Landmarks - Nature Conservancy · Herb Ellis Caretaker & Maintenance Manager PINE BUTTE SWAMP PRESERVE Nathan Birkeland Rocky Mountain Front Land Steward MATADOR RANCH Charlie Messerly

AnnuAl RepoRt 2014

montanaLandmarks

COVER PHOTO: Sage Grouse ©Ronan Donovan

Map: Amy Pearson

learn more at nature.org/montana Annual Report 2014 1

Staff

Board of truSteeS

HELENARichard Jeo

Montana State Director

Dave CarrCrown of the Continent Director

Jennie CorleyExecutive Assistant/Trustee Liaison

Whitney DanielOperations Manager

Bee HallSenior Conservation Advisor

Erin HendelDevelopment Writer

Mary HollowLand Protection Specialist and Director of Government Relations

Alison JamesAssociate Director of Development

Kaylee KenisonOperations Assistant

Nathan KorbSW MT Director of Science and Stewardship

Greg LambertConservation Information Manager

Sharon LiedermanGrants Specialist

Brian MartinDirector of Science & Northern Montana Prairies

Gail MoserDonor Relations Coordinator

Amy PearsonGIS Analyst

Debra SattlerDonor Relations Manager

BOZEMANBebe Crouse

Director of Communications

Sally SchrankDirector of Development

CHOTEAUDave Hanna

Montana Senior Scientist and Land Steward

PINE BUTTE GUEST RANCHYvonne Geisel

Guest Services Manager

Herb EllisCaretaker & Maintenance Manager

PINE BUTTE SWAMP PRESERVENathan Birkeland

Rocky Mountain Front Land Steward

MATADOR RANCHCharlie Messerly

Matador Ranch Operations Manager

Jolynn MesserlyMatador Ranch Operations Administrator

MISSOULAJim Berkey

SW Montana Director

Chris BryantLand Protection Specialist

Helen JenkinsAssociate Director of Development

OVANDO – BLACKFOOT RIVER VALLEYSteven Kloetzel

Western Montana Land Steward

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEEDan Pletscher

Chair

Jan PortmanVice-Chair and Development Committee

Jamie ShennanVice-Chair

Wym PortmanTreasurer and Finance Committee

Leo BarthelmessGovernment Relations Committee

Eliza FrazerGovernment Relations Committee

Charlotte CaldwellNominations and Governance Committee

John CholnokyAmy CholnokyPage DabneyJim DrasdoWendy DrasdoScott HibbardCarla PagliaroSteve RunningJeffrey SchutzJanna ShennanDale VesethJeff WellesMaud Welles

The Greater Sage-Grouse was first observed by Lewis and Clark in Montana at the mouth of the Marias River in 1805. William Clark described it to Western Science in great detail during the voyage. When settlers began to colonize the west, these birds were so abundant that flocks sometimes “darkened” the sky, much like the now-extinct passenger pigeon.

Sage-grouse have seen hard times in recent years. Estimated at 16 million a century ago, the population has declined to a few hundred thousand, and the bird may soon be listed under the Endangered Species Act. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to energy development are contributing to this decline, as well as conversion of native prairie to agriculture. Greater Sage-grouse are highly sensitive to human impacts and need the dynamic natural cycle of the prairie, including fires that open areas in the sagebrush for their leks – mating grounds, where males strut around in dramatic courtship displays.

In short, Sage-grouse are intrinsically linked to the once-vast grasslands that have defined the American west since the last ice age. As true specialists, they provide a barometer of the region’s ecological health, perhaps more so than even grizzly bears or wolves. If we can save this species, we will also be saving the wild nature of the places we love.

There is considerable hope. Some of the best Sage-grouse habitat and several healthy populations remain in Montana – and here the fate of the bird lies largely on private ranch lands. To make a difference, landowners, public agencies, and conservation groups will need to come together in a big way. Fortunately, cooperation and community partnerships have long been hallmarks of the Conservancy’s work in Montana. In the Centennial and Big Hole Valleys and in the Northern Prairies, we are already working with landowners, scientists, and state and federal agencies on several Sage-grouse conservation projects, but we’ll all have to do more to save this bird and the wild lands we share.

It’s this kind of cooperation – along with the help of our generous supporters – that allows us to continue to protect the land, water, and wildlife that make Montana a special place. Every year brings new challenges – and it seems that the stakes keep getting higher and higher. I hope we are all up to the task.

from the State Director

Richard Jeo ©Bebe Crouse

2 The Nature Conservancy in Montana

Crown of the Continent


CLEARWATER-BLACKFOOT PROJECTWith the purchase of 117,152 acres from the Plum Creek Timber Company, The Nature

Conservancy will preserve another crucial piece of the mosaic that makes up the extraordinary Crown of the Continent. Dubbed the Clearwater-Blackfoot Project, the lands comprise nearly 183 square miles of forestland in the heart of the Lower Blackfoot River watershed.

Nestled within the sweeping Crown, this land encompasses some of the most critical Canada lynx habitat in the West. It’s important range for elk and a vital pathway for wide-ranging animals, such as grizzly bears, that must traverse hundreds of square miles. It is also a popular spot for hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation and the base of economies of the surrounding rural communities.

