Vol. 13 No. 2 — Fall 2017
New Name, New Logo – More Dedicated than Ever
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fter fourteen years, Ventura Hillsides Conservancy is now tVentura Land Trust. The name Ventura Land Trust better reflects our current work and vision for serving the greater Ventura area. A land trust is defined as a private, nonprofit organization that actively works to preserve land by undertaking or assisting in land acquisition, and by its stewardship of land. The word “trust” more clearly articulates our mission to hold lands for the community’s benefit. While we are just as dedicated to preserving our hillsides, we are committed to protecting all kinds of natural areas in Ventura County: land in the hills, land along the rivers and creeks, and agricultural land, for present and future generations. Lands owned and managed by Ventura Land Trust have been and always will be
for the purposes of land preservation, protection of scenic views, providing public access to outdoor recreation opportunities, restoring native habitat, and watershed protection. Brooke Ashworth, founding president of the organization, is enthusiastic about the change: “The original focus on Ventura’s hillsides remains, but the new name and logo symbolize that there are many pieces to the puzzle, all interconnected.” While our name has changed, our priorities and goals remain the same. We are steadfastly committed to permanently protecting the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region today, tomorrow and forever! Please feel free to call us at (805) 643-8044 or visit www.venturalandtrust.org for more information.
Ventura’s Western Gateway Getting an Ocean-Friendly Makeover
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entura Land Trust (VLT) and Surfrider Foundation, Ventura County Chapter, have teamed up to re-landscape and reinvigorate a high-profile section along the Ventura River bike path near the “Welcome to Ventura” sign at West Main and Peking Streets. The new planting and design will be “ocean-friendly” such that rainwater will be captured to percolate into the ground onsite and urban runoff will be eliminated. The two-year project, funded by the City of Ventura's Community Partnerships Grant Program, seeks to beautify the area and educate the public about the benefits of ocean-friendly gardening. Continued on page 8
Inside This Issue — VLT Gets Blitzed Page 3
Director’s Message................................................2 VHC Members Roster........................................4 - 5 New Trustees.........................................................6 Volunteer Profile...................................................7 Animal and Plant Profiles......................................8
40% off at Patagonia — Members-Only Shopping Night — see page 7
Director’s Message
Land Trust Staff Expands
It Took a Village; It’ll Take a County
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small village of forward-thinking Ventura residents created lVentura Hillsides Conservancy in 2003 with the goal of preserving Ventura’s hillsides and open space. Fourteen years later, we’re proud to say that we expect to open a world-class nature preserve in 2018 in the Ventura hills, a place where Ventura residents and visitors will enjoy over 15 miles of public hiking and biking trails on over 1,100-acres. Looking toward this major milestone— and because we’ve been preserving land in Ventura for over a decade, we’ve changed our name to Ventura Land Trust. The Board and staff have long had a vision for conservation in the greater Ventura area, so we have changed our name to better reflect our scope of work. We understand that Ventura’s appetite for nature goes beyond the hillsides, so our vision and name have evolved accordingly. Never in our history have we worked on such large and exciting land acquisitions and never have we received such large donations. By removing over 1,000 tons of trash and over 20 acres of non-native invasive weeds,
Ventura Land Trust Outlook
and by planting over 600 trees, we’ve beautified the Ventura River Parkway so well that we’ve been asked to bring our program to other areas in the county. Never before have we provided as many field trips for local schools. Never before have we had this many amazing volunteers and this many businesses and government agencies collaborating with us. We are focused and determined. With everything going so well, our organization is growing and so too is our vision to maximize conservation and trail access in Ventura County. What the new name means to us is that we’re even more committed to our mission of preserving the land, waterways, and wildlife that make the Ventura area beautiful. It is critical everyone get involved. We have the rare opportunity to purchase cherished Ventura hillside property, but we’ll need more than a village. It’ll take a county to achieve our goals. Please join us! Thank you all for your support— past, present and future. With gratitude, Derek Poultney Executive Director Phone: 805-643-8044 P.O. Box 1284, Ventura, CA 93002 www.venturalandtrust.org
Brooke Ashworth, editor Contributors: Annette Baldwin, Dashiell Dunkell, Derek Poultney, Adrienne Stephens, Jessica West Layout/Design, Frank Boross Media Services
q Outlook is published semi-annually by the Ventura Land Trust, a 501 (c) (3) California nonprofit organization. Story submissions and ideas welcomed. — Copyright ©2017 Ventura Land Trust. All rights reserved.
