STANDARD 12: Fee Land Stewardship

12A. Funding Land Stewardship 12C. Land Management 12D. Monitoring Land Trust Properties 12E. Land Stewardship Administration

Policy: The Wood River Land Trust has a program of responsible stewardship for the land it holds in fee for conservation purposes. Stewardship responsibilities include documenting the conservation resources, monitoring the property, and managing the property to enhance and maintain the conservation values, as well as ensuring benefit to the public. Practice 12A: Funding Land Stewardship. The Land Trust has adopted a policy to ensure its ability to fulfill its stewardship responsibilities now and in the future. The Land Trust established the Stewardship Fund to cover the costs of land monitoring, management, improvements and other costs. The policy specifies that at the time the Land Trust accepts or acquires an interest in land the Land Trust shall deposit sufficient funds into the Stewardship Endowment Fund to support its obligation to protect the conservation values in perpetuity. The amount of this deposit is calculated and determined in accordance with the established policy which is regularly reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors. (See Appendix 11A.1, Stewardship Fund Policy and Procedures; and Appendix 11A.2, Stewardship Fund Worksheet.) Practice 12C: Land Management. Within one year of acquiring fee interest in property the Land Trust shall complete a management plan approved by the Director of Conservation and the Executive Director that identifies the conservation goals and management objectives for the property (See Appendix 12C.1, Model Fee Land Management Plan.) The goals and objectives are consistent with the open space resources on the property, the public benefit mission of the Land Trust, and our intentions for length of ownership. These land management plans are maintained in the Land Trust filing system and are periodically reviewed for updates and changes. The plans focus on the public benefits of the property and permit only those activities that are consistent and compatible with these benefits. Practice 12D: Monitoring Land Trust Properties. Preserves and lands owned by the Land Trust are monitored annually utilizing a monitoring checklist. (See Appendix 12D.1, Preserve Annual Inspection Form and Appendix 11C.3: Noxious Weed Evaluation.) Stewardship activities such as weed control and trail maintenance are part of the annual monitoring and are tracked to ensure compliance with the management plans. Where appropriate, property boundaries are marked and monitored. Practice 12E: Land Stewardship Administration. The Land Trust performs administrative duties in a timely and responsible manner, including keeping essential records and forms, and paying insurance and property taxes.

Standard 12: Fee Land Stewardship - Page 1 of 1 Approved by the Board November 27, 2007