This acquisition, which will close in January 2015, is part of the Conservancy’s Great Western Checkerboards Project. The larger project includes an additional 47,921 acres of land acquired from Plum Creek in Washington’s central Cascade Mountains, for a total of 165,073 acres.

History of DivisionAs in so much of the West, federal land grants, begun in 1862, left the land broken into a fractured checkerboard of

private and public ownership. At that time, Congress granted every other section (one square mile) of land within 10-40 miles of a railroad right-of-way to the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroads. The federal government retained the neighboring sections. It was a means of helping settle the West, and, over time, ownership reverted to major timber companies such as Plum Creek. Today, the fractured ownership pattern makes management of the intermingled public land both difficult and costly.

Turning Uncertainty into OpportunityIn recent years, the timber industry has undergone a huge transition. Companies such as Plum Creek have reorganized into

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REIT) and placed tens of thousands of acres on the market. This transition presented a great opportunity for conservation. With a willing seller, the Conservancy was able to negotiate

a purchase that will fill in a large missing piece of the conservation puzzle in the heart of the Blackfoot River Valley. This project gives us an opportunity to deepen our community-based conservation process. The Conservancy will actively engage with local partners and surrounding communities to identify the best possible permanent outcomes for these lands.

Winning Formula: Experience and PartnershipThis project is a continuation of work that began more than three decades ago, when the Conservancy acquired its first

conservation easement on the banks of the Blackfoot River – the first conservation easement in Montana history! It builds on many years of work with communities, organizations, and government agencies to conserve Montana’s natural and cultural heritage. In 2004, working with our partners at the Blackfoot Challenge, we purchased some 89,000 acres from Plum Creek for the Blackfoot Community Project. This success allowed us to make history with the landmark purchase of another 310,586 acres of Plum Creek land in 2008 for the Montana Legacy Project.

None of this would have been possible without the strong and lasting partnerships we forged with scientists, land managers, and surrounding communities who possess deep knowledge of these lands. This knowledge and our science have guided restoration and stewardship as we work to leave the land in better shape than we found it. Our partners have been integral in decisions about the future of the land. With this latest purchase, we’ll continue that tradition of restoration and working with local partners to make sure the community guides decisions on the future of these extraordinary places.

American Dipper ©Steven Gnam

Paddling among the reflections of tamaracks on Rainy Lake, MT ©Jason Savage

Clouds float along the Rocky Mountain Front ©Dave Hanna/TNC

Sweeping panorama of the Rocky Mountain Front with Pine Butte in the foreground ©Nancy Treib


ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT

While the Clearwater-Blackfoot Project and Montana Legacy Project have grabbed headlines, conservation continues at a slow and steady pace on the Rocky Mountain Front. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and The Nature Conservancy have secured two new conservation easements that will protect nearly 30,000 acres of native grasslands and prime plains grizzly habitat on the Front. Building on our history of strong relationships with the local ranching community and public agencies, we have now protected more than 125,000 acres of habitat in this special place where the mountains meet the prairies.

“We have now protected more than 125,000 acres of habitat in

this special place where the mountains meet the prairies.”

Young buck grazes on lush spring greens ©Kenton Rowe

Black bear and cubs trudge through fall foliage ©Gail Moser/TNC


Pine Butte Guest Ranch has been connecting guests with nature for nearly 80 years. Owned by The Nature Conservancy since 1979, the ranch has engaged thousands of people through unforgettable experiences in nature and conservation on Montana’s spectacular Rocky Mountain Front. After 30 busy seasons, we think it’s time to hang up our boots for a spell, take a deep breath, and refresh our vision. We’re taking some time to investigate how the ranch can help the Conservancy protect nature for the next 80 years and beyond. The ranch will be closed for the general guest season in 2015, but check back soon for updates on our 2016 season when we’ll be back and better than ever.

MONTANA LEGACY PROJECT: Mill Creek Sale

The Montana Legacy Project continues to improve habitat for wildlife and people. In August, The Conservancy sold 26,705 acres to the U.S. Forest Service. The land lies within both the Lolo and Flathead National Forests and includes holdings in Mill Creek, the Six Mile area west of Missoula, and the Swan Valley.

“By re-stitching these once privately-owned parcels with the surrounding Forest Service holdings, we’re restoring the natural integrity of the land, securing habitat and links to the places animals need to feed, breed, and rear their young, and where people have worked and played for generations,” said Richard Jeo, State Director for The Nature Conservancy in Montana. “This sale epitomizes the vision we had with the Montana Legacy Project, and it directly supports the great investment that Americans have made for generations in conservation on the Crown of the Continent.”

Besides conserving critical habitat for iconic Rocky Mountain wildlife, a key goal of the Legacy Project was to transfer the land to public ownership, ensuring access for people and guarding the economic base for local communities who depend on recreation and other forest related jobs.

