Non-Profit Org.

U.S. Postage
PA I D
Permit No. 93
Carmel, CA
93922

Po s t O f f i c e B ox 2 218 6 4 ,
Carmel, California 93922
contact

to reach us:
Telephone (831) 625-5523
Fax: (831) 625-0716
E-mail: mail@bigsurlandtrust.org
www.bigsurlandtrust.org

Board of Trustees
PRESIDENT
Ann Peterson Mahoney
Honorary Advisors
Clint Eastwood
Leon Panetta
THE BIG SUR LAND TRUST
spring 2004 c o n s e r v i n g o u r p r e c i o u s l a n d s a n d wa t e r s f o r a l l g e n e r a t i o n s
Robert Redford
VICE PRESIDENT
Ted Turner
Marsha McMahan Zelus
TREASURER
David Bates
Staff Land Trust Embraces
SECRETARY
Phillip Butler
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Bill Leahy
CONSERVATION PROJECT MANAGER
Susanna Danner Expanded Vision
Paul Danielson
Janet Effland
GENERAL MANAGER
Cynthia Holmsky
MEMBERSHIP AND VOLUNTEER
COORDINATOR
Stacy Schmidt
Under New Leader
Kent Evans
MITTELDORF PRESERVE MANAGER
Karen Ferlito ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR
David Zweifel
Sharon Meresman Margee Bennett Pause for a moment and recall the first time you experienced
Rod Mills FOUNDATION AND
Diane Sena CORPORATE RELATIONS California’s Central Coast. What was it that made a lasting impres-
Leslie Snorf Shirley Coly
William Soskin sion on you? Perhaps it was the beauty of Big Sur, the magnificent
GLEN DEVEN RANCH MANAGER
Jim Cox meeting of land and sea that has inspired millions worldwide.
I N S I D E the zirker family a bequest
Or, maybe the magic of the fog-shrouded coastline; the towering
redwood groves; the windswept dunes surrounding Monterey Bay;

