Spring 2007 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

8/3/2019 Spring 2007 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

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Presidents Messa

Executive DirectoPerspective

Farm-to-Table Se

Volunteer Prole

Mima Mounds atJepson

New Board Memb

Beelard Easemen

Buy a Brick!

Activities and Ev

l. 14 #1

Spring2007

Continued on page 2

Historic Agreement:County rangers to patrol Lynch Canyon

Marilyn Farley, Executive Director

n a historic agreement, Solano County has

artnered with Solano Land Trust to open Lynch

Canyon to the public ve days a week. In December

006, the County Board o Supervisors voted to

pprove a three-year pilot plan that will put park

angers at Lynch Canyon once it is open to the

ublic starting on May 11, 2007.

In 2006 SLT Board President Bob Berman,

mmediate Past President Sean Quinn and Executive

Director Marilyn Farley met with a subcommittee

o the Board o Supervisors, including John Silva

and then Chair John Vasquez, to hammer out the

details.

Ultimately, the County agreed to the three-year

commitment, which includes hiring rangers and

providing trail maintenance. The County will also

help pay or a volunteer and education coordinator

n the trail at Lynch Canyonhoto: Solano Land Trust


2/8

Presidents MessageBob Berman, President

2007 is shaping up to be

a busy year or Solano

Land Trust. In May we are

opening Lynch Canyon

or public access. Solano

County will provide the

necessary park rangers

to patrol the land and

SLT will hire a volunteer

coordinator to assist

with special programs. For the past several years,

SLT has worked hard to complete a trail system to all

portions o the property. A three-day grand opening

is scheduled or May 11, 12, and 13 with a variety ohiking, cycling and equestrian events.

2007 will also see the completion o the Rush Ranch

Nature Center, and the Rush Ranch Educational

Council is expanding its programs to make ull use

o the new acilities. You can get a sneak preview o

the nature center at the Rush Ranch Open House on

Saturday, April 28.

2007 will also see the completion o the Sky Valley-

Cordelia Hills Open Space Public Access Plan or theKing-Swett Ranches. When we completed acquisition

o the ranches, a commitment was made to open

the land to the public. Although money is not yet

available to open on a ull-time basis, we are working

to complete a plan that designates parking and

trailhead areas, picnic and camp sites and some 30

miles o trails. A segment o the Bay Area Ridge Trail

will cross Vallejo Swett Ranch. Because the area is

home to a number o rare and endangered species

such as the Caliornia red-legged rog, Westernburrowing owl, and Callippe silverspot butterfy, it is

necessary to balance recreational opportunities with

natural resource protection. Several public meetings

have been held to gather public input, and SLT is

working to adopt the plan. The next step is to raise

money or trails and other necessary acilities. At the

same time, we will be exploring ways to ensure long-

term unding to open the King-Swett Ranches on a

ull-time basis.

that will be an SLT employee. SLT agreed to modiy its by-laws to add a So

County representative to its board, and Supervisor Vasquez has subseque

joined SLTs board (see prole on page 6). SLT will continue to super

cattle grazing and restoration work, and make other improvements p

to opening.

Supervisor Silva stated at the 2006 meeting that the County needimprove access to open space lands or residents. He called or taking b

steps, noting that in the uture there will be a need or a dedicated un

source to operate parklands in Solano County.

SLT President Berman says, SLT purchased this land in 1996 to pres

an open space buer between Faireld and Vallejo, and to eventually o

it to the public. We still need to work towards creating a park distric

other means o permanently unding public access at Lynch Canyon and o

properties purchased in the past ew years.

Lynch Canyon is a 1,039-acre ranch located along the northwest

o I-80 between Faireld and Vallejo, and adjoining Napa Countys NeRanch. The land is dened by steeply rolling hills blanketed with grassl

and accented with groves o buckeyes and oaks. Lynch Canyon eatures e

trails, including a portion o the Bay Area Ridge Trail.

