Professional Documents
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river
land
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Winning Writings & Photographs of the 6th Annual Heart of the Valley Contest
Spo ns o r ed by:
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er Land
d Riv T TABLE O F C ONTENTS
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1st Place Adult Photography, Reels on the Big Wood
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1994 years
2009 by Timur & Justine Beriker...................................................front cover
1st Place Adult Writing, One More River to Cross by Robin Sias............2
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2nd Place Adult Writing, Seasons on Silver Creek
by Rose Rumball-Petre................................................................................. 4
Letter From the
3rd Place Adult Photography, Recharge by Bass Sears..........................5
Executive Director,
3rd Place Adult Writing, An Aqueous Canticle by Lee Brown......... 6 - 7
Sc o t t B o e t t g e r
Staff Favorite Adult Writing, Nature Nurture by Michael Sewell...........8
Dear Friends of Wood River Land Trust, Staff Favorite Adult Photography, Feet by Bass Sears...........................9
1st Place Student Writing, A Storm of My Wildest Wishes
We are pleased to present the Heart of the Valley by Lisa Laurel Hart.............................................................................10
contest again this year. Now in its 6th year, the
1st Place Student Photography, Caught by a Fly by Jon Atkinson.......11
contest attracts entries that just keep getting bet-
2nd Place Student Writing, My Daily Shower by Eric Williamson........12
ter and better and the quality of this year’s col-
lection is unmatched. I want to thank all of our 2nd Place Student Photography, Out by Beautiful Eagle Creek
sponsors, prize donors, and participants. by Ella Guy..........................................................................................13
Our theme this year was water: How the 3rd Place Student Writing, The River Is My Soul by Jim Williams.........14
waters of our valley inspire and nurture you— 3rd Place Student Photography, Big Wood River by Oliver Guy..........15
whether you are on the water or in it, viewing it Staff Favorite Student Writing, Ice on the Water
from a distance or just as far as the end of your by Brooke L. Lawrence......................................................................16
fishing rod. All of the contestants creatively cap- Staff Favorite Student Photography, Indian Creek Rainbow
by Nate Thomas.................................................................................17
tured their sentiments through words and images.
As the Land Trust enters its 16th year of land Wood River Land Trust Current Project Spotlight: Draper Wood River
protection, we also continue to be inspired by the Preserve and Croy Creek Wetland Boardwalk..................................18
waters of the Big Wood River and its tributaries. Wood River Land Trust Current Project Spotlight: Hulen Meadows
We have restored streambanks, wetlands, and Floodplain Management Project.........................................................19
riparian areas along the river, and now have two Wood River Land Trust: Our mission, board and staff.......................20
new major restoration projects underway. The Other Photography Entries................................................................21
first is at Hulen Meadows, north of Ketchum; the
other is at Lions Park and the Draper Wood River
Preserve in Hailey and will include a boardwalk 1st Place Adult Photography, Reels on the Big Wood (pictured on cover)
and wetland overlook. You can “buy” an inch,
foot or yard of the boardwalk to help us complete p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s :
this great project and leave your mark. For more My husband, Timur Beriker, has no idea that I am entering his amateur pho-
tography in this contest. You see, my husband, like most in this valley, works
information or to make a donation to this or other
very hard to support his family. Whenever he can carve out a moment for
Land Trust projects, please visit our website. himself and his loved ones, he heads to the river or a nearby lake to: camp,
fish, laugh, swim, admire, boat, relax, listen, see. The doe grazing at Redfish
We look forward to seeing you again next year! Lake around the time that we started to cook dinner, the lonely canoes re-
tired on the beach at sundown on Stanley Lake and the rods and reels that
give my husband so much pleasure as he catches those beautiful trout – these
are memories of why life is good here in the Wood River Valley. Reminders
of why he left the crowded city 13 years ago to raise his three children in the
middle of what really counts in life. The waters in this valley inspire him and
Scott Boettger he inspires me.
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s : The pristine waters of the Wood River Valley are clear and cold, great for
photographing fish. In this shot, thousands of juvenile fish form an intriguing pattern.
