IN THIS ISSUE:
2 Director’s Message
6 By the Numbers
3 Faces of Conservation
8Freshwater
4Grasslands
9 Beyond Missouri
5Woodlands
1030-Year Legacy
CONNECT WITH NATURE: NATURE.ORG/EXPLOREMO
MISSOURI
UPDATE
FALL/WINTER 2016
DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Beth Alm, Kansas City
Bob Berkebile, Kansas City
Rick Boeshaar
Shawnee Mission, Kansas
Celebrating 60 Years
Claire Carstensen, St. Louis
Debra Filla, Kansas City
Past. Present. Future. These three words hold special significance to
us this year. Nothing brings them to the forefront quite like a major
milestone for an organization. This year marks the 60th anniversary
for The Nature Conservancy here in Missouri—an organization I
feel honored to be a part of and hope you do as well.
Carl Freiling, Ashland
Wayne Goode, St. Louis
Ruth Grant, M.D., Springfield
Stephanie Hurt, Springfield
Whitney Kerr, Kansas City
Steve McMillan, St. Louis
John McPheeters, St. Louis
Jim Miller, Kansas City
Walter C. Reisinger, Jr., St. Louis
Fritz Riesmeyer, Kansas City
Torbjorn (Turbo) Sjogren
St. Louis
Alan Templeton, Ph.D., St. Louis
Carol-Ann Uetake-Shapiro
St. Louis
Jean Wagner, Kansas City
Stan Wallach, St. Louis
Wallis W. Warren, Beaufort
For this issue of our annual newsletter, we expanded space to
spend some time reflecting on the tremendous accomplishments
that you made possible. I hope you find your story reflected in
these pages. Perhaps your story is a love of “place”—a specific grassland, woodland, or stream that holds fond memories and that perhaps you continue to share and
enjoy today. Places with familiar names are highlighted here - Dunn Ranch Prairie, Tucker Prairie,
Chilton Creek, the Current River, the Meramec River, and Belize. All of these you helped protect
for future generations. This is not a platitude—it is a reality. It is an enduring legacy of our work
together. You along with generations of supporters pooled resources of time and treasure to
save and steward these special places. And the world is a better place because you took action
and because you care. Thank you.
Susan Lammert, St. Louis
Alternatively, or perhaps in addition, your story might be one of investing in transformation.
As a science-based organization seeking to conserve land and water, we often find ourselves
in the role of innovator—developing best practices and creating solutions to our world’s biggest challenges. You will find stories in the following pages about prescribed fire, streambank
stabilization, nature-based solutions, pollinator research, grassland restoration technology, and
sustainable forest management. Though sometimes less tangible, creating, testing and promoting solutions is a rich and vital part of our shared history.
The Nature Conservancy is a private,
nonprofit 501(c)(3) international membership
organization. Its mission is to conserve the
lands and waters on which all life depends.
The past, present, and future of our organization is and will always be a reflection of individual
stories. Each of us—staff members, volunteers, supporters, and partners—leave our mark on
this organization, indeed, on this planet. I am honored to share this 60th anniversary update
with you but am mindful of, and humbled by, the remarkable collection of people who fill these
pages. As we continue to write this story together, I invite you to persist in this journey to build
a future where people and nature thrive together. Continue to act. Continue to care. Thank you
for all you do for conservation.
Nancy Ylvisaker, St. Louis
TRUSTEES EMERITI
Patricia DuBose Duncan
Rockport, Maine
Charles E. Kopman, St. Louis
The Nature Conservancy meets all of the
Standards for Charity Accountability
established by the BBB Wise Giving Alliance.
The BBB Wise Giving Alliance is a national
charity watchdog affiliated with the Better
Business Bureau.
With warm regards,
Printed on 100% PCW recycled,
process chlorine-free paper, creating
the following benefits:
Adam McLane, Missouri State Director
13.1
trees preserved for the future
12,658
gallons water not used
1,295 lbs.
You make conservation possible.
for your generosity and support!
Thank you
solid waste not generated
4,248 lbs.
