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Envisioning the future…Sonoma Land Trust2010 Annual Report1

Dear Friends,An annual report is really a thank you letter.At the Sonoma Land Trust, we are blessed with an extraordinarilyloyal group of members. It is our hope that every oneof you who is acknowledged in this report feels both a senseof pride for all we have done together to protect the beautifullandscapes of Sonoma County and a sense of possibility forwhat we can do in the future. There is so much more to be done.As this annual report goes to press, there is a lot of troubleRalph Benson and Denny Van Nessin the world. The horrific ramifications of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami are unfolding, as arethe epic and complex political changes in the Middle East. This year may shape up to be a pivotal timein world affairs. As compassionate citizens, there may not be a lot most of us can do to affect thesemomentous events — but we can tend our garden here at home.Who among us does not take joy and solace in knowing the scenic Sonoma Coast is protectedforever and that our redwood forests are on the rebound? Or in watching the interplay of oakwoodlands and vineyards that is so much a part of our Sonoma landscape? We are no longershrinking the Bay; rather, at Sears Point, we are restoring more than 1,000 acres of tidal wetlandsand securing the protection of nearly all of the land at the southern tip of Sonoma County foropen space, agriculture, functioning nature and recreation. This is the work your generous supportmakes possible.Last year, we developed a five-year plan for Sonoma Land Trust. We emphasized three sets ofvalues in doing our work:• innovation and risk-taking• collaboration and partnerships• professionalism, financial strength and integrity.And we set four goals:• Permanently protect the rural landscapes of Sonoma County• Connect people with the land• Be a well-managed, financially sound organization• Attract and retain motivated, respected and effective board members, staff and volunteers.This is the kind of organization we want to build. This is the kind of work that will go forwardwith your support.Thank you very much.Denny Van Ness, Board ChairRalph Benson, Executive Director2COVER PHOTO: Late winter fog shrounds Bald Mountain Ranch in beauty. Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.CENTERSPREAD PHOTO: The rare serpentine wildflower field on the Jenner Headlands in full bloom.Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.

Fifth-grade students from SunRidge Charter School visited SLT’s Estero Americano Preserve last fall as part of LandPaths’ IOOBY(In Our Own BackYard) program to learn about shorebirds, waterfowl and the raptor migration. Photo by Lance Kuehne Photography.Protecting land protects us allSaving land is all about the future: the future of our quality of life, the future of our childrenand grandchildren, and the future of our planet. As the climate continues to change in wayswe really can’t anticipate, protecting land may be the single most important action we can take toprepare and adjust. The more natural land that is available, the more options all species will havefor adaptation. Including our own.When the Sonoma Land Trust takes ownership of a newproperty or places a conservation easement on a parcel ofland, we are not just extinguishing development rights —we are ensuring the land will be kept free to do what it doesbest. Land performs many ecological services: it provideshomes for animals and plants, it nurtures trees that cleanthe air, it has rivers and creeks that give us clean water, itserves as a scenic backdrop to our lives in the more congestedcities, and it provides space for us to hike and thinkand refuel our busy brains. Perhaps most importantly, experiencingopen, wild land gives children access to the wildnesswithin themselves. It infuses them with a sense of aweat nature’s beauty and complexity. It connects them to theearth and to what is possible and what is necessary. It givesthem a sense of place in the world.A view to the futureIn 2010, the Sonoma Land Trust board of directors and staffundertook an in-depth strategic planning process to map ourcourse for the next several years, culminating in our “2011–2015 Five-Year Plan.” Along with continuing to move swiftlyto protect the remaining rural landscapes of our county, twonew driving forces emerged: to incorporate the science of climatechange into our conservation practice and to develop anew program to connect more people to the land. Both willbe critical to fulfilling the mission of the Sonoma Land Trust.3

