8/3/2019 Fall 2005 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust
1/8
PresidentsMessa
ExecutiveDirectoPerspective
SkyValleyCordeHillsResourceMaagementPlan
FocusonLynchCanyon
NewConservationEasements
ActivitiesandEv
l. 12 #1
Fall2005
Continued on page 2
SLT Purchases Eastern andVallejo Swett Ranches
Wendy Low, Land Transaction Specialist
n January, Solano Land Trust completed the long-awaited purchase o the Eastern Swett and Vallejo
wett Ranches, the last parts o a three-part transaction between Solano Land Trust and PG&E. The
,408-acre Eastern Swett Ranch and 905-acre Vallejo Swett Ranch are located between Faireld, Vallejo
nd Benicia, largely hidden rom view o all the major highways. SLT rst acquired the 1,617-acre King
Ranch, which borders the Suisun Marsh along Interstate 680, in 2002. These acquisitions, along with
Wilcox Ranch (see page 7), bring SLTs total acreage to 10,343.
Conservation at this scale enables protection
entire watersheds and makes possible the
estoration o habitats and ecosystem processes
nd unction. This acquisition enables SLT to
rotect the majority o upland watershed acreage
or Sulphur Springs Creek, which drains to Lake
Herman and the Carquinez Strait and another
nnamed creek draining into Suisun Marsh.
The Swett Ranches eature steep, grassy hills
with outstanding views o San Pablo Bay, Suisun
ay, and Mt. Tamalpais. Several rock outcrops o
he Franciscan Complex oer panoramic outlooks
s well. A wide, prominent central valley at Vallejo
wett has an intermittent stream running through
t, as well as reservoirs and small ponds within and
ust above the stream. O all the species occurring
t the Vallejo Swett Ranch, the Caliornia red-
egged rog is perhaps the most important because
the excellent habitat provided by the ponds or
reeding and the stream or dispersal.
The combination o wide open grasslands and
the updrats created as cool ocean air meets hot
inland air makes the Swett Ranches an excellent
area or oraging raptors, including the sharp-
shinned hawk, red-tailed hawk, American kestrel,
prairie alcon, and golden eagle. The properties also
provide nesting habitat or the black-shouldered
kite, northern harrier, red-tailed hawk, American
View towards Vallejo from rock outcrop at Vallejo Swett Ranch
Photo: Bud Turner, WildLight Photography
8/3/2019 Fall 2005 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust
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Presidents MessageSean Quinn, President
Photo: Bud Turner,
WildLight Photography
kestrel, burrowing owl, and short-eared owl. Serpentine bunchgrass grassl
a rare community type, covers roughly 20 acres o Vallejo Swett, with at
two rare plants, Tiburon buckwheat and dwar soaproot, occurring here
SLT intends to keep the lands in active cattle grazing, with public access lim
at rst to docent-led tours. Through a unique on-going partnership with PG
enhancement o the habitat or endangered species will also be possible.Vallejo Swett eatures particularly important habitat or rare
endangered species as well as a planned segment o the Bay Area Ridge T
We are truly indebted to all o our unders or the Swett Ranches, as we
to PG&E who shared the vision o preserving this land or uture generatio
said Sean Quinn, SLT Board President.
A remarkable partnership o unders came together to help SLT se
these lands or uture parkland. Funding or the acquisition o the Eastern S
Ranch came rom the State o Caliornias Wildlie Conservation Board
Coastal Conservancy, the County o Solano, the Cities o Faireld and Ben
the Greater Vallejo Recreation District, and Triad Development. The Bay
Ridge Trail Council, State Coastal Conservancy, the Gordon and Betty M
Foundation, and Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District mitigation u
held by Solano Land Trust provided unding or the Vallejo Swett Ranch
leadership by Senators Mike Machado and Wes Chesbro and Assemblymem
Lois Wolk also played a signicant role in realizing this major project.
We are excited to be part o this important eort to preserve and pro
such a rich ecological resource, said Bob Harris, PG&Es vice-presiden
environmental aairs.
