Vol.

17 #2

Fall 2010

Solano Land Trust and Travis Air Force Base team up to protect vernal pools and Traviss mission

PresidentsMessage ExecutiveDirectors Perspective RushRanchHistory Wine&VernalPools VolunteerProfile ThankyouVolunteers Activities&Events

Audrey Kitzes, Land Transaction Specialist

Done deal! The vernal pools and grasslands of Thomas Ranch South are now protected forever
Photo: Audrey Kitzes

ConservationorganizationsdontalwaysworkcloselywiththeDepartmentofDefensebutSolanoLandTrust andTravisAirForceBase(AFB)havefoundcommongroundinprotectingtheprairielandeastofthebase fromencroachingdevelopment. Aftermorethanthreeyearsofwork,SolanoLandTrust,TravisAFB,andtheHamiltonFamily(theproperty owners)celebratedtheclosingoftheThomasRanchSouthconservationeasementthisSeptember.ThisisSolano LandTruststwenty-firsteasement,andwilladd147acresofgrazingandvernalpoollandtothe19,892acres thattheorganizationhaspermanentlyprotectedsince1986.Withthiseasement,SolanoLandTrusthasnow protectedover20,000acresofworkingfarmlandsandnaturalareasinSolanoCounty,amilestonetocelebrate

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Presidents Message
Ian Anderson, President

Exposing kids to farming at the Solano County Fair

Oneoftheperksofbeing afarmeriswalkinginstep withtheseasons.OurIndian summerdaysareperfect forwindingupharvestand gettingcropstomarket. Ourharvestseason,which startedlastspringwithhay, wounduprecentlywith safflower.Nowthecycle startsagain. HereintheMontezumaHills,thetraditionalbeginning ofthenewfarmseasonisthebirthofthefirstlamb.The excitementofseeinganewbornlamboccurredformein mid-October.Itsalwaysajoyoussight,butthisyearitwas alsoareminderthataseven-daybreakbetweentheendof harvestandthebeginningoflambingdoesnotallowmuch ofarenewalperiodforthenextfifty-oneweeksoffarming challenges.WherewillIfindtimetomakenecessary Third-graders pose with the County seal, which they made with Solano County legumes improvementsforourfarmsfuture? Itsanimportantquestion.Thosewhosucceedin agriculturegenerallydosobecauseoftheirabilitytoadapt tochangesinmarkets.Changesandimprovementsdont justhappen;theytaketime,commitmentandconstant attentiontooff-farmoccurrencesthatdirectlyimpactonfarmdecisions.
Photo: Rhonda Letcher, Solano County Farm Bureau

YouthAgDayattheSolanoCountyFairwillcelebrateits9thyearin2011.Last year,thirdgradersthroughoutSolanoCountycametothefairgroundsinVallejo tomakebutter;visitwithllamas,sheep,anddrafthorses;andtomakethecounty sealwithlocalproducts.Theeventsarefree,hands-on,andfun!Thisyear,they arehopingtohaveevenmoreparticipationbyourCountysthirdgraders.Ifyou AsSolanoLandTrustpresident,Iviewourorganization inthissamelight.Wehavemanygoalsandtakeonmany areaneducatororafarmer,pleasethinkaboutgettinginvolved.Tofindouthow tasks.But,whatarewedoingtoimproveourorganization? youcanbeapresenter,sponsor,orvolunteerforAgDay2011contactKimMini Ourexecutivedirector,NicoleByrd,isliketheengineon atkmini@scfair.orgor(707)551-2006.
oneofmyharvesters.Daily,steadily,sheisthedriving forcebehindSolanoLandTrustsharvestofyearlygoals, manyofwhichchallengetheorganizationtoattainand maintainastandardofexcellence.Likeasuccessfulfarmer, theorganizationmustalsoadapttomarketchangesas theyrelatetoourmission.