Three properties were added to the Land Trust’s portfolio of protected lands last year,bringing the organization’s total protected acreage to more than 26,000. Each of theacquisitions is significant, in part, because it is either adjacent to or nearby other protectedlands, thus furthering a key Land Trust objective of linking up properties to create habitatconnectivity for our native wildlife.Bald Mountain Ranch —high and mightyIf you’ve driven along Highway 12, you’veundoubtedly appreciated the breathtaking,high ridge along the eastern side of theSonoma Valley. Bald Mountain Ranch is partof that backdrop and sports a scenic landscapedesignation by the County becausethe ranch is visible to travelers in both theSonoma and Napa Valleys.Looking to the future, longtime conservationistsCarter and Mary Thacher longdreamt of preserving the natural beauty of their picturesqueranch situated next to Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. After Mary’sdeath, Carter contacted the Land Trust about donating aconservation easement, but, sadly, he passedaway before it could be completed. Thankfully,his children shared their parents’ land ethicand saw to it that their parents’ wishes werecarried out. By the end of 2010, the 420-acrefamily ranch spanning the Sonoma and NapaCounty line was protected as Carter and Maryhad hoped, and the right to subdivide theproperty into five parcels was extinguished.The name Bald Mountain was given tothe ranch in honor of its bare 2,275-footpeak, which is sometimes called Little BaldMountain in deference to the taller Bald Mountain in theneighboring state park. We think a bald mountain of anyheight is sweet when it’s protected forever.4Sandwiched between Sugarloaf Ridge State Park and Calabazas Creek Open Space Preserve, Bald Mountain Ranch isextremely important for its connectivity value. The property’s eight different habitat types and hilly topography will helpspecies adapt to climate change. Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.

Pitkin Marsh contains significant wetlands that support several federally endangered plant species, including white sedge(Carex albida), which is not known to exist anywhere else in the world. Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.Sassin Property —a small gem of biodiversityWhen the Land Trust was asked to protectthe 28-acre Lower Pitkin Marsh in 2007,Jon Sassin offered to help in any way hecould. Three years later, he expanded theprotected area of the marsh by more than20 percent by donating a conservation easementon his six-acre adjoining property.While it might seem small, six acres is hugein this case because Pitkin Marsh is a littlepocket of biodiversity unlike anywhere elsein the world.Visible from Highway 116 between Graton and Forestville,the Sassin Property is primarily scenic open space andnatural habitat. Part of the property hasbeen identified by the county as a “bioticresource” due to the presence of marshes,wetlands and Pitkin Creek, and part of theproperty serves as an important buffer betweenLower Pitkin Marsh and nearby agriculturallands — thereby contributing directlyto the ecological viability of the preserve.With the integrity of Pitkin Marsh constantlythreatened by the land-use changessurrounding it, it is vital that conservationlands continue to be added around it. TheSassin conservation easement is another step in creatinga larger, connected system that will be more resilient andbetter able to adapt to climate changes.5

Instilling a love of the landLand … it moves us, inspires us, nourishes us. Which is why an integral part of Sonoma LandTrust’s work is connecting people with the land. Last year, we provided more than 100opportunities for individuals in Sonoma County to hike through lush fields of wildflowers andoak woodlands; to monitor beautiful, seldom-visited properties protected by conservation easements;to use their muscles to pull weeds and maintain trails; to bring their youthful enthusiasmto learn about nature; and to use their education and curiosity to research important scientificquestions. In the process, our lands were better cared for and our souls were nurtured.Expanded on-the-land opportunitiesFor the last several years, we’ve been offering public wildflowerhikes at Sears Point Ranch because the fields of purplelupine, yellow Johnny jump-ups and other West Coast wildflowersare far too spectacular to keep under wraps. Then, in2010, after acquiring the Jenner Headlands, we expanded ourpublic outings further. Between hikes led by the Land Trustwith The Wildlands Conservancy, and hikes offered by otherpartner groups — California Native Plant Society, Coast-Walk, LandPaths (on behalf of the Sonoma County AgriculturalPreservation and Open Space District), and Stewardsof the Coast and Redwoods — more than 800 people got outon this magnificent new coastal property.For those seeking a more intimate experience of the land,SLT continued offering conservation easement monitoringand stewardship workdays for volunteers. From erosion controlprojects and trail work to native seed propagation andinvasive plant removal, our volunteers got to break a sweatand gain an insider’s view of the challenges and joys of caringfor the land.Volunteers painstakingly pluck invasive plants at SLT’s PitkinMarsh Preserve to help the rare, native plants thrive. Photo byTony Nelson.The Hafners: (L-R) Parke, Mary, Sarah, Dick and Scott,with Lily, the family dog.Celebrating a 15-year relationshipwith the HafnersLongtime supporter and former board member MaryHafner describes her family’s ties to the SonomaLand Trust and how this mutual relationship nurturesthe spirit:“It was a generous gift membership from my longtimefriend Anne Teller of Glen Ellen that introduced usto the Sonoma Land Trust. When I was asked to jointhe Board of Directors in 1995, the Land Trust had only19 Evergreen donors. Today, there are 350 Evergreeners!Their contributions and those of many others helpfinance SLT initiatives that now protect thousands ofacres of wonderful Sonoma County landscapes foreveryone’s enjoyment.“In our Alexander Valley family, we help celebratebirthdays and anniversaries with monetary gifts toLand Trust preservation projects. Our family also hasgiven wine for many Land Trust gatherings. We like tothink of Hafner Vineyard wine as coming from the landto help preserve the land through Trust projects. Asgrape growers, we know that we are stewards of thisland whose beauty here in Sonoma County we seeand feel every day of our lives.”7

