Winter 2007 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

8/9/2019 Winter 2007 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

1/12

Valley Trust

NEWSCalendar

March14 OSU,ButlerCo.

Roundtable,4-6pm

24 Adopt-A-Highway

Cleanup,10am

CallLizat523-1782

31 AEPP Application

Workshop Call524-2150

April4 Board Meeting

22 Earth Day

22 Volunteer Appreciation

Picnic

Index

FourLandownersDonate.........1

SaveanAcreInitiative..............1

LetMeBeFrank.......................2

CheerstoVolunteers.................2

MeetLawrenceLeahy...............3

PlannedGiving..........................3

FromtheDeskofLarry............4

AnnualMeetingHighlights.......5

WatershedProtection................7

AuctionforAcres2006............ 8

LandTrustCensus.....................9

AEPPApplicationsTraining...10

CleanOhioFund.....................11BoardofDirectors...................11

ConservationLegacy..............12

Four Landowners DonateDevelopment Rights to Protect LandFourconservation-mindedfamiliesdonated

conservationeasementstopermanentlyprotect

theirbelovedlandswiththeThreeValleyConserva-

tionTrustattheendof2006.Michaeland

LauraFainofOxford,JenniferandJasonHokeof

Germantown,JonandAmyCostanzoofCamden,andJoeandJudithFergusofLewisburgalldonated

thedevelopmentrightstotheirfarmstoprevent

furtherdevelopment.Inall,thenewconservation

easementsgaveTVCTatotalofteneasements

coveringover1500acresin2006alone,and

nished 2006 with 46 conservation easements

covering5460acres.

ForthesefourfamiliesinButler,Preble,andMontgomeryCounties,protecting

theirlandforfuturegenerationswassomethingtheyhavebeencontemplatingfor

alongtime.Forexample,inadiscussionoftheirsixty-two-acrefarminSomers

Township,PrebleCounty,JonCostanzo,azoologyprofessoratMiamiUniversity,

Save An Acre InitiativeAsourmembersknow,SouthwestOhioisblessedwithbeautifulwaterways,

woodlands,andbluffs,diversewildlifeandadistinctivefamilyfarmheritage.

Unmanaged development is threatening our water quality, ood plains, wildlife

habitats,farmingtraditions,andruralvalues.

Haveyoueverdrivenpastafarmorscenicviewwith

aForSalesign,andthoughttoyourself,IwishI

couldaffordtobuythispropertytokeepitfrombeing

unwiselydeveloped?ThroughtheTVCTsSaveanAcreprogram,youcanhelptopermanentlyconserve

scenicvistas,ruralsettings,andwildlifehabitatforjustafractionofwhatitwould

costtopurchaselandsoutright.

EveryhundreddollarsdonatedtoTVCTsSaveanAcreinitiativehelpstoprotect

anacreoflandwoodland,streamcorridor,farmlandorwildlifehabitatonyour

behalf.Allcontributionsaretaxdeductible.

Weknowtherearemanyorganizationsyoucansupportthatwillprotecttreesinthe

rainforest,plantmemorialtreesandshrubs,protectwildlifespeciesandconduct

manyotherimportantactivities.TheTVCThopesyouwillchoosetoprotectland

(continued on page 6)


Valley Trust News,

the newletter for members of the

Three Valley Conservation Trust,

is published four times per year.

Editors:

MicheleSimmons

MaryGlasmeier

Jason Hoke at their mini-farm.

Number 31 / Winter 2007 Conserving the natural environment and cultural heritage of Southwest Ohio


2/122 Valley Trust NewS

LetMeBeFrank

FrankHouseChair, Board of Trustees

HappyNewYear!Atthistimeofyear,its good to not only reect on past accomplishments but to

lookforwardtonewplansandfuturesuccesses.Thereare

somekeyareasthatIdliketofocusoninthiscomingyear

andamlookingforwardtocontinuedsuccessordevelopment

inthefollowingareas:

Place additional lands under easements. Aslongas

developmentcontinuestomarchforward,itsimportantto

placelandsundereasementtomaintainaruralcharacter

offarmsandwildlifehabitat.

Raise funds for operations and land trust endowments.Thisisoneofourtoppriorities.Sincewearerequired

tomonitoralleasementsinperpetuity,theTrustmust

become self-sufcient through endowments. These

endowmentscangeneratefuturemoniestosupporta

modeststaffnecessarytocarryouttheTrustsrequire-

ments.Wehavetakenamajorstepinthisdirectionby

recentlyhiringadevelopmentcoordinatorandbeginning

amajorfundraisingcampaign.

Develop a closer cooperation and working relationship

with other organizations that have an interest in farming,habitat, wildlife and farmland preservation. There

aremanyopportunitiestocombinesynergiesbetween

organizationstohavethegreatestimpact.Havingland

inatrusthelpsslowdownurbansprawl,maintains

farmland,andprovidesforhabitatthatcanhelpstemthe

lossofspeciesandpresentsopportunityforincreasing

gamebirdpopulations.

Continue government interaction to support conservation

trust efforts. By continuing to inuence legislation for

AEPPandvariousfederalprograms,TVCTwillbeabletohelpmorelandownersinterestedinprotectingtheir

lands.Wehavebeenverysuccessfulinthepastand

wouldliketoseetheseprogramscontinued.

Educate the public about easements and conservation

trusts. Ivenoticedmanymisconceptionsaboutprotecting

lands and the benets of a land trust. Additional education

effortswillhelppeopletomakeaninformeddecision

orattheveryleasttogetpeopletostartthinkingabout

alternativestourbansprawl.

Concentrate on the Trusts infrastructure. AtthisnewsuccessfulstageoftheTrust,wenowneedto

ensureourinfrastructureissolidbyfocusingonour

membership,volunteersandassuringourprocedures

andprocessesaretopnotchandwellorganized.This,

withagrowingmembership,willassureoverallTrust

longevityasakeytoourfuturesuccess.

