Southeast Alaska Land Trust - News

Southeast Alaska Land Trust Applies to Upgrade Our Wetlands Mitigation Agreement with the Corps

2010-03-03T11:39:00.000-08:00

For more than a decade, SEAL Trust has teamed with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to utilize certain wetlands mitigation fees, paid by developers when their projects cause unavoidable impacts to aquatic resources. These fees are used to conserve wetlands for public benefit in Southeast Alaska. Federal regulations on the mitigation fees have changed, and SEAL Trust must update its legal agreement with the Corps. As part of our upgrade, SEAL Trust wrote two draft reports that describe SE Alaska’s wetlands, how we will work to conserve wet places for public benefit, and how we will manage the mitigation fees. click here...

The Corps is conducting a public review and accepting written comments on these SEAL Trust reports. Please contact us at setrust@ptialaska.net or 907-586-3100 if you have questions. Your written comments must be submitted to the Corps. Check their website (www.poa.usace.army.mil/reg (under special public notices) or contact the Corps by phone (907) 790-4490 or by email (randal.p.vigil@usace.army.mil) for the comment deadline.

Southeast Alaska Land Trust Presents:

2010-01-11T12:11:00.000-08:00

Glaciers of Southeast Alaska:

Ice Loss, Glacier Rebound, and Sea Level Rise

Lecture and slide show by glaciologist Roman Motyka

January 20th

Thunder Mountain Auditorium

7:00 to 9:00 PM

Admission is Free.

Call (907) 586-3100 for details.

Professor Motyka has been investigating glaciers in Alaska and around the world for over 35 years.

At a time when sea level rise concerns many people in the world, the retreat of our local glaciers is causing land to uplift and sea level to fall across the entire northern part of Southeast Alaska. Come learn about this phenomenon and how it affects shoreline landscapes and Southeast Alaska Land Trust conservation projects right in our own backyards.

Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge: Accreted Lands Project

2009-11-09T14:11:00.000-08:00

Southeast Alaska Land Trust is currently undertaking an exciting project with Juneau landowners in an effort to secure a fixed boundary around the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge. Situated in the geographic heart of Juneau, the Mendenhall Refuge is a 3,600 acre tidally-influenced wetlands where the mixing of fresh and salt water in the estuaries and grasslands create critical habitat for more than 140 species of resident and migratory birds, nearly a dozen different mammals, eight anadromous fish, and an abundance of other marine species.

It has become evident that this treasured asset is substantially shrinking due to a natural phenomenon called "isostatic rebound," where land, once pressed under glaciers, rises. In the case of the Mendenhall Refuge, which has a boundary largely defined by the "mean-high tide line," lands that were once legally within the Refuge are now being claimed for private ownership by adjacent landowners through a process called quiet title. With low-gradient tidal flats a persistent feature of this area, the Refuge is shrinking by as much as hundreds of feet, in some areas.

Southeast Alaska Land Trust is offering to purchase these accreted lands, or an interest in these lands and hopes to secure a fixed boundary around the Mendenhall Refuge by entering into conservation agreement with willing upland owners. Options include simple purchase agreements, tax-deductable donations of accreted lands, or the establishment of conservation easements. The positive responses from landowners thus far is exciting, and SEAL trust is eager to work with each individual landowner to find the best approach to managing their accreted lands. Our intent is to ensure the long-term integrity of this remarkable resource for wildlife and the for Juneau community.

For more information about the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge and about the Accreted Lands Project, you can visit our website at http://southeastalaskalandtrust.org/ or give us a call at the office at (907)586-3100.

View of accreted land of a property adjacent to the Refuge, seen from the ground stake to the trees in the distance.

Aerial map of the Mendenhall Wetlands State Game Refuge. Click for larger image

Introducing new SEAL Trust Employees!

2009-11-09T12:33:00.000-08:00

“Southeast Alaska’s natural treasures enjoy increased significance to me the more I kayak along its wild shores and travel around the world.”
-Gretchen Keiser

Gretchen Keiser
Conservation Specialist

Gretchen has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Science Education from Cornell University and a Master’s of Science in Biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In Alaska since the mid-1970s, Gretchen has worked in natural resources as a field biologist, legislative analyst, coastal program manager, city planner and water quality regulatory manager.