This acquisition is a key step towards implementation o the Citie
Benicia, Faireld and Vallejo, and the County o Solanos shared vision o
approximately 10,000 acres o undeveloped land known as the Sky Va
Cordelia Hills Open Space. This vision recognizes the critical role that
landscape plays in preserving signicant habitat, protecting the agricul
resources and heritage o the surrounding communities, and ensuring
open space and recreational amenities are preserved or posterity, no
Bill Whitney, Benicia council member and board member o the Tri-City
County Cooperative Planning Group or Open Space and Agriculture.
We invite the public to enjoy these beautiul lands by joining our doc
led hikes at Sky ValleyCordelia Hills Open Space. See the activities pag
more inormation.
Left to right: Bob Berman, Assemblymember Lois Wolk, Bob Harris of PG&E, Marilyn
Farley, and Sam Schuchat of the California Coastal Conservancy, April 2005
ThelastyearatSolanoLand
Trusthasbroughtmanygreataccomplishments.
TheLandTrustcompleted
thenalacquisitionotheKingandSwettRanches,whichtotal3,930acreso
permanentlypreservedlandbetweenFaireld,Benicia,andVallejo.TheLandTrust
alsocompletedagriculturalconservationeasementson
818acresinthePleasantsValleyandPutahCreek
areas.IwanttothankBarbaraComortandCraigMcNamaraortheirvisiontopermanentlyprotecttheirlands.TheLandTrustisalso
movingorwardtodevelopacaretakerandresearchacilityatRushRanch.
Thishasalsobeenayearochange.NewboardmembersincludeCarlDebevecandKarinMacMillan.
CarlisanattorneyinVacavillewithalonghistoryocommunityinvolvement,particularlyintheareaomediation.Hellstheboardvacancyorlegalexper-
tiseandcurrentlyservesaschairotheinvestmentcommittee.KarinMacMillanisthemayorotheCity
oFaireldandhasalonghistoryocommunityin-volvementandakeeninterestinopenspace.Shells
oneothetwoCityoFaireldseatsontheboard.
Atthestalevel,MarilynFarleyhasbeenap-pointedexecutivedirector.Marilynbringsawide
varietyoproessionalandpersonalvolunteerexperi-encetotheLandTrust.Shehasservedontheboard
since2002,mostrecentlyastreasurer.Herstrongorganizationalskillsandcommitmenttoourmission
willbeanasset.SeveralnewstamembershavejoinedtheLand
Trust.SueWickham,ageologistandactivemembero
theCaliorniaNativePlantSociety,isourcoordinatorortheSkyValley-CordeliaHillsResourceManagement
Plan.BenWallacebringsabackgroundinprojectmanagement,biology,andconservationprogramsto
theconservationprojectmanagerposition.HemostrecentlyworkedasprojectdirectorortheCaliorniaAssociationoResourceConservationDistricts.Tina
Nixonjoinsusasnanceocerandbringsawealthoexperienceinnancialmanagementwithlargecon-
structionandmanuacturingcompaniesintheNewEnglandarea.
Finally,theboardelectedanewslateoocers.BobBermanwillbecomepresidentandIanAndersonwillserveasvicepresidentstartinginJanuary.Frank
MorrishastakenoverastreasurerstartinginAugust,andJaneHicksiscontinuingassecretary.Undertheir
leadership,andthatothesta,theutureisbright
ortheSolanoLandTrust.
Eastern and Vallejo Swett RanchesContinued from page 1
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Executive Directors PerspectiveSLT Forges Partnerships and Creates Endowments
Marilyn Farley, Executive Director
These are exciting days or the Solano Land Trust. With recent
transactions, we now own over 10,000 acres o land and have agricultural
conservation easements on over 5,000 acres in Solano County. Thats
something to celebrate!We are orging
par tnerships wi th
armers, oundations and individual donors, the
cientiic and development communities and
thers to preserve and protect sensitive habitats,
armland and open space in Solano County. We
ave asked Solano County to partner with us to
make Lynch Canyon a part o the Solano County
ark system. When that occurs, Lynch Canyon will
e open to the public rom dawn to dusk at least
ve days a week.