Consolidate the Trusts investments.Wehave

recently dened a comprehensive investment strategy

andconsolidatedthevariousendowmentfunds

intoinvestmentsthatwillensurealldonationsfor

endowmentsareworkingforthebestuseofdonormoney.

ThesearesomeofthekeyareasthatIbelieveweshould

focusontohopefullyseeanother6000acresinournear

future.ThankyouallforyoursupportandIlookforward

toworkingwithyouinthisnewyear!z

cheers to Volunteers!WedliketothankallwhohelpedtomakeAuctionfor

Acres2006asuccess.AspecialthankstoAnnGeddes,

MarciaHouse,MaryJoMacmillan,BettyRogers,

JosetteStanley,MaryTharp,DougRoss,andBoard

membersMargaretteBeckwith,CatherineHollins,

MaryMoore,andJerryStanley.

Wedliketorecognize:

Juanita constiblefordesigning/creatingour

NEWTVCTwebsite(www.3vct.org).

Ann GeddesforherdedicationtotheLand

ProtectionCommitteeandstreamliningofthe

monitoringprocess.

Cleo Gerber forherunfailingsmileandwillingnessto do anything around the ofce that needs to be done.

Lois Nelson fortacklingthejobofcoordinatingthe

monitoringvolunteersandtheunendingpaperwork.

Interns Nicole Cooke, Scott Ulrich &

Kate Waller fortheirmonitoringandGISwork.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!Call Mary at the TVCT ofce at 524-2150.


3/12Winter 2007 3

LawrenceLeahyjoinedthestaffoftheThreeValley

ConservationTrustinlateDecember,2006,astheDevel-

opmentDirector.TheGreaterCincinnatiFoundationand

keysupportersprovidedtheseedfundingtocreatethisnew

positionfortheTrustinordertoexpandtheorganizationsoperations,monitoringendowmentfunds,annualfundsand

tohelptostrengthenourmembership.Lawrencewillhelp

tosetfundraisinggoalsthatwillenableustosuccessfully

carryoutourlandprotectionprojectsandprogramswitha

focusonthedevelopmentofmajorgifts,capitalcampaigns,

project-specic fundraising, foundation grants and planned

gifts.

Lawrencehashadanoverseascareerofalmosttwenty

years working in the development eld in Africa and

CentralAsia.InAfrica,hedevelopedandimplemented

naturalresourceconservation,wildlifemanagementand

rural health programs with government and non-prot

organizations.HealsoservedastheCountryDirectorfor

thePeaceCorpsinNigerandinUzbekistan.InUzbekistan,

he most recently worked for a non-prot organization that

supported scientic research and development. One of the

mostimportantaspectsofhisworkhasalwaysbeento

identifypartneragenciesinterestedincollaboratingand

monetarilysupportinghisprograms.Someofmyfondest

memoriesfromUzbekistanwereworkingwiththeUnited

StatesDepartmentofAgricultureandtheUnitedNationsto

developandimplementaprogramdealingwiththeestab-

lishmentofnativeplantsinthedriedoutsalineareasoftheAralSea.TheAralSeabasinisoneofthelargestman-

madeenvironmentalcatastrophesofourgeneration.Many

internationalorganizationshaveattemptedtorehabilitate

thisarea,butthisisoneofthefewprojectsthathasbeen

Meet Lawrence LeahyTVCT Hires First Development Director

initiated successfully. I am con-

dentthatwehavethesystemsin

placeforlongtermsuccess,but

onlytimewilltell.

In1982,LawrencegraduatedfromKentStateUniversitywith

aMastersDegreeinGeography.

InMay,2006,heandhiswife,

Natasha,movedtoSouthwestOhio,assheaccepted

apositionwithProctorandGamble.Inmanyways,I

feelasthoughIhavereturnedhome,asIspenttenyears

studying,livingandworkinginNortheastOhioandhave

veryfondmemoriesofthoseexperiences.

Iamlookingforwardtothisnewenvironmentin

SouthwestOhioandworkingwiththeTrust,Lawrence

explained. I am proud to be afliated with such asuccessful, committed organization that works to benet

theenvironmentandculturalheritageoftheFourMile,

SevenMile,TwinandIndianCreekvalleys.Oneofour

biggestchallengesoverthenextyearwillbetoraise

$325,000forourOperationsBudget,$270,000forour

OperationsEndowment,and$100,000forourStewardship

MonitoringEndowment.Therearemanyactivesupporters

oftheTrust,andIamhopingtoworkcloselywithallof

them,learnfromtheirexperiences,andhelpmaketheTrus

asuccessfulorganization.

EacheditionoftheValley Trust Newswillcontainsomeinformationregardingcurrentorupcomingdevelopment

activities.Wehopethiswillbehelpfulforeveryoneto

knowwhatwearedoingandallowyoutoprovideideas,

recommendationsandsupport.z

TheThreeValleyConservationTrustiscommittedin

perpetuitytocaringforandprotectingthethousandsof

acresoflandandmilesofstreamsthatyouarehelpingto

conservetoday.IncludingtheTrustinyourestateplanningestablishesalegacyofconservationthatwillstandthetest

oftime.

YoursupportwillassurethattheTrustcancontinuethe

kindofworkthatmatterstoyoulongafteryourown

lifetimeandforfuturegenerations.

Planned gifts are, by denition, extraordinary. Makinga

planned gift to the TVCT offers an extraordinarily exible

and simple way to combine philanthropy with nancial

planning.Infact,aplannedgiftmayhelpyougivemoreto

conservationthanyouthoughtpossiblewhilestill

providingyou,orsomeoneyoudesignate,withfavorable

nancial and/or tax benets.

Whetheradonorusescash,stocks,mutualfunds,orotherassets,suchasrealestate,artwork,orpartnershipinterests

the benets of funding a planned gift can make this type

ofcharitablegivingveryattractivetoboththedonorand

charity.