CO2 prevented
COVER Evalyn Paothong attending a prairie chicken viewing at Dunn Ranch Prairie on her fifth birthday
© Noppadol Paothong; ABOVE Adam McLane © Dana Lepoidevin
FACES OF CONSERVATION
Gift Makes Big Impact
Avid divers Jeanette Hartshorn and Kurt Peterson wanted to
help protect the waters they love to explore, so they called the
Conservancy’s Kristy Stoyer to learn more about giving options.
Kristy was able to find a matching gift opportunity, which
leveraged Jeanette and Kurt’s gift of $25,000 for a total
contribution of $62,500. “We wanted to help fund the
Conservancy’s important work in Indonesia, Missouri and Kaua’i,”
said Jeanette. “It warms my soul to know that there are people
and programs to help keep our most precious waters heathy and
beautiful for everyone’s future.”
Conservation Meets Design
Jingcheng (Jason) Wu, a landscape architecture graduate student
from Washington University in St. Louis, developed a potential
redesign of Riverfront Park in Van Buren, Missouri during a
summer internship with the Conservancy.
The park, located alongside the Current River, is popular but has
problems with flooding and river access. Jason’s design would
reduce impacts of flooding, relocating parking to keep it accessible
during heavy rains and planting native vegetation to prevent
erosion. A shaded walking path, an amphitheater, improved launch
sites, and a playground were also options presented by Jason, as
well as restoration of a spring-fed stream that has been channelized
into a pipe. The City Council is considering Jason’s redesign as a
future project.
Jason’s internship was part of an ongoing collaboration with
Washington University’s Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Arts
to provide future architects and planners with the knowledge and
tools needed to implement ecologically sustainable design.
“It was wonderful to participate in such an interesting and
challenging design project,” said Jason. “It was a meaningful
experience to explore a comprehensive design solution to the river
edge and the community across interdisciplinary fields.”
Meet Barbara
Barbara Charry has been hired as the new Meramec
River Project Coordinator. Barbara will be working to
implement the Meramec River Conservation Action
Plan, unifying the efforts of all groups working to
conserve the popular river (see page 8). She comes
to the Conservancy from Maine Audubon, where she
worked for 25 years as a conservation biologist and GIS
manager leading projects that focused on conserving,
restoring and reconnecting wildlife habitats. Barbara
has an outstanding track record of successfully
collaborating with diverse partners to incorporate
conservation into land management strategies. Her
talents and experience will be key to ensuring a healthy
Meramec River for generations to come.
THIS PAGE clockwise Jason Wu at Kiefer Creek © TNC (Amy Hepler Welch); Proposed redesign for Riverfront Park © Jason
Wu; Jeanette Hartshorn and Kurt Peterson off the Napali coast of Kauai © Jeanette Hartshorn; Barbara Charry at the Rio
Grand River, New Mexico © Barbara Charry
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 3
GRASSLANDS
A Prairie Rediscovered
HOW DUNN RANCH PRAIRIE BECAME A
TOP RESEARCH AND RESTORATION SITE
When Randy Arndt first set foot on Dunn
Ranch Prairie in the early 1980s, it didn’t
seem much different than most of the other
pasture ground in the area. It was overgrazed,
with lots of fescue, trees and fence rows, and
it looked nothing like a prairie.
At the time, Arndt was a wildlife biologist
with the Missouri Department of
Conservation (MDC) and had extensive
prairie restoration experience. Prairie
chickens, which had been at Dunn Ranch
until the 1950s, had recently begun nesting
at the site, and Arndt was intrigued.
“Birds from Kansas were relocated to
Iowa, and some of those birds ended up at
Dunn Ranch,” remembers Arndt. “It was
incredible to see.”
Soon afterwards Arndt learned that nearly
1,000 acres at Dunn Ranch had never been
plowed—a truly unique feature in the heart
of America’s breadbasket, where most fertile
lands were converted to cropland.
Fast forward 15 years, and the property came
up for sale. The Conservancy had been aware
of the site’s significance since the 1970s,
engaging with the owners and conducting
assessments that revealed its potential. In
1999 the Conservancy purchased the last
chance to restore a fully functioning tallgrass
prairie ecosystem on deep fertile soils in the
entire central tallgrass region.
Arndt, still with MDC, helped the
Conservancy with the first restoration
planting. After “resting” the prairie, many of
the plants that had been suppressed by cattle
grazing reappeared. The native plantings
flourished. Invasive trees were removed.