4 2 n d P l ac e A d u lt W r i t i n g
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s : After the boisterous summer, a quiet winter river gives itself – and its visitors – a chance
to relax and recharge before the coming flush of spring.
6 3 r d P l ac e A d u lt W r i t i n g
Lessons Learned
Rivers parallel life. Always in a cycle, freshet creeks are born pure
in high mountains where, like children, they are vivacious, non-
productive, and self-centered little “takers.” On the other end, the
terminal delta is where the aged become slow and polluted, shal-
low and braided, yet generous “givers” moving inexorably toward
a larger destiny. In between these extremes is where things become
interesting as streams morph into deep and powerful rivers whose
countenance becomes productive, perhaps even dangerous. It is
during this reach where the un-expected is commonplace and things
can change in an instant.
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8 s t a ff f a v o r i t e A d u l t W r i t i n g
Along the shore I go, observing, trying my best to absorb. Be the murs with excitement. They’re ready to go. I skip a stone and hear
student. Walk my talk. Listen. it laugh. I toss the rest and they splash playfully, like a sea of gradu-
ation caps in the air. I smile, imagining where they will land, where
The distant barking distracts me. A dark wool hat rushes by. Three they will go. And as always, I marvel at my teacher.
black poodles gallop in my periphery. A cow dog pants and slurps.
Focus.
photographer
c o mm e n t s :
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10 1st Place student Writing
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s : The waters of the valley give us the opportunity to play and enjoy the pleasure of so many
outdoor activities; it is the reason so many of us love it here.
12 2nd Place student Writing
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a long day.
www.woodriverlandtrust.org online!
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s : Out Eagle Creek when it was dark by a stream, a snow bank of ice formed. The ice looked
like a frozen plant. The water looked dark. It was a peaceful creek, and the water was lightly drifting down towards the flowing river.
14 3rd Place student Writing
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s : This winter it was surprisingly easy to get to the river because of the lack of snow. I was
astounded when I saw that a whole snow bank had fallen into the river. A fox had walked across the snow bank and had caused the bank to
fall. It was very misty and quiet, except for the sound of flowing water. It was getting dark and it was time to head back.
16 S t a ff f a v o r i t e s t u d e n t W r i t i n g
WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST
Protecting the Heart of the Valley Now and for the Future Ice on the Water by Brooke L. Lawrence
Ice on the water
Snow on the ice
Under it all
The water rushes by
Sometimes it’s dark
And sometimes it’s light
But it is always going
Go, go, go, the water rushes past
Stop, stop, stop, it cries as it whirls by
Begging me to stop and stare
To take the time to take a rest
From the rush of life
Because unlike the water
Under the ice
I have a choice
To stop
S h e e p B r i d g e C a n y o n P r o j e c t:
Sheep Bridge Canyon maintains a link for wildlife between
the foothills of the Smoky Mountains and the
dtru
surrounding sagebrush steppe landscape. an
See
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www.woodriverlandtrust.org more
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p h o t o g r a p h e r c o mm e n t s :
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18 help us complete our current projects!
In July 2008, Wood River Land Trust worked with the City of
Hailey and local partners to restore the south end of Lions
Park at the site of Hailey’s former landfill. In Phase II, we will
provide public access to the site through construction of a
boardwalk along the edge of the Croy Creek wetlands, con-
necting to the Draper Wood River Preserve. The boardwalk
will minimize impact on the riparian area while offering a
close-up view of this artesian wetland and the birds, fish and
other wildlife that call it home.
Conceptual design
Give Us an Inch...
$1000
of boardwalk
$25
• $300 for one foot
• $1000 for one yard $300
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Hailey online!
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our Mission
Wood River Land Trust protects and restores land, water, and wildlife habitat in the Wood River Valley
and its surrounding areas. We work cooperatively with private landowners and local communities to ensure these areas
are protected now and for future generations.
o t h e r a d u lt p h o t o g r a p h y e n t r i e s :
Trail Creek Moose Ponds by Dave Harrison top: Drinking Ripples by Jon Atkinson top: Icy Branch by Courtney Wangberg
above: Riverwalk Ice And Rocks by above: Silver Creek...A Crown Jewel by
Michelle Castle Jennifer Montgomery