Potential benets of your planned gifts are:

Increasecurrentincomeforthedonororothers

Reducethedonorsincometax

Avoidcapitalgainstax

Passassetstofamilyatareducedtaxcost

Planned Giving




andstreamsrightinyourownbackyard

inSouthwestOhiosotheywillbeusable

foryourchildrenandgrandchildrenfor

generationstocome.

Yourcontributionwillfundland

acquisition,legalfeesandothercostsassociatedtoensurethattheproperty

willbeprotectedinperpetuity.To

commemorateyoursavedacreage,you

will receive a certicate documenting the

numberofacresyouhelpedtoprotect.

Foratwenty-acreormoreinvestment,

you will receive a framed certicate of

acquisition.

Saveanacreforafriendorlovedone.

Thiscouldbetheperfectgiftforthat

personwhohaseverythingorwho

wantsnothing.Forabirthday,wedding,

anniversaryorotherspecialoccasion,by

protectinganacreofland,youwillbe

givingagiftthatlastsforever.

ThankyouforsupportingtheTVCTs

SaveanAcrecampaign.Wecanassure

youthatyoursupportwillmakea

differenceforthefutureofourland.Your

tax-deductiblecontributioncanbemade

bycheckorcreditcard.z

Formoreinformation,ortopledge,callLawrenceLeahyor

LarryFrimermanat(513)524-2150,

oremailtheTrustat

[email protected].

Save an Acre (cont. from page 1)Fm he Desk f...

Larry Frimerman

ExEcutivE DirEctor

What a wild, eventful nish to 2006! The Trust signed four conservation

easementsduringthelastweekof2006,witheleveneasementsreadyto

closeinearly2007.Weareagaingratefultoourmanybenefactors,

members,supporters,andvolunteersforanotheroutstandingyearforthe

ThreeValleyConservationTrust.

Year2006stenconservationeasements,covering1512acres,equalour

bestyearforeasementacreageprotected.Thelandsprotectedhave

substantial conservation and agricultural values. The Trust nished the year

with46propertiesprotected,covering5460acres.TVCTalsomonitored

eachofourprotectedpropertiesin2006,meetingourcontractual,legal

andorganizationalobligations.TVCTprotectsthethirdlargestacreageofOhioslandtrusts.

Lastyearalsosawthedevelopmentofourwatershedprogram,and

ultimately,thelossofourWatershedCoordinator,BarbaraHamilton.The

challengeforcedustorecognizethatweneededtofocusonwhatwedo

bestworkingwithlandownersandgovernmentsonlandconservation

andwaterqualityenhancementtoprotectthewatersheds.WithanewOhio

DepartmentofNaturalResourcesgrant,wewillcontractwithscientist

Lorna Harrell to nish the Twin Creek Watershed Action Plan.

In2006,TVCTwasextremelysuccessfulinsecuringvariousStateand

Federalpass-throughgrantsforbargainsalesofconservationeasementsbylandowners.Theseprojectswillmeansomeformofpermanent

protectionforover2500additionalacresjustfromthesegrantprograms,

andwillprotectanother8-10milesofstreamcorridor.

A change in the Federal income tax law increased the benet and extended

thelengthoftaxdeductibilityofconservationeasementsforjust2006and

2007.Thistaxlawchange,additionalgrantfundsawards,recentchangesin

nationalandstatepolitics,andincreasedpublicfamiliarity/acceptabilityof

conservationeasements,hasgiventheTrustafullplateincompletingand

monitoringconservationeasements,soontonumbersixtyproperties.

OurpartnershipswiththeUSFish&WildlifeServicePrivateLandsCoor-

dinatorandPartnersforFishandWildlife,localPheasantsForeverhabitatwork,FiveRiversandButlerMetroparks,andNaturalResourcesConser-

vationServiceandotherswillhelplandownersaddriparianandhabitat

restorationtothelandscape.

TheoutstandingworkbytheAuctionForAcrescommittee,thehiringof

Lawrence Leahy as our rst-ever Development Director, the generosity of

ourbenefactorsandvolunteers,andnewendeavorsfororganizationaland

monitoringendowmentswillhelpustobetterserveourcommunity.We

hopeyoulikethechange,andasalways,wecantthankyouenough!z

John RuthvenThree Valley Great Blue Heron

(limited to 100 prints)

Gicle Prints Available

$125.00Call the Trust Office at 524-2150


5/12Winter 2007 5

NewOhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesDirectorSeanD.Loganwasthekeynote

speakerfortheTVCTAnnualMeetingonSaturday,February3,2007attheMarcum

ConferenceCenter,MiamiUniversity,Oxford.MusicprovidedbyAnachrorhythmswelcomedgueststotheeventandaMarcumCenter-cateredmeal.

DirectorLogandiscussedhisvisionfortheODNR,andlandconservation.Hehas

beenPresidentoftheBoardofCommissionersinColumbianaCounty,amemberof

theLittleBeaverCreekWildandScenicRiverAdvisoryBoard,heldanappointment

totheOhioSolidWasteAdvisoryCouncilandwasamemberoftheOhioHouseof

Representativesfrom1990-2000.

Otherpresentersincludedconservationeasementdonors;KurtWaterstradt,

theUSFishandWildlifeServicesOhioPrivateLandsCoordinator;

MichaelBailey,OhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesExecutiveDirector

of the Ofce of Farmland Preservation; and David Nolin, Five Rivers

MetroparksDeputyDirector.Thepresentersdiscussedtoolsavailableto

assistOhioslandowners,andtheroleindividualsandlocalgovernments

canplayinshapingthosepoliciesfromthegroundup.Inaddition,there

were salutations and comments from elected ofcials. The Trust honored

conservationstarsandretiringTVCTBoardmembers,andotherdedicated

individualsandorganizationalpartners.Inaddition,wecelebratedthe

Trustsaccomplishments,andpresentedplansforthecomingyear.