On our Rush Ranch property were working with
he National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)
nd the Rush Ranch Educational Council to build a
lassroom or the hundreds o school children who
visit Rush Ranch each year. Were also building a
ew caretaker residence and acilities or visiting
NERR scientists. This project is being jump-started
with a $500,000 grant rom NERR. Well need a
ombination o volunteer labor and up to $700,000
o complete this project by November 2006.
Our Beelard Farm on the rich agricultural soils
ast o Vacaville will soon have an agricultural
conservation easement. SLT plans to sell this
arm with a conservation easement to protect
it or agriculture and Swainsons hawk habitat
in perpetuity. Western Pacic Homebuilders and
De Nova Homes provided the unding to monitor
this easement. Their participation ullls their
obligation to mitigate or loss o armland and
habitat on two subdivisions in Vacaville. SLT will
invest this money and draw down interest earnings
to pay the costs o monitoring.
SLT has the responsibility and the challenge
o establishing endowment unds to manage and
improve habitat, and to develop the potential or
agriculture or grazing on all the lands we own.
We can oten get purchase grants, but it is more
dicult to get money to improve and restore
habitat over the long haul at Rush Ranch, Jepson
Prairie and the Sky ValleyCordelia Hills Open
Space (Lynch Canyon, King Ranch, and Vallejo
Swett and Eastern Swett Ranches).
You can help us by making contributions to
our endowment unds. With endowment unds,
we invest the principal and only draw down the
earnings. Major gits will help us achieve our goal o
guaranteeing that uture generations will be able to
enjoy and benet rom our precious neutral lands.
My husband and I have named SLT as a beneciary
o up to $100,000 in our living trust. SLT is talking
with an anonymous donor about a git o up
to $1,000,000 that would be used or specic
protection purposes. Kathy Homan, aide to
Congressman George Miller, is also naming SLT as
a beneciary or $100,000.
These major gits will help SLT now and in
the uture to protect and enhance our natural
resources in Solano County. I you want to support
our eorts now or in your estate planning, please
contact me or consult with your nancial planner,
tax advisor or attorney to create a plan best suited
to your individual needs.
Whats Happening inSky ValleyCordelia Hills?Sue Wickham, Resource Management Plan Coordinator
Youmightseepeoplesnoopingaroundbushes,in
pondsandcreeks,measuringorageormapping
weedsontheKing,EasternSwett,andVallejo
SwettRanchesoverthenextewmonths.These
olksaregatheringinormationortheSkyValley
CordeliaHillsResourceManagementPlan.The
managementplanwillhelpustounderstandthe
naturalhabitatsandrareandendangeredspecies
thatlivethereasweprepareorinvasivespecies
management,low-impactpublicuseandgrazing.
ThiseortwillhelpSLTprotect,enhance,and
managethesepropertiesortheuture.
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4/8
To spot a golden eagle soaring in the Bay Area is a unique sight, but you
may be lucky enough to see one o these majestic birds on one o Dave
Warners hikes through Lynch Canyon. Lynch Canyon is a 1,039-acre
property owned and managed by SLT located between Faireld and Vallejo,
just west o Interstate 80. The open grasslands and oak woodlands o the
property are home to a myriad o wildlie and plants. O special interest
are excellent specimens o native grasses, and trees such as bay laurel,
Caliornia buckeye, and live oak in the riparian areas. Hillside wildfowers
can be ound in the spring, including Johnny-jump-ups,
poppies, brodiaea, milkmaids, yarrow, and lupine.
Dave Warner has been leading hikes through Lynch Canyon or ve years, an
now, these docent-led hikes are the only way or the public to access the prop
Dave is a wealth o natural history knowledge. He starting hiking at an early
with his science teacher ather and continued to nourish his love o the outdby leading Boy Scout hikes or over 50 years.