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Ventura Land Trust Outlook
Anette Baldwin (L) and Kate Furlong (R) join the VLT team.
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e are excited to welcome two new employees to the VLT staff. Annette Baldwin is our new Director of Special Projects. Annette will spearhead VLT compliance with national Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices and lead us through the accreditation process. With her technical and graphic skills she is improving our database, website, and social media development, Annette is also creating new marketing materials reflecting our name change. Annette grew up in Ventura and her favorite local adventures include trail running and backpacking. Annette holds a BS in Family and Consumer Sciences in Interior Design from Cal State Northridge and has eight years of graphic design, event, and marketing experience. Kate Furlong is our new Stewardship Manager. Kate recently graduated from CSU-Channel Islands, earning her B.S. in Environmental Science with a minor in Biology. She is Ventura native with experience in fundraising and habitat restoration and a passion for nonprofit work, conservation biology, and restoration ecology. Her love of nature began at an early age, exploring the outdoors in the barranca behind her family home with her four siblings, catching frogs, insects, and lizards. Kate spends her time out in the field, maintaining the preserve properties, working with volunteers, and educating the community about the importance of protecting natural habitats, as well as utilizing her fundraising experience to steward membership relationships. Fall 2017
Photo: Jessica West Beautiful terrain for a BioBlitz!
VLT Gets Blitzed Springtime BioBlitz held in hills above Ventura
Biologist Jessica West holds a Southern alligator lizard.
By VLT staff
Photo: Jessica West
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Gray fox tracks along a muddy creek. It’s common for biologists to place an object as a size reference next to a track when photographing it.
Photo: Jessica West
ver two days in April more than 30 local scientists joined Ventura Land Trust (VLT) staff to participate in two “BioBlitz” events in the hills above Ventura. No, it’s not a dance move or fancy dessert, a BioBlitz is “an event that focuses on finding and identifying as many species as possible in a specific area over a short period of time.” Ventura Land Trust’s two-day BioBlitz focused on the large Harmon Canyon property we are currently in negotiations to purchase. As part of any land acquisition, it’s essential that a land trust learn as much as possible about the property being purchased in order to create a management plan for the land. Figuring out how to best manage public access while at the same time protecting native plants and animals is essential to responsible stewardship. We were fortunate to partner with biologists from the Ventura branch of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Ventura County Tracking Team, Padre Associates, Inc., S.P.E.C.I.E.S., Barringer Biological Services, local retired scientists, and VLT’s own Stewardship Committee members, who all volunteered their time to detect, observe, and catalog the unique species residing on this special property. The BioBlitz results are impressive: 128 plant species, 30 birds, 14 mammals, four reptiles, and two amphibians. (See the animal and plant profiles in this issue to learn about two of these species.) The species list includes more than nine threatened or endangered plant and animal species! We are sure that there are still more species out there that have yet to be observed. That’s one of the exciting parts of any land acquisition—getting to know who and what calls your new property home.
Spring, when ephemeral streams run, is an ideal time for a BioBlitz.