The sale price of $26 million was the largest Forest Service appropriation in recent years. The purchase was made possible by the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which was created by Congress in 1964 using primarily royalties from offshore oil and gas development. It has been used for a broad array of projects from urban parks to conservation easements on family ranches to the creation of many of Montana’s fishing access sites. Montana has been a tremendous beneficiary of the fund, but it is set to expire on September 30, 2015, unless Congress acts to renew it. ©Don Dianda III


SouthweStMontana


It has been nearly two decades since a conservation and growth analysis revealed Southwest Montana as a high-risk area for development, which would fragment critical wildlife habitat and migratory corridors. The Nature Conservancy has invested

deeply in stewardship efforts in the Centennial Valley, building partnerships with landowners that have led to the protection of 60% of private land in this iconic valley. We have worked closely with landowners and agency partners in the Big Hole Valley as well, conserving nearly 47,000 acres of land alongside a comprehensive, cooperative effort to restore the Big Hole River watershed. That partnership effort has been so successful that in August 2014, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that Arctic grayling in the Upper Missouri River basin would not be placed on the Endangered Species List. Fish and Wildlife Service officials cited strong partnerships between conservation organizations, private landowners, and public agencies as key factors in the species’ success. The waterways of Southwest Montana represent one of the last strongholds for grayling in the Lower-48. Our work with partners in stream protection and restoration in the Centennial and Big Hole Valleys has clearly made a positive impact on this species.

This is a tremendous conservation achievement, but a great deal of work remains to be done. Building on this success, we will continue to seek innovative ways to restore freshwater streams and identify the most resilient systems to restore and protect as climate continues to change. And just as arctic grayling catalyzed conservation in the Big Hole watershed, we hope that an impending decision on Greater Sage-grouse will motivate landowners and agencies across southwestern Montana to continue projects aimed at protecting this bellwether species.

Centennial Valley: a spotlight on waterWater is at the heart of every landscape. As climate

patterns change, the one certainty is that precipitation will become even more unpredictable. Already, snow has been melting earlier and we are seeing more severe drought conditions. This uncertainty means that watershed restoration is more important than ever. In the Centennial

Snowy peaks highlight the High Divide ©Gail Moser/TNC

Greater Sage-grouse ©Gail Moser/TNCArctic Grayling ©Doug Alcorn/USFWS


Valley, we have completed a number of simple but extremely effective stream restoration projects, including changing grazing management in riparian areas through fencing and water developments, replacing undersized culverts, and accelerating recovery by planting willows on streambanks.

On Long Creek in the Centennial Valley, an innovative pilot project is restoring a vital part of the water cycle: beavers.

Beavers have for ages been key players in the hydrologic cycle in these high mountain watersheds. As creeks wind their way across the landscape, beaver dams raise the water table and slow runoff, filtering sediment, bolstering late-season flows that keep streams cool for native fish, and increasing the area of riparian habitat that is a vital movement corridor for bears and other mammals. Beaver have long been missing from many streams in southwest Montana. Their absence means that there’s nothing holding the water back. Streams cut deeply into the soil, sluicing away sediment and sucking runoff quickly downstream. These kinds of stream conditions repel beaver, which perpetuates the problem by preventing them from returning to continue their work.

After five years of restoration work on the upper reaches of Long Creek, beavers have been spotted recolonizing the upper reaches of the stream, but they have yet to move far into the valley floor. Using gravel, rocks, compacted soil, and sod harvested from select areas above the streambank, crews installed three simple but innovative structures that mimic the crucial functions that beaver dams once provided. These structures will raise the water table so willow and other riparian vegetation can re-establish. Ultimately, they will create conditions for beavers to return and continue their work. The structures installed in September 2014 will provide a model for stream restoration across the High Divide.

A Big Vision for the High Divide Our conservation approach in Southwest Montana has always been driven by the best

science available with an eye toward large landscapes. Over the past year, we have expanded the cooperative conservation model that has been so successful in the Big Hole and Centennial Valleys into other high mountain basins along the Continental Divide. For the first time, we had seasonal workers based in the Medicine Lodge Valley, mapping weed populations and establishing new relationships and trust with landowners in that region. Now, we’re reaching across the divide in partnership with the Conservancy’s Idaho chapter. Supported by a cohesive and engaged network of community partners, we’ll be working on restoring the high mountain watersheds that feed two of the nation’s great waterways: the Missouri and Columbia Rivers.

Watershed restoration involves more than just streams and rivers; it catalyzes work across an entire natural system. It means improving management of forests, grasslands, and riparian areas as well as streams. We are building on the success of local watershed organizations to do meaningful, whole-system conservation across southwest Montana.

Our broader goals for the region include ensuring functional forest habitats by working collaboratively with landowner and agency partners, securing intact native sagebrush

grasslands from development and managing them for Sage-grouse and other sensitive conservation targets, and maintaining a healthy, permeable landscape for the wide ranging mammals such as pronghorn, elk, grizzly bears, and wolverines that depend on all of these habitats. Working at such a large scale highlights the interconnectedness of soil, vegetation, water, wildlife, and humans across the magnificent mountains and valleys of Southwest Montana.