Land Steward Ken Poerner and Farley, together with County Gen

Services Acting Manager Pam Ogle and Interim Parks Director Larry Ep

have ormed a committee to plan the grand opening. Lynch Canyon wi

operated under County Park rules, which are currently under review.

anticipated that visitors will be asked to pay daily-use or parking ee

hiking, cycling or horseback riding.

Continued rom page 1

Lynch Canyons Grand

Opening is May 11, 2007!

SLT and Solano County, along with the Tri-City and County

Cooperative Planning Group, will sponsor ree activities at

Lynch Canyon and the King-Swett Ranches on May 11, 12,

and 13. Lynch will then be open Thursday through Monday,

and patrolled on a regular basis. A schedule o activities will

be posted at www.solanolandtrust.org by April 20.


3/8

Marilyn Farley, Executive Director

Executive Directors Perspective

In the Winter 2006 Vistas, I wrote that armers are required to experiment,

make substantial investments, react to changing conditions, and persevere

i they are to succeed. Solano Land Trust has available a signicant tool to

help armers succeed: the conservation easement. We use this tool in linewith priorities set in our Agricultural Conservation Easement Plan.

SLT now has conservation easements on 6,300 acres o armland in Solano

County. The smallest is 10 acres and the largest over 1,800. An agricultural

onservation easement is recorded when the armer voluntarily agrees to sell or donate the right to

o non-agricultural development on the property.

SLT typically works through state and ederal government programs to help pay or conservation

asements. The Caliornia Farmland Conservancy Program and the U.S. Department o Agricultures

arm and Ranch Lands Protection Program have unded many o our easements.

Some easements have been donated or partially donated. Incentives to donate recently got a lot

more attractive when Congress approved the Pension Protection Act (HR 4). This new law:Raises the deduction any

landowner can take or donating

a conservation easement rom

30 percent o their income in

any year to 50 percent;

Allows armers and ranchers

who meet more str ingent

qualications to deduct up to

100 percent o their income;

Extends the carry-orward

period or a donor to take tax

deductions rom 5 to 15 years.

These expanded incentives are

ood through December 2007.

A new Senate bill introduced in

anuary 2007 would make the change

ermanent.

Caliornia also has a tax credit program, administered by the Wildlie Conservation Board (WCB), or

onation o conservation easements. Approved donors can receive a state tax credit equal to 55 percent

the appraised air market value o their property. This program is in eect until June 30, 2008.

Marilyn Cundi, program manager with WCB, states that donors can potentially take advantage

the ederal donation incentives and still be eligible or a state tax credit. SLT can help armers apply

o appropriate state programs or credits.

Easements are a powerul tool or armers seeking to improve their bottom lines. As pressure on

gricultural land in Solano County continues to mount, an easement may help ensure the nancial

viability o arm operations, as well as guarantee that soils on prime armland remain available or

arming rather than converted to more urban uses.

This tool dovetails nicely with the movement to buy resh local produce rather than relying on out-

-season ruits and vegetables imported rom around the world. It can help bolster our agricultural

ector as we are looking to build job growth in Solanos cities.

Bennedsen conservation easementPhoto: Solano Land Trust

Useulweb sites:

Caliornia FarmlandConservancy Program:

www.consrv.ca.gov

U.S.D.A. Farm andRanch Lands ProtectioProgram:

www.nrcs.usda.gov/

programs/rpp

National HeritagePreservation Tax CrediProgram:

www.wcb.ca.gov

Land Trust Alliance:

www.lta.org


4/8

Continued on next

Farm-to-table: How products rom local armand ranches get to the tableSecond in a series Wendy Low, Land Transaction Spec

Solano Land Trust holds conservation easements on many types of Solano County farms and ranches. The

of how their products get to your table is just as varied. This article is the second in a series showcasing

process and informing readers where they can purchase the products.

Across the county rom the olive orchard eatured in the last issue oVistas, Solano Land T

holds a pair o conservation easements on two contiguous ranches in the Montezuma Hills n

Rio Vista. Owned by Jeannie McCormack and Al Medvitz, the two ranches cover more than 3

acres. Portions o the ranches have been in Jeannies amily or three generations. On this expan

landscape, Jeannie and Al raise lambs, goats, chickens or eggs, and most o their own eed inclu

alala, barley, oats and hay.

