Stewardship Associate, Eric Bard, visiting with conservator Vic Stokes, October 2008
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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 certain types of development, they also require that the Conservancy partner with current and future easement landowners to help steward the land. Methow Conservancy staff create stewardship plans for easement (and 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 Director, 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 Program staff, including Director Steve Bondi and Associate Eric Bard, meets with the landowner to discuss land use and landownership history, fish and wildlife habitat, unique features, etc. Steve or Eric then conducts a survey of the property to document habitat, existing infrastructure (roads, wells, fences, etc.) and land uses (agriculture, residential, forestry, etc.). We next establish photopoints- fixed locations where photographs will be taken every year to monitor the conditions and uses of the land over time. Finally, our Stewardship staff create a written report-the Baseline Monitoring Report-that provides a narrative description of the landscape context when the easement is established.
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Steve Bondi at a conservation easement near Davis Lake |
At least once a year, we meet with each easement landowner to monitor the easement and discuss changes in the land and landowner concerns. We retake 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-fish or wildlife sightings, neighboring land uses, changing vegetation, 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 topics discussed are straightforward-like which birds likes which habitats. Sometimes they are more complicated-like forest health, maintenance of prime farmland soils, 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