Dunn Ranch was finally starting to look like
a native Missouri grassland.
After his retirement from MDC in 2007,
Arndt became the Conservancy’s Grand
River Grasslands site manager. “I retired on
a Friday and came to work on a Monday,”
recalls Arndt. “I was excited to get started.”
Under Arndt’s and his team’s care, with
the strong support of Conservancy donors
and volunteers, Dunn Ranch Prairie was
transformed into a vibrant, open grassland
teeming with life. The project has been so
successful that Dunn Ranch has become
the “Silicon Valley” of grassland restoration
technology and research, hosting scientists
from across the region and sharing lessons
learned with other prairie projects worldwide.
“Not many people get to sit in their office
and hear prairie chickens booming or see
bison grazing in the distance,” Arndt says
proudly. “It’s really special.”
First Land Acquisition
On the south side of Highway 70, just east of Columbia, travelers are treated to an
unexpected sight: 145 acres of hardpan tallgrass prairie, one of the rarest habitats on Earth.
The very first land acquired in Missouri with the aid of the Conservancy, Tucker Prairie was
purchased in 1956 by the University of Missouri and is still used as a research site.
The Conservancy and its supporters have since protected over 10,000 acres of Missouri
prairie, including Dunn Ranch Prairie in the Grand River Grasslands, most of Prairie State
Park and several high-quality prairies in the Osage Plains.
4 MISSOURI UPDATE 2016 FALL/WINTER
THIS PAGE top to bottom Grasshopper Sparrow at Dunn Ranch © Matt Miles;
Randy Arndt at Dunn Ranch Prairie © TNC (Hilary Haley); Tucker Prairie © Dan Zarlenga
WOODLANDS
Major Milestone for
Watershed Conservation
1991 was a big year for Missouri conservation. That year, the Conservancy
purchased 83,000 acres in the Ozarks—it is the largest acquisition for
conservation in the history of the state.
The land was part of a larger parcel mostly located in the Current River
watershed, which is a global conservation priority because of its unique
and rich biodiversity. To prevent forest loss and secure long-lasting
conservation benefits, the Conservancy quickly negotiated to purchase
the majority of the parcel, partnering with the Missouri Department of
Conservation (MDC) to develop a long-term plan for the property.
A rapid ecological assessment helped the Conservancy determine the
fate of each acre. Most of the property was transferred at cost to MDC,
including what is now the Angeline and Sunklands conservation areas,
which are open to the public. A few outlying portions were sold
to private landowners.
The Conservancy kept the most ecologically diverse portion: 5,600 acres
that became the Chilton Creek Research and Demonstration Area.
In partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the most
intensive long-term analysis of fire’s effects on temperate deciduous
woodlands in the
nation is ongoing
at the site; lessons
learned continue to
provide insight into
how woodlands can
be managed for both
timber and biodiversity.
This landmark
purchase exemplifies
the Conservancy’s
nimble, entrepreneurial
approach to complex
issues—an approach
only possible because
of crucial donor
support. The ready availability of funds allows the Conservancy to move
quickly and act on these rare opportunities, helping to ensure our natural
heritage is kept intact for future generations to enjoy.
THIS PAGE left to right White cohosh at Chilton Creek Research and Demonstration Area
© TNC (Rebecca Landewe); Whitetail deer and fawn © Kent Mason;
Landowners
Help Wildlife
In a glass cabinet just inside the front door,
Docia Lenz proudly displays the more unique
pieces in her mineral and rock collection and will
happily share the story behind each one. When
she’s not rock-hounding, she and her husband
Floyd are hard at work on their Ozark farm,
where hummingbirds buzz feeders on the porch
and deer are regular visitors.
The Lenzes have great pride in their land, and
they wanted to do more for the wildlife living
on their property—so they reached out to the
Conservancy for help. Through a U.S. Forest
Service grant, the Conservancy funded a
professional forester to prepare a management
plan, which included the use of prescribed fire to
improve wildlife habitat. With their custom plan
set, the Lenzes became eligible to receive costshare dollars through the Natural Resources
Conservation Service.
“We had ideas and dreams of what we wanted
our farm to be,” said Docia. “What we didn’t
have was the professional expertise and
resources to see it through. We are now seeing
those ideas and dreams become a reality.”