One o the ways that Jeannie and Al surviv

the current ag market is by occupying a special

niche: they sell many o their lambs to Niman Ra

a distributor o meat raised using humane

environmentally-sound practices. They were

rst ranchers to raise lamb or Niman, joinin

1991. When the demand or Niman lamb excee

their capacity, Jeannie and Al brought in our o

ranchers in the Montezuma Hills, and together

orm a Niman production group.

Niman Ranch has several protocols or t

lamb growers. The ranches must be amily ow

and run. The sheep eat an all-natural vegeta

diet, have access to clean water and shade, are not crowded or isolated. Because sheep

sensitive hearing, ranchers are asked to ha

their focks calmly and quietly. Lambs are not g

antibiotics, and ranchers use preventive meth

to avoid oot diseases. Ranchers are expecte

ensure even grazing, contain and recycle animal waste and keep sheep out o environmentally sens

areas.

Like most lamb producers in Caliornia, Jeannie and Al breed their ewes in the all so that the sp

born lambs can eed on grasses during the rainy season. Their ewes are Dorset-Rambouillet cross

are bred to Hampshire-Suolk rams. The lambs depend on their mothers rich milk or several weBy the time they are ready to graze, new grass has grown in the rst winter rains.

For Niman Ranch, Al and Jeannie take 100 to 200 lambs a week to Superior Meat Packing in D

or slaughter. The meat is delivered to Niman Ranch in Oakland where artisan butchers make the

cuts. Niman Ranch sells to restaurants, grocery stores and online. It seems amiss, but I have not b

able to identiy where Solano County residents can nd Niman Ranch lamb locally, though there

many restaurants in Napa, Sonoma and Marin counties that eature Niman meats. Two marke

Berkeley, Andronicos and Berkeley Bowl, also carry it. For baseball ans, Acme Chop House, adja

to AT&T Park in San Francisco, oers Niman Ranch lamb chops. Recently, I was thrilled to try Ni

Ranch osso buco (braised lamb with mixed vegetables in a red-wine reduction sauce) at Station H

Cae in Point Reyes Station.

Jeannie McCormackand Al MedvitzPhoto: Laurie Smith


5/8

Jeannie and Al also raise goats, which have a very dierent marketplace. They sell goat meat toCa Rouge in Berkeley and to individual customers who handle the slaughter themselves. Mexican-

American amilies, or example, like to serve goat at quinceaeras and estas. Goats are also sold or

reeding stock. They also sell eggs, which you can nd at Liras Supermarket in Rio Vista and the

Ca Rouge Meat Market in Berkeley.

To read more about Jeannie and Al, their neighboring lamb ranchers, and how to choose and prepare lamb,

ook for The Niman Ranch Cookbook (Ten Speed Press, 2005), or check out www.nimanranch.com, where

ou can place an order online.

Volunteer profle: Mary TakeuchiAleta George, Editor

When I told Mary Takeuchi that I wanted to prole her or the newsletter she said, Why me?

Heres why. Mary is always the one to show up with coee at Rush Ranch events; always willing

o help at workshops and nature walks; and when fyers need distributing or press releases sent to

ewspapers, Mary always steps orward to get the job done.

Shes been involved with the Rush Ranch Educational Council (RREC) since 1991. My husband John

was on the RREC board since its ormation. He dragged me in, says Mary.

In the beginning, volunteers did a lot o physical labor. They repaired ences, straightened the

opsided barn and blacksmith shop, put a deck and a roo on the Kit House, and planned cultural and

atural history exhibits. Mary soon ound hersel on the board, and throughout her many years o

nvolvement, has worn the hat o president, secretary and treasurer. She has also coordinated the Rush

Ranch Open House or ten years.

The rst Rush Ranch open house

coincided with the grand opening o

the property in 1991. She helped or

several years, and in 1997 became

the main organizer, a job shes doneever since. Shes quick to point out,

however, that she gets a lot o help.