TVCTconservationeasementdonorsfrom2006sharedtheirinspirational

storiesaboutwhytheyhaveprotectedtheirfarmsandopenspace,ofhabitat

lost,andoftheirvisionofthefuture.Theseindividualsareamongtheforty-sixeasementdonorswhohavesteppeduptoprotectpropertiescovering5460

acresofgroundintheTrustswatersheds.ThesegenerousOhioanshavedonated

sixteenconservationeasementscoveringover1500acresin2006aloneto

permanentlyprotectsensitiveopenspaceandfarmland.

ThemembershiphelditselectionfortheTVCTBoardofTrusteesforits2007slate

ofcandidates.RetiringBoardmemberTomKlak,andtwootherboardpositionswere

lled by Frank Hank N. Dupps, CEO of Dupps Corporation in Germantown; Ron

Stewart,AssistantVicePresidentofFarmersStateBank;andBenJones,Director

ofStrategicOperationsatButlerMetropolitanHousing.Inaddition,theTVCT

recognizedandthankedrecentgrantors.ThesedonorsincludetheGreaterCincinnatiFoundation,theOhioEPA,theElizabethWakemanHendersonFoundation,theButler

DepartmentofEnvironmentalServices,DukeEnergyFoundation,MiamiConservancy

District,OhioDepartmentofNaturalResources,OhioDepartmentofAgriculture,US

DepartmentofAgriculture,OhioPublicWorksCommission,theOxfordCommunity

Foundation,ErnstBever,theW.H.SmithFamilyCharitableTrust,LindaFitzgerald,JamesandSusanFitton,andothersfortheircontributionstotheorganizationsfunding

efforts.Inaddition,theTrustthankedtheTrustAuctionCommitteeforraising$33,000

netinits4thfundraisingauction.Thankyoutoallwhohelpedmakethisyearsannual

meetingsuchasuccess!z

New ODNR Director LoganHighlights Annual Meeting

Sean Logan, new Director of

the Ohio Department of Natural

Resources, giving keynote address.

A view of attendees in the 1850s room at the

Marcum Conference Center at Miami University,

Oxford, Ohio.

Larry Frimerman assists Dave Nolin

Director of Five Rivers MetroParks

while he performs an original song

about TVCT

Merlin Siebel, 2005 easemen

donor, gives his heartfelt story of

caring for his land



statedOurfarmisveryimportanttous,andwewanted

toensureitwouldalwaysremainhabitatforwildlife.

Costanzo,whovolunteerswithseveralconservation

organizations,hashelpedestablishormanageovera

thousandacresofgrasslandinPrebleandButler

Counties.

Hiswife,Amy,amedicaleducatorinCincinnati,enjoysspending autumn days cutting rewood and improving

timberontheirTreeFarmproperty.Sincepurchasing

thefarmin1996,theCostanzoshavecontrolled

invasivevegetation,constructedwetlands,andplanted

nearlythirtyacresofnativeprairie.Therolling,

woodedpropertyisahavenforwildlife,includingwild

turkeyandtrophy-classdeer.Costanzoandfellow

TVCTBoardmemberandzoologist,TomWissing

cataloguednumerousplantsandanimalsduringa

surveythatestablishedthefarmspresentcondition

anddocumenteditsparticularconservationvalue.

Theirconservationeasementdescribestheirlandaspossess[ing]valueasopenspace,asacollectionof

uncommonlydiversenatural,sceniclandscapes,

wildlifehabitats,andenvironmentalsystems,andas

apotentialsiteforpublicrecreation,environmental

educationandnatureappreciation.

JoeandJudithFergusprotectedtheir111acrefarm

alongPricesCreekinTwinTownship,PrebleCounty.

Duringatourofthebeautifulwoodlandandstream

area,retiredveterinarian,FergustoldTrustrepresenta-

tives,astimerolledon,wecametothedecisionthatpreservingourlandwassomethingimportanttous.

Itisnotjustapartofourlegacy.Iwantmyfarmto

continuetobeaplacethatcityfolkscangetawaytoin

ordertoexperiencenatureTheTrustmadeiteasyfor

myfamilytochoosetoprotectourprizedpossessionas

partofourlegacytoourcommunity.

MikeandLauraFaindiscussedtheirinterestin

placingtheirtwenty-acrefarminOxfordTownship

undereasementshortlyaftermovingbacktoOxfordto

practicemedicineseveralyearsago.Itwassomething

importanttoourfamily,Mikenoted.Theprimarilyagri-

culturalgroundretainsitswoodlandbordersandprovides

lovelyvistasofthecountryside.Smallparcelsconserved

foragriculturalpurposessuchastheFainsoftenhavea

signicant variety of songbirds, waterfowl, trees, and other

ora and fauna. Their agricultural eld provides a necessary

bufferfora200acre,multi-propertywoodsandcouldturn

outtobetheanchorforotherconservationeasementactivitynearby.Thisactivitycanbebroughtaboutthroughwordof

mouthandagreaterunderstandingofeasements.

Afterconversationswiththeirtaxaccountantandlawyer,

theFainsthoughtthatthepotentialtaxrelieffromthemajor

donationmightinterestMikespartnersinfollowingsuit.

HewasrighttheHokefamilydecidedtoplaceaconser-

vationeasementontheirnewly-acquired13.5-acrehilltop

mini-farminMilfordTownship.TheHokesknewthattheir

newfarmwaswheretheyintendedtosettleandeventu-

allyretire,andtheywantedtocontinuetheconservation

legacy.AccordingtotheHokebaselinereport,thispropertyprovidesabufferforamajorheadwaterandatributaryto

SevenMileCreek,witharichdiversityoftreesandanimals

initsriparianwoods.TheTrustiseversogratefultothese

fourfamiliesfortheirgenerosity.