LEARN MORE about qualifying gifts
and pledges and make your donation
at nature.org/missouri
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 5
I think having land and not ruining it is the most
70,000
households depend on the Meramec River
for their drinking water; the Conservancy
is unifying efforts to protect this resource
(see page 8). Drinking water shortages
affect nearly half the world’s population.
4
animal species have
been relocated or
reintroduced on
Conservancy property
in Missouri: the
Topeka shiner, bison,
American burying
beetles and greater
prairie chickens.
1,245 Million
square miles encompassed in the Mississippi River
watershed. The Conservancy is uniquely positioned to
conserve this river’s resources at scale (see article,
page 9); Missouri staff are developing a model of
floodplain management that emphasizes connectivity
and ecosystems management.
2,325
100,000
privately owned acres in the Current River
watershed with a woodland management
plan facilitated by TNC designed to benefit
wildlife, water quality and the landowners.
new acres of private lands in
sustainable forest management
needed to protect the Current
River system.
1915
The Ecological Society of
America is formed
1950
The Ecologists Union
changes its name to
The Nature Conservancy
1946
A small group of scientists form
the Ecologists Union, resolving
to take “direct action” to save
threatened natural areas
6 MISSOURI UPDATE 2016 FALL/WINTER
1951
1956
The Missouri
chapter is formed
The Nature Conservancy
is incorporated as a
nonprofit organization
1956
First Missouri land
acquisition at Tucker
Prairie (see page 4)
1980
Trice Dedman Woods, an
old growth oak woodland,
donated to TNC
1983
First controlled burn
conducted by chapter at
Bennett Spring Savanna
beautiful art that anyone could ever want.
2,973 80
acres burned in the Missouri Ozarks this year to clear overgrown areas, increase
native plant diversity and keep the region’s forests and waters healthy.
150,000
transects surveyed to take an
inventory of breeding grassland
birds at Dunn Ranch and
Pawnee prairies. The survey
info and bison grazing data will
give insight into how bison, fire
and reseeding are influencing
the way birds use the sites.
4
acres protected in Missouri by the
Conservancy through partnerships
with private landowners,
governmental organizations and
other conservation agencies.
200
bee species documented for the first time on Missouri
grasslands during a Conservancy pollinator study,
underlining the importance of diverse native habitats for
healthy pollinator populations.
plant and animal species found only
in the Ozarks, including seven crayfish
species found only in Missouri.
1991
83,000 acres purchased in
the Ozarks (see page 5)
1991
Current River Project
launched to protect the
most biologically significant
river in the Midwest
TOP
1999
Dunn Ranch Prairie
acquired (see page 4)
2003
2007
Funding primarily from Missouri donors
enables acquisition of 22,500 critical
acres adjoining Chapada dos Veadeiros, a
national park in the Brazilian cerrado
Ozark portion of a detailed ecoregional
plan for North America completed,
providing a blueprint for conservation
success across the continent
Panorama of Grasshopper Hollow © TNC (Rebecca Landewe)
— ANDY WARHOL
2010
2014
A U.S. Forest Service grant
spurs private land management
program in the Ozarks
Crystal Light gift launches
Meramec River project,
including development of a
comprehensive plan to unify all
groups working on the river
2015
Western Ozark Waters
Initiative launched in
southwest Missouri
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 7
FRESHWATER
Breaking New Ground
Roddy Lett grew up in the Missouri Ozarks. He loves the area for its vibrant
streams and rivers, which provide ample opportunity for fishing and
canoeing, and his home sits along the scenic Elk River in the southwestern
corner of the state. But for the last 20 years, Roddy’s property has lost an
astonishing 8,000 tons of soil from his property annually—the total weight
lost is equivalent to about 65 blue whales per year.
That’s an area about seven acres in size, ten feet deep. “We are losing a lot of
land every time it floods,” said Roddy. “If something isn’t done, the river will
take most all this land along with that of the neighbors.”
Managing the
Meramec
Plans and research aren’t glamorous, but
Director of Freshwater Conservation Dr.
Steve Herrington doesn’t mind. “Having
a strong plan is key to knowing where to
work, what to do and why,” Steve said.