She serves on the Board of Directors for True North Federal Credit Union and Rainforest Yoga – two not-for-profit organizations important to the well being of the Juneau community. Gretchen brings her enthusiasm for the conservation of Southeast Alaska’s natural landscapes, coupled with her personal interests in kayaking, gardening, yoga, and travel.

"From exploring remote bays in an old wooden fishing boat to backpacking in the forest and alpine, I am continuously amazed and humbled by the beauty and richness of Southeast Alaska. I have only begun to explore the natural wonders and incredible communities here, and I thrilled to be involved in the exciting and important work of SEAL Trust."

Rebecca Hartwell
Conservation Assistant

Rebecca grew up near the small town of Carnation in Washington State and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. During college, she studied in Sikkim, India for a semester where she developed an independent study project on community- based ecotourism, which became the empirical basis for her Honors thesis senior year. Rebecca graduated in 2006 with a Bachelor's degree in Politics and Environmental studies. After graduation, she traveled to Malaysia with a US Fulbright Fellowship where she taught English in a rural community for one year. Upon Rebecca's return to the US, she headed north for colder climates as an intern with Sitka Conservation Society through the Alaska Conservation Foundation internship program. Enchanted with Southeast Alaska, Rebecca decided to explore this unique region by water and got a job as a deckhand on a commercial fishing boat, trolling for salmon throughout Southeast Alaska for five months. Now living in Juneau, Rebecca is excited for the opportunity to work for Southeast Alaska Land Trust and continue working for conservation issues in Alaska.

Thomas B. Stewart Memorial Fund

2008-04-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Judge Stewart was a life-long conservationist who, as a member of the Southeast Alaska Land Trust Board, made immeasurable contributions to ensuring that vital areas remain in-place for the well-being of each generation. He shared a keen knowledge of the history and a clear vision for the future of this place.

Tom inspired our work, amazed us with his personal knowledge of this region, its people and history, guided our actions with his standards of excellence and integrity, and delighted us with his stories. In a decade of service on the SEALTrust Board, he selflessly opened his home for our meetings, Board retreats, and even public outreach events; if a dinner was involved, Tom was likely to prepare the main dish.

Judge Stewart was an enthusiastic ambassador for the SEALTrust. He was willing to sit, one-on-one, with people when he thought he could help them envision their land legacy. Tom would guide them through their conservation options and help them draft agreements unique to their land and personal needs for its continued use. Most notably, Tom assisted Caroline Jensen as she shaped her vision for the Jensen-Olsen Arboretum, Juneau’s spectacular horticultural gardens at Pearl Harbor. Now, after Caroline’s passing, it is owned and managed by the City, while SEALTrust holds a conservation agreement which binds the City to her vision.

From our fragile beginning in 1996 through 2006, when he withdrew to turn his full attention to the completion of his book on the drafting of Alaska’s constitution, Tom’s commitment to the conservation of those places which capture the vital character of this region, has significantly and forever shaped the Southeast Alaska Land Trust.

We have been honored by his service and are obliged to continue his work.
You can help make this possible - to make a donation in Tom's name, go to the box to the right of his photo, above.

Thank you for your generous contribution to the Thomas B. Stewart Memorial Fund.

Strawberry Acres, Lot #4

2008-01-30T11:45:00.000-08:00

In the spring of 2006, Dave and Mary Albert came to the Southeast Alaska Land Trust with a conservation project proposal for the upper Strawberry Creek valley. They envisioned their 3.62-acre property known as Strawberry Acres (Lot #4), becoming part of the Amalga Meadows Natural Area Park. With such a clear vision in mind, the Trust was able to work successfully with the Alberts and the CBJ, and the Strawberry Acres conservation easement, located at mile 25 in Juneau’s “Green Zone,” was completed and signed in December of 2006. The property is now a part of the Park, and forms a continuum with the adjacent Herbert River conservation easement, also held by SEAL Trust.

Moraine Edge

2008-01-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

During the construction of the Moraine Edge Subdivision in 2005, CEO and President of Lowpete Construction, Inc. Richard Petersen sent a letter of intent to SEAL Trust indicating his firm’s desire to donate certain portions of the surrounding land for conservation purposes, that these portions become the property of Juneau’s Department of Parks and Recreation, and that they be part of “the preserved lands dedicated for conservation and for public outdoor recreation or education purposes.” The resulting conservation easement on Moraine Edge Parcels A&B, a total of 7.12 acres, serves as a public “green space” in the midst of residential development.

