardship doesn't have to be complicated. "Stewardship," Bondi notes, "is some thing every landowner can practice. Often, stewardship begins by simply watching your land and observing patterns."

Bondi recommends that aspiring land stewards keep a simple land journal, documenting changes in a place over time. Taking notes, drawing simple maps, or including photographs can help track with greater certainty whether that patch of dalmatian toadflax is actually growing or whether an aspen grove is regenerating. Identifying patterns and processes is the first step in stewardship-and it's fun.

"There is no instant fix to any stewardship issue," Bondi reflects. "A little bit of time and a whole lot of care and appreciation for the land will surely maintain this beautiful place we all admire."

If you are interested in having the Methow Conservancy develop a stewardship plan for your property, please contact us at 509-996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org

spring flowers at a conservation easement on the Methow River near Mazama