members In Your Neighborhood

AT WORK
LaKamp Takes a Shot for BSLT
at the AT&T Charity Shoot Out
Bob LaKamp represented BSLT in
the AT&T Charity Shoot-Out that took
place during the February AT&T Pebble
Beach National Pro-Am. More than 100
amateur golfers representing local chari-
ties participated in a closest-to-the-pin
qualifying event. Bob, sporting BSLT
attire, performed beautifully under
pressure however, he was not among
the final four who were paired with
professional golfers and given a chance
at a $40,000 purse. Nonetheless, all
enjoyed a great view of Palo Corona
Ranch from the golf course which was a
perfect backdrop for the event and is part
of what attracts events like the AT&T to
our community. A big thanks to Bob for
participating on our behalf and to the
Monterey Peninsula Foundation for
making fundraising a bit more interesting!
Design - Bunne Hartmann, Hartmann Design Group. Photography - Douglas Steakley, Stephanie Sendell and BSLT Staff.
Washburn Replaces
Troubled Bridge
On a recent Palo Corona Ranch volun-
teer work day, Al Washburn constructed
a foot bridge for the Animas Creek to
replace the planks formerly used as a
makeshift crossing. In the true spirit
of conservation, Al was able to build the
bridge reusing material from a burn pile
of wood next to the corrals. Even the
nails were reused! Hikers will get a
chance to try out Al’s bridge in May.
Service Day
Beneficial
for Givers
and Receivers
As part of its “Service Outreach
Program,” Santa Catalina School
sent 16 students to spend a day pulling
Genista on the front slopes of Palo
Corona Ranch. Battling broom proved
to be a great teamwork exercise as the
girls worked in pairs with weed wrenches
to remove the stubborn invasive weeds.
More than 20 organizations in Monterey
County participated in Santa Catalina’s
Spring Service Day which is designed
to educate young people about the
importance of community service.
Dalessio Creates Nature Trail
at Mitteldorf Preserve
Thanks to Rita Dalessio, the Mitteldorf
Preserve now has an official Nature Trail
complete with markers and an informa-
tive booklet describing each of the
12 stops along the mile-long path.
Rita took on this project in honor of
her friendship with Art and Harriet
Mitteldorf. Rita mapped out the route,
identified the places of interest, and
wrote the text for the trail guide. Her
son Marc painted the watercolor images
in the guide book. Last fall, a group of
volunteers finalized the project by
installing the signage and cleaning up
the trail. Rita’s Trail Guide will be avail-
able to hikers near the main entrance of
the preserve.
Celebrate spring and our beautiful
surroundings at these area events:
April 16 -18
43rd Annual Wildflower Show
More than 600 species and varieties
of Monterey County wildflowers are
collected, identified, and organized by
members of the Monterey Bay Chapter
of the California Native Plant Society
during the week prior to this special
event. Free to the public at the Pacific
Grove Museum of Natural History.
For more information visit online at
www.pgmuseum.org
April 24, 11am - 2pm
Earth Day Celebration
Whole Foods Market
800 Del Monte Center
Stop by Whole Foods Market for food,
live music, giveaways, and exhibits by
local environmental groups active in
our community.
May 2 and 3
10th Annual Bird-a-Thon
Sponsored by the Ventana Wilderness
Society. For more information call
877-897-7740 or 831-455-9514.
May 29 and 30
Sunset in Bloom
The beauty and diversity of music
expressed through flora is the theme
of this year’s Flower Show presented
by Carmel-by-the-Sea Garden Club
at the Sunset Center. Free to the public.
For more information visit the web at
www.cbsgc.com or call 831-624-3294.
T H E B I G S U R L A N D T R U S T - P O S T O F F I C E B O X 2 2 1 8 6 4 , C A R M E L , C A L I F O R N I A 9 3 9 2 2 T E L E P H O N E ( 8 3 1 ) 6 2 5 - 5 5 2 3 FA X ( 8 3 1 ) 6 2 5 - 0 7 1 6 - W W W. B I G S U R L A N D T R U S T. O R G
I N S I D E wildflowers of the dunes
the stately oaks and flowing grasslands of the Carmel River Valley,
the rugged peaks and vistas of the Santa Lucia Mountains, or the
wonder of the many plants and animals that depend on these lands.
Conservation biologists recognize the Central Coast as one of the most
I N S I D E the broomsweepers at it again important natural landscapes in the world due to its great diversity of plants and
animals. This diverse landscape not only defines the ecological character of the
Central Coast but also has shaped the character of its communities. The fisherman
and the farmer, the painter and the writer, the rancher and the vintner; their liveli-
hoods depend on our lands and waters to sustain and inspire them. Even those less
connected to the land value clean air and water that a healthy environment provides.
This natural world is – for the moment –
in a rare and delicate balance with the diverse
and growing communities that surround it.
It is the marriage of the soul with
The projected growth of Monterey County—
Nature that makes the intellect fruitful,
an estimated 48% population increase by
and gives birth to imagination.
2020—will dramatically increase development
- Henry David Thoreau pressures and could radically alter the area’s
beauty and ecological system. The time is
now to ensure that this balance is sustained.
The lessons learned over the past 25 years
have prepared The Big Sur Land Trust for
future challenges. BSLT is developing a long-
term strategic approach that will improve
both the quality and relevance of our future conservation efforts. Our vision for
the next 25 years is to secure the unique character, scenic landscapes, and rich
natural resources of our communities through collaborative partnerships and
support. BSLT will focus on those significant lands and waters that are most at
risk and where our involvement will generate lasting results.
continued, page two
 Expanded Vision
FROM THE
EXECUTIVE
continued from page one
DIRECTOR Our vision encompasses the essential role of stewardship. We plan to engage
partners from all sectors in this aspect of our work. Whether private property
owner or public agency, our work must provide tools and resources to ensure
the long-term care of these unique lands.
The Land Trust’s success at achieving these goals depends largely on community
involvement and support. We plan to engage communities in conservation solutions
that address community needs and that are sustainable. We will create more
opportunities and places for people to connect with nature. We will look for ways
to expand trails and parks with an emphasis on making nature more accessible and
the time spent there more educational.
Three New Not just another
Board Members pretty flower...
Appointed
Genista, or French broom, isn’t just another common shrub with fragrant yellow flowers; it’s
an invader of our native prairie, forests and coastal scrub. This plant, considered a noxious weed
in California, quickly colonizes disturbed ground and chokes out native flora. Without human
The Big Sur Land Trust is pleased to introduce its three newest Board of intervention, Genista spreads unchecked throughout the landscape, each shrub scattering as many
Trustee members who bring a wealth of experience and a strong com- as 10,000 seeds per year! These seeds can survive in the soil for as long as 80 years. Both the
foliage and the seeds of Genista are toxic, and if all that weren’t enough, the plant is a fire
mitment to furthering conservation efforts on the Central Coast.
hazard, burning readily and more intensively than native vegetation.
At Glen Deven Ranch, weed control is a major component of our land stewardship strategy.
If you’ve visited the ranch, you may have noticed the Genista plants around the main house,
Diane Sena has lived invading the coastal scrub, and crowding into the creek canyon. Other weeds also pose problems

Conservation In the cycle of nature, a quarter century is minuscule. In conservation, our

on the Peninsula for 20
years and has spent seven
for our native habitats: cape ivy, Eucalyptus, and kikuyu grass are all targets of our weed control
program. We’re taking on Genista first because the adult plants are easily removed by using a
weed wrench, a specially designed tool that extracts the stout roots of the plant eliminating the
and Community accomplishments in the next 25 years must be monumental.
years with the Monterey
Bay Aquarium in senior
management positions
need for herbicides.