Other long-time participants in

the open house include the Wiskerson

amily; Tim and Roxanne Wellman;

West Valley Chorus; Twin City Steppers

square-dance group; and the Spinning

Wheel bluegrass band. John, Marys

husband, heads the snack bar, and SLT

Land Steward Ken Poerner helps witheverything rom set-up to parking.

The Rush Ranch Open House,

ecently dubbed Ranch Days, is ree, and i youve never attended, step on out and enjoy the music,

quare dancing, wagon rides, marsh walks, horseshoe demonstrations and a host o other un activities.

When you come, say hi to Mary and oer thanks or her years o service to Rush Ranch.

ontinued rom previous page

oxanne Wellman herding cattle at Ranch Dayshoto: Solano Land Trust

Ranch DaysOpen HouseApril 28, 2007.

10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Free

Call (707) 422-4491or visit

www.rushranch.org

or details.


6/8

As a Jepson Prairie docent, there are ew experiences more enjoyable than to accompany an energ

group o young people on a spring day. The pace invariably quickens into a race as we approach ano

rise in the vernal pool landscape rom which we can catch a better view o the colorul blooms in

shallow depressions below. Rest stops are taken on the larger mounds where dry, sot grasses oplace to lie on our backs and search or approaching storm clouds or oraging hawks.

From our perch overlooking the prairie, we enjoy the fuid melody o a Western meadowlark. I

and observant, we can detect Caliornia meadow voles racing along their grass-lined runways betw

mound-top burrow entrances.

Surprisingly, I am rarely asked about these bumps on the landscape. Calling them by their scien

name, mima mounds, is eective in catching the groups interest. Pronounced my-ma, this m

topographical eature is ound mostly in western North America.

Although only a couple o eet higher than the surrounding ground, the mounds contribute gre

to the plant and animal diversity o Jepson. Due to the mounds well-drained soils, many native p

are still able to persist. Solitary bees tunnel into the mound soils to build their nests. Vole, gopher

kangaroo rat tunnels in the high ground are essential to the survival o adult Caliornia tiger salamand

some having just metamorphosed rom their aquatic larval stage in Olcott Lake.

The mounds o mystery tour at Jepson is not complete without a presentation and debate o

several possible explanations or their creation. Could they be the result o thousands o years o

gophers? Were they ormed like miniature dunes by vegetation entrapping windblown soil partic

Or, is the blind thrust ault ve miles to the west responsible or reshaping the ground with wave

seismic energy?

Contemplating the various theories can require a stretch o the imagination, but these myster

mima mounds are just one o the wonders at Jepson that keep docents and visitors returning se

ater season.

Exploring the mystery o JepsonPrairie mima mounds James Steinert, Jepson D

Photo: James Steinert

SLT welcomes new Board Member John M. VasquezWhen Solano County Supervisor John M. Vasquez, Solano Land Trusts newest board member, wa

across a Vacaville parking lot covering ormer armland, he nds it a bit strange. I once walked t

ground below the pavement and harvested prunes. All the land my amily once armed has someth

on top o it.

His parents came to Vacaville as migrant arm workers, and or decades the amily tilled Sola

County soils. A continuous wave o crops rom oat hay to apricots kept the amily busy. In 1976, the am

opened Vasquez Deli in Vacaville, which is still amily owned and going strong. His parents continue

live in Vacaville, as do John and his three brothers.

Aside rom time spent helping to build the Alaska pipeline and active duty in the military, John has spent his lie

Vacaville. Im emotionally attached to the area. All my riends and amily are here, he says.

I am honored to serve on the Solano Land Trust board. I never wanted to be a armer, but agriculture still pulls at me. I was

son o a armer, he says. There are 75 crops and commodities dependent on Solanos soils. We ought to take that seriously.

John has been a Solano County supervisor in the 4th District since 2003, but has spent a lietime serving his commun

He attributes his drive or community service to his parents, teachers and many civic leaders.