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Members of the Ventura Land Trust
ARE YOU A MEMBER? HELP US PRESERVE WHAT MAKES VENTURA BEAUTIFUL — JOIN VHC TODAY $5000 Malinda & Yvon Chouinard Jim Eisenhart Dana Longan & Norman Schiele $1000 Brooke and Everard Ashworth Karen and Gary Bednorz David & Tina Comden Caroline and Steve Doll Susan LeFevre Paul and Kellie Meehan Drs. Linda and James Peddie Tessa Roper and Kent Smith Stefanie and Myron Roth Michael Vivian Ed and Valerie Wehan Tom and Kerry Weisel Rosanne and Andrew Welcher $500+ MarLynn and Lamar Bushnell Tracy and Brian Clark Todd J. and Cheryl M. Collart Beryl Feller Jean and Paul Finnegan Robin and Ward Flowers Richard and Nancy Francis Kathy and Alan Hammerand Dena Mercer Suzy and Chris Reinhart Janice Turner Mike Watling
Kevin & Megan Marble Suzanne and Greg McCombs Lynn and Ken Merideth Jeff Miner Paul Mithra Martha and Robert Neary Peter W. and Rebecca Percy Jens and Melanie Redemann Daniel Richards Russell Richardson Robin and Greg Rose Craig Seabaugh Kevin Seelos Nancy Settle Diane Soule Denise Stennette Adrienne Stephens Dana and Mike Stoneking Janice and Jim Susha Mindy Lawrence & Steve Svete Christy and Timothy Weir Ms. Carolyn Wood Terri and Alex Yanez Keith York
$100 Joanne and James Abing Susan Adamich Debbie Hyde and Jay Ansama John and Catherine Baker Lynn Bartosh Laren Bassing Jerry & Donna Beatty Ellen and Jon Becker Kristine and Anthony $250+ Jean Bennett-Sheaks Laurie & Roger Adams Robin and Richard Birney Dr. Jeff and Jenny Baarstad Barbara Bissett Annette and Ron Baldwin MaryLee and Robert Bragulla Philip and Maureen Basile Grace Brandt Beatrice Battier Kathy Bremer Mary Jane and Richard Bauleke Anika Briner The Berson Family Drew Brooker Steve Bly Lloyd Properties/Gary W. Brummet Susan & Greg Brown Patricia Bullough James Capito & Terri Davis Teresa Burgess Karen Cherry Deborah and Robert Burns Jeffrey Clark Maureen and Matt Byrne Deborah and Charles Clark Scott Carey Marila and Jeffrey Cook Debbie Cavaletto & Michael Nonnast Barbara and Mike Coulson Elisabeth Charas Nathaniel Cox Carolyn and Doug Chase Terra Crowley Stephen Clark Teri and Ray Elliot Lora and Philip Clarke Lynda and Fred Evans Joe Connet & Elzbet Diaz de Leon Alison and Tony Ferguson Estelle Ichino and John Connor John Hankins Carol and Steve Cook Jennifer and Scott Hansen John Cook Kevin Hartigan & Terrence Foley Robert James and Mindy Cooper-Smith Cynthia Hartley Dorene Cowart and Janet Ramsey Larry Heinlein Joann D. Cunningham Susan and Mark Hibberd Juliana Danaus April and Dan Holmes Carol F. Davies Jon and Ann Ives Thomas Dimock Matthew James Patti Verdugo-Johnson & Scott Johnson Diane and Peter Dowler John Dreher Michael Johnson Nancy L. Dressler Melvin Kilpatrick Diane Ellis Jamie King and Eric Smith Denese Epstein Cora Lee Lanzisero Stacy Fausset Kate Larramendy and Roger Wright Karen Flock and Dan Long Jill Lee
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Jill Forman & David Young Steve Fox Greg and Lori Frank Zach Frankart Terri French Bernard Furlong Dierdre and Robert Gallagher Kay Giles and Michael Mariani Anthony Giordano Carol Reed Glow Dr. Joel Goldenberg, D.D.S. Christina Gray Linda Hadlen Jim Hall II Todd Hannigan Barbara and Richard Harison James and Debra Harmon Greg and Lori Harris Angela and John Hecht Wendy and R.J. Henchy Kim Herren Victoria Holzapfel Sue Horgan Karen and Michael Houston Hilary Howard Gerhardt Hubner Daniel Hulst Janice and Bruce Hunter Craig Ichinose Florence & Ramsey Jay Ruth O. Johnson Rose Ann and Thomas Jones Linda Jones Mary and Rick Kanatzar Marge Karney and Michael Putman Angela and Mark Kirwin Dennis Kulzer Connie and David Lantrip Kate and Fran Larsen Ken Leandro Mike Leary David & Pamela Lee Grace Lin Jeffrey Linder June Lovell Cindy and David Luff Miriam and Darryl Mack Scott Mandell Anna and Tom McBreen Sheila McCollum Jamie McCurdy Sharon McGahan David McWhirter Krista and Mark Mendelsohn Luke Metz Ed Miller Donald F. Mills Janna Minsk and Carl Morehouse Sally and Tom Mueller Josette Nauenberg Steve Offerman and Anne Larsen Nancy Ogle & Andre Dunkell Sherry and Bob O’Hollaren Mark O’Keefe Steven Oppenheimer Albert & Susan Owens Claire & David Oxtoby Theresa and Will Pagan Vera Pampalone Leslie-Lynn Pawson Diane & Pat Perkins
