News and Views

August 2008

Tri-Valley Conservancy

Preserving Land for Future Generations

Help Brush Up Brushy Peak, and Enjoy a Great Time!

Want to Enjoy Nature and Give Back at the same time? Well on September 13-14 you can Volunteers for Outdoor California (V-O-Cal) is coordinating volunteers to help create a loop trail system designed to provide new public access into the Brushy Peak Preserve. This includes 1.9 miles of trail for bicyclists, equestrians, and hikers and a 0.5 mile connector trail to the summit providing public access to panoramic views of the park which cannot be seen now. A typical V-O-Cal project is a 2 day trail construction or trail maintenance effort with somewhere between 100 and 500 volunteers all working together on public land of some description. V-O-Cal chooses its projects carefully, with beauty and fun at the top of the list of criteria. Spend the weekend camping with your food, good company, and entertainment provided. Volunteers for Outdoor California believe that the quality of the experience is the most important part of any of its efforts. As a result, everything about the organization and its projects is designed to make sure that every volunteer has a great time and leaves with a genuine sense of accomplishment. If the volunteers do not have a good time, it is not a good project! For more information and to participate check out V-O-Cals web site: www.v-o-cal.org

Volunteers for Outdoors always enjoy camaraderie, good food, and a sense of accomplishment.

Tri-Valley Conservancy

Preserving Land for Future Generations

A Local Renaissance, What comes to mind when you hear Napa Valley? Sonoma Valley? What about Livermore Valley?
By Suzanne Erera

For the Tri-Valley Conservancy, Livermore Valley is home, and a historical place once teeming with more than 5,000 acres of vineyards and 50 active wineries. In fact, Livermore Valley boasted Americas first international gold medal for wine in 1889, starting the worlds recognition of California as prime wine country. But conditions in the first half of the 20th century-including rapid development pressures in this region less than an hour east of San Francisco-collapsed Livermore Valleys share of the wine market. In the 1960s, only 1,200 acres of vineyards and six wineries remained. To directly combat the loss of productive agricultural land, as well as to preserve the rural character and open space the community loved, Tri-Valley Conservancy was formed. Last year, Tri-Valley Conservancy joined 31 other land trusts across the country in providing leadership for the national land trust movement. They succeeded in the Alliances Land Trust Board Member Challenge by encouraging their board members to join the Land Trust Alliance as individual members, adding much needed strength to the national work that will affect local land conservation across the country. When 100% of their board members joined the Alliance, Tri-Valley joined just nine other land trusts that met the highest mark in the Challenge: 100% participation and dedication.

All of our board members see the value of the Alliance, or they wouldnt have joined, said Executive Director Sharon Burnham, one of the conservancys three staff. Sharon introduced the Challenge during their August board meeting. The Land Trust Alliance has so many great resources for us and its services are so valuable. Its presence in D.C. is really important for all of us, and Rally reinvigorates you and reminds you why you started in the business in the first place. Another challenge the conservancys board took on last year was completing their first comprehensive Conservation Plan. The plan identifies their priority landscapes, focusing on the agricultural lands that define their heritage as well as the trails and natural habitat that the community craves. The plan also identifies key partners and provides strategy to raise the $14 million price tag. Its been a real big year, said Sharon. At its heyday, Livermore Valleys prestige was akin to those other California wine regions we think of these days. Now, with a renaissance of 43 active wineries and over 3,800 acres of vineyards, the Tri-Valley Conservancys protection, and the Alliances help, history may repeat itself. (Reprinted with permission from Saving Land Magazine Spring issue)

Tri-Valley Conservancy

Preserving Land for Future Generations

The Tri-Valley Conservancy continues to focus on lands that preserve the areas rural character, scenic beauty, and diverse environmental resources. Through preserving these lands, we envision that both human life and wildlife can survive and thrive. Our work touches the lives of everyone in the Tri-Valley; from families who enjoy riding and walking, to farmers who are able to keep their lands in production, and to our communities preserving their scenic beauty.

As we look to the future, we will need your help to take our next steps and add miles of public trails, protect hundreds of acres of wildlife habitat, and preserve scenic areas for all to enjoy. Tri-Valley Conservancy currently holds conservation easements over the following lands:
Vineyards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3160 Olive Groves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 344 Nut/Fruit Groves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137 Open Space / Parkland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 518 Total Acreage Under Easement . . . . . 4159

Gourmet Dinner Silent Auction Live Auction Music Dancing

$75 Per Person No Host Bar

Board of Directors
Jim Perry, Chair Alameda County Rik Hansen, Vice-Chair At large Karl Wente, Secretary Livermore Valley Winegrowers Association Jean King, Treasurer City of Livermore Mark Eaton At large Kathy Farrell At large Miriam Miller Friends of the Vineyards Michael Princevalle At large Mary Roberts City of Pleasanton Bill Thomson At large

To purchase TickeTs, Tables or learn more abouT sponsorship & underwriTing opporTuniTies, please call 925-449-8706 or email lmercier@Trivalleyconservancy.org.

BUy yoUR TickET NoW!

Thursday, October 2, 2008 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Staff
Sharon Burnham Executive Director Laura Mercier Associate Director Monica DePalmo Stewardship Barbara Graham Office Manager

Event Sponsors: The Independent Hansen Ranch ImageSetters Jims Glass Moreland & Bologna Accountants Arroyo Windmill Groves

1736 Holmes St., Building B Livermore, CA 94550

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Permit #637 Livermore, CA