Onegoalisthepursuitofaccreditationfromthenationally basedLandTrustAccreditationCommission.Thisisnot easilyachieved,butourdirectorsandstaffarecarving outthetimetoensureourorganizationisworthyof accreditation,whichwillputusinthetopfifteenpercent oflandtrustsinthecountryandincreasefunding opportunitiesforeasements. Nicoleandourboardarealsoformingastrategicplanto evaluateSolanoLandTrustsstrengthsandweaknesses. Strategicplanstakealotoftime,butwearecommitted tomakingimprovementsthatwillhelpusaccomplishour mission.ThestrategicplanwillimpactallofusinSolano County.Pleasespeakupandcontinuetoparticipatein SolanoLandTrustsgoalsandmissionaswestriveto 2 improveoursurroundingsandourselves.

Join us for these special events to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2011!
Farm Fresh Feast (back by popular demand) 4th Annual Lynch Canyon Trail Run and Community Hike 21st Annual Rush Ranch Open House First ever Sporting Clay Trap Shoot Special Hikes And much more!

Executive Directors Perspective

Nicole Byrd, Executive Director

Earlierthisfall,SolanoLandTrustcelebratedtheSolanoCountyharvestwithover 170ofourfriendsandsupportersatthe2010HeritageFeastandArtAuction.The guestsstartedtheireveningbyenjoyinglocalwinesandappetizersintheNature Center,whichhadbeentransformedintoanartgalleryfeaturinginspiringimages ofSolanoCountytreasureslikeLynchCanyon,RushRanch,andtheKing-Swett Ranches.MikeMuirofAccessAdventureprovidedcarriageridesintotheevening, andtheluckiestriderscaughtanenchantingsunsetride. There was a sense of community in the air. Event Chair Carol Berman and hertalentedteamofvolunteersdecoratedthedinnertentwithhistoricpicturesof SolanoCounty,fall-coloredbannerswithranchimages,andhomemadescarecrows. Thelocalfarmingcommunitypitchedintoo.TheyofferedthebestofSolanoCountysagriculturalproducts includingdahlias,herbs,andIndiancornfordecorations;heirloomtomatoesforthesalad;applesforhomemade dessert;lotsofwine;andthemuchsoughtafterlamb-stuffedmushrooms,withlambdonatedbyourownboard president,IanAnderson. Withthestartoftheliveauction,volunteersstreamedintothetentcarryingartandtheoccasionalslabof primerib.Ourauctioneer,localrancherJoeGateswhogrewupinRioVistawithIanAnderson,wasquitethe character,oftenusingcattleauctiontermstodescribethearthewasauctioning. Manythankstoeveryonethatparticipatedinthemagicalnight!Visitwww.heritagefeast.orgtoseetheart thatwasfeaturedandacompletelistofourdonors. AnotherexcitingmomentoftheHeritageFeastwaswhenIintroducedournewesthireandfirstassociate director,DeannaMott.Deanna,whopulledthewinningraffleticketforthefullystockedwinerefrigerator,willbe takingovertheadministrative,communicationsandfundraisingprograms.Shebringsawealthofexperiencefrom hersevenyearsofserviceintheUnitedStatesArmywheresheledNATOair-defensecombatteams,organized eventsforhigh-levelinternationaldignitaries,andcoordinatedseveraloverseashumanitarianmissions.Shebrings manyyearsofexperienceinadministration,projectmanagementandhumanresources. SincemovingtoVacavillein2008,DeannahasvolunteeredforvariousNorthBayHealthcarefundraising eventsandPTAactivities,andparticipatedintheChamberofCommercesLeadershipVacavilleprogram.Deanna grewupinafarmingtowninIowawheremanyfamilymemberscontinuetomaketheirlivingintheagriculture industry.ShereturnstotheMidwestoften,visitingfamilyandstayingconnectedwithheragriculturalroots.As amotheroftwogirls,sheappreciatestheeventsandfamilyfriendlyatmosphereatRushRanchandourother properties. She joined the Solano Land Trust team because she believes its important to protect the highly productivefarmlandandnaturalresourcesthatmakeSolanoCountyunique.IamsoexcitedtobringDeannaon boardandlookforwardtothegreatteamworkahead. Inthecalmthatcomesafteranintenseandsuccessfulevent,andtheexcitementofbringingnewtalentto ourteam,Icontinuetobeproudofourcommunityandtheimportantworkwedotoprotectourlocalworking farmsandnaturalareas,andpreserveourqualityoflifehereinSolanoCounty.