Thanks to all of you who have so warmly welcomed me
to The Big Sur Land Trust community. I joined the Land
Trust at a time of opportunity—an opportunity to take the
organization’s illustrious 25-year history and build a future
vision that addresses the emerging challenges faced by this
region and embraces the changing needs of the unique
communities that make up the Central Coast.
As Executive Director of the Land Trust, I am humbled
and exhilarated by the organization’s legacy; humbled by the
enormous responsibility that accompanies our past success
and exhilarated by the future challenges. I believe our work
truly begins when we accept responsibility to care for the
places entrusted to us by those that came before. One of
our future challenges will be to ensure that lands we have
helped conserve and those we hope to secure, remain healthy
and viable for the benefit of our communities.
I am exhilarated by the challenge of developing innovative
approaches to conservation as this will ensure another 25
years of success. We must connect with the people and
character of the communities where we work. We must
THE ZIRKER FAMILY
Gives Interest
in Historical Ranch
Richard and Ruth Zirker, long time Carmel
residents, recently made a generous bequest of
their interest in the historical Smith Ranch to
The Big Sur Land Trust. Located south of
Notley’s Landing, the ranch runs along approxi-
mately one-half mile of coastline on both sides
of State Highway 1. Some of Richard Zirker’s
fondest childhood memories are of times spent
visiting his grandmother, Helena Smith, on the
ranch where she lived in a wooden house over-
looking the Pacific Ocean. The Zirkers made the
gift in the hopes that future generations will also
have a chance to enjoy and appreciate the beauty
and serenity of the land that has meant so much
to the Smith family for more than a century.
The ranch has numerous owners in common, nearly all of them members of the Smith
family. The Zirkers’ bequest gives The Big Sur Land Trust a one-sixteenth undivided interest
in the 360 acres. With its breathtaking beach, gently sloping coastal terraces, and rich bio-
diversity, Smith Ranch offers exciting possibilities for a collaborative community-based
Our job doesn’t end with the extrication of the adult plants—remember that 80 year figure?
including managing We will continue monitoring Glen Deven Ranch for decades, pulling the fresh crops of seedlings
director. Diane’s extensive that sprout each year. To this end, we are photo-monitoring all Genista removal sites, documenting
their location with Global Positioning System and mapping with Geographic Information System.
experience in both the non-
profit and corporate sectors Even the piles of dead plants are monitored for any remaining viable seeds.
will be invaluable to the Land Trust. Currently, Diane is president of
The Big Sur Land Trust is ready to make the long term commitment that exotic weed control
her own consulting company, Sena and Associates, that specializes in
program management services for strategic marketing and planning.
requires and with the help of volunteers will continue to put this commitment into action on
the lands that we steward.
Diane is vice-chair of the Advisory Board of Cal State University at
Monterey Bay’s Business School. Diane lives in Carmel Valley with her
teenage daughter. Fast Facts about Genista:
• Latin name Genista: from which the Plantagenet kings and queens of
England took their name, planta genesta, and alluding to a story that when
Paul Danielson (“Father William the Conqueror set sail for England, he plucked a common broom
Paul” to those who know flower where it was holding fast, tenaciously, to a rock and stuck it in his hel-
him) has been involved met as a symbol that he would also hold fast in his risky endeavor.
with BSLT most recently as • Native to the Mediterranean region and Azores Islands
a volunteer in our outreach • Sold in California nurseries as early as 1871
activities. He served for 17 • Naturalized on Central Coast by 1940s
years as the chaplain at All • Grows up to 10 feet (3 meters) tall
Saints Episcopal Day School
until his retirement in 2001.
Currently, he serves as part-
time chaplain at York School. Paul’s conservation activities include
volunteer work with the Ventana Wilderness Alliance where he has
assisted with site steward protection for the numerous Native American BROOM BROOM SWEEPERS
GET DOWN AND DIRTY
IN STEWARDSHIP EFFORT
archaeological sites in the region. Father Paul enjoys hiking, backpack-
ing, reading, camping, and attending sporting events.
SWEEPERS
d

e
connect with sustainable and compatible economic prosperity. Weeds. . . everyone has them, everyone