Hillside of wildflowers in Big Sheep ©Bebe Crouse/TNC

A rainbow appears during a passing storm on Montana’s Northern Prairies. ©Jason Savage ➤


Montana’s northern PrairieS

When we think of wilderness, we often imagine the vast forests and craggy peaks of western Montana. But the

rolling grasslands of eastern Montana boast landscapes as wild, remote, and dynamic as any mountain range.

the continent. We have also focused on conserving the unique mosaic of pothole wetlands imbedded within these expansive grasslands. This region hosts the most intact habitat in the Prairie Pothole Region, which is often referred to as the “duck factory” of North America.

Two, advance science-based management that addresses full diversity wildlife and plant species in cooperation with agencies and landowners. The foundation of this effort has been the Matador Ranch and Grassbank. In 2015, we will grow the Grassbank to the largest number of participating ranches yet. Every ranch in the Grassbank agrees to conserve their native grasslands, manage their ranches so that livestock is sustainably balanced with the carrying capacity of the land and the needs of declining wildlife, and that best management practices will be implemented to create wildlife-friendly ranch infrastructure. The Conservancy has supported these efforts through technical support in ranch planning, as well as providing discounts to incentivize management.

Three, support and share science. The Matador Ranch has become a center for grasslands research and learning, hosting students and researchers from across the country, as well as serving as a place for hands-on learning. In June, the Matador hosted our fourth annual Grasslands Science Symposium, which brings landowners and researchers together to share the latest research and land management tools. We develop and test management in partnership with our Grassbank members, who participate from the beginning to the end and see the results unfold as they spend time on the Matador. Just one example has been our use of fire to


Just a handful of large, intact grasslands remain in North America. Among the largest of these are Bitter Creek and Montana’s Glaciated Plains, areas comprising over four million acres of prime, unbroken native grasslands and big sagebrush steppe. These lands

are strongholds for many species suffering widespread declines across the continent, including Long-billed Curlew, Chestnut-collared Longspur, and Sprague’s Pipit to name just a few. They also hold key Greater Sage-grouse habitat.

Our challenge is keeping these vast working landscapes working for the wildlife and people that live there. To this end we have adopted three simple but successful strategies.

One, permanently protect critical lands. We have focused our efforts, in part, on areas that allow for large-scale movements of wildlife. We have protected nearly half of the private land in the “Sage-grouse superhighway.” This migration corridor between wintering grounds in Montana and breeding habitat in Canada benefits mammals, too, providing a pathway for a pronghorn population that makes the second longest land migration on

Posing pronghorn ©Jason SavagePrescribed fire on Northern Montana Prairies ©Brian Martin/TNC


FENCE CAMUsing remote cameras, researchers are testing different methods of changing fences to allow passage of pronghorn. Research is being conducted in Alberta and will resume at the Matador Ranch next spring. Fences that are too low may prevent pronghorn movement or over time cause animals to lose fur that is especially important for fighting bitter winter cold in the northern Great Plains.

enhance habitat, which spurred a Grassbank ranch to conduct a prescribed burn for conservation outcomes this past spring; the first time fire had been used on a private ranch for such purposes in anyone’s memory.

Engaging the Next Generation of ConservationistsThe Grassbank is also working to help address another important need in the community:

opportunities for young ranchers. These future ranch owners are challenged to buy a big spread of land and a herd, and families are challenged to transfer ranches between generations. Young people often have to leave rural communities to find work and may never have the economic resources to purchase a ranch. Through the Grassbank, the Conservancy provides learning and ranching opportunities for the next generation of ranchers. Even better, engaging young ranchers in conservation builds peer-to-peer learning and experience implementing practices that benefit wildlife; ensuring that best stewardship practices will be applied to future ranch operations.

In addition to encouraging conservation close to home, the Matador Ranch is also making an impact on young conservationists from the big city. This summer, four Leaders in Environmental Action in the Future (LEAF) interns from New York City spent two weeks in the grasslands. The LEAF program engages a new generation of scientists and citizen naturalists in real, direct, on-the-ground conservation work, providing them with experience to enter science careers of their own. These conservation-minded high school students tackled serious projects including weed removal, beaver dam monitoring, small mammal studies, and wildlife-friendly fencing. Highlights of their stay were monitoring grassland bird nesting sites with scientists from the UM Avian Science Center, and, of course, riding horses. After two weeks on the Matador, the LEAF crew also spent two weeks in Southwest Montana.

Prairie winter ©Barbara Cozzens/TNC Cowbirds perched atop Grassbank member 63 ©Amy Person/TNC

©Alberta Conservation Association

a week on the MATADOR RANCH

June 2014


I have had the pleasure for most of my life to live in Montana, a beautiful, wild and sometimes harsh place. Not just in any old city or town though: I’m living smack dab in the middle of my own postcard. You know the ones that feature

breathtaking scenes of the sun rising behind the mountains, or bull elk bugling on a foggy morning? Yep. That’s where I live.

My husband Charlie, our three daughters, Camryn (12), Layla (6) and Janae (3), our two dogs, a cat, and several horses call The Nature Conservancy’s Matador Ranch home. The Matador is located on Montana’s Northern Prairie and is nestled at the foot of the Little Rocky Mountains. We get the best of both worlds here, and we try our best to take advantage of that!

