Minutes
Gustavus Land Legacy
March 12, 2003
Bear's Nest Cafe, 3/12/03, 7 p.m.
Present: Greg Streveler, Hank Lentfer, Judy Brakel, Heidi Robichaud, Van Swanson, Nathan Borson (chair), Tom McCabe, Blair Awbrey, Karen Platt
We don't have minutes of the last meeting, at which Nathan Borson was elected chair.
Hank reports that the purchase agreement has been extended for one year as written. The new expiration is March 1, 2004. We will probably need to be re-negotiated then.
The $1 Million USFWS grant for Dude Creek West was officially applied for by the state. USFWS has awarded the grant but it requires receipt authority from legislature. It was in Knowles' budget, so it will be passed on to legislature, which might not approve it. Murkowski axed it, action from Rob Bosworth via Steve Planchon restored it, but it needs to go through Senate finance committee. Robin Taylor is on that committee and is likely to oppose because it is called a conservation measure. We will need backing from Steve Planchon of the trust land office. Reorganization of state habitat division affects this because that division's employees were working on this grant as well as another one for next year. Continued local support is also vital.
So the only money we have in the bank is what we have raised and one $100,000 donation from a TNC supporter. TNC will be organizing donor trips this summer, which we will be supporting. But this seems to be a hard time to raise funds.
TLO has sold 17 acre parcel that they put up in auction. Only had two bidders and sold for a fairly low price. So GLL is probably TLO's best customer for the GLL parcels. TLO still needs to survey and assess.
State habitat division had mapping done of Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area and used left-over funds to extend the mapping into Dude Creek area. Applied for funds to map remainder of GLL lands.
Hank presented Conservancy report, Conservation Vision for Gustavus Flats. Used for educating folks about what we're doing.
There will be a legislative reception for the re-opened TNC office in Juneau at the Hangar. Hank plans to attend.
Nothing much for GLL members to do right now but let Rob do his work.
Members offered several ideas for how to keep interest high and local support strong.
- The Saturday hikes last summer were a success and we would like to do them this year but Meadow won't be here to organize them. So we're looking for volunteer organizers. Blair could help in July.
- Blair suggests year-end fund drive.
- There is interest in a community trails system. It would be good for GLL to participate and help plan where trails might go on GLL land.
Meeting Adjourned 21:15.
Nathan Borson