Tuesday, May 4th, 7:00 - 8:30pm at the Twisp River Pub 
Learn about our region's rarest native plants! Wendy Gibble with the Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program at the University of Washington Botanical Gardens will show striking photos of rare local plants and talk about causes and types of rarity. Wendy will also talk about the Rare Care monitoring program and how people can participate in rare plant conservation here in the Methow.
The Twisp River Pub will open at 6:00pm for attendees who would like to purchase food or drinks.
The event is free and open to everyone. For more information, contact Mary at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
You’ve inspired us and challenged us and supported us….now it’s time to party with us!
Join us, on May 29th at the Winthrop Barn, as we close in on our fundraising goal, toast to the future of the Methow Valley, and just have a good time with live music from Methow-grown favorites Luc & the Lovingtons, a fabulous local dinner, and a preview of the permanent donor recognition piece.
Campaign Celebration Party
Saturday, May 29th at the Winthrop Barn
5:30pm donor appreciation dinner
7:30pm community appreciation concert
Please join us Memorial Day Weekend for a community-wide, all ages celebration of
land conservation and community spirit as we celebrate reaching our Imagine the Methow Campaign fundraising goal and thank the entire Methow Valley community for loving this valley.
The “donor appreciation” dinner, featuring delicious local food, is just $20/person and your ticket includes the concert. Dinner seats are limited so reserve yours quickly!
The "community
appreciation" concert with Luc & the Lovingtons starts at 7:30 and tickets are $5/person.
Reserve tickets with us or get them at the door.
Contact us at 509-996-2870 or www.imaginethemethow.org for more information or to reserve tickets.
Many volunteers will
be needed! If you’d like to help us in exchange for attending at no cost, contact Mary at info@methowconservancy.org
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Also….all of you who donated in any way, shape or form to the Imagine the Methow Campaign should have just received a one-page letter in the mail from us. We are working to make sure we have everyone’s name spelled correctly, donation listed correctly, etc. before we finalize the permanent donor recognition honor roll. If you received this piece of mail from us, please take a quick look at it and let us know if any corrections need to be made or take a look at the current honor roll and call us with any corrections at 509-996-2870. Thanks!
Arrowleaf balsamroot and numerous other spring flowers will be in their prime in mid-May, and the neo-tropical migratory birds will be pouring into the Valley after their long journey from South and Central America. We’ll go to a variety of places throughout the Methow Valley on Friday, Saturday and Sunday to experience all that the natural world of the Methow has to offer. In the evenings, we’ll share meals and hear presentations from Dana and Libby on the Methow’s natural history as well as the life and times of Methow birds.
Registration is required and the retreat is limited to 20 people* The retreat cost is $130/person. Participants should be willing and able to take part in the entire retreat including evenings. Participants should be in good physical condition, able to complete moderate hikes and spend 6+ hours in the field. Free tent camping is available at Dana’s property along the Methow River near Twisp or you can make your own lodging arrangements. Thursday evening's dinner is a potluck. Friday's dinner is a shared meal provided by the Methow Conservancy (included in the retreat fee). Saturday's dinner is a group function at Local 98856 in Twisp where participants will pay $15 for themselves. Locations for day and evening events will be given shortly before the retreat starts. Contact Mary for more information or to register 509.996.2870.
If the local Methow community needed proof that Methow Conservancy staff don’t sit around watching Charlie’s Angels re-runs or obsessing over their baseball card collections, they got it!
For the second year in a row, the Methow Conservancy competed in the Public School Funding Alliance’s Trivia Night fundraiser. This year, staff members Steve Bondi, Julie Grialou, Mary Kiesau and Jason Paulsen dressed-up in their finest Methow Conservancy apparel and competed against 13 other teams last Monday in the Winthrop Barn.
Let’s just say that their performance leaves ample room for improvement next year!
And while the Methow Conservancy may not be your one-stop shop for all things trivial, we are happy to assist with any questions you may have as they relate to natural history or land stewardship here in the Methow! If we were to hold our own “trivia night” here are some of the questions we might ask:
1. Knapweeds reproduce solely by seed. About how many seeds can one plant produce?
2. The coldest temperature ever recorded in Washington was from the Methow Valley. What was that temperature and what was the date it was recorded?
3. Who historically raised peanuts and artichokes in Mazama and has a mountain named for him near the Weeman Bridge.
4. What “diving duck” is the harbinger of spring for the Methow Conservancy when it arrives at the confluence of the Chewuch and Methow Rivers?
5. What is the ubiquitous shrub which blooms yellow in the spring and is a primary food source for mule deer in the winter?
Find answers to these questions at the bottom of E-news!
In addition to protecting land via conservation easements, we also protect land through our Conservation Buyer Program. This program matches high-priority  conservation properties with buyers who want to protect the natural richness of these properties.