Managing Jenner Headlands’ redwood forest to develop old-growth characteristics will provide greater habitat forthreatened and endangered species. Photo by Stephen Joseph Photography.8It’s all about the futureProviding opportunities for children to experience the joyand value of our natural lands is a growing theme for theLand Trust. Toward this goal, we partner with a numberof environmental education programs in the county. Atour Glen Oaks Ranch Preserve, we continue to work withLandPaths’ IOOBY (In Our Own BackYard) program,bringing children from Flowery School to the ranch to learnabout nature and their place in it. Several times a year, youcan find Bree “Bird” and Kara “Crayfish” leading the childrenin exploring the creek and planting native grasses.Making casts of animal tracks at SLT’s Estero AmericanoPreserve. Photo by Lance Kuehne Photography.Putting land under the microscopeWe also make our preserves available as outdoor laboratoriesfor academic study and research. Professors and students fromlocal universities have conducted classes, used scat-sniffingdogs to perform research on bobcats, compiled a coastal grasslandflora book and created our first cultural resources managementplan. Birders, botanists and biologists have also beenvolunteering their expert skills to help us collect informationabout the plants and animals that make their homes on our lands.All in a year’s work on the landStewardship of Tolay Creek Ranch, Sears Point Ranch and theJenner Headlands has been funded by the continuous generoussupport of the forward-looking Gordon and Betty MooreFoundation. In 2010, several major stewardship efforts“got on the ground.” At Tolay Creek Ranch, creek restorationefforts continued as SLT added five miles of wildlifefriendlyfencing along both sides of the creek. Well-managedcattle grazing serves as an important tool for controllinginvasive weeds and grasses; this fencing will better controlthe cattle and keep them out of the creek where they puttoo much pressure on the native vegetation. In 2011, we willplant more than 1,000 willows along the creek, along withhundreds of other native shrubs and trees. After anotheryear or two of restoration and stewardship, the Land Trust

Dee and Harry Richardsonwill convey this property to Sonoma County Regional Parksto add to its Tolay Lake Regional Park — thereby doublingthe size of the park!The work that SLT has done at Tolay Creek — documentingthe biological and cultural resources, developing grazingmanagement and creek enhancement plans, and buildingfences and planting willows — will save Regional Parks severalhundred thousand dollars and jumpstart their park planningprocess. This public-private partnership between the LandTrust and Regional Parks demonstrates how we can deliverimportant projects to the community in these challenging economictimes and is just one of the reasons we work closely withmany public and private conservation groups on our projects.Getting acquainted with the complex and expansive JennerHeadlands kept quite a few people occupied in 2010. Stewardshipstaff from the Sonoma Land Trust and The WildlandsConservancy, along with a bevy of biologists of land, water andwildlife, conducted natural resource surveys, all with the goal inmind of developing an integrated resource management plan.While they didn’t encounter a lot of surprises, they did discovermany more species of birds than expected, making the JennerHeadlands an excellent spot for recording the fall Pacific Coastraptor migration.At Sears Point Ranch in 2010, we continued to build uponseveral years of planning. Last fall marked the groundbreakingRichardsons share a strongcommitment to open spaceHarry and Dee Richardson met in New York Citywhere Dee was a nursing student and Harry was amedical resident. After Harry completed his trainingin internal medicine, hematology and oncology atUCSF, they moved to Santa Rosa in 1973 so Harrycould practice medicine, and they could raise theirchildren and enjoy Sonoma County.Since 2005, Harry has served on the SonomaLand Trust board of directors; he became chair of thedevelopment committee in 2007 to lead the board’sfundraising efforts. He and Dee are part owners ofan antique store in Railroad Square where Dee hasbeen a strong advocate for historic preservation.They have been longtime Evergreen supporters ofSLT, saying that preserving open space fits with theirpenchant for preserving anything old. “There’s notmuch that’s older than dirt!”Both strongly believe that living in one of the mostbeautiful and geographically diverse spots on earthcarries with it the individual responsibility to “preservethe view,” the natural resources and the openspace for future generations. They would like to seeevery county resident be a member of the SonomaLand Trust. To underline their confidence in SLT’smission and strengths, they have designated a gift toour organization in their estate plan.for the much anticipated Baylands Center, which will becompleted by the summer of 2011. Design drawings were completedfor the construction of as many as four red-legged frogbreeding ponds in the Sears Point uplands. And the requisiteenvironmental planning and permitting continued at full speedfor the landscape-scale restoration of tidal marsh and seasonalwetlands set to begin construction in 2012. What a view it willbe from the Baylands Center when it is all underway!9