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Alex Perry Derek Poultney Jamie Rens Marlayn M. Riley Scott Ripple Lynn Rockney & Kenneth Finger Hilary and David Romero Elizabeth and Ron Rose Steven Sandifer Mary and Salvatore Saputo Robin and David Satnick Kent Schmidt Bruce & Joyce Schoppe Julie Scorsatto and Joseph Weyers Marshall Sheridan Phil Simon & Gwyer Schuyler Rose, Natalie and Bill Smith Marjorie Staley Patricia and Mark Stanifer James Strong Brian Sullivan Robert Tallyn and Betsy Bachman Benjamin B. Tapia Billye & Bill Thieman Liz and Rob Thomaier Cindy and Bill Tokar Reta Tyree and David Cook James Uphold Betsy Vanleit Kathy and Joe Vaughan Paige Wagar Karen and Kirk Waln David Wappler Scott Weiss Joan Wells Jenna Wells and Peter Conway Mel & Dani Willis Sara and Blair Winner Gary Wiseman Don Wood Jackie Worden Rebecca and Alex Wulff Patricia Wynn Eric Zinckgraf Diana and George Zinckgraf Wendy and Mark Zierbel $50+ Jane Advani Dr. Frank Alvarez Peter Anderson Betty Ann Anear Marie and Donald Bleier Claudia and Kurt Armann Howard Barlow Laura Bauer Russ Bishop Linda Bogart Buz Bonsall Theresa Brenner-Farrell Debbie Diamond & Wolf Breiman The Bruton Family Ellen Bunde Marla Burg and Gary Reeder Randall Butler Deborah Bylo Kim Charnofsky & Robin Sturgeon Paula & Robert Chianese Mr. Gilbert Clarin Karen Clench Tim Comstock
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Helen Conley Caroline and Donald Cook Jessica Craven Janet and Daniel Crotty Theresa and John Darling Jacob David Jackie Davis Johnny Dresser Carrie Drevenstedt Saskia and Dashiell Dunkell Jane and Dennis Dwire Elaine Edwards Kimbrough Ernest Jim Ertman Ben Faber Kate and Bill Faulkner Celeste and Richard Field Geri and Ed Frank Katherine Furlong Nancy Gallagher Hope Gillerman Coley and Christian Glasgow Harold Glenn Jack Goethel Bonny Goetz Jessica and David Goldstein Cinamon and Ted Good Delia Gorey & Lawrence Manson Carol Gravelle Linda Groberg Heidi Groh Caroline Blakemore and Lawrence Gust Jennifer Guy M.B. and Rick Hamrahan Rebecca Hanson Shelley & John Harrison Sharon and Dennis Hawkins Jenise and Michael Hernandez Paul Hilbun Rich Hill Linda Hillman Steve Hongola Jimmy Hopper Nicole and Brian Hubert Pam Ellen Hudson Alisa and Paul Jenkin Joanne & Monroe Kaplan Steve Kennedy Robin Kirsch Raeann Koerner Anthony Krzywicki Nancy LaBella Lindsey Larsen Lance Lawhon Lilith Carol Lindberg Geri Levine Loe Sophie Loire Joyce and Ted Lombard Nate Martz Benjamin Mati Anna McKindley Margaret and Calvin Meuser Jennifer and Kevin Miller Rebecca Moak Pam Monaco Jane Montague Jennifer and Aquiles J. Montoya Kathi and Jeff Mottram Lynn and Virgil Nelson Judith Owen Jackie Peare Carol Pedersen Kimberly Perry Laura Powell
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Deby Quandt Yasmin Quigley William Raymond Jim Rivera Carlo Romero Marjory and Gaylord Rose Sandy Ross and Michael Spota Catherine Rossbach Joyce Sattler Judy Scott Dr. Robert Shakman Lori Steinhauer Robert Stock Ed Summers Storm Thurston Deby Tygell Diane Underhill and Ross Nideffer Van Vibber Louise Vien & Richard Castro Lynda Blue & Chuck Vinson Eric Wallis David Ward Katherine Warner and Peter Dibble Barbara Weir James Whitney Pam Wiebe Tanya Renee Will Victoria and Robert Willard Eleanor M. Wilson Neil Ziegler $35 David Baarstad Marion Baranowski Dick Barbar Warren Barrett Debra Barringer Maureen and Rolando Barrio Mike Brady Suzette Brown Stephen Bryne Amy and Paul Bujold Melinda & Steve Burkhart Karen and Richard Butolph Emily Chase Circle of Friends Jan Clough Sean Cole Chris Coleman Sue and Gary Conklin Joan Cook Arthur C. Darin Betsy Daugherty Lisa Davis Margot Davis Kathleen & Dave Diermier Emmett Drake Annie Dural-Hollins Bob Egbert Chuck Engel Mrs. Velma Everton Martha Fast Scott Fish Sharon and Mark Franek Geri and Ed Frank Victoria Gagnon Robert Glover Tina Gorelik Richard Hadley Donna Hamer Cindy and Tim Hansen Lorie Hansen Joseph Harrington Pamela S. Hazard Betsy Held