As I write this, the grass is thick, dewy and green, the singing of birds can be heard in the morning, prairie dog puppies are starting to emerge from their holes and the girls are eagerly anticipating their first glimpses of the baby antelope soon to come. This time of year is so refreshing for us after a long, cold and dark winter being cooped up inside the house.

At the first sign of warm weather we burst outside, in a flurry of activity to expend all the excess energy we have stored up. This week was beautiful, with above average temperatures and lots of sunshine and we stayed busy every moment.

We are lucky here because we get to do things we love and call it work! All of our girls love to ride horses, either to help move cows, just for the fun of it or in competition. We took full advantage of the warm spring days, and were horseback at every opportunity. We took several long rides down by the creek, checking to see if the wild asparagus was up yet and eating most of it on our way home.

Our oldest daughter, Camryn, is working hard to get her horse in shape for her upcoming barrel racing season, and as you can see from the pictures, Layla is content to just spend time with her friend, Buster, either working or playing.

When we weren’t riding, we spent a couple of evenings at some of the area fishing ponds. The ponds are close by, making it an easy activity when we only have a couple of hours to spare, and they are well stocked which the girls love. Fishing isn’t always the most relaxing thing for Charlie and me, as we spend most of the time removing fish from lines, but the girls love to reel the fish in, even if they are too small and have to be thrown back!

While the older girls were at school during the day this week, Janae and I took some time to go exploring in a prairie dog town. I had to draw her a picture to help explain how the prairie dogs dig holes, and live under the ground. She was, of course, fascinated, and as is usual for a 3 year old, has not stopped talking about them since! She still doesn’t quite understand why they won’t come out to play with her, but she still had fun watching them race from hole to hole, and hearing them bark back and forth to each other.

The cow and calf pairs arrived this week and Janae was very excited to see the babies. We took a trip around the pasture to double check gates and put out mineral tubs, and we spied lots of wildlife around the ranch. Janae’s favorites were the big pelicans on the reservoir, and I always love to spot the antelope (pronghorn) because I’m never sure how the kids will mispronounce it next; cantaloupe, envelope etc…

This time of year brings a lot of work to the families that live in areas like this. Every minute of the long hours of daylight are used to prepare for winter’s shorter and colder days. There is a long tradition in these parts of neighbors helping neighbors, so to finish the week, we headed out to help round up cattle and pitch in with the annual calf branding on a neighboring ranch. Many hands help to make the work load lighter, and I loved seeing the kids roll up their shirtsleeves, get down in the dirt and help get things done.

It’s not always easy living and raising kids in such a remote place. When the nearest grocery store is over 40 miles away, simply running out of milk can throw a wrench into our whole day. But we had a busy week filled with work, play and lots of sunshine, and it’s times like these that I am reminded why I wouldn’t trade this place for any amount of convenience!

Originally published on The Nature Conservancy’s TALK blog at: http://blog.nature.org/conservancy/2014/07/11/a-week-on-the-matador-ranch/#sthash.phu1CzBk.dpuf

By Jolynn Messerly

“At the first sign of warm weather we burst outside, in a flurry of activity to expend all the excess energy we have stored up.”


A WEEK AT THE MATADOR (clockwise from top left)

Camryn and Blaze barrel racingLayla rounding up cattle on BusterJanae watching cows and calves being dropped offJanae investigating a prairie dog holeLayla on her friend, Buster (photo by Ami Vitale)

photos ©Jolynn Messerly


Daniel Imming was a welcoming presence at Pine Butte Guest Ranch. During his two years as a volunteer, his stories livened up the ranch’s kitchen and cookouts, and his warm smile greeted guests at the Great Falls airport.

Dan and his wife Susan first visited Pine Butte in August 2012. In 2013, they returned as volunteers. In 2014, Dan returned to the ranch to volunteer while Susan stayed in Colorado to “volunteer” on their own projects at home. His son was to join him during the second week. Tragically, Dan passed away while serving as a volunteer at the ranch. The staff and trustees of The Nature Conservancy were shocked and saddened to lose a dear and hard-working friend.

Dan brought a spirit of service to every aspect of his life, serving as a volunteer firefighter in his home of Conifer, Colorado for over 30 years. He was deeply involved in the Mountain Resource Center, a community-based nonprofit providing health and human services, and Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, both in Conifer. For ten years, he and Susan were regular volunteers at the Conservancy’s Zapata Ranch near Mosca, Colorado. They were tasked with projects that included trail construction, fence-building, facilities maintenance, and whatever else was needed. “Dan became a leader among the group of volunteers, always having the skills and perseverance to accomplish any task, dotted with a hefty sense of humor,” said Audrey Wolk of The Nature Conservancy in Colorado. “The last few years he brought along his grandson to pass on his love of nature and hard work. He has left an indelible mark.”

Dan was passionate about the environment and was constantly busy at his home clearing trees to reduce fire danger. Yvonne Geisel, Pine Butte Ranch Guest Services Manager, recalls that Dan was concerned with conservation in big and small ways; for example, when he helped do dishes in the ranch kitchen, he was always careful to conserve water by not filling the whole sink to do just a few dishes.