We must connect with families and their ongoing struggle to
stay connected to the land.
Within our new vision, we plan to develop new relationships
within the community by increasing the number of people
who support and are engaged in our mission. We can do this
by developing clear messages about why we do what we do,
and fostering the link between conservation and community.
Uni t
conservation project. wants to get rid of them, or at least keep
Janet Effland recently pace. But that’s easier said than done on a
landscape of 800 acres. This winter BSLT
“We wanted to make sure it was environmentally protected. We like what The Big Sur retired as general partner
tackled the task on Glen Deven Ranch the
Land Trust does,” said Richard Zirker when describing why he and his wife decided to of Apax Partners, Inc.
practical way—with VOLUNTEERS! The
make the gift. Mrs. Zirker said they discussed their wishes with all six of their children, where she managed the first step was to find dedicated people who
who supported their decision. firm’s U.S. health care would commit a day to dig in the dirt.
investment strategy. Thanks to a generous grant from the Bella
In 2002, she was named Vista Foundation, we were able to make the
PROFILE: invitation a bit more enticing by offering
the nation’s fifth most
profitable venture capitalist tools, free food, a t-shirt, and a day in

The Central Coast and Monterey County include many

recognized natural treasures – places like Big Sur, Monterey
Bay, and the Carmel River. Our responsibility is to ensure
that these great places, which are fundamental to our social,
economic, and spiritual well being, will endure not only for
our children, but for their children and beyond.
In the days and months ahead, I look forward to sharing
with you more about our emerging vision and land and
water conservation initiatives. In the words of Aldo Leopold,
a founder of the modern land conservation movement,
“Conservation is a state of harmony of human beings living
sustainably on the land.” The Big Sur Land Trust is ready to
strive for this noble goal. Won’t you join us in this great work?
Bill Leahy, Executive Director
Meet the Leahys
Bill Leahy is leading the BSLT team in develop-
ing an expanded vision for the Land Trust as it
broadens its works and mission in the region.
With over 11 years of experience at The Nature
Conservancy (TNC), Bill is well versed in land
and water conservation transactions and related policy issues. Bill worked most recently
as project director for Monterey County and as the key liaison with The Big Sur Land Trust
on behalf of the Conservancy. Bill received his bachelor’s degree in economics from
Vanderbilt University. After spending eight years in commercial real estate, he decided to
redirect his expertise toward a more fulfilling mission and joined The Nature Conservancy
as the director of Land Protection in Missouri. At TNC, Bill successfully carried out sever-
al landscape scale conservation plans in southern California, negotiated more than $20
million in land acquisitions in California, and managed staff in acquiring over $14 million
in critical properties. He is known for his ability to develop effective partnerships and
alliances and for testing innovative approaches to land protection. Over the years he has
served on numerous environmental and community-oriented steering committees and
planning groups in the communities where he has lived.
Bill and his wife Lorien live in Pacific Grove with their four-year old daughter, Amelia.
Lorien is completing certification training to become a yoga instructor. Amelia is finishing
up her second year of preschool. The entire family enjoys backpacking, telemark skiing,
running, and gardening with native plants.
by Forbes magazine in its
ranking of 100 Venture
Capitalists. She serves as a board member for the ASU Foundation and
is board chairman of the Arizona Technology Enterprises. Janet and her
husband Bill split their time between Carmel and Scottsdale, Arizona
where they enjoy golfing and relaxing. Janet and Bill bought their home
in Carmel about 15 years ago mainly because of the open space and
beautiful scenery.
New officers were also tapped for 2004. Ann Peterson Mahoney is the
new president; Marsha McMahan Zelus is now vice-president; David
Bates continues in his role as treasurer; and Phillip Butler is the new
secretary for the board.
COMING SOON
TO MAILBOXES EVERYWHERE
The BSLT Spring Hike Schedule
with hikes for all levels in a variety of settings.
Garrapata Canyon communing with nature.
Our phones started ringing just days after
the colorful Broom Sweeper flyer reached
mailboxes and the ten work days were
quickly filled to capacity. “What a
great way to spend a day. It was hard
work, but rewarding, and educational!
I have a whole new appreciation for
the challenges property owners face in
maintaining large parcels of land,” said
volunteer, Bill Bennett.
The hardy volunteers who joined us in this effort are
referred to as “Broom Sweepers” as they are ridding the
landscape of the pesky invasive weed, Genista, more
commonly known as French broom. With the help of our
enthusiastic work crews, our efforts along Garrapata Creek
will improve the habitat for songbirds and other wildlife.
Using heavy duty weed wrenches, the Broom Sweepers’
have dusted off a noticeable section along the ranch slopes.
“We’ve made more progress than I estimated, which means
we can expand the area we cover. These folks are hard
workers and quick studies,” reports Conservation Project
Manager, Sus Danner. A second round of work days will
be scheduled this winter to ensure that seedlings left behind from the initial sweep don’t flower and
proliferate. This type of long-term restoration and monitoring project is feasible because BSLT will
own and steward Glen Deven Ranch in perpetuity.