Save the date for Holiday at the Ranch! Thisyearsmembers-only holidaypartywillbeheldat RushRanchonThursday, December9thfrom5:00 to7:30p.m.Joinusfor festivemusic,sweettreats, andholidaycheer!RSVP toNatalieatvolunteer@ solanolandtrust.orgor (707)432-0150x200.

In order to protect our natural habitats and your pets safety, we kindly ask our members and guests to adhere to the following policy: With the exception of Suisun Hill Trail across from Rush Ranch, dogs are not allowed on Solano Land Trust properties.
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A journey to Rush Ranchs past with Benjamin Rushs granddaughter

In May 2010, Sally Channel, the only surviving grandchild of Benjamin Rush, visited Rush Ranch. Sally is the daughter of Annabelle Rush Johnson, the youngest of Benjamin Rushs children. The original Rush Ranch encompassed a much larger area, and the land we know today as Rush Ranch was called Tule Ranch. Sally, who was joined by her childhood friend, Marjorie Bock, shared her memories of the ranch with Rush Ranch Educational Council board members Mary Takeuchi and Virgil Sellers.

This photo of Richard Rush pulling a harvester with draft horses was donated by Sally Channel

Sallywasonlyeightwhenhergrandfatherdied,butshehasmanyfondmemoriesoftimespentattheranch, andgivesusaprivilegedglimpseoftheearlyyearsatRushRanch.Sallyandherfamilysometimesstayedin theKitHouse,whichisstillinitsoriginallocation,whentheyvisited.Itwaspurchasedin1932fromtheSears, Roebuck&Co.catalog,andwasconsideredleading-edgehomeconstructionatthetime.AccordingtoSally, theroomthatnowservesasameetingplaceusedtobeascreened-inporch,andthefrontroom,whichwas consideredthebigroom,hadastoveforheat.TheKitHouseisnowusedasamuseumandmeetingroomby theRushRanchEducationalCouncil. BenjaminRushraisedhisfamilyatRushRanch.Theirhome,whereallsevenchildrenwereborn,waslocated inthehillsaboveRushRanchnearthepresent-daydump.TheTuleRanchhousewaslocatedwheretheNature Centerandcaretakerhousenowstand.Initially,thathousewasusedforhiredhelp,butBenjaminexpandedit andeventuallytwoofBenjaminschildren,RichardandEleanor,livedthereandmanagedtheranchfromthat location.Whenhischildrentookovermanagementoftheranch,BenjaminRushmovedtoSuisunandwent intopolitics.HeservedasaCaliforniastatesenatorfor24years. Mostofushavefondmemoriesfromourchildhoodsummersandthiswasespeciallytrueattheranch. AccordingtoSally,theFourthofJulywasalwaysabigcelebrationwhenfamilyandfriendsgatheredforabarbecue. EventhoughgrandpaandgrandmaRushdidntallow alcohol,therewasplentyoffoodtobeshared.Summers werealsofunattheranchbecausethekidscouldswimat RushLanding.Thelanding,usedasadockforshipping grainandhayuntiltherailroadcamein,wasbuiltby BenjaminandlaterexpandedbyRichard.RushLanding isatthewesternedgeofthenorthpastureandcanbe seenfromtheMarshTrail. According to Sally, her grandfather had a brief interestinraisingand breeding trotting horses, which werehousedinwhattodayisreferredtoasthestallion barn.Shebelievesatleasttwoofthetrottinghorsesdid Sally Channel in front of the blacksmith shop
Continued on page 6
Photo: Ken Poerner

A river of wine runs through it: Local winery supports Jepson Prairie
SolanoLandTrusthasformedapartnershipwithKingAndrewsVineyardthatallowsRogerKingtosupportSolano LandTrustwhilehelpingtoimproveoneofhisfavoriteplaces,JepsonPrairie.Kinghasgenerouslyagreedtogive SolanoLandTrustaportionoftheproceedsfromeachbottleofwinesoldattheSuisunValleyWineCooperativeto beusedforJepsonPrairieimprovements.At1,557acres,JepsonisoneofCaliforniaspremiervernalpoolhabitats. AsaNationalNaturalLandmark,JepsonPrairieisanexperienceinnaturethatdeservesmorevisitorinterface, saidKing.Byprovidingthisspecificdonation,KingAndrewsVineyardshopestocontributetothatenhancement overthelongterm.ThewineryalsodonatedwinetothespringFarmFreshFeast. Solano Land Trust is able to do great work with the support of our community, business partners in conservation,andotherswhodonatetheirtime,money,andproductstohelpusachieveourmission.Please contactAssociateDirectorDeannaMottat(707)432-0150x205ifyourbusinessisinterestedinpartneringwith Special Gift! SolanoLandTrust.ManythankstoRogerKingandourothersupportersinthebusinesscommunity! Solano Land Trust