On his rst Lynch Canyon hike in 1999, he remembers seeing over 1,000 n
green-winged teal massed above him at the reservoir site. He hasnt seen them
that number since, but many waterowl still requent the location. Another t
Dave was showing other naturalists around when a curious, juvenile golden eagle soared close b
check them out.
Dave would love or you to you join him or a Lynch hike on the ourth Saturday o every mo
Hell show you his avorite tree, the lazy tree, which grows horizontally a good 100 eet, and p
out the old home sites rock barn wall that is still partly visible. Vole reeways and other wildlie c
abound i you know where to look.Solano Land Trust is lucky to have outstanding docents like Dave who are committed to sha
these open space areas with the public. Daves walks are moderate to ast paced. Despite his q
low-key nature, Dave can really cover ground. SLTs Land Steward Ken Poerner says, Dave out-w
everyone I know!
Come meet Dave and take a hike. For schedule and more inormation see the back pag
this newsletter.
Outdoor Painting/Poetry Workshop OfferedRush Ranch Educational Council is hosting a
combined painting and poetry workshop taught
by local painter Robert Chapla and poet Sherry
Sheehan on Saturday, October 29. Painters and
poets o all levels will work together in this
outdoor workshop to produce a poem or a
painting inspired by the dramatic Rush Ranch
landscape. Chapla and Sheehan have been
collaborating on PoArtry since 2003 when they
exhibited together in Napa.
Chaplas local solo exhibits have included
the Glasho Gallery and Ledgewood Creek
Winery in Suisun Valley, the Art Foundry Ga
in Sacramento, and Epperson Gallery in Croc
He is currently exhibiting and painting at the N
Gallery in Crockett. Sheehan has been a eat
poet at the popular Second Sunday Poetry Rea
in Crockett and her poems have appeared in m
publications including the Carquinez Poetry Re
andHonolulu Magazine.
Whether youre a painter or a poet, or dabb
both, come out and play at Rush Ranch on Oct
29th. See Activities and Events on the back p
or more details and registration inormation.
Volunteer Highlight:Dave Warner Leads Lynch Canyon Hikes
Sue Wickham, Resource Management Plan Coordinator
Dave Warner
The Lazy Tree
Photo: Dave Warner
8/3/2019 Fall 2005 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust
5/8
Golden Eagles Make Lynch Canyon HomeGerald D. Karr, Conservation Chair, Napa-Solano Audubon Society
andPresident of the Friends of San Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Twenty-years ago on a day o non-stop rain,
joined ormer Napa County Supervisor and
ongtime conservation activist Mike Rippey in
ynch Canyon or my rst Audubon Christmas bird
ount. As we came to a grove o eucalyptus trees,we spooked a golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos). As
t took o, it shuddered its entire body to throw
water o its eathers, the drops fying in slow
motion. I was hooked.
A golden eagle is almost as large as a bald
agle, with a body length o 27 to 33 inches and
wingspan o 72 to 87 inches. It may be a bit
maller than a bald, but a wingspan o six eet is
till pretty impressive!
Once a common permanent residenthroughout the open areas o Caliornia, these
irds are decreasing in number due to the
eduction in open space and oraging sites. Like
the bald eagle and all raptors, golden eagles are
opportunistic eeders, although mammals like
jackrabbits and ground squirrels are their most
common prey.
The golden eagle is a Caliornia Species oSpecial Concern and a Federal Bird o Conservation
Concern outside o Caliornia. With only 500 pairs
o golden eagles estimated to nest in Caliornia,
the bird warrants special consideration whenever
involved in any land management decision.
Eagles require lots o open space and that
is what makes the protected terrain o Solano
Land Trust so important. The canyons and open
rangeland o our coastal hills have provided
historic habitat and breeding areas or goldeneagles. American, Jameson and Lynch Canyons all
provide suitable habitat or this beautiul, large
bird o prey.
Astronomy Club
Uses Lynch CanyonKen Poerner, Land Stewa
LynchCanyonhassomenewnighttime
visitors.No,theyrenotowls,theyareth
AstronomyCluboVallejosContinental
oOmegaBoysandGirlsClub,nowpart
otheBoysandGirlsCluboAmerica.