John and his wie Shelli (who also grew up in Vacaville) have our children, now adults. The entire Vasquez clan h

participated in Vacaville Fiesta Days or 44 years. El Rancho Vasquez is a celebration on wheels, says John o the am

foat. Were pretty rowdy.

Explore mima mounds,

wildlie and wildfowers

on docent-led tours every

Saturday and Sunday

at 10:00 a.m., now

through May 13.


7/8

In 1864, Hiram Rush started acquiring properties in Solano County that eventually

became Rush Ranch. More than 100 years later, Solano Land Trust acquired Rush

Ranch in 1987. The natural areas o the property, along with the historic, working-

ranch buildings, provide recreational and educational opportunities to thousands o

school children, youth, and visitors each year.

An o-the-grid Nature Center is currently under construction. SLT jumpstarted this project with a

$500,000 grant rom the San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, and subsequently

received a $500,000 grant rom the Coastal Conservancy or construction. In addition, an anonymous

donor gave us $250,000 and pledged up to $200,000 more i we can raise $200,000 rom other

supporters beore June 30, 2007. We have used the git to kick o the ambitious Rush Ranch Challenge

Campaign to raise $2 million to maintain Rush Ranch now and in the uture. So ar, weve raised

$72,000 towards our $200,000 matching-grant goal.

As part o the new Nature Center, we are planning a brick patio area with native plant landscaping. Our

goal is to sell 1,864 bricks to individuals and companies to help meet the Rush Ranch Challenge. This

is your chance to leave a permanent legacy at the center that will showcase the natural and historical

treasures o Rush Ranch or all to enjoy. Join the Rush Ranch 1864 Brick Campaign and get in on the

ground foor now!

SLT partners with City o Vacaville anddevelopers to preserve armland and habitat

The uture o agriculture and the Swainsons hawk in Eastern Solano County has

rightened a bit thanks to a creative partnership. Solano Land Trust, with the

elp o the City o Vacaville, the Caliornia Department o Fish and Game, the

olano County Local Agency Formation Commission and two homebuilders,

as preserved the 289-acre Beelard property east o Vacaville.

The arm contains prime agricultural land that has historically been

sed to grow a rotation o irrigated row crops and alala. The Beelard

roperty also serves as critical habitat or the Swainsons hawk, considered

threatened species. The Swainsons hawk, which thrives on irrigated

lala land common to eastern Solano County, has seen much o its habitat

onverted to housing.

In 2004, the City o Vacaville approved a proposal by Western Pacic Housing and DeNova Homes

o develop housing and commercial space on prime armland and critical habitat or the Swainsons

awk. However, beore breaking ground on their project, the developers were required to preserve 289-cres o armland and Swainsons hawk habitat. This type o government requirement or a developer

o compensate or the impacts o a project is called mitigation.

SLT oten assists government agencies and developers to put together conservation projects unded

y mitigation. DeNova Homes and Western Pacic Housing contributed over $600,000 to preserve

he 289-acre Beelard property. SLT placed a conservation easement on the arm and resold the land

n February 2007. The easement ensures that the property remains as armland and Swainsons hawk

abitat in perpetuity. SLT is currently participating in other mitigation projects including one to preserve

nother large area o agricultural land near the Beelard property.

Please fll out and mail the Brick Order Form enclosed in this newsletter.

Rob Goldstein, Land Transaction Specialist

Buy a brick

or a solid

investment in

Rush Ranch

Susan Wilkinson,Development

Director

Swainsons hawkPhoto: Jim Dunn

www.avian-images.com


8/8

Preserving Farmlandsand OPen sPacethrOughOutsOlanO cOunty

Solano Land Trust

1001 Texas Street, Suite C

Faireld, CA 94533(707) 432-0150

NonPro

Organiza

US Posta

PaidFairfel

CA 945

Permit # 0

Jepson Prairie PreserveNow through May 13, experience the prairies unique

wildlie and wildfowers on docent-led tours every

Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. A $1 donation is requested.

Jepson Prairie handbooks are available rom docents or

$10. For more inormation, or to schedule a group larger

than ve, contact SLT at (707) 432-0150 x 203, or

[email protected].