A conservation buyer partners with the Methow Conservancy to protect the conservation values of a property either by:
• Purchasing an existing conservation easement property that is for sale, or
• Purchasing a high-quality property that is currently unprotected and at risk of subdivision, and working with us to place a conservation easement on the property.
Read more about our Conservation Buyer program including what properties are currently for sale, or contact us 509-996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
Two years ago we began a 3-year “Cage-A-Tree” program with funding from the Chelan/Douglas P.U.D. Tributary Fund  for restoration work within riparian forest habitats of the middle Methow and lower Twisp Rivers. We’ve had many great work-parties since 2008 and many of you have helped. Spring is here and we could use your help again!
This project works to improve the health of degraded riparian habitats by caging naturally regenerating tree saplings and shrubs to prevent over-browsing by the large deer populations in the Methow and Twisp River drainages. The goal is to give young saplings a fighting chance to create some of the riparian forests of our future.
The work is simple and does not require experience or strenuous activity. Our next work-party is Thursday, May 27th from 9am to noon at the Witte conservation easement property on the East County Rd. If you can help out, or if you’d like more details, please call the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870 or email us.
We will have more volunteer opportunities like this over the summer. If you’d like to be personally notified about future stewardship volunteer opportunities, tell us (see phone and email above).
On Monday, May 17th (date change), the Okanogan County Commissioners will devote their regular 1:30pm Comprehensive Plan work session to the future of land use planning in the Methow Valley.
This work session is one in a series of sessions that the Okanogan County Commissioners have devoted to review of the draft Comprehensive Plan update as recommended by the Planning Commission last fall. These work sessions are open to the public, but they are not public hearings. Citizens attending the work sessions are provided with an opportunity to ask questions at the conclusion of each session as time allows and may provide written input at any time.
The upcoming work session on May 17th is likely to include a review of the existing Sub-Area designations developed in 1976, including the most recent update to the Sub-Unit “A” which was completed in 2001. The historical use of sub-area planning has allowed residents of the Methow Valley to respond to local land use concerns and to develop innovative tools such as the Planned Development ordinance to accommodate new development while preserving open spaces, recreational areas, and working farmland.
To make it easier to follow the process:
- You can download audio from previous work sessions here
- You can also view a copy of the Commissioners’ draft Comprehensive Plan edits here.
Methow Conservancy staff attend as many of these work sessions as possible, and encourage all Methow citizens to become educated regarding the land use plans and regulations that shape our local community and economy. Please feel free to contact Executive Director Jason Paulsen with any questions at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org.
Our bi-annual written newsletter should be reaching member mailboxes right now. This paper newsletter features articles you won’t find in E-News, so if you aren’t on our mailing list and would like a copy mailed to you just let us know (info@methowconservancy.org or 996-2870). Otherwise, you are welcome to read a PDF version of the newsletter here.
We are having a special event just for you. Many people joined us over the last year as new members because of our Imagine the Methow campaign, and the large majority of these new members are in the Seattle area. Since you can’t stop by our office or come to one of our Valley events just any time, we thought we’d come to you with a Welcome to the Methow Conservancy Happy Hour.
Please join Conservancy staff and Board members at this casual event. Meet others who love the Valley too, learn a bit about what we do, and best of all enjoy appetizers and drinks at Queen Anne’s newest hot spot, emmer&rye.
Wednesday, May 12th
5:30 – 7:30pm (come anytime)
emmer&rye restaurant
1825 Queen Anne Ave N in Seattle
This is a welcome to the Methow Conservancy thank-you event, not a fundraiser. RSVP by emailing or calling (509-996-2870) Sarah, or just come by if you can.
And speaking of new members….here’s the list of people who became new members over the last month (March 27th to April 29th): Lynn & Doug Grisham, Diane Sutherland & Mark Muldaur, and Gwen Vernon. Thank you!
John Crandall is the winner of last month's "find the meadowlark" contest. Congratulations John! His name was drawn randomly from all the people who found the western meadowlark on our Restoring Shrub-Steppe in the Methow Valley webpage. His prize is one of our super-sized Methow Conservancy organic cotton tote-bags!
We’ll continue to hold this fun little contest from time to time…stay tuned to E-News!
The Okanogan Valley Land Council, the Okanogan Conservation District and the Colville Confederated Tribes present “Fire in our Future: Sustaining Wildlands and Communities,” with speaker Jim Agee, Ph.D., on Tuesday May 18th at 7:00pm at the Okanogan Grange Hall, 305 Tyee Street, Okanogan (off 2nd Ave.). Jim Agee is Professor Emeritus of Forest Ecology at the University of Washington. He taught forest and fire ecology over a 30-year career at UW and his 1993 book, Fire Ecology of Pacific Northwest Forests, remains the most widely cited reference in this discipline. In 2009, he was awarded the Harold Biswell Lifetime Achievement Award in Fire Ecology and Management from the Association for Fire Ecology. Contact OVLC at (509) 486-2765 or ovlc@communitynet.org for more info.