“He was a man who was quick with a smile. He was very social and a good story teller, and he looked great in his suspenders,” said Geisel. “When he first arrived at the Great Falls airport to volunteer, he made sure that he had Nature Conservancy gear on so guests would recognize him and get a warm welcome. He liked to do Sudoku as I do and he confided in me, if they were too hard, he would look at the answers to get an extra number for a hint!”

Dan’s legacy lives on even after his passing; dozens of his friends from around the nation have sent gifts to Pine Butte Guest Ranch as a tribute to Dan. The staff and trustees of The Nature Conservancy are deeply grateful for Dan’s generosity and commitment to volunteer service. We all strive to lead a productive and meaningful life, one that will leave a legacy and make a difference. Dan set the standard high and achieved what we all aspire to accomplish.

CELEBRATING

Daniel Imming

©Lola Higgins

SUPPORT & REVENUE 2014 2013

Dues and contributions 5,436,029 5,104,059

Government awards 495,522 1,426,579

Private Contracts - 2,162

Investment income or (loss) 2,000,681 978,020

Other income 1,456,082 1,429,316

Gifts of Conservation Land & Easements 8,500,000 (93,060)

Land sale proceeds 13,157,015 10,885,385

Support (to)/from other TNC Units (4,477,784) (5,848,964)

Total Support & Revenue $26,567,545 $13,883,497

EXPENSES & CAPITAL ALLOCATIONS

Purchase of Conservation Land & Easements 571,000 1,529,500

Conservation programs 3,274,370 4,414,495

Total conservation program expenses & capital allocations $3,845,370 $5,673,995

General & Administrative $534,676 652,738

Fundraising 446,321 606,757

Total Administration & Fundraising $980,997 $1,259,495

Total Expenses & Capital Allocations $4,826,367 $6,933,490

NET RESULT

Support & Revenue over Expenses & Capital Allocations $21,741,178 $6,950,007

ASSET, LIABILITY & NET ASSET SUMMARY

Conservation land $75,738,973 87,108,503

Conservation easements 105,175,035 95,742,285

Investments held for land acquisitions 12,591,631 9,132,171

Endowment investments 13,129,305 11,642,588

Property & equipment (net of depreciation) 1,112,468 923,223

Current assets 1,003,208 979,592

Other assets 6,291 16,454

Total Assets $208,756,911 $205,544,816

Total Liabilities 112,012,686 $120,104,994

Total Net Assets $96,744,225 $85,439,822

Note

The figures that appear in the Financial Summary are for informational purposes only. The complete audited FY 2014 financial statements for The Nature Conservancy can be seen at nature.org/aboutus/annualreport or can be ordered from The Nature Conservancy at (406) 443-0303.

Added in FY 2014 Total

Conservation Easements 17,280 339,133

Conservation Buyer Properties - 83,206

Cooperative Conservation Projects 12,475 534,445

Preserves 20 49,698

TOTAL 29,775 1,006,483

FINANCIAL SUMMARY FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2014

Acres in Permanent Conservation

Programmatic Efficiency in FY 2014


ANNUAL FUND & CAPITAL GIFTS OF $1,000 OR MORE

Anonymous (21)Ossie Abrams & David OrserJamie Alter & Michael LyntonN. Kirby & Janice M. AltonNancy D. AndersonDr. & Mrs. Robert W. AndrewsBernard & Holly ArghierePaul Asper & Nancy WeidmanMr. & Mrs. Paul BakstranThe Andrea & Michael Banks Nature FundRobert & Shirley BayleyScott & Heidi BenowitzJoanne & Billy BergholdBen & Annie BingerMr. & Mrs. James BingerWilliam Birck & Kim Erway BirckNathan Birkeland & Jaim McphersonBlank Family FoundationThe Brainerd FoundationMr. & Mrs. Chester V. BraunAnne BrenamanMr. & Mrs. Roger G. BrooksJerome BroussardDennis Brown & Anne WilliamsRockwood BrownMs. Sherry BrownMr. & Mrs. William D. Brown, IVRalph & Toone BurchenalDr. Laurinda Q. BurlesonCharlotte Caldwell & Jeffrey SchutzMr. & Mrs. Robert L. CalhounLisa CanterCapital Group Companies Charitable Foundation

(Match)Dr. & Mrs. George A. CarlsonCarol ChesarekChevron Matching Gift ProgramAmy & John CholnokyYvon ChouinardCinnabar FoundationKerry & Norah ClarkShane & Gina Colton