Carol Ecklund and Jim Heller Roger Henggeler Jim Houp Barbara and Ronald Hudoba Nona Belle Jensen Sonia Kroth Matthew & Alicia Lavere Christopher Leslie Paul Leveille Ellen Lewis Anne Little Janet Loeshelder Charlotte Marchetti Janet and Jim Marcoux Ken McAlpine Astrid McAvoy Karen McMahon Stephanie McNutt Laura Mihalka Kelly Mikler Kip Mikler Heather Mohan Donna Hamer Moore Karen Moore Mary-Jo Murphy Trish O’Rourke Tania and Tobias Parker Jenifer and Charlie Peterson Donald Porter Judith and David Poutlney Leslie Purcell Kyle Pryor Sarah Raskin Judith Refsland Laurie and Joseph Richardson Elva Rogers Jason Rowley Karen Ruiz Sandra Rush Thesesa & Alan Satterfield Cynthia Schneider Sylvia Schnopp Nancy and Carl Schorsch Donna Schuepbach Paula Scott Kristyn and Terrence Shinn Charles and Sandra Sledd Edwin Slowik Jane Spiller Inge and Steve Stoll Hillegonda S. Stouthamer Rosemary Takeda Tamara Tamburro Mary Townsend Mary Travis Patty Turnage Daniel Uhlar Brian Watnick Robin and Guy Weber Jessica West Kathleen and Jeff Wiens Kimberly Wilbur William Wong Mary and Gregory Wood Paige Wood BUSINESS & COMMUNITY MEMBERS $20,000 Patagonia $10,000 Mountains 2 Beach Marathon REI
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$5,000 - $7,500 SoCalGas Union Bank $2,500 Aera Energy Annonymous Montecito Bank and Trust Sidney Stern Memorial Trust The Foundation of VCCU $1,000 Coastal Connections Pan American Seed Company Rabobank Rincon-Vitova Insectaries, Inc. Slaughter, Reagan & Cole, LLP Topa Topa Brewing Co. $500 City of Ventura - Environmental Sustainability For Your Home Furniture Jai Rhythm Yoga Law Offices of Richard L. Francis Philip J. Kroll, DDS, Inc. Raticator Real Cheap Sports Ventura Community Bank $250 California Solar Electric Cathy Kroll Travel Advisor The Glass Man Professional Window Washing Co. The Refill Shoppe Toad & Co. Ventura Citizens for Hillside Preservation $100 City of Ventura Water Lewis Engineering S.P.E.C.I.E.S. The Fairchild-Ridway Group Ventura Audubon Society Ventura Surfrider Foundation IN KIND DONORS Boross Media Services CAPS Media Castoro Cellars City of Ventura - Environmental Sustainability Firestone Walker Brewing Company For Your Home Furniture Great Pacific Iron Works Hydroflask Iron and Resin Matilija Nursery Poseidon Brewing Co. Real Cheap Sports REI Searle Creative Group Steve Cook Fine Art The Open Blossom Toad & Co. Topa Topa Brewing Co. Trek Bikes of Ventura Two Trees Brewing Company VC Reporter Ventura’s Water Store Whole Foods Market
If you are a member and your name is not listed here, please contact us at (805) 643-8044 or adrienne@venturalandtrust.org
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New Trustees: Susan Lefevre, Dennis Kulzer, Don Wood, and Scott Weiss
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he VLT Board of Trustees welcomes four new members. We are delighted to have the benefits of their passion and experience. SUSAN LEFEVRE is an adjunct professor at California State University Channel Islands and an independent education consultant. She has a long history of involvement with local nonprofit institutions and currently serves on the Oxnard College Foundation Board. Susan’s love for the outdoors comes from being raised in Monterey County by parents who were avid campers. Her parents instilled in her a sense of adventure and awe for the “wild country.” She appreciates the opportunity to foster support and widen public appreciation of Ventura County’s beautiful natural spaces. When she is not engaged in educational endeavors or with family, you will find Susan hiking in the mountains of California.