VisitingLynchCanyonasweatherpermit
twiceamonthonThursdayevenings,the
AstronomyClubbringstwoeight-inch
telescopestoponderthestars.
Otheryouthgroupsinterestedinusing
LynchCanyonareinvitedtocontactKen
at(707)580-6277.
Stewardship UpdateKen Poerner, Land Steward
Lynch Canyonield steward Terry Chappell and I have installed picnic tables, hitchingosts, an inormation kiosk, and a toilet. Over nine miles o trails have been
uilt or improved, and picnic tables and trail signs are strategically located
hroughout. These improvements were unded by the Bay Area Ridge Trail
Council and the Caliornia Coastal Conservancy.
Rush RanchA 200-acre wildre raced across Rush Ranch east o Grizzly Island Road on
uly 13th. Chie Blanc o the Suisun Fire Protection District classied the re
s arson. The next day the re famed again on its south edge and burned
nother 100 acres o Rush Ranch and about 200 acres o the neighboringletcher Ranch. Engines rom as ar away as Isleton and Benicia helped to
ut out the re. No structures were threatened, but several hundred eet o
ence were destroyed.
epson Prairien other re news, we were unable to conduct a prescribed burn at
epson Prairie last spring. For uture burns, I am talking to the Caliornia
Department o Forestrys Delta Camp (which is down the road rom Jepson
rairie) about adopting Jepson Prairie and the Wilcox Ranch or their annual
pring re training.
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New Conservation Easements ProtectMartell Ranch and Putah Creek Ranch
Wendy Low, Land Transaction Spec
Martell Ranch
TheHistory of Solano County (1879) aptly describes Vaca, Lagoon, and Pleasants Valleys as the admira
o all travelers. Solano Land Trust is proud to have recently protected the Martell Ranch, one o
last large ranches in Pleasants Valley. The agricultural conservation easement placed by owner BarComort in December 2004 protects 535 acres o the 576-acre ranch, and is contiguous with
conservation easement placed on the adjoining Hoskins property in 2003.
The protected acreage saeguards rich bottomland or arming, steep rangeland or grazing,
riparian areas around two creeks that are part o the Putah Creek watershed. The upper portion
the Martell Ranch have been used as range or bee cattle production. The State Wildlie Conserva
Board unded this rangeland portion o the easement through its Rangeland, Grazing Land and Grass
Protection Program.
The lower portions o the ranch were planted to ruit orchards rom the late 1800s to the 19
Apricots, prunes, pears, peaches, plums, olives, walnuts and gs were grown with a dry-arm agricul
system that produced high-quality ruit with excellent favor. However, this type o production caman end throughout western Solano County due to competition rom larger and earlier producing
rom the Santa Clara and San Joaquin Valleys. The orchard plantings were converted back to range
in the 1950s, except or a three-acre olive planting in the middle o the ranch.
Barbara began to diversiy income to the ranch three years ago by rehabilitating the existing o
orchard. A grant rom the Caliornia Farmland Conservancy Program unded the armland portio
this easement, which will create the opportunity to return approximately 120 acres o the Ma
Ranch to irrigated or dry-armed orchards.
The greatest development pressure on productive agricultural land in Pleasants Valley is the gro
o rural ranchettes. Non-arming residents typically discontinue agricultural use o their prope
Conservation easements like Martell Ranch preserve large tracts o land or arming in perpetuityPutah Creek RanchOn the northern edge o Solano County the Winters area was also once a region o large arms
has become a popular locale or country estates. A road passes along the south side o Putah Cr
creating access or home sites adjacent to the creek on the prime soils ormed on the alluvial a
Putah Creek.