Vernal pools protected

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2011 Calendar Joinorrenewyour membershipatany levelandreceivea commemorativecalendar celebratingour25th anniversary.Itwillalso featureSolanoLandTrusts propertiesandspecial2011 eventsandstewardship dates.Renewtodayat www.solanolandtrust.orgor bycontacting AnneDeLozierat anne@solanolandtrust.org or707-432-0150x209.

throughoutour25thanniversarynextyear. ThisprojectisagreatexampleofhowSolanoLandTrustbuildspartnershipswithdiversegroupstopreserve landandsupportlocalfarmers,andinthiscase,supportoneofthelargestemployersinSolanoCounty,said IanAnderson,farmerandpresidentofSolanoLandTrust.WearepleasedtoworkwiththeHamiltonfamilyto preservetheagriculturalvalueofthelandandprotectthehabitat,whilealsohelpingtoensurethatthebases perimetersaremaintainedinaccordancewithitsmission. TheAirForcereceivedfundstopurchasetheeasementfromtheReadinessandEnvironmentalProtection Initiative.Theinitiative,authorizedbyCongressin2003,providesfundsforthemilitarytoprotectvaluableopen spaceandhabitataroundmilitaryinstallations,whilealsorestrictingincompatibledevelopment. ThomasRanchislocatednorthoftheCalhounCutEcologicalReserveandisadjacenttoSolanoLandTrusts JepsonPrairie,knownforitsvernalpoolsandrichwildlifehabitat.Thispropertyandsurroundingareasareknown astheGreaterJepsonPrairieEcosystem,oneofthebestremainingexamplesofvernalpoolsandpurpleneedle grassprairieintheCentralValley.ThomasRanchisalsouniquebecauseitcontainsasectionofBarkerSlough, atidaltributarytotheSacramentoRiverdelta. ThomasRanchhasbeenownedbytheHamiltonfamilyfornearlyeightyyearsandwillremaininprivate ownershipasgrazinglandforsheep.Theeasementallowsforagriculturaluses,butdisallowsdevelopmentand subdivisions.WhileJepsonPrairieisopentothepublic,thisprivatelandisnot.Pleaserespectfenceboundaries whenvisitingJepsonPrairie. TheStateDepartmentofFishandGame,SolanoLandTrustsfirstpartnerontheeasement,fundedthe projectdevelopmentwork.SolanoLandTruststaffthenappliedforfundsfromTravisAFB,whichwereusedfor theacquisitionandlong-termmanagementoftheeasement.TravisAFBandSolanoLandTrustworkedtogether foralmosttwoyearstocompletethetransaction. Anotheroutcomeoftheproject,saysAnderson,isthatwenowhaveanestablishedworkingrelationship withTravisAirForceBase.Welookforwardtocontinuingtoworkwiththemtopreservetheimportantgrazing landandhabitatintheGreaterJepsonPrairieEcosystem. SolanoLandTrustsnextstepwillbetoprotecttheadjacent150-acreThomasRanchNorthproperty.For more information on conservation easements and protecting land in Solano County, please contact Audrey Kitzes,SolanoLandTrustslandtransactionspecialist,at(707)432-0150x206.