DENNIS KULZER was born in Southern California and grew up participating in Boy Scouts, camping and visiting national parks with his family. His varied professional and volunteer careers have taken him across the Pacific Northwest and around the world, notably as a volunteer firefighter, Peace Corps volunteer in the Kingdom of Tonga, and coordinator of refugee services in Rwanda and 6
Burundi for the International Rescue Committee. Until his recent retirement, Dennis served for 13 years as Fleet Services Supervisor for City of Ventura. Besides VLT, Dennis keeps busy volunteering with Channel Islands Restoration, local homeless programs, and Channel Islands National Park, plus hiking, bicycling, paddle boarding, sailing, running, camping, and backpacking. DON WOOD was born in western Pennsylvania and spent his “wonder years” hiking and biking the hills, waterways, and countryside of Ventura County. A graduate of Occidental College, Don recently completed a 34year career in the telecommunications industry. He and his wife, Stacy, have lived in Ventura for 27+ years, where they have raised their daughter, Paige. Don has been actively engaged in the community throughout that time, as a member and past President of the Ventura Education Partnership and as master of ceremonies for fundraising events throughout West Ventura County for many worthwhile causes. Don believes our quality of life is inextricably tied to the environment – our hillsides, waterways, and countryside. SCOTT WEISS spent his childhood exploring the Ventura hills, which led to his interest in VLT. Scott has been involved in environmental issues for most of his life. He has been active with Sierra Club and the Board of Directors of Environmental Defense Center in Santa Barbara. Professionally, Scott is a Certified Public Accountant, Ventura Land Trust Outlook
Certified Management Accountant and a Real Estate Broker. He currently serves as an arbitrator for the Ventura County Bar Association. Scott’s passion is music. He is a semi-professional trumpet player, musical conductor, and founder and conductor of the Ojai Pops Orchestra. He has studied and played with some of the top musicians in the world. Scott and his wife, who enjoy hiking, biking, and traveling, have lived in the Ojai Valley for almost 30 years.
Board of Trustees
Paul Meehan, President Richard Francis, Vice-President John Hankins, Secretary Karen Bednorz David Comden Steve Doll Dennis Kulzer Susan Lefevre Ed Wehan Scott Weiss Don Wood — OUR MISSION — The mission of Ventura Land Trust is to permanently protect the land, water, wildlife, and scenic beauty of the Ventura region for current and future generations.
VLT is a proud member of the Land Trust Alliance — www.lta.org and the California Council of Land Trusts — www.callandtrusts.org
Fall 2017
Volunteer Profile — John Harrison
Photo: Dashiell Dunkell
John Harrison, aka “Captain Cleanup,” is a superhero to VLT. Beginning in July 2016, John has been a regular at our 3rd Saturday-of-the-month restoration events, gloves in hand, to help us clean up trash and remove invasive species at the Willoughby Preserve along the Ventura River. Nothing makes him happier than finishing a day of volunteering with large bags of trash in the dumpster. Over the past year, John has personally removed more than 5,500 pounds of trash from the Ventura River Estuary! John has taken his volunteerism to a whole new level. On his own or with VLT staff in tow, he patrols the Willoughby Preserve and surrounding Captain Cleanup makes trash clearing fun!
properties several times each week to keep the area clean, beautiful and accessible. Thanks in part to his commitment and tireless efforts, when the rains came to Ventura last winter tons of trash did not wash into the river and out to sea. When asked why he volunteers, John responded, “I retired in 2014 and was looking for something that would give me focus and purpose. I like being out in nature and consider myself to be an environmentalist. I like combining something fun with something purposeful; volunteering with Ventura Land Trust fits that perfectly!” As a nonprofit land trust with limited staff, we cannot even begin to properly express our gratitude to John for his contributions. He is a boon to us and to the environment.