Steve has worked to unify, clarify
and intensify efforts to conserve the
Meramec River, starting by gathering
input from 29 partners to develop
a comprehensive plan. New project
coordinator Barbary Charry (see page
3) will pick up where Steve left off, using
a special tool called SWAT modeling to
predict the impacts of activities such
as keeping cattle out of streams and
increasing mussel populations. Barbara
will then work with partners to put the
plan into action.
The 1,000-foot bank is actively moving and has one of the worst erosion
rates on the river. Fixing the problem, however, is a massive undertaking.
“It’s a huge project,” Roddy said. “We simply couldn’t afford to fix the
problem without working with the Conservancy.”
Using state-of-the-art tools, such as 3D aerial mapping, the Conservancy will
apply “natural channel design”—a restoration method that mimics natural
systems as closely as possible. The project will incorporate pools for fish
habitat, backwater areas to create wetlands and native plants to hold soil and
filter runoff. “Using natural methods, instead of just rip-rap, will be more
appealing to boaters and benefit fish,” Roddy said.
The restoration will result in a major reduction of pollution and serve as an
example for other potential sites in Missouri and beyond.
1996
2016
8 MISSOURI UPDATE 2016 FALL/WINTER
THIS PAGE left to right Current River Bluff in Autumn © Richard Spener; Canoeing on the Elk River
© TNC (Amy Hepler Welch); Soil erosion on Roddy Lett’s Elk River property over 20 years © Google Earth
BEYOND MISSOURI
1
2
3
America’s Great River
A new whole-system approach on the Mississippi River is uniting Conservancy staff and partners across political
boundaries to strive toward an unprecedented goal: a 20% reduction of nutrient runoff by 2025. Excessive nutrients
wash off lawns and farms during heavy rains, threatening drinking water quality, recreation and wildlife habitat and
creating a “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico. Missouri’s Director of Freshwater Conservation, Dr. Steve Herrington, is
part of the science team working to determine the best strategies for reducing nutrients such as collaborating with farmers,
creating water funds, restoring wetlands and reconnecting floodplains.
1
Not-So-Wild Fire
Sea Turtle Heroes
Controlled burning, once controversial, is today
2 widely accepted as a critical land management tool. In
Missouri, the Conservancy led the charge in support
of controlled burns and has successfully applied fire to
glades, grasslands and woodlands since the early 1980s.
A St. Louis family is helping to save
hawksbill sea turtles. The anonymous
donors learned about the Conservancy’s
science-led strategy for sea turtle recovery and
were inspired to donate $100,000 to support a
satellite tagging program in the Arnavon Islands.
Research conducted in Missouri documenting positive fire
effects sparked changes in land management strategies around
the world. For example, the Missouri chapter partnered with
the Conservancy’s Belize program in 2009 to provide hands-on
training and conduct controlled burns at Mountain Pine Ridge
Forest Reserve—home to a globally rare Caribbean pine system
ecologically similar to Ozark pineries.
THIS PAGE left to right Mississippi River © TNC (Mark Godfrey);
Pine trees © TNC; Hawksbill sea turtle tagging © TNC (Justine Hausheer)
3
The tagging has already provided some very
valuable scientific findings on nesting, migration
and foraging grounds. The data indicate that the
turtles, which are very vulnerable to poaching,
benefit from protected areas—highlighting the
need for regional approaches to protect highly
trafficked migratory areas. “We are proud to be
helping scientists make progress in the survival
of a species,” the family said. “That is being part of
something great!”
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 9
The Making of a
Conservationist
In his 30th year with The Nature Conservancy, Director of
Conservation Doug Ladd looks back at his career, how a bet
changed his life and why birding is, well…for the birds.
TNC: What first got you interested in nature?
Doug: My earliest memories growing up in Vermont were walks with
my mother, learning the names of her favorite flowers, like devil’s
paintbrush. When I got older, I would save my allowance to buy field
guides to ponds and streams, examining tiny aquatic organisms
under a microscope and trying to identify them. In my teenage years
I became a passionate birder, but you had to get up really early in the
morning for that—plants are around all day long, so I started getting
interested again in botany.