Eachofthefouryear-endconservationeasementdonors

recognized the potential benet of the recently enacted law

temporarilyexpandingtheconservationeasementdonation

tax deduction. The change is signicant enough to make

itmorefeasibleforabroaderrangeofpropertyownersto

morefullyutilizethetaxdeductionthanunderthepriortax

law.AccordingtodonorMikeFain,thechangesinthefederalincometaxlawmadeitmoreattractivetoactnow.

InAugust,thePresidentsignedalawrevisingthe

conservationeasementtaxdeductiontocorrectadefectin

thepre-existingtaxlawthatlimitedeasementdonorsability

tofullydeducttheconservationeasementdonationvalue.

Thisdefectcontributedtotheturningawayofcountless

familiesotherwisechoosingtoprotecttheirlandsfrom

everbeingdevelopedintohousing,commercialor

industrialsites.

Four Landowners Donate(cont. from page 1)

The Fergus Farm


The Fain Property


7/12

Thetaxchangepermitscurrentconservationeasement

donorstodeduct50%oftheiradjusted(priortoitemized

andstandarddeductions)grossincomeeachyearforup

toamaximumofsixteenyears,oruntilthevalueofthe

appraisal-derivedeasementdonationvalueisusedup,whichever comes rst. For farmers, the deduction is 100%

ofadjustedgrossincomeoversixteenyears,in

recognitionofthelargeracreagesandsmallerincomes.

However,Congressgrantedthistaxreliefonlyforcon-

servationeasementssignedin2006and2007.After2007,

theprovisionsreverttotheoldtaxlawthatpermittedany

propertyownertodeductonly30%oftheiradjustedgross

income,andcappedthenumberofyearscarryoverfora

maximumtotalofsixyears.

Four Landowners(cont. from page 6)

Manyofyoumaybeawareofchangesthathaveoccurred

on the waterfront lately. In October, the Trust lost a terric

WatershedCoordinator,BarbaraHamilton,toaposition

asEnvironmentalEducatorfortheHefnerMuseumof

NaturalHistoryatMiamiUniversity.WeallwishBarbara

theverybest!

BarbarasdepartureprovidedtheTrusttheopportunitytore-evaluateitscommitmenttobeingtheWatershed

Coordinator.Ultimately,theBoardcametothedecision

that it nancially could not afford to continue to make up

thegrowingshortfallinStategrantfundingtocontinue

toretaintheprogram.Inaddition,theTrustrecognizes

thattheorganizationmustfocusonwhatwedobest:help

peopleandcommunitiesconservelandandthewatersheds

throughconservationeasementsandotherprograms.The

Trustisfollowingthroughonitscommitmenttocomplete

theTwinCreekWatershedActionPlan,some60%ormore

complete,sothataconsensusapproachtowatershedpro-

tectioncouldbeimplementedbyallthepartiesinvolved.

Background

Beginningin2005,theTrustreceivedacontractwiththe

OhioDepartmentofNaturalResourcesforasix-year,

decliningblockgranttocoveraportionofawatershed

coordinatorssalarytodevelopandcompleteconsensus

watershedactionplansfortheFourMile,SevenMile,

Indian,aswellastheTwinCreekWatersheds.Thisambi-

tiouseffortwasoriginallyundertakenwiththeexpectation

thatamorecondensedwatershed-wideapproachcouldbe

taken,ratherthanthelaborioussub-watershedbysub-

watershedstudyitultimatelyhastaken.

Overthepastseveralmonths,theTVCTBoardandstaff

havegrappledwithhowtopreservetheWatershedProj-

ectandpursueeachofthewatershedactionplansdespite

recognizingthatwehadtakenontoomuch,withtoolittle

funding. The lack of nancial resources to continue, coupled

with the overwhelming task we accepted made it difcult to

keepexcellentstaffaswellastocontinuetheproject.

TVCTisverycommittedtoadvancingwatershedprotection

in our service area. So, TVCT chose to nish the Twin Creek

Watershed Action Plan, nd an implementation home for the

TwinCreekwatershedplan,andidentifysuccessororganiza-

tionsthatmaybewillingtoundertakeActionPlansonthe

otherwatersheds.

TheTrusthasappliedforandreceivedapprovalofanOhio

DepartmentofNaturalResourcesWatershedPlanningGrant

tocompletetheTwinCreekWatershedActionPlan.To

completetheWatershedActionPlan,TVCThascontracted

with Lorna Harrell, who has been in the environmental eld

inSouthwestOhioformorethantwentyyears,including

longstintsatButlerSoil&WaterConservationDistrictand

OhioKentuckyIndianaRegionalCouncilofGovernments,andhascompletedtwowatershedactionplans.Thegoalhere

is to not only nish the planning phase, but also to ensure

implementationeffortsarestartedandgetofftheground.

Weappreciatethecommunityssupport,understanding,

andcreativitywithrespecttotheTVCTandtheWestern

TributaryWatershedProject.Inaddition,theTVCT

continuestoleveragethewatershedgrantsbyutilizingthe

fundingforconservationtechnicalassistanceandplanning

fortheTwinCreekwatershedfromTheNatureConservancy

OhioChapter.DaveGosse,theTVCTsConservation

ScientistfundedbythisgrantassiststheWatershedCoordinatorindevelopingtheWatershedActionPlan

whiledevelopingaconservationareaplantopromotethe

enhancementofhabitatsintheTwinCreekarea.z

Trust Charts New Course in Watershed Protection

Winter 2007 7

Forexample,atwo-wageearnerfamilywithanadjustedgrossincomeof$80,000makinga100-acreconservationeasementwithaneasementvalueof$4,000peracrewouldmakea$400,000donationtosociety.Undertheoldtaxlaw,

thefamilycoulddeduct$24,000peryearforamaximumofsixyears,or$144,000indeductions.Thus,thefamilycouldnotevendeduct$256,000oftheactualdonationvaluetheysacriced by making the voluntary easement donation.