40% Discount at Patagonia Shopping Night Get your Gobble On – Volunteer at the Ventura Turkey Trot
Kick off the holiday shopping season on November 2 at 6:00 PM with a 40% off private shopping event for VLT members only at Patagonia’s Great Pacific Iron Works store in Ventura. All current VLT members at a level of $100 or more will have the run of the store for two hours while enjoying complimentary wine, beer and nibbles.
Give thanks for Ventura Land Trust by helping out Thanksgiving morning at the annual Ventura Turkey Trot at the Ventura Auto Center. This year’s race will benefit the Ventura Land Trust’s open space preservation and restoration activities. We are looking for 20 volunteers who can assist along the race route and at the finish line from 7:00 AM – 9:45 AM on Thanksgiving day, November 23. Lend a hand at this fun community event! RSVP to volunteer at: www. venturalandtrust.org/events
Please RSVP at venturalandtrust.org/patagonia_shopping_night
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Don’t miss out on this chance to shop ‘til you drop while receiving a terrific one-time-only discount. If you are not a $100 member, join today at venturalandtrust.org!
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Animal Profile: Bobcat Dave Romero, VLT Stewardship Committee member, rode his bike through Harmon Canyon to conduct a vegetation survey. On his way up, Dave came upon on a bobcat (Lynx rufus) crossing the trail. Executive Director Derek Poultney has also seen bobcats lounging on the main trail that weaves through the canyon—a good sign that these hills are supporting beneficial carnivores. Bobcats are about twice the size of a large house cat, possessing long legs and large paws. They are named after their short or "bobbed" tails. Solitary by nature, these beautiful small cats are amazing hunters that carefully stalk rabbits, ground squirrels, gophers, and other rodents. Weighing between 10 and 30 pounds, bobcats use their stealthy nature to capture their meals and have been known to leap over ten feet in a single bound, delivering a deathblow onto unsuspecting prey. We’re thrilled to know that bobcats call this property home.
Plant: Fish’s Milkwort A beautiful plant with a not-so-flattering name, Fish’s milkwort (Polygala cornuta fishiae) is listed as a rare species on the California Native Plant Society (CNPS) Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants— and Harmon Canyon is teeming with it! USFWS botanist Mark Elvin was beyond excited to document as many specimens of this plant as he did in a semi-wetland area just off the beaten path in Harmon Canyon. Legumes such as Fish’s milkwort are important nitrogen fixers, meaning these plants take in nitrogen from the air and place it in their roots to produce nitrogen compounds that help the plant grow. When the legume dies, the “fixed” or trapped nitrogen is released, which fertilizes the soil around it. Mapping where this rare plant occurs on the property will help VLT properly steward the land by knowing where not to place trails and which zones will need to be closely monitored for disturbance.
Ocean-Friendly Makeover Continued from cover page Urban runoff is the number one source of ocean pollution. Fertilizers, pesticides, and sediment that wash from gardens and hard surfaces into rivers and oceans lead to a host of environmental problems including beach pollution, soil erosion and wildlife habitat degradation. Ocean friendly gardens retain runoff onsite and thus prevent polluted rainwater from entering the storm drain system and the environment. The new garden will be named in honor of Paul Herzog, Surfrider’s National Coordinator for the Ocean-Friendly Garden program, who recently passed away at age 49. “We are excited to give this heavily used section of the bike path near VLT’s Willoughby Nature Preserve a muchneeded facelift,” said Dash Dunkell, VLT’s Conservation Director. “People using the bike path and parking area will enjoy the aesthetic value of the new ocean-friendly garden, and the environment will benefit too.”
Follow the “CPR Rule” for ocean-friendly gardening.