TNC: Aside from brief stints as a golf caddy and a donut maker,
you’ve worked in the conservation field most of your life. What made
you decide to turn your hobbies into a lifelong career?
10 MISSOURI UPDATE 2016 FALL/WINTER
Doug: When I was 17 I got a job with the forest preserve
picking up litter, mowing grass, cleaning restrooms…
it was there I was exposed to naturalists and rangers
and realized it was possible to make a living doing
something I felt passionate about.
TNC: You moved to Missouri because of a bet. What’s
the story there?
BOTH PAGES clockwise Doug Ladd © Dana LePoidevin; Bennett Spring
Savannah © TNC (Doug Ladd); Michigan lily at Grasshopper Hollow
© TNC (Rebecca Landewe); A young Doug Ladd discovers the Ozark
landscape © TNC (Doug Ladd); Owlsbend on the Current River © Bill
Duncan; Bison © Matt Miles; Eastern Collared Lizard © Bill Duncan
30-YEAR LEGACY
TNC: Pretty soon after that you wound
up working with the Conservancy.
What accomplishment are you most
proud of achieving?
Doug: I’ve been fortunate to see the
program evolve from a volunteer
operation focused on free green
space to one that has played a major
role in conserving some of the
most irreplaceable landscapes in
Missouri. I’m proud of our integrated
fire management and research
program, and my role in developing
an Ozark ecoregional assessment.
The assessment was part of TNC’s
ecoregional assessment for all of North
America, which identified globally
irreplaceable aspects of our natural
heritage—it has influenced all our
conservation partners and will go
down in history as one of TNC’s great
conservation achievements.
TNC: Where do you think the world of
conservation is headed?
Doug: There is a growing awareness
today of how much nature and people
are interdependent, and of the urgency
and scope of the problems we face from
climate change and the destruction of
healthy, diverse ecosystems. We don’t
need to choose between conservation
or economic development. We all
need nature, and we must integrate its
protection into all we do or we will fail
as a society.
TNC: You are an adjunct professor
at the School of Design’s Landscape
Architecture program with Washington
University in St. Louis. Is that a way you
hope to start tying nature into all we do?
Doug: In many respects, design and
agriculture will shape the future of
“Today conservationists are working at a scale that we’ve
not seen before, and the Conservancy is at the forefront.”
TNC: Aside from the legacy you’ll leave
with the impacts of your work, you and
your wife decided to leave a financial
legacy as well.
Doug: Debbie and I have given outright
gifts, and have also set up a deferred
charitable gift annuity. We wanted to
benefit something we believe strongly
in with the option of receiving income
later if needed.
Doug: While I was studying at Southern
Illinois University, a friend told me the
Missouri Ozarks were one of the most
incredible landscapes I’d ever see. I was
skeptical, so he bet me he could change
my mind and took me on a backpacking
trip in November 1975. When I saw the
glades around Taum Sauk Mountain I
couldn’t believe the diversity of plant
species. I thought, “I could spend a
lifetime studying the Ozarks.”
TNC: How has conservation changed
over the decades?
Doug: When I first started, it was
considered somewhat heretical to talk
about the role people played in shaping
our ecosystems, especially with fire; it’s
gratifying that we now have a widespread understanding that people have
helped shape our natural heritage since
the glaciers retreated 15,000 years ago.
our conservation resources. Designers
often work at a scale that’s of planetary
significance, and they all need tools to
incorporate ecologically relevant design
into their work. If we teach designers
about how natural systems function and
their value to people, they can synthesize
concepts into meaningful design.
TNC: What are you most excited about
for the future of conservation?
Doug: I’m excited about the growing
awareness of the need to collaborate,
which is critical to achieving
conservation at scale. For the first time
in the history of this planet, one species
controls the fate of all other species.
Today conservationists are working at a
scale that we’ve not seen before, and the
Conservancy is at the forefront.
To be successful we have to unify
people in recognizing that conservation
is relevant.
NATURE.ORG/MISSOURI 11
The Nature Conservancy
Missouri Chapter
P.O. Box 440400
St. Louis, MO 63144
nature.org/missouri
update
missouri
FALL/WINTER 2016
facebook.com/NatureConservancyMissouri
(314) 968-1105 (x1002)
[email protected]
nature.org/LongLiveValues
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