Underthenewtemporarytaxchange,thatsamefamilymakingthesame$400,000easementdonationcoulddeduct$40,000peryear(50%ofAGI)foratotaloftenyears,atwhichpointtheentireeasementdonationwouldhavebeenutilized.Theadditionaltaxsavingsisenoughtopermitawiderarrayoffamiliesthathavebeenlookingforwaysto

savetheirfamilylandsfromthebulldozertodoso.z



One hundred fty attendees savored luscious food and

wines, enjoyed terric music, and participated in the ever-

festive auctioning of donated items and services to benet

TVCTaspartoftheTrusts4thAuctionforAcres2006

onNovember11attheHarryT.WilksConferenceCenter,MiamiUniversityHamiltonCampus.

Onceagainthegalaeventandthegener-

osityofthemanydonors,volunteersand

buyerscontributedtohelpingtheTrust

raiseanetof$33,000tofundtheTrusts

operations.

Fourwinedistributorsandtwowineries

generouslydonatedwinesforguests

totaste,enjoy,andmakefuturewine

purchasingdecisions.Fivegenerous

winecollectorswhoaremembersofthe

HamiltonandOxfordwinetastinggroups

donatedpremiumvintagesfromtheir

personalwinecellarsforpremiumpours.

InternationallyrecognizedchefMaryJo

McMillinpreparedoutstandinglocally

raisedfreerangeandhealthyfoodstomake

theeveningmemorable.Thelocally-grown

globalharvestofTurkishlambballs,Irish

smokedcanaps,legoflambProvenal,

Burgundianbraisedturkey,wereonlya

handfulofthelusciousfoodsanddelectabledessertspreparedbyMcMillinandsous

chefsMarciaHouse,

JosetteStanleyand

AnnGeddes.The

foodwasthebestof

anycharityauction

Iveeverbeen

involvedwith,noted

volunteerAuctioneer

DougRoss.McMillins

cookbookcontaining

someoftherecipesusedisduetobereleasedthisspring.

Rare,valuableitems,services,andoriginalworksfrom

JohnRuthvenandChristopherWaldenweresupplemented

bylimitededitionGicleeprintsfrombothartists.TheTrust

sold out of the rst 50 of the 100 print limited edition series

oftheJohnRuthvenspeciallycreatedpainting,Great Blue

Heron Over Three Valleys.

Mr.Ruthvenwasveryeffusiveinhispraiseforthework

andtheorganizationofTVCT.Hetoldthestoryofhisvis-

itswithstaffandBoardmembers,andthehospitality

oftheHousefamilyforhiswifeJudyandhimselfin

photographingelementsforthepainting.Henotedthat

thestreambackgroundwasofabendontheTaylorFarm

protectedpropertyonFourMileCreek,andtherusheswerefromtheKlak-Heyprotected

propertyonatributarytoIndianCreek

BruceSteinly,shownbelowwith

Ruthven,hadthewinningbidforthe

originalpainting.

Mr.Waldencreatedtwooriginal

framedcoloredpencildrawings,one

oftheBengalTiger,andtheother

an eagle in ight, which was won at

auctionbyDickSollmann,shown

belowwithWaldenandthedrawings.Waldentalkedabouthissupportand

enthusiasmfortheworkoftheTVCT,

andexpressedawillingness

tocreateanotheroriginal

workofartfortheTrustin

thefuture.Thepresence

ofthesetwointernationally

acclaimedwildlifeartists,both

ofwhompresentedoriginal

worksspeciallycreatedforthe

groupsauctiononlyramped

uptheexcitementfortheAuctionforAcresevent.

TheTrustagainauctioned

donationsthatfeatureddeli-

cious, healthful,free-range,

locally-raisedsidesofbeef,

lambs,beautiful,hand-knotted

Persianorientalrugs,antiques

handmadedesignerfurniture,

musicalanddinnerofferings,

cabins,originalandvintageart,andbasketsof

terric local services. In all, 120 items were auc-tionedatthisyearseventbyentertainingAuction-

eerDouglasRoss.

AnewconceptcalledSaveAnAcrewasintroduced,and

thecrowdbidtopreserveoneortwoacresatatime.Save

AnAcrehighlightstheimpressiveworkthetwelve-year

oldorganizationhasaccomplishedinlandconservation.

Inaddition,theTrustgaveattendeestheopportunityto

MakeYourPledgetoassisttheorganizationnowand/or

overtime.

Ruthven, Walden Highlight Trusts4th Auction for Acres Fundraiser

Wine Tasting,

Sensational Food,

Music

Coupled With

Wildlife Artists

Boost

Auction Profile


above:

Bruce Steinly andJohn Ruthven

left:

Chris Walden andDick Sollmann


9/12

Aremarkablevictorywasdeclaredrecentlybyprivate

landtrustsacrossAmerica,includingtheThreeValley

ConservationTrust,whichhavesavedthreetimesmore

land per year over the past ve years than over the prior

comparableperiod,accordingtoanewreportbytheLandTrustAlliance.

TheLandTrustAlliancesNationalLandTrustCensus

citesrecordnumbersofacresbeingconservedbyprivate

nonprot land trusts across the U.S., with an increase of

96%nationallyfrom2000-2005.Thistrendprovedtrue

acrossOhioaswell,whichreportedanincreaseof150%

inacresconservedoverthesameperiod.

TheNationalLandTrustCensusprovidesanin-depth

pictureofAmericasprivatevoluntarylandconservation

movementandisthenationsonlytabulationofthisprog-

ress. Over the past ve years, the number of land trustshasgrownby32%toatotalof1,667.

Landtrustsineachstateareworkingtoconserveimpor-

tantlandintheircommunities,includingfarms,water-

ways,scenicvistas,forests,urbangardensandparks.

Theseprotectedlandsservetosafeguardwaterquality,

protectwildlifehabitat,preserveworkingfamilyfarms,

andcreateopportunitiesforkidsandadultsaliketoenjoy

greenspaceintheirneighborhoods.