The new Methow Wilderness School has prepared a long list of interesting and inspiring class for spring and summer. Check out everything they have to offer at www.MethowWildernessSchool.com
Below, you'll find announcements about events or publications (ours and those of other organizations) that we think you might find interesting.
May 4th: 1st Tuesday program – “Washington's Botanical Rarities: Rare Plants & Conservation” with Wendy Gibble from the Washington Rare Care Program at the University of Washington Botanical Gardens, 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Twisp River Pub.
May 12th: Methow Conservancy Seattle-Area New Member Event, 5:30 – 7:30pm at emmer&rye restaurant in Queen Anne. Appetizers and drinks provided; meet others who love the Methow; catch up with Conservancy staff and board members. emmer&rye is at 1825 Queen Anne Ave. N in Seattle. RSVP to Sarah by email or phone (996-2870).
May 13 – 16th: Methow Naturalists’ Retreat with Instructors Libby Mills & Dana Visalli. See above for more details including how to register.
May 18th: "Fire in our Future: Sustaining Wildlands and Communities,” with speaker Jim Agee, Ph.D., 7pm at the Okanogan Grange Hall, 305 Tyee Street, Okanogan (off 2nd Ave.). Contact OVLC at (509) 486-2765 or ovlc@communitynet.org for more info.
May 22nd: Metal Drive at Methow Recycles. Accepting anything made of metal - including appliances, scrap iron or steel, wire, pipe, aluminum, cable & barbed wire, and all cars, trucks, and motorcycles. If you have a junk car or a big pile of metal, contact Betsy at 996-2696 or recycle@methowrecycles.org to make arrangements.
May 27th: Methow Conservancy Cage-A-Tree Work Party, 9:00am to Noon at an East County Rd property. Contact us at 996-2870 or email us if you can help. See above for more details.
May 29th: Imagine the Methow Campaign Celebration Party, 5:30pm dinner, 7:30pm concert. Get tickets now! Fabulous dinner, Luc and the Lovingtons, and a very good time. See www.imaginethemethow.org for all the details.
May 30th: Crown S Ranch Annual Farm Tour & Potluck, 10:00am – 4:00pm. Join Crown S Ranch for farm tours at 10:00am, 1:00pm or 3:00pm with a potluck at Noon. Crown S will provide meat and beverages. Bring a side dish and join the fun! This event is free and open to everyone, but RSVPs are appreciated. Call them at 509-996-3849 or go to www.crown-s-ranch.com for more details. No dogs please.
May 28 – 30th: Twisp Rural Roots Film Festival. See http://www.ruralrootsfilmfestival.org/TRRFF/Home.html for all the details.
 June 1st: 1st Tuesday program – “Birds and their North Central Washington Habitats,” 7:00 – 8:30pm at the Twisp Grange. Biologist Ken Bevis will explore what birds mean to people through the ages and now. He will take us on a visual and auditory tour of key habitats and bird species of our region, including shrub steppe, forests and alpine. Birds as harbingers or actual sources of conservation challenges will be examined as well. Ken works for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Okanogan and Chelan Counties. (He might even do a song.)
June 5th: Volunteer Training for Rare Plant Monitoring. Wendy Gibble with the Washington Rare Plant Care & Conservation Program at the University of Washington Botanical Gardens will give a training for individuals who sign up to be rare plant monitors. Learn more about this educational opportunity, including how to apply and the details of the training by contacting Mary at the Methow Conservancy at 996-2870 or info@methowconservancy.org
June 6th: Metal Drive at Methow Recycles. Accepting anything made of metal - including appliances, scrap iron or steel, wire, pipe, aluminum, cable & barbed wire, and all cars, trucks, and motorcycles. If you have a junk car or a big pile of metal, contact Betsy at 996-2696 or recycle@methowrecycles.org to make arrangements
June 12th: Kids’ Fishing Day at the Winthrop National Fish Hatchery, 10:00am- 2:00pm. Kids of all ages will have a fabulous fun time at this continuing annual event. The activities and booths are  seemingly endless, andwill include a Methow Conservancy Beaver station! And, of course there will be perfect fishing opportunities for the little ones.
July 8-11th: 59th Annual Meeting of the Lepidopterists’ Society, in conjunction with the Washington Butterfly Association, is being held in Washington State for the first time (in Leavenworth). See www.lepsoc2010.com.
Our Cancellation and Refund Policy
If you cancel or leave a fee-based course for any reason:
Full refunds will be given if the request is received two weeks or more before the day of the program (class, workshop, fieldtrip, etc.). If the cancellation is made less than two weeks before the start of the program, the Methow Conservancy will give a full refund only if we are able to fill your spot. If you cancel 24 hours or less before the start time of the program or after the class has started there will be no refund of the program fee. Although we rarely need to do so, we reserve the right to cancel a program. In this case you will receive a full refund.
Answers to the Trivia Questions above:
1. 18,000 – 25,