Volunteer Profile: Linda Sonner and Dave Reider go the extra mile for Solano Land Trust
Natalie DuMont, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

SolanoLandTrustreliesonmanyvolunteerstoadvanceourmissionofprotecting workingfarmsandnaturalareasinSolanoCounty.Whileanynumberofthe passionatepeoplelistedontheoppositepagecouldbehighlighted,wewantto giveaspecialthankstoLindaSonnerandDaveReiderforgoingtheextramile. LindaSonner,whoretiredthreeyearsagoafteracareerinfinanceand informationtechnology,learnedaboutSolanoLandTrustfromProjectManager SueWickham.Afterattendingadocenttraining,Sonnerwasrecruitedtolead hikesandconductresearchonthehumanhistoryofLynchCanyon.Shewas alsoinstrumental,alongwithDaveReider,increatingathree-sidedkioskthat providesinformationabouttheflora,fauna,andhumanhistoryoftheranch. She brought her organizational skills to the table (literally!) as the master Dave and Linda present the kiosk they helped to plannerfortheFarmFreshFeastatRussLestersDixonRidgeFarmslastMay,and create for Lynch Canyon Photo: Teri Engbring againfortheHeritageFeastandArtAuctionatRushRanchinSeptember.Ive reallyenjoyedworkingwiththevolunteersandstaff,saidLinda.Everybody sharesaloveofopenspaceandaconcernfortheenvironment.Igettoexpandmyknowledgeandhelpspread thewordthattheseamazingplacesexistrightinourownbackyard. DaveReiderlearnedaboutSolanoLandTrustattheSanFranciscoBayFlywayFestival.Daveisaretiredpublic affairsofficerandfilmmakerfortheUSForestService.OneofhismostmemorableprojectswiththeForestService waswhenhefilmedmigratingCanadaandsnowgeesefromtheopendoorofahelicopter.Thereweresomany geese,hesaid,theylookedlikeaquiveringfieldoflightwithblackaccents. Davestilllovestakingphotos,andhastakenover2,000forSolanoLandTrustincludingthosehetookat theLynchCanyonTrailRunandCommunityHike,theFarmFreshFeast,andtheHeritageFeastandArtAuction. DaveisworkingonacritterguideforLynchCanyonthatwillincludemammals,reptilesandamphibians, insects,andbirds.Eachcreaturewillhaveitsownphoto,alongwithinformationaboutitshabitat,range,and diet.Photographyismyfirstlove,saidDave.Imabletofreezemomentsintime,ofnatureandofpeople. Someofhisphotoscanbefoundatwww.flickr.com/groups/slt_photos/.(Youcanshareyourphotoshere,too!) ThankstovolunteerslikeLindaandDave,andthesupportoflocalfarmers,ranchers,businesses,andartists, wewillbeabletopreservemoreland,offermoreeducationandrecreation,andhostmorefeasts. ContactNatalieatvolunteer@solanolandtrust.orgor(707)432-0150x200tojoinLinda,Dave,andour communityofvolunteers.

Rush Ranchs past

Continued from page 4

wellintheracingcircuitandcommandedahighprice.Sallysaidtheranchstrotting-horseerawasshort-lived becauseRichardwasmoreinterestedincattleandsheepbreeding.Butevenaftertheinventionofthetractor, theRushfamilycontinuedtouseworkinghorsesforherdingcattle. WhenSallyvisitedtheranch,shebroughtaphotoofRichardpullingaharvesterwithhisdrafthorses, haltersthatbelongedtoBenjamin,andtheRushbrandingirons.ShealsobroughtropethatwasmadebyCharlie Peterson,aNativeAmericanwholivedinahut.ThesegiftsthatSallypresentedtotheRushRanchEducation CouncilwillhaveaspecialplaceinourmuseumandaddtotherichhistoryofRushRanch. StoriesliketheseareinvaluableadditionstothehistoryandheritageofRushRanchandservetoremindus ofthevalueofpreservingourlandforfuturegenerations.ThankstoSallyChannel,theonlysurvivinggrandchild ofBenjaminRush,weareabletopassonthesestorieswhichkeepourcommunityshistoryaliveatRushRanch.
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Thank you Solano Land Trust volunteers!