Donations advance key conservation projectsTwo significant matching gifts, an extraordinary bequest and generous membershipcontributions fueled our work in 2010.In 2010, our conservation efforts werepropelled by the continued commitment ofour steadfast supporters. Even in this tougheconomic climate, our efforts to save landhave not tapered off. Rather, we are movingahead faster and stronger than ever! Mostdonations received in 2010 went towardthe $18 million Redwoods to the Bay — SavingSonoma County’s Signature Landscapes campaignto accelerate the pace of land conservationin Sonoma County. And speed up it did!The backing of our membership, combinedwith a number of transformationalcontributions, made 2010 a remarkableyear, and several projects are already inthe works for 2011.Redwoods to the BaySaving Sonoma County’sSignature LandscapesMembership donations key to successfullymatching two pledge drivesIn 2009, Jean Schulz pledged an extremely generous$2 million matching gift to the Land Trust, saying, “Iwant our grandchildren and their children to be able toenjoy the same stunning vistas and experience land thatis as ecologically healthy as what we see around us today.”– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---– ---–$18 Million GoalDonations of every size helped complete thematch by the spring of 2010. Jean’s donationand the match kept us on solid financial footingand enhanced our efforts to providemore outings and educational activities onour properties.In November of last year, a wonderfullygenerous Sebastopol family that askedto remain anonymous surprised us withtheir offer to match all donations made byDecember 31 up to $300,000. Our donorscame through once again. Thank you forhelping us meet both challenges and, ineffect, doubling the impact of your gift.When we protect the natural landscapes ofSonoma County, we do many things: weprovide ourselves with lovely, natural backdrops,we make continued life possible for other species,we keep the air and water clean, and we allow for recreationaland educational experiences for people of all ages. In short,saving land enhances our quality of life, our well-being andour health. That is what your support does.Thank you for helping to protect the scenic, open andnatural lands we love … forever!$18 Million$15 Million Pledged$13 Million Pledged$11 Million$9 Million$6 Million$3 Million$1 Million10A bequest honoring land and life: Before Marie Rogers passed away, she designated the Sonoma Land Trust as the beneficiaryof her cherished Live Oaks Ranch. “Rie” knew that her land trust would keep her ranch wild and free from development.Photo by Lance Kuehne Photography.

Our diversified portfolio of conservation projectsANCHOR PRESERVESAcreage1 Baylands: Sears Point 2,3272 Estero Americano Preserve 1273 Glen Oaks Ranch 2364 Jenner Headlands 5,6305 Laufenburg Ranch 1796 Little Black Mountain 500Other SLT-Owned Lands7 Baylands: Leonard Ranch 2448 Baylands: North Parcel 2799 Baylands: Tolay Creek Ranch 1,66510 Cedars: Gateway 4011 Freezeout Redwoods 8912 Live Oaks Ranch 57213 Lower Pitkin Marsh 2714 Secret Pasture 30015 Sonoma Creek 216 White Rock Preserve 92Conservation Easements17 Airport Boulevard 5018 Bald Mountain Ranch 42019 Baylands: Lower Ranch 52820 Baylands: Tolay Creek Riparian 3621 Bear Canyon 9622 Blucher Creek 723 Bohemia Ranch 93724 Canelis Old-Growth Redwoods 125 Cuffeys Cove 1,06826 Drake Family 3427 Elarra 6028 Enchanted Wood 829 Finley Creek 24030 Fish Rock Ranch 731 Gird Creek 10032 Knaus Forest at Nuns Canyon 36Acreage33 Little Creek 4034 Mason 1835 Middle Reach 4436 Mill Creek Old Growth 5437 Morgan’s Hill 2238 Mother Gardens at OAEC 339 Nefertierra 7840 Oak Hill Farm 67741 OGA Little Creek 7342 Old Hill Ranch 3743 Quail Hill 8144 Rancheria Creek Recesses 60245 River Bend 3246 Rock Fall Woods 3147 Santa Rosa Creek Headwaters 16248 Sassin 649 Summerfield Waldorf School 3250 Sunrise Redwoods 2051 Van Winkle Redwoods 4652 Ward Creek 24053 Watson Ranch 53054 West Ridge Knolls 7455 Wild Turkey Hill 8Other Completed Projects56 Baylands: Halperin Baylands 1157 Baylands: Petaluma River Marsh 4958 Baylands: Sonoma Baylands 34859 Bel Marin Keys 1,50060 Cloudy Bend 38851 Harrison Grade Serpentine 3262 Laguna de Santa Rosa 53563 McCord Ranch 2,78664 Red Hill 91065 Rigler Preserve 37066 Sonoma Mountain Ranch 28311

12Thank you!