Congressional Conference Committee to resolve differences in Tax Benefits for Conservation Donations

2008-01-10T17:29:00.000-08:00

Are you a Southeast Alaskan landowner thinking about placing conservation protections on property that you cherish? Your vision, as landowner, and the conservation values of the property are the key ingredients for a conservation easement that is unique to your property. The federal income tax deduction that comes with that conservation donation helps to make the easements financially viable.

Deduct up to 50% of their adjusted gross income in any year (up from 30%);
Deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income if the majority of that income came from farming, ranching or forestry; and
Continue to take deductions for as long as 15 years (up from 5 years) after the initial deduction.

In 2006, after lengthy debates about the public benefits of private land conservation efforts, Congress made favorable changes to the tax incentives for conservation donations. They passed a new law that will enhance the tax benefits of donating conservation easements on private land during 2006 and 2007. The legislation improves the tax incentive for conservation easements by allowing conservation easement donors to increase the deduction for the donation, and increase the numbers of years for which that deduction can be claimed. Landowners can now deduct up to 50%, and in certain cases 100% of their adjusted gross income, and continue taking that deduction for up to 16 years, depending on the appraised value of their donation.

The timing is important. The house and senate proposed making these changes permanent, but needs to resolve language differences in their proposals. Final Legislation will be retroactive to Jan, 1 2008.

The Southeast Alaska Land Trust is a member of The Land Trust Alliance (LTA). This organization led the effort to work in Congress to approve this new law. LTA is a national organization that sets standards for all the land trust in the country, provides training and networking opportunities, and represents the land trust community in Washington, DC. SEALTrust has been a member of LTA for 10 years.

Whether you need help preserving land that you cherish beyond your lifetime, desire to realize tax-benefits through charitable giving, or simply wish to make a contribution to support our work, we can help you achieve your specific plans while protecting important natural and cultural lands.

Each day we are encouraged by the generous and willing landowners who work with us. The new law will make it easier for others in Southeast Alaska to insure that vital natural areas they care about will remain in place for their grandchildren to enjoy.

To learn more about these new developments, visit www.southeastalaskalandtrust.org or www.LTA.org.

Wetlands 101: Fees In lieu of Mitigation

2007-12-15T17:00:00.000-08:00

Our Southeast coastal rainforest is a treasured, intact, functioning ecosystem with varying degrees of wetland types. So, wetlands can dominate the business of developers and conservationists. No matter how you see them, wetlands are an important part of the natural, economic and social structure of Southeast.

Wetlands provide flood control, water filtration, erosion control, biochemical and nutrient cycling. Theses habitats are critical to the lifecycles of fish, furbearers, and birds, which contribute to our region’s economy. However, Development in this wet climate inevitably results in dredging and filling of some wetlands.

Under the US Army Corps of Engineers permitting rules, developers must mitigate project impacts to wetlands. Minimizing impacts or restoring nearby degraded wetlands is preferable. But developers can also mitigate wetland impacts by simply paying fees-in-lieu of mitigation. These “in-lieu fees” can be used to fund long-term conservation of intact wetlands. They help keep vital natural areas in-place as our communities and infrastructure are being built and upgraded.

Under our 1997 agreement with the Army Corps, the Southeast Alaska Land Trust is eligible to receive fees-in-lieu. Resource experts from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Marine Fisheries, and Alaska’s Fish & Game recommend this funding for selected projects. SEALTrust’s preference is to reinvest in-lieu fees in the affected community. Resource agencies are more interested in putting this conservation money to work immediately, so often give priority to projects that are ready to go, regardless of their regional location.

It is important to note, that upfront identification of a community’s conservation priorities and preliminary negotiation with project landowners will be rewarded with timely mitigation funding. This fits nicely with SEALTrust’s mission: to work with communities and willing land owners to ensure that vital natural areas remain in place for each generation.

Leask project aims for $1.9 million grant

2006-11-30T17:10:00.000-08:00

Leask Lakes, located between Lake Harriet Hunt and the Naha River National Recreation trail, has been a long-standing conservation target for some Ketchikan community members.
Ketchikan Daily News
Thursday, November 16, 2006
By JIM RADOVICH
Daily News Staff Writer

Leask Lakes, located between Lake Harriet Hunt and the Naha River National Recreation trail, has been a long-standing conservation target for some Ketchikan community members.