Eachyearourlistofvolunteersgrowsandwehavetouseasmallerfontforthispage,butwerenotcomplaining!Weextendoursincerethanks toallofyouwhohavesharedyourtimeandtalentswithusinthepastyear.Weareenrichedbyyourdedicationtoeducation,conservation, management,andpreservationofagriculturallandsandopenspaceinSolanoCounty.
ChrisAbess MaryAbu-Dawood ShawnAdair C.J.Addington Mei-lingAlbert MaryannAlbright BrianAnacker Ian&MargaretAnderson LarsAnderson FrankAndrews CindyApaka Joe(Nilo)Arcilla NityaBalasubramanian RogerBane JohnBarnhill DeborahBartens DonBartling TimBaskerville EricBates ErinBeavers DarrinBerardi NanciBerger Bob&CarolBerman ZoeBerna SandraBettencourt Robert&Randie Boardman CarolBoeddiker JaneBogner TeresaBooth RyanBoynton Brianne&Melissa Bradford Ann&EugeneBreznock LarryBroderick KennBrowne MeganBucko GerardoBueno AngeloBufalini DonnaBurla EdBurns CherilynnBurton MarimeBurton DonBuswell JuanCabada KristineCabugau JimCarr CaroleLynnCarvalho David&JoanneCastro JayChamberlin TedChampagne CarlChang StephanieChun CoralClutts TerryColborn AlColombano BarbaraComfort PatriciaCooper SusanCotterel HeideCouch MaryBethCrittendon CaseyDavison Allan&JenniferDeal LisaDeFehr JeremyDelCid AnneDeLozier YolandaDillinger NellieDimalanta Jeff&LeslieDittmer Jean&WilliamDolter GilbertDominguez SarahDoolittle CandaceDrake RussDugoni Brenda&JimDuncan JonDuncan MattDuncan JimDunn SueEdwards JohnEisenbart MikeElliott TiffaniLeanneEmerson JoannaEmerson TeresaEngbring WilliamEricson MaryEstep MalcolmEvett AnnFarber MarilynFarley&Duane Kromm MaryFashho MaryLouFazel SarahFerner CherylFilarsky Mimi&JorgeFleige CharlesFord MichaelFortney AudreyFrancis CathyFrancis AlexandraFraser ErikFrenzel MicheleFrost ElizabethFry&MarkShaw RosemaryGacutan EdGallagher CarmelaGalvin TomGalvin ClaudeGaralde MichelleGarret JoelGartland JosephGavazza MaureenGeiger GemmaGeluz AletaGeorge RhondaGewin CeraGhavimi Roy&CindyGill TylerGoins KimbleGoodman BekiGoodwin EldrithGosney RustyGray ClaudiaGreco Joanne&SteveGreger AnnGrove Margaret&RobertGrow ChristineGruhn RamonaGutierrez GaryHaggett CharlesHagstrom BurrowsHamilton DougHampton VinceHangman GaryHansen DeniHarding Philip&CherylHarris LeilaHarris SteveHarvey RayHasey ScottHasper SusanHassett PhyllisHasty JessHayden JaneHicks BuzzHiggins BarryHill LindseyHinton DougHintz JosephHoberg KathyHoffman PhilHofland JenniferHogan BillHoneycutt Karen&MikeHouston BethHubbard RussellHuddleston BingHuey CarlaHunt CherylHurd RachelHutchinson PeterHyman LindaInderbitzen MaggieIngalls&David Lindsay LizIngraham BrianIrwin John&ValainIsaacson PeterJacobsen TorstenJacobsen TinekeJacobsen David&KyleJenks NickJensen JamesJerrell MeriJillian BillJohnson KatieJohnstone DianneKadahTanaka JenniferKaiser ToniKehl Christine&NickKenaston EstherKerster LaurenKiino DeenaKirby DorisKlein JimKlopstock RussellKoch AlexisKoefoed HansKogler GloriaKogler AlexisKreiger DianaKrevsky MartaKroger TravisKroger HalinaKrukowski Ray&Nancie Lagomarsino EldaLarson LeonaLauricella AlLavezzo LDSChurch-Fairfield, CA,Stake EmilyLebrocquy RobinLeong MikeLess Russell&KathyLester RhondaLetcher Kira&SarahLevin-Stuerzl IrmaLiberty MoniqueLiguori SaschaLin James&MarjorieLitsinger CharlesLomeli JimLowe JaniceLubker PaulLum DennisMaddox RebeccaMannion CarolMarini SeanMarquis MortMarsh JamesMarshall DebbieMartin ElenaMartinez JoeMartinez DanishaMatthews Don&ConnieMauldin KatherineMawdsley MikeMcCarney SamMcGee MonatteMcGee SherryMcKillop GaryMcRae LindseyMcWilliams AngieMecklenburg FredMeehan MarcMeyers JDMiller CodyMilligan BrandonMinto Bob&BethMintzer JaneMitchell JennyLesterMoffitt JaneMoody JoelMooney SamanthaMorco BeverlyMorlock FrankMorris MarshaMorris Deanna&DamanMott JohnMott-Smith SteffniMuehleisen PamelaMuick MichaelMuir CarlaMurphy MarkMyers DavidNeivelt PamNelson JohnNogue Darlene&RickNorwood GrantOrnbaun Cathy&MichaelOShea CristinaPadua-Hughes AnnParkinson ScottParrish StanPawlak Greg&SharonPeterson DavidPinkham Jestine&DebbiePinon Alice&AlanPlutchok KenPoerner JohnPointer ThomasPorterfield DianePowell MelaniePowers RaymondProthero LauraProvencher EstherPryor Sean&JanQuinn LisaQuintero DavidReider JimReikowsky ToddRewick AmandaReyes MaryAnnRich JenniferRiley JeannetteRobertson MarthaRocha BonnieGreeneRoss JessicaRoth&DanRott MargieRussell VanceRussell MichaelRydjord MiroSalazar MoniekaSaldana CarolynSanchez BrettSaunders MikeSavino DottieSchenk SuzanneScherff MarySchiedt MichaelSchmutz BrianSchoenneman SashaSchoenneman StuartSchroeder JanetSchunk KatySconza LindaSeifert PamSeifert Virgil&PatSellers LisaSerafini NancyShaffer DonaldShortridge DanSilvia EricSimoni DanielleSimpson NievesSira BelindaSmith CharlieSmith LaurenSmith BarbaraSmithson CraigSmithson ShawnSnell JaimeSolorzano LindaSonner Sam&MichelleSteiner JimSteinert DeborahStewart AbigailStockinger DonStrauss StephenStringer LloydStueve DennisSullivan BethSuter DeeSwanhuyser Earl&MaylienSwenerton Mary&JohnTakeuchi DavidTakeuchi MarileaTanner-Linne DonTaynton LynnTharp RobbinThorp AnnaTipton Dan&MikaTolson John&SkylarTusting KarenValadez-Castro RobertoValdezJr. ValeroEmployees DianeVaroz ElizabethAyresVasquez AmberVierling KianaVillanueva KarenVittorio ShaneWaddell Bruce&JudyWaelbrock GenevieveWalden Jim&ColeenWalsh JimWarner SarahWarnock MargoWatson VinceWebster AileenWeddell SarahWeimer BarbWelch Tim&RoxanneWellman BenWheeler ChrisWhite Ross&ReedWickham SueWickham BillyWigley LeeWilderSnider MaryKayWilliams WendyWilliams DougWirtz RollyeWiskerson JerryWiskerson CarolWitham LisaWoods MaxineWright ChrisWuoltee GaryWyatt MarcusYee AlexYoung LucilleYoung CeliaZavatsky AndrewZolnay