Financial StatementsThe amounts presented here are derived from the Sonoma Land Trust’s financial statements for the years ending December 31,2010 (not yet audited) and December 31, 2009 (audited). Copies of the audited financial statements are available upon request.STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT DECEMBER 31ASSETS 2010 2009Cash and cash equivalents $ 8,640,502 $ 2,761,069Investments 1,501,332 3,353,483Contracts and other receivables 303,156 205,367Pledges receivable 591,538 1,878,873Deposits and other assets 64,271 88,149Conservation lands and easements 66,453,737 65,176,009Property and equipment, net 910,111 885,647Total Assets $ 78,464,647 $ 74,348,597Liabilities and net ASSETSLiabilitiesAccounts payable and accrued expenses $ 340,689 $ 197,306Deferred income 282,546 386,078Current maturities of long-term debt 3,508 6,090Long-term non-recourse debt – 12,952,744Total Liabilities $ 626,743 $ 13,542,218Net AssetsUnrestrictedAvailable for operation $ 4,238,122 $ 195,719Board designated — conservation projects 707,869 709,149Investment in conservation lands 66,453,735 52,226,773Total unrestricted net assets $ 71,399,726 $ 53,131,641Temporarily restricted net assets 6,438,178 7,674,738Total Net Assets $ 77,837,904 $ 60,806,379Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 78,464,647 $ 74,348,597Statement of Activities for the Years Ended December 31revenue and supportContributions and grants $ 6,503,121 $ 3,481,471In-kind contributions 356,057 18,282Project income 465,638 745,220Investment income 143,988 260,691Other gains – 531,787Total Revenue and Support $ 7,477,804 $ 5,037,451EXPENDITURESProjects and stewardship $ 2,144,369 $ 1,673,405Governance and administrative 708,045 524,340Fundraising 540,926 390,543Total Expenditures $ 3,393,340 $ 2,588,288Net income before land acquisitions & donations $ 4,084,464 $ 2,449,163Land acquisition contributions (net) 12,947,058 19,052,942Net income after land acquisition contributions & donations $ 17,031,522 $ 21,502,10523

nonprofitu.s. postage paidpetaluma, capermit no. 201966 Sonoma AvenueSanta Rosa, CA 95404www.sonomalandtrust.orgMark Jacobsen, Chair 2010Denny Van Ness, Chair 2011Robert BrentNeal FishmanJohn AshPhillip CarlsenKaren CollinsAnthony CrabbEthel DalyChris DobsonCynthia DoubledayTed EliotBoard of DirectorsKirsten LindquistPete MattsonHarry RichardsonMaggie SalengerLeadership CouncilMichael EllisJoni FritscheThomas Garrett, MDBarbara GrasseschiMary HafnerMichael HoganCarolyn JohnsonBill KortumMaryClare LawrenceAllison SanfordWendy SmitMargaret SpauldingCarol WilliamsPeter LevequeJean SchulzDaphne SmithClay StephensAnne TellerRick TheisBob WilliamsMichael WrightKristine Acquino, Acquisitions Project Assistant:Karen Arrington, Development ManagerSheri Cardo, Director of CommunicationsDale Carroll, Office ManagerAmy Chesnut, Acquisitions DirectorPaul DeMarco, Director of Finance & AdministrationKara Doolin, Stewardship Assistant Project ManagerBrook Edwards, Jenner Headlands Project ManagerWendy Eliot, Conservation DirectorStaffRalph Benson,Executive DirectorEditor/Writer: Sheri CardoContributing Writers: Bob Neale, Beverly ScottlandGeorgiana Hale, Easement Stewardship & GIS ManagerReta Lockert, Donor Relations DirectorSheri Lubin, Director of Public Programs & EducationJulian Meisler, Baylands Program ManagerBob Neale, Stewardship DirectorTony Nelson, Stewardship Project ManagerElizabeth Newton, Executive AssistantBeverly Scottland, Development DirectorShanti Wright, Stewardship Project ManagerThe Sonoma Land Trust protects the scenic, natural, agricultural and open landscapes ofSonoma County for the benefit of the community and future generations by:• Developing long-term land protection strategies• Promoting private and public funding for land conservation• Acquiring land and conservation easements• Practicing stewardship, including the restoration of conservation properties•Promoting a sense of place and a land ethic through activities, education and outreach18 24Printed on recycled paper using soy-based inks