The Compton FoundationWendy CoyneCross Charitable FoundationPage DabneyJohn S. & Cheryl DaleFrederic DalldorfMr. & Mrs. Joseph K. DavidsonLee & Lynne DavisRobert & Shari DaytonSteve & Susan DenkersMr. & Mrs. Don DiandaIvan & Carol DoigPeggy DulanyDiane EarlyDr. Bruce EllistonFanwood FoundationBrooke Feister & Richard O’BrienMs. Kirsten J. Feldman & Mr. Hugh FraterMr. & Mrs. Bruce W. FlemingJill and Steve FlexmanPatricia ForbesFriends of Sunset HillFoundation for Community VitalityBarbara Frazer LoweEliza Frazer & Barry HoodDon & Mary GarnerGeneral Re Corporation (Match)Gilhousen Family FoundationHorace W. Goldsmith FoundationWilliam O. GoodwinRandall Gray & Nora Flaherty-GrayThe William and Mary Greve FoundationPeter & Caroline GuynnMolly HackettPhil Hamilton & Janet WhaleyWalt HandschinBarbara HattValerie Hedquist & Edward CallaghanHannah HeilicherCarolyn HenryScott & Gretchen HibbardHigh Stakes FoundationMr. Thomas J. HillKirk J. HohenbergerDorothy HollidayRobert D. & Judith A. HoyJames & Wanda Hollensteiner FoundationJim & Nancy JohnstonMr. & Mrs. Russell KaiserMr. & Mrs. James KeeganMr. & Mrs. Thomas KellerSteven Kloetzel & Andrea MorganKnobloch Family FoundationDr. Linda B. KnoblockJim & Judy KruegerL Heart Foundation

Larsson Danforth Family FoundationLaSalle Adams FundLinda LeckmanLand M. LindberghMartha LoweryWilliam & Diane LundgrenCarl & Marilyn MalkmusAlan Marasco & Deborah MawhinneyMr. & Mrs. Forrest E. Mars, Jr.Allan McKittrickTamara MenkeStan & Jane MeyerMFI Foundation, Inc.Louise & Thomas MiddletonNicholas MillerMillmont FoundationJohn & Susan MillsJan MilnerAndrew & Elizabeth MitchellMaurice & Judith MitchellEdward Monnig & Jacelyn WedellMr. & Mrs. Robert MooreJames L. MunozMr. & Mrs. W. S. MurraySanjayan MuttulingamMr. James L. Potter, Jr. & Ms. Virginia W. NaylorKatie & Earl NesbittAlan & Nancy NicholsonAngela Nomellini & Ken OlivierGary R. Norris & Judith K. NorrisDawn & John NorthGil & Marge OrdwayMr. & Mrs. John O’SteenMs. F. T. PapeCol. Charles L. Patterson & Ms. Jayne BrindleBeverly & Lloyd Paulson FamilyJill PerelmanPerkins Charitable FoundationPerk PerkinsSteven Peters & Missy MayfieldChip Petrie & Pat McKernanBetsy & Tod PeytonJoan Coulter Pittman Fund of Coastal

Community FoundationCynthia & Henry PoettWym & Jan Portman*Mark and Gerianne PoulsenMel & Andy PuckettCory PulfreyTom & Teresa Quinn Fund of the Whitefish

Community FoundationPatrick ReddingMary S. ReedWilliam S. ReedRemmer Family Foundation FundHannelore Rimlinger

Shaiza Rizavi & Jonathan FriedlandAndrew N. RobertsSandra RoeEdward RosenthalMr. & Mrs. Steve RunningSample FoundationAllen W. SanbornElizabeth Scanlin & Jeff AndersonDr. Teris K. ScheryJames & Christine ScottBill ScrogginsRobert SeilerThe Selz FoundationGeorge & Olivia SheckletonJanna & Jamie ShennanMr. & Mrs. William ShieldsChuck SlaughterRichard C. SloanDaniel M. SmithM. M. SmithJennifer SpeersSpeyer FoundationBruce C. StephensRea N. StollDebi StrongBob & Nancy SumnerHarold W. Sweatt FoundationTeel’s Marsh FoundationTextron Matching Gift ProgramScott & Betsy ThorntonThe Thoroughfare FoundationAmanda K. TopperThe Turner FoundationWaterproof Foundation, Inc.Weeden FoundationMr. & Mrs. Michael WegenerRom & Pamela WelbornMaud & Jeffrey WellesKen & Byrdie Wessels Trust of the Whitefish

Community FoundationWestern Conservation FoundationPeter A. WhiteWiancko Family Donor Advised Fund of the

Community Foundation of Jackson HoleWilburforce FoundationWolf Creek Charitable FoundationAlison Young

MONTHLY SUSTAINERSJacqueline AdamsJessican AllewaltJohn & Susan AndersonVick & Jean ApplegateSuzy ArchibaldPatricia AuneSusan Bailey

Pamela BarberisCraig & Patricia BarfootDouglas BarnesLynne BarnesDavid BengtsonSteven & Barbara BensonLoretta BoberSallie BrewerAngelika BrooksBob & Laura BrooksArt & Amie ButlerSylvia W.B. CarpenterAmanda CaterErin ClarkGloria ClarkPatricia ClarkJohn & Denise ConnerJames CooperK. B. CroganMilla CumminsPatrick CunninghamMatt & Kim DaleOrville Daniels & Olleke Rappe-DanielsMary DavisLynne DixonK. DoveMichael & Nancy DowningJames DoyleCelestine DuncanJean DuncanLoren EbnerChristine M. Eckel, Ph.D.Carol & Dick EllisSharon EnghAndrew & Paulette EppleDonna EubankRoger & Jerry EvansSharon EversmanCraig FitchPaul & Janet FoxNorma & Richard FretheimRandy GazdaMichael GeurinRichard GordonAnne GreeneGary Grzebielski & Lois MenziesJulia GwinnLeilani HaddJudy & Tim HarrisNancy HinmanDr. Nicole HobbsJohn T. HoggKirk HohenbergerRaela Hulett & Courtney TaitRuth IjamesArnold Johnson