Lynch Canyon Open Space

Board memBers
Ian Anderson, President Darrin Berardi, Secretary Jeff Dittmer, Treasurer Bob Berman,
Immediate Past Pres.

LynchCanyonisopenonlyduringspecialdocent-ledeventsthrough February11,2011.LynchCanyonwillreopentothepubliconweekends beginningFebruary12.

Michael Fortney Elizabeth Fry Jane Hicks John Isaacson Albert Lavezzo Russell Lester Frank Morris Sean Quinn Linda Seifert

Forthelatestnewsonallofourevents anddirectionstoourpropertiesgoto www.solanolandtrust.org

Mosteventsarefreeandnoreservationsareneededunless otherwisenoted.FormoreinformationcontactNatalieat volunteer@solanolandtrust.orgor(707)432-0150x200.

Eagles, Hawks, & other Raptors

Saturday, Nov. 20 & Dec. 18, 2010, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Suggesteddonation:Member$5/person;non-members$12/person;free foranyoneunabletodonate. JoinraptorexpertLarryBroderickforabriefpresentationonbirdsofprey, followedbya3-4milemoderatehike.Recentsightingsincludegolden eagles,red-shoulderedhawks,andtonsofotherbirds!MeetattheLynch Canyonentrancegateat9a.m.sharp(gateislockedbehindus).