King-Swett RanchesThe newly acquired King and Swett Ranches are part o the

Sky Valley Cordelia Hills Open Space and are currently open

to the public during sta- or docent-led activities only.

Scenic HikesSaturdays, Apr. 7, May 20, Jun. 10. 9 a.m. Free

Explore Solano Countys largest protected open space on

a docent-led hike. Meet at the Park-and-Ride lot at the

Hiddenbrooke Parkway/American Canyon Road exit at I-80.

Co-sponsored with the Bay Area Ridge Trail Council.

For more inormation contact Sue Wickham at

[email protected] or (707) 432-0150 x207.

Lynch Canyon Open SpaceBeginning on May 11, 2007, the property will be open

to the public Thursdays to Mondays. Until then it is open

during sta- or docent-led activities only.

Lynch Canyon Grand Opening

May 11, 2007 - Free

Plans are underway or activities at Lynch Canyon and King-

Swett Ranches on May 11, 12, and 13. A schedule o eventswill be posted at www.solanolandtrust.org by April 20.

Volunteer Trail Care DaysSecond Saturday o the month:

Apr. 14, May 12, Jun. 9. 9 a.m. Free

Assist Land Steward Ken Poerner with trail care. Snacks are

provided. Call Ken at (707) 580-6277.

BOard memBers

Bob Berman,President

Ian Anderson,Vice President

Jane Hicks,Secretary

Frank Morris,Treasurer

Sean Quinn, Immediate PastPres.

Frank J. Andrews, Jr.

Darrin Berardi

Jeff Dittmer

John Isaacson

Russell Lester

John M. Vasquez

staFF

Marilyn Farley,Executive Director

Terry Chappell,Field Steward

Rob Goldstein,Land Transaction Specialist

Wendy Low,Land Transaction Specialist

Kirsti Muskat, Bookkeeper

Cathy OConnor,Finance Ofcer

Ken Poerner, Land Steward

Ben Wallace, ConservationProject Manager

Sue Wickham,Project Coordinator

Susan Wilkinson,Development Director

Aleta George,

Editor, SLT Vistas

Logo design based on

original art by Don Birrell

Scenic HikesFourth Saturday o the month:

Mar. 24, Apr. 28. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Free

Join Dave Warner or a Lynch Canyon hike.

Contact Ken Poerner at (707) 580-6277.

Rush Ranch Open SpaceRush Ranch is open to the public Tuesday to Saturday

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Suisun Hill Trail (across Grizzly Isla

Rd. rom Rush Ranch) is open seven days a week, dawn

dusk. For additional inormation visit www.rushranch.o

Access Adventure: Challenging the

Limits o DisabilityMichael Muir leads a recreational horse-drawn carriage

program or people with disabilities. For more inormat

go to www.access-adventure.org, or contact Mike at

[email protected] or (707) 426-3990.

Blacksmith Shop Demonstrations

Third Saturday o the month:

Apr. 21, May 19, Jun. 16. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. - Free

Watch or participate in the art o blacksmithing.

Volunteer WorkdaysFirst Saturday o the month:

Apr. 7, May 5, Jun. 2. 9 a.m. until fnished - Free

Get some resh air while helping with ranch and trail

maintenance. Call Ken at (707) 580-6277.

Spring WildfowersSaturday, Apr. 14. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Free

Enjoy the spring wildfower display while learning abou

the Suisun Marsh and the history o Rush Ranch.

Ranch Days Open HouseSaturday, Apr. 28, 2007. 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Free

Learn about the ranchs natural and cultural history wh

enjoying horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, square

dancing, blacksmithing, alconry and working sheepdog

demonstrations. Call (707) 422-4491 or details.

Marsh DiscoverySaturday, May 19, 2007. 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. -

Discover rare species, wetland invaders, and learn abou

conservation eorts to protect this amazing ecosystem

Be prepared or sun and mosquitoes, and wear sturdy s

No prior registration required.

Spring 2007 Vistas Newsletter, Solano Land Trust

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