Thanksto the many donorswho made gifts to ourMontana programs in Fiscal Year 2014(July 1, 2013 – June 30, 2014)

Donald JohnsonGloria JohnsonCarolyn JonesBrian KenneyMike KooleBob & Sharon KortuemMary LangenderferTed & Patty LechnerKaren LeichnerClaire LeonardAlbert LindlerArmand & Arle LohofRosalie & Thomas LynchPeggy LynnEthel MacDonaldDan & Pam MagersHelen ManarasMike MansfieldRichard & Ursula MattsonLewis MayRebecca MccafferyRoberta McCanseMary McculloughSuzy McKinnonRoxanna McLaughlinDonalene McLeodRobert McMahanAngela MelbyLarry MinkGail Moser & Bill DarcyRonald MuellerMark OtteChuck OttoFrances OwenGwyn PalchakDr. & Mrs. John C. ParkerSylvia M. PerrymanKathleen PierceWeldon RashDebra Sattler & Dean YashanAlbert SchlahtMarissa & Mark SherkenneyAnn L. Shippee-BrennerAndrea SilvermanAmy SimpsonPatricia SkidmoreBeverly & Robert SkinnerCdub & Kate SmithHeidi SobczakKathy & Don SpritzerJohn & Gaynelle StammJanet SuchaRuth SuperneauSheryl SwansonDr. David B. TawneyRobert Thomas

Dennis ToppelMarilen TrotterMartha Vogt & James GreeneMarilyn WeberBonita WhiteDr. & Mrs. Donald J. WightLinda WilliamsEvelyn WinkelmanJohn WozniakMichael YochimDr. Hans Zuuring

IN-KIND GIFTS & SERVICESBernard & Holly ArghiereMaclay Law FirmParker Law FirmLeroy & Laura SchmidtTim Swanson & Nancy Steinbeck SwansonTuholske Law Office, P.C.

GIFTS OF LANDAnonymousCandland & Alice Olsen

LEGACY GIFTSAnonymous Estate (2)The Estate of William & Lois HornThe Estate of John C. KariotisMarjorie L. Langenhop TrustThe Estate of Zita O’LoughlinThe Estate of David P. Parker, IIIThe Estate of Sandra Thomson

MEMORIALSMichel Jo ColvilleBob & Shari Dayton

Robert CoyneWendy Coyne

Beau FrenchThomas M. Britt, IIIMarian Lindberg

Denise Hamersley (Harkins)Catherine & James Semmelroth

Patricia JohnsonRobert & Jean BolingSayoko Okada, MIchiyo Okada, Keiji Okada,

Keiko Todisaka, Hiroko PfanmuellerLailani Pyle

Dr. Charles JunkermanRobin Leenhouts

Ruth M. & Morgan Z. “Bud” KetchumGeorge & Virginia Havens

Walter LaityMrs. Billie P. Block

Lloyd ReesmanStephanie Christensen

Barbara B. SeilerBetty CokerMichael & Martha Kahn

Robert O. Taunt IIIStephanie ChristensenBob & Shari DaytonRandy & Nora Gray

Louella Mae WahlerPatrick & Rene Martin

HONORARIUMSRalph & Toone BurchenalBob & Sydney Anning

John & Susan MillsPaul & Sarah Schwennesen

Mike & Sherry O’HearnBill Goodwin

Carla PagliaroThe Selz Foundation

Tresa SmithAnonymous

David & Joni WellsAndrea & Michael Banks

Jamie WilliamsAndrea & Michael Banks

*Denotes a fund of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

MEMORIAL ENDOWMENTSThe John Roe Conservation Leadership EndowmentSandra Roe

Sally Tollefson Memorial Trail EndowmentRussell McMullenSteve TollefsonVal & Mary Ann Tollefson

Gil Crain Natural History Workshops Endowment

For information about these endowments, please contact Gail Moser [email protected] or (406) 443-6728

©Amy Pearson/TNC


Thank you to everyone who has supported

our work!

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Making a bequest to The Nature Conservancy is a simple way to protect the places you value. You can name the Conservancy as a beneficiary of your will, trust, retirement plan, life insurance policy, or financial accounts. Anyone can make a bequest and no amount is too small.

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©Jeff Van Tine

Montana Landmarks is a publication of The Nature Conservancy in Montana ©2014 Reviewed by: Gail Moser and Jennie Corley, Graphic Design: Design Solutions; Printer: Alphagraphics Bozeman; Printed on recycled fiber FSC certified paper.

Documents

Landmarks - Nature Conservancy · Herb Ellis Caretaker & Maintenance Manager PINE BUTTE SWAMP PRESERVE Nathan Birkeland Rocky Mountain Front Land Steward MATADOR RANCH Charlie Messerly