Land Stewardship
Saturday, Dec. 11, 2010, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
JoinLandStewardKenPoernerforoutdoorvolunteeropportunities.Meet attheLynchCanyonentrancegateat9a.m.sharp(gatelocksbehindus).

Jepson Prairie Preserve

Comespring,traineddocentsleadtoursleadtoursthroughthisunique vernalpoolecosystemon Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. March 12 through May 8.Ifyoudliketoseethe restinggrasslandandwatchforthereturnofwinteringwaterfowlas thelargeplayapoolfills,theroadthroughthepreserveisopenduring daylighthours.Therearenofacilities.Donationsrequestedbutnot required.

staFF
Nicole Byrd,
Executive Director Associate Director Administrative Assistant Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Restoration Planner

Citizen Science Friday

Friday, Dec. 17, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
JoinstaffscientistSueWickhamtoplantnativespeciesatBullfrogPond. Youlllearnaboutnativespecies,theimpactofintroducedspecies,and howsoil,plants,animals,light,andmoistureinteractinanecosystem. Forages10andup(youthmustbeaccompaniedbyanadult).RSVPto Natalie(seeabove).

Deanna Mott,

Anne DeLozier,

Natalie DuMont, Jessie Olson,

King and Swett Ranches

TheKingandSwettRanchesarecurrentlyopentothepubliconlyduring staff-ordocent-ledactivities.

Audrey Kitzes,

Rush Ranch Open Space

RushRanchisopensevendays/weekfrom8a.m.to5p.m.

Land Transaction Specialist Ken Poerner, Land Steward

Third Annual Raptor Tour

Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Suggesteddonation:Member$5/person;non-members$12/person;free foranyoneunabletodonate. JoinraptorspecialistLarryBroderickanddocentJimWalshtoseewinter birdsofprey.Meetat9a.m.besidethewhiteTruGreenpickuptruck atthePark-and-RidelotattheHiddenbrookeParkway/AmericanCanyon RoadexitatI-80.

Mountain Lion Lecture

Saturday, Nov. 20, 2010, 1 to 2 p.m.
LocalwildcatconservationistZaraMcDonald,founderandexecutive directorofFelidaeConservationFund,givesanengagingandinspiring presentationaboutBayAreapumas.Zaraprovidesacompellingviewof thenaturalgraceandbeautyoftheseanimals,delvesintothebiological andecologicalsciencethatisworkingfortheirpreservation,andoffers essentialtipsforlivingandrecreatingwithoutfearinpumahabitat.

Ben Wallace,

Conservation Project Manager Project Manager

Sue Wickham, Aleta George,

Editor, SLT Vistas Graphics, SLT Vistas

WG Design Group,

Logo design based on original art by Don Birrell

Citizen Science Friday

Friday, Nov. 19, 2010, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
JoinstaffscientistSueWickhamtomonitortreecagesthatprotect recentlyplantednativetrees.Youlllearnaboutnativespecies,the impactofintroducedspecies,andhowsoil,plants,animals,light,and moistureinteractinanecosystem.Forages10andup(youthmustbe accompaniedbyanadult).RSVPtoNatalie(seeabove).

Getting the Rush!

Saturday, Nov. 20 & Dec. 18, 2010, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
(Made possible by the all-volunteer organizations Rush Ranch Educational Council and Access Adventure)Freefunfortheentirefamily! At9a.m.,joinaneasydocent-guidedwalktolearnaboutthemarshand localhumanhistory.At10a.m.,learnabouttraditionalblacksmithingin aninteractivedemonstration,andvisitLittleBearsdisplayaboutNative Americanculture.At11a.m.,limited-mobilityandable-bodiedpeopleare welcometoclimbaboardhorse-drawncarriagesforaride.

Land Stewardship
Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
JoinLandStewardKenPoernerforoutdoorvolunteeropportunities.Meet inRushRanchcourtyard.

SolanoLandTrust 1001TexasStreet,SuiteC Fairfield,CA94533 (707)432-0150

NonProfit Organization US Postage Paid Fairfield, CA 94533 Permit # 00234

Preserving Working Farmlands and natural areas in solano County sinCe 1986