Ohio Trends in Conservation: 2000-2005 LandtrustsinOhioprotected30,447acressince2000,

ora150%increaseinacresconserved

Asof2005,therearenow44landtrustsoperatingin

Ohio,a22%increase

Ohiolandtrustshaveincreasedtheirfull-timeand

part-time staff 215% in ve years

Private Land Conservation in U.S. SoarsLand Trusts Triple the Pace of Land Conservation in 5 Years

LandtrustsupportersandvolunteersinOhiowentup

33% in the past ve years, to a total of 24,700 in 2005

Between2000and2005,thetotalacreageconservedby

localandstatelandtrustsnearlydoubledtoalmost11.9

millionacres,anareatwicethesizeofNewHampshire.

Ohioisoneofthemosturbanizedstatesinthenation,and

oneofthefastestinconvertingfarmlandtosprawl-type

development.Yet,theworkoftheTVCTtoturnthetide

infavorofgreenspaces,drinkingwaterreservoirs,habitat

corridors,andfamilyfarmsisessentialandismakingadif-

ference.Wedonthaveasinglemomenttolose,observed

BoardChairFrankHouse,himselfaneasementdonorofa

180acrescenicfarm.z

Winter 2007 9

AuctionforAcresCo-ChairsMargaretteBeckwithand

AnnGeddesledanoutstandingteamofdedicated

volunteersinanefforttohelptheTVCTtoraisefunds

tosupportitsoperations.BeckwithurgedthelocalOxford,Hamilton,Butler,Preble,andWesternMont-

gomeryCountycommunitiestogobeyondthegroups

Auctionefforttocontinuetoassistthelandtrustinits

effortstoconservetheregionsstreams,farms,habitat,

andsole-sourcedrinkingwatersupplies.Alongwiththe

groupscurrentmembershipdrive,theAuctionwaspartof

agrassrootsfundraisingefforttoraisemoneyforopera-

tions.Byallmeasures,theAuctionwasatremendous

success,butwestillhavealongwaytogo,notedFrank

House,theTrustsBoardChair.

WetakeourhatsofftotheAuctionCommittee,the

localcommunity,andsomanyothersofouramazing

supportersandmembersoftheThreeValleyCommunity

foryourcontinuingrecognitionoftheworkoftheTrustby

enablingtheAuctiontonetnearly$33,000.Wecantsay

enoughthankstothevolunteers,donors,andbuyerswho

madetheentireeventasuccess.

Additionallimited-editionspecialRuthvenprintswillbe

available at the Three Valley Conservation Trust ofce, at

WildlifeInternationale,Inc.,andatVillageWestArtand

Framingfor$125apiece,butonly100totalwilleverbe

created,sotheywillbescarce.TheseRuthvenprintswill

becomeevenmorevaluableovertime,giventhisscarcity,

remarkedSelmaBrittingham,RuthvensGallerymanager,

fromhisGeorgetown,Ohioshowroom.z

Auction for Acres (continued from page 8)

TVCT Among Best in OhioTheThreeValleyConservationTrust,whichODNR

DirectorSeanLogancalledoneofthebestlandtrustsin

Ohio, is a non-prot organization that works with people

andcommunitiestoconservethenaturalenvironment

andculturalheritageinsouthwesternOhioandinSE

Indiana.

Asalandtrust,theTVCTconservesfarmland,wood-

landsandnaturalareasbyhelpingwillingfarmers

andotherlandownerstoconservetheirlandthrough

conservationeasementsandagriculturaleasements.The

Trustworkswithgovernmentagenciesanddevelopersonwaysofpreservingstreamcorridors,openspaceand

farmland,andmonitorconservationeasementsthrough-

outsouthwesternOhio.

-CelesteBaumgardner,Farm World


10/12

Make signicant donations to charitable causes

PerhapsthesimplestplannedgiftisnamingtheTVCTbeneciary of a life insurance policy, retirement plan,

living trust, CD, or other nancial account. Consider the

ultimatesourceofindividualsupportabequest.

AbequesttransfersassetsfromyourestatetotheTrust,

whilereducingyourtaxexposure.

To nd out more about how you can help the Trust

accomplishitsmissionthroughacurrentorplannedgift

orabequest,contactLawrenceLeahyat(513)524-2150

or email [email protected]

PLANNED GIVING (continued from page 3)

10 Valley Trust NewS

TVCTheldasuccessfulOhioAgriculturalEasement

PurchaseProgram(AEPP)applicationtrainingsession

onSaturday,March3andwillholdanotheronMarch31.

IfyouwishtoapplyfortheOhioAEPPtopreserveyour

farmlandasagricultural,youshouldalsoplantoattendtheTVCTworkshoptobegintoapplyfortheAgricultural

EasementPurchaseProgram.

Farmersalsoshoulddothefollowingasapartofthe

applicationprocess:

ContacttheirlocalSoilandWaterConservationDis-

trictstogivetheConservationDistrictstimetocalculate

theirfarmssoilsscores.

ContacttheNaturalResourcesConservationServiceof-

ce to establish Conservation Plans to increase scoring.

RegistertobeinanAgriculturalDistrictattheCountyAuditor.

Findoutabout,orapplyfortheOhioHistoricInventory,

OhioCenturyFarmtorecognizethehistoriccharacterof

theirfarm.

Considercontactingneighborstoseeiftheymaybe

willingtosubmitapplicationsasapartofablockof

applications.Thisisadvantageoustoeachofthefarmers

involved(Thelargertheblock,thehigherthescore).

WorkcloselywiththeTVCTwhowillhelptocomplete

theapplicationontheirbehalf. ConsiderparticipatinginanAgriculturalSecurityArea

throughyourtownshipandcounty.

