Partners

A Matter of Trusts
by Carey Smith, Pacific Coast Joint Venture

The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (Plan) Committee expanded the Plan’s vision in 1998, encouraging joint ventures to broaden the scope of their partnerships. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (Act) Small Grants Program, a 1996 spinoff of the Act’s Standard Grants Program, has a similar goal of attracting less traditional partners to wetland conservation. One difference between the two grants programs is the cap on funding: Standard Grants, $1 million, Small Grants, $50,000.

For the Pacific Coast Joint Venture, the Small Grants Program has been a catalyst in bringing 25 land trusts into its partnership. These new partners have moved joint venture meetings from agency conference rooms to grange halls and local irrigation and diking district offices. Landowners are more comfortable working with land trusts than governmental agencies because land trusts are viewed as being more in tune to community concerns and have the flexibility to deal with long-term family goals and estate planning. Since expanding its involvement with land trusts, the joint venture’s annual partner contributions have risen from $25 million to over $50 million. Most of this increase has come from individuals and local governments, two categories previously poorly represented.

Not only have land trusts identified grass-roots projects that advance the joint venture’s habitat goals but also new funding sources. They have been vocal Plan advocates, having influence in their communities and with Congressmen.

The joint venture has helped land trusts compete successfully for millions of dollars in state and federal grants and has provided administrative funding for project planning, land appraisals, and outreach. The effects of a land trust affiliating with a joint venture is demonstrated by the Columbia Land Trust of Vancouver, Washington. This land trust had been an all-volunteer organization for many years, limiting its projects to small acquisitions within one county. In 1998, with the joint venture’s support, it received a Small Grant to acquire 50 wetland acres at the entrance of the Columbia River National Scenic Area.

With newly gained confidence from their success, and with donations received through the publicity surrounding this project, the land trust applied for and received a $1 million Standard Grant. Subsequently, Columbia Land Trust has received two more $1 million Standard Grants and a $1 million National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Program grant. These monies and $15 million in partner funds are being used to acquire 3,700 acres and restore or enhance 8,500 acres in the lower Columbia River and nearby Willapa Bay. The publicity gained through these high profile projects has attracted several other major funding sources. The land trust now has eight full-time employees and has expanded its reach to 11 counties along the Columbia River in both Oregon and Washington.

Since 1891, 1,263 local and regional land trusts have been established, and nearly 1 million members nation-wide have preserved more than 6.2 million acres of open space. Of the land trusts responding to the 2000 National Land Trust Census, the majority indicated that wetlands are one of the primary land types that they protect—which makes them a logical partner to help achieve Plan goals.

For more information, contact Carey Smith, Coordinator, Pacific Coast Joint Venture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 9317 NE Highway 99, Suite D, Vancouver, Washington 98665, (360) 696-7630, carey_smith@fws.gov.