Putah Creek Ranch is located in the h
o this area along Putah Creek Road. The
acre ranch supports a mix o organic wa
orchards and irrigated ield crops (prim
grape rootstock and tomatoes). It is alsoheadquarters or the Center or Land-ba
Learning, a non-prot ounded by Craig McNam
(see Summer 2004 issue oSLT Vistas). Unde
FARMS Leadership and SLEWS Programs,
Center hosts a variety o educational classes
workshops or students in sustainable agricult
natural resource conservation, and ecolog
View towards the Vaca Mountains from Martell Ranch
Photo: Julian Meisler
Continued on nex
8/3/2019 Fall 2005 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust
7/8
restoration. Landowners Craig and
Julie McNamara have placed an
easement on 283 acres o the 324-
acre property.
We realized that while we
could probably sell several estateproperties or a million dollars
each, it was important to keep
it in agr icultural production.
Thats why we decided to pursue
an ag r i cu l tu r a l co nser va t io n
easement, said McNamara.
Solano Land Trusts mission
inc ludes p r o tec t io n o b o th
agricultural lands and natural
esources, so we are particularly pleased to create these two conservation easements that protectrime armland, rangeland, a signicant riparian corridor (Putah Creek), and two o its tributaries,
aid SLT President Sean Quinn. Barbara Comort and Craig McNamara are both leaders in the
gricultural community and were proud to work with them.
Wilcox Ranch Purchase EqualsMore Protection for Vernal Pools
Marilyn Farley, Executive Director
Wilcox Ranch East, a 1,342-acre preserveocated east o Travis Air Force Base and west o
epson Prairie, was transerred rom The Nature
Conservancy (TNC) to the Solano Land Trust (SLT)
n March 21, 2005. SLT now owns and manages
he land while TNC retains a conservation
asement. Under the easement, SLT is charged
with protecting the vernal pools as habitat or the
ederally threatened delta green ground beetle,
he endangered vernal pool tadpole shrimp and
ndangered vernal pool airy shrimp.Gently rounded mounds surrounded by vernal
ools and playas characterize the property, and in
pringtime, the vernal pools have spectacular displays
wildfowers. The southwest corner is bisected
y Denverton Creek, which lows south toward
Denverton Slough and Grizzly Island. The northeast
orner was historically a sheep ranch and contains the
anch headquarters. The property is currently leased
o rancher Tom Schene or cattle grazing.
A management plan and management ohabitat and grazing activities will be paid or
through mitigation unds as required by U.S. Fish
and Wildlie Service or a power plant built south
o Jepson Prairie by Creed Energy Center, LLC, a
CalPine Corporation aliate. This endowment
will be critical to the ability o SLT to manage the
property in perpetuity. Creed initially paid SLT
$423,000. Payments o another $242,000 will
be made each January or the next three years.
Then CalPine will make a nal payment to ullyund the endowment.
A management plan or the greater Jepson Prairie
ecosystem is currently being developed to identiy
best practices or maintaining and enhancing the
existing habitat and controlling invasive weeds on
the Wilcox Ranch and the larger area. Carol Witham
Botanical Consulting is carrying out this work. In the
uture, Wilcox Ranch will also be used or grazing,
scientic and educational purposes.
VolunteersNeededTrailbuildingandpropertymaintenan
DocentsatRushRan
LynchCanyonandJepsonPrairie
Hikeleaders
Administrativesupp
Putah Creek Ranchontinued from page 6
Iyouareinterested
injoiningtheteam
ovolunteerscontact
KirstiMuskat
(707)432-0150x102
kirsti@solanolandtrus
Putah Creek Ranch, bordered by a row of old olive trees along PutahCreek Road
hoto: Greg Kirkpatrick
8/3/2019 Fall 2005 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust
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Preserving Farmlandsand OPen sPacethrOughOutsOlanO cOunty
SolanoLandTrust
1001TexasStreet,SuiteC
Faireld,CA94533(707)432-0150
Address Service Requested
NonPro
Organiza
US Posta
PaidFairfel
CA 945
Permit # 0
Rush Ranch Open SpaceRushRanchisopentothepublicTuesdaytoSaturdayrom
8a.m.to4:30p.m.TheSuisunHillTrailisopenseven
daysaweek,dawntodusk.Foradditionalinormationvisit
www.rushranch.org.Access Adventures:
Horse-Wagon Driving for the DisabledMichaelMuirhasbegunahorse-wagondrivingprogramor
peoplewhoarewheelchair-boundorhavedicultyhiking
pre-scheduleddates.