To nd out more about the AEPP training, to protect your

farm,orformoreinformation,call(513)524-2150,orvisit

thewebsiteatwww.3vct.org.z

AEPP ApplicationTraining Sessions

Marna Evans and

Rebecca Evans,

Monitoring Volunteer

Members

George Esber

and Dolph

Greenberg

Jerry and CleoGerber, Easement

Donors

Orie Loucks,

Long-time Board Member

Believing that I was born for the serviceof mankind, and regarding the care of the

commonwealth as a kind of common property

which, like the air and the water, belongs to

everybody, I set myself to consider in what way

mankind might be best served, and what servic

I was myself best tted by nature to perform.

Celebratingat theAnnualMeeting

-Francis Bacon, 1603


11/12Winter 2007 11

MargaretteBeckwith........................................ (513)523-1103

JonCostanzoLandProtection,Webmaster.... (937)452-1165FrankHankDupps.......................................... (937)855-4370

SamFittonVice-Chair................................... (513)523-4599

CatherineHollinsVice-Chair,Development. (513)523-1876

FrankHouseChair......................................... (937)452-3983

BenJonesTreasurer....................................... (513)523-3504

GregoryPeck................................................... (513)756-0810

MaryMooreFinance.................................... (513)524-5261

MicheleSimmonsPublicInformation........... (513)892-2546

JerryStanleyAuction................................... (513)523-7179

J.RonaldStewart............................................... (937)456-7868DonStreitLandProtection........................... (513)868-3850

TomWissingSecretary.................................. (513)756-9726

LizWoedlMembership................................ (513)523-1782

Three Valley Conservation Trust Board

Founded in 1994, the Three Valley Conservation Trust works with

people and communities to conserve the natural environment and

cultural heritage in Southwest Ohio. The Trust protects open space

and farmland by acquiring, through gift or purchase, conservation

and agricultural easements, and works to protect and improve water

quality in the western tributaries of the Great Miami River.

By: Steve Bartels, Assistant Professor

Agriculture & Natural Resources, OSU Extension

WehavebeensuccessfulinButlerCountyingetting

moniesfromtheCleanOhioFundtopurchasedevelop-mentrightsfrompropertyownerswhowanttoseetheir

landstayinagriculture.Itgivespeopleanalternativeto

sellingtheirlandfordevelopment.Wehavetwofarms

that total 1025 acres that have qualied for Clean Ohio

Fundsoverthepastfouryears.Thisisaverycompeti-

tiveprocess.Lastyear,hundredsoffarmsacrossthe

stateviedforabout$3.125millioninfundingtwenty-

threefarmswerefunded.Inthepastfouryears,seven-

teenfarmsinSouthwestOhiohavebeenselected.

Theselectionismadebaseduponanumberoffactors.

Theprocesstriestopurchasethedevelopmentrightsoffarmsthatarenotunderthenoseofthebulldozerand

farmsthatarenotsofarawayfromconstructionthatit

wouldtakeyearsforthemtodevelopanyway.Farms

thathaveenoughdevelopmentpressuretobelikelytobe

developedwithinthenotsodistantfuturearegoodcan-

didates.Farmsthathaveotherprotectedlandnearthem

haveabetterpotentialforfunding.

Farmsthatarefundedselltheirdevelopmentrightsto

theOhioDepartmentofAgricultureinperpetuity.Thisis

accomplishedthroughaconservationeasementonthe

landthatdeclarestheuseasagriculture.Locallythe

TVCTistheco-holderoftheeasementandoverseesthe

landsothatthetermsoftheeasementaremet.TVCT

holdseasementsinPrebleandMontgomeryCountyas

well.

Thereareseveralfederalprogramsthatalsomakeavail-

ablefundingfordevelopmentrights.Thetwothathave

beneted Butler County farms are the 319 Clean Water

Clean Ohio Fund Provides forFarmland Preservation

ProgramandtheFarmandRanchlandProtectionProgram.

Thesetwoprogramshavefundedthreefarmsinthecounty

andsaved522additionalacres.

Twenty-ve landowners and land professionals learnedmoreaboutthetoolsthatareavailableforanalternative

todevelopmentatarecentworkshoptopreparefarmers,

local ofcials and other landowners for farmland preserva-

tionandopenspaceprogramdeadlines.Theparticipants

discussedchangesintheCleanOhioselectionprocess

andwaystoboostyourchancesoffunding;explanation

ofconservationprograms,federalFarmandRanchLand

ProtectionProgram,andotherfederalprogramsincluding

NationalResourceConservationServicePrograms;income

taxchangesthatenhancegiftingofdevelopmentrights;and

a discussion of the benets of the new Agriculture Security

Areas.Forinformationonanupcomingworkshop,callthe

TVCT ofce at 513.524.2150.z

Use your card regularly!

Use your

Kroger Card toearn 4%

for TVCT!

Get your

card today

call 524-2150.


12/12

Non-Prot Org.

U.S. Postage

P A I DPermit No. 71

Oxford, OH

45056

www.3vct.org

LarryFrimerman,ExecutiveDirector

LawrenceLeahy,DevelopmentDirector

DaveGosse,ConservationScientist

Mary Glasmeier, Ofce Manager

YoursupportwillassurethattheTrustcancontinue

thekindofworkthatmatterstoyoulongafteryour

ownlifetimeandforfuturegenerations.

For more information on

leaving a legacy of conservation,

see the article, Planned Giving,

on page 3 in this newsletter.

Leave a Legacyof Conservation

Thi l tt i i t d l d

5920MorningSunRoad,POBox234

Oxford,Ohio45056(513)524-2150(513)524-0162fax

Visit the NEWTVCT Website!

www.3vct.org

Which newspaper do you read?Beoneofourspotters!IfyouseeThreeValleyConservationTrustin a newspaper or magazine, please send the article to us for our les.Besuretoincludethenameofthepublicationandthedate.

Winter 2007 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust

Documents

Transcript of Winter 2007 Valley Trust Newsletter, Three Valley Conservation Trust