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Join the VLT Legacy Society HOW YOU CAN HELP There are a number of ways you can help us continue to do great work
Become a Member
Membership in VLT is the best way you can support the organization. Memberships sustain VLT’s daily activities and long-term goals. A robust membership roster shows our grantors that the community supports our mission, building upon our successes. Make a yearly membership donation or a monthly sustaining membership contribution at www.venturalandtrust.org
Volunteer
Whether in the office or out in the field, the land trust thrives because of the work of our volunteers! From helping out for a day to becoming an advisor, there are lots of choices.
Planned Giving
We’re fortunate to have forward thinking members who have made arrangements to help us in the future. You could be one too! Join our Legacy Society.
AmazonSmile Makes Our Day Did you know you can shop online at Amazon and benefit VLT at the same time? It’s super easy—just use our AmazonSmile link: https://smile. amazon.com/ch/01-0769456 and shop away! After this, AmazonSmile will remember you are supporting VLT. You just have to remember to log onto smile.amazon.com to shop. The AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to VLT. Now that’s truly a win-win! Fall 2017
“There are so many wonderful things about living in Ventura – the unspoiled hillsides, beautiful beaches, and strong sense of community. When our kids were growing up, our family shared many adventures exploring the wild lands surrounding our town. We have named the Ventura Land Trust in our trust so that future generations can experience the same joy that our children had while exploring nature.” - The Abing Family
Charitable giving is not only for the wealthy! Gifts both large and small are important. The Ventura Land Trust invites you to join the VLT Legacy Society and “leave a legacy” for future generations. Legacy Society members are generous forward-thinking people who have named VLT in their estate plans, ensuring that future generations will enjoy the same beautiful hills, valleys, waterways, and wildlife that we cherish today. Planned gifts made through wills and living trusts are easy to arrange and can be changed any time you choose, giving you maximum flexibility in your planning. By designating VLT as a beneficiary you know that your assets will be put to good use when you no longer need them, while your cash flow today remains unaffected. Individuals have used many different methods to designate the Ventura Land Trust in their estate planning. What VLT Legacy Society members share is a commitment to support continued land preservation in Ventura and the surrounding region. Inspire and influence others by letting us know about your planned gift today. To join the Legacy Society or for more information contact Adrienne Stephens at (805) 643-8044. Ventura Land Trust Outlook
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Photo: Scott Ripple
Celebrating Celebrating the VenturaLand Land Trust Ventura Trust Ventura Mayor Erik Nasarenko speaks to the gathering.
On a beautiful evening that included a full moon rising above Ventura, more than 200 people gathered on the Ventura City Hall west patio to celebrate Ventura Land Trust’s new name, new look, and continued commitment to open space preservation in the Ventura region. The October 5th Rebranding Pop-Up Party was a coming out celebration of sorts. It was an opportunity to show off our beautiful new logo, introduce new staff and board members, and most importantly, build a stronger and more personal connection with our individual and business members. While addressing the crowd, Mayor of Ventura Erik Nasarenko shined a light on the organization’s 14-year history of land stewardship while looking forward to our next accomplishments, “It’s an exciting time for Ventura. Tonight is about continuity but also about new beginnings.”
Thank you to those who made the festivities possible: title sponsor SoCalGas, supporting sponsor Ventura County Credit Union, VLT’s newly-formed volunteer Events Committee, the City of Ventura, and the dozens of local restaurants, businesses, and individuals who donated food, drink, raffle prizes, time, and money to support the celebration. To those who joined us, we hope you had as much fun as we did. To those who didn’t, be on the lookout for more ways to celebrate with Ventura Land Trust in 2018! Our in-kind sponsors: Aloha Steakhouse • Bamboo Pipeline • Blenders in the Grass • City of Ventura Environmental Sustainability • For Your Home Furniture • Four Brix Winery • Herzog Wine Cellars • Island Packer Cruises • Jai Rhythm Yoga • Lori’s Original Lemonade • Mad Hippie Skin Care Products • Mile 26 Sports • Patagonia Inc. • The Refill Shoppe • REI • Solvang Olive • Todd Hannigan • Topa Topa Brewing Co. • Trader Joe’s • Valentino’s Take-N-Bake • Ventura Spirits
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