Outdoor Painting and Poetry WorkshopOct. 29, 10 a.m. to p.m. Cost: $
Inthisworkshopco-taughtbypainterRobertChaplaand
poetSherrySheehan,paintersandpoetswillexplorethe
creativeedgeswherevisualartsandversecongregate
andcollide.Opentopoetsandpaintersoalllevels.Priorregistrationrequired.ContactAletaGeorgeataleta@lmi.net
or(707)429-3529.
Patwin Harvest ProgramNov. , 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Free
Joinadocent-ledprogramonhowtheNativeAmericanPatwins
livedinourregionbeoretheEuropeanssettledCaliornia.
Participantscantrytheirhandatcreatingshellnecklaces,
arrowheads,andtulerope.Nopriorregistrationisrequired.For
moreinormationcallDonTayntonat(707)425-3706.
Volunteer WorkdaysFirst Saturday o the month:
Nov. , Dec. , 9 a.m. until fnished FreeGetsomereshairwhilehelpingwithranchandtrail
maintenance.Noexperienceortoolsnecessary.Lunchis
providedorparticipants.
Blacksmith Shop DemonstrationsThird Saturday o the month:
Oct. 1, Nov. 19, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free
Watchorparticipateintheartoblacksmithingwithlocal
blacksmiths.
Jepson Prairie Preserve
Self-guided TourTakeasel-guidedtourintheDocentTriangleanyda
theweekduringdaylighthours.Docent-ledwildfower
willresumenextspring.
Lynch Canyon Open SpaceCurrentlyLynchCanyonisopentothepublicduring
sta-ordocent-ledactivitiesonly.
Volunteer Trail Care DaysSecond Saturday o the month:
Nov. 12, Dec. 10, 9 a.m. Free
AssistLandStewardKenPoernerwithtrailcareand
habitatrestorationeorts.Snacksareprovided.Formo
inormationcallKenat(707)580-6277.
Scenic HikesFourth Saturday o the month:
Oct. 22, Nov. 2. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free
JoinDaveWarneroroneohispopularLynchCanyon
hikes.FormoreinormationcontactKenPoernerat
(707)580-6277.
King and Swett RanchesThenewlyacquiredKingandSwettRanchesareparto
SkyValleyCordeliaHillsOpenSpace.Currently,theKing
andSwettRanchesareopentothepublicduringsta-
docent-ledactivitiesonly.
Scenic HikesOct. 22, Nov. 12, Dec. 10. 9 a.m. Free
ExploreSolanoCountyslargestprotectedopenspacewit
docentKathyBlume.Eachhiketakesyoutoadierent
sectionothe3,900acreswithexcellentviewsomarsh
grasslandsandtheSanFranciscoBay.MeetatthePark-
RidelotattheHiddenbrookeParkway/AmericanCanyon
exitatI-80.Co-sponsoredwiththeBayAreaRidgeTrail
Council.CallKathyorinoandtoRSVPat(707)864-21
BOard memBers
Sean Quinn,President
Bob Berman,Vice President
Frank Morris,Treasurer
Jane Hicks,Secretary
Ian Anderson
Frank Andrews, Jr.Carl Debevec
Jeff Dittmer
John Isaacson
Russell Lester
Karin MacMillan
Al Medvitz
staFF
Marilyn Farley,Executive Director
Terry Chappell,Field Steward
Wendy Low,Land Transaction Specialist
Kirsti Muskat, BookkeeperTina Nixon, Finance Ofcer
Ken Poerner, Land Steward
Ben Wallace, ConservationProject Manager
Sue Wickham, ResourceManagement PlanCoordinator
Aleta George,
Editor, SLT Vistas