The Leask Users Coalition hopes to be in line for a nearly $2 million grant to purchase a tract around Leask Lakes, seen here on Oct. 26, to preserve for recreational use. Photo by Mike Sallee

Bill Rotecki is co-chairman of the Leask Users Coalition, a group formed in 2004 seeking to preserve certain parts of the Leask Lakes area from timber harvest. Rotecki said Thursday that similar conservation efforts have been going on in Ketchikan for more than 20 years.

The coalition partnered with the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, Cape Fox Corp., and the Southeast Alaska Land Trust in 2004 to develop and submit a report to the U.S. Forest Service's Forest Legacy Program. The report outlined the coalition's intention for a conservation project in the Leask Lakes area.

Alaska Mental Health Trust owns a 4,850-acre tract encompassing the Leask Lakes and Leask Creek. The coalition is attempting to purchase 22 percent of the tract, or 1,065 acres, for easements surrounding the lakes and creek. The proposed easements would prevent timber harvest in those areas and allow recreational activity in the area. The area is now closed to the public.

The coalition recently announced that the Leask Lakes project has advanced to the national ranking level of the Forest Legacy Program, topping two other Alaska projects. It will be determined in March — after the President signs the federal budget — whether the coalition receives Legacy Program funding, according to Coalition Lands Coordinator Carrie Dolwick. The coalition is asking for about $1.9 million from the Legacy Program, according to Dolwick. It would have to come up with $675,000 in matching funds, she said.

The matching funds would come from a variety of sources, she said, such as private foundations and fundraising. The coalition raised about $12,000 toward the project at an auction last February and plans to hold a similar auction next February, according to Dolwick.

The Legacy Program is a nationwide, cooperative program between the State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Forest Service. The program emphasizes protecting and enhancing traditional forest uses, such as fishing, hunting, logging, hiking and wildlife viewing.

Dolwick said the coalition's intent is to purchase the land and timber rights from Mental Health, and then to develop a plan by 2008 for the 1,065 acres. She said there is great potential for an interconnected trail system in the area. She said she hopes to have one trail connecting the Naha River, Lunch Creek and Lake Harriet Hunt trails.

She said the proposed easement would "protect a wildlife corridor around the lakes and the creek, create public access for all community members, and leave a buffer around the lakes for future tourism opportunities."

Dolwick said there is a lot of historical value within the Leask Lakes area. She said there is a historical cabin at the site and four historic fish weirs. Annual runs of sockeye, steelhead, coho and pink salmon pour into Leask Creek every year and there is a dense population of black bears, wolves and mountain goats in the area, she said.

"There is a lot of community interest in the land," said Dolwick, adding that the area is also a critical nesting habitat for many birds, including the marbled murrelet. She said many bird watchers have been wanting to access the area, but cannot.

The marbled murrelet, a small seabird which nests in the coastal, old-growth forests of this region, is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act in Oregon and Washington (sic), according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Rotecki said he felt good about the project advancing to the national level.

"I'm excited about it. We have a lot of good things going for us, and I think we have a very good chance of being successful," said Rotecki.

Dolwick, too, said she was excited about the project making it to the national ranking.

"I'm very hopeful. I think are chances are good because we have been working very closely with state and regional representatives. Everyone is really positive and I think this is a great opportunity for the community of Ketchikan," said Dolwick.

Dolwick said the coalition has been working closely with Mental Health in negotiating the amount of acres

within the proposed easement. As a part of these negotiations, restricted timber harvest would be allowed on 400 acres of the proposed easements.

"They are cooperative land owners and are willing to sell their land," said Dolwick.

The coalition recently received two grants totaling about $10,000 from the Ducks Unlimited and Pacific Coast Joint Venture conservation groups to flag the proposed easement boundaries.

The Legacy Program funded 40 conservation projects from across the nation in fiscal year 2006, totaling about $56.5 million. The Agulowak River conservation project was the only project from Alaska to receive Legacy Program funding in 2006; The Legacy Program contributed $591,000 to the project. The Agulowak River is located in the Wood River mountain range about 150 miles southeast of Bethel on Bristol Bay.

The coalition has applied for funding that would come in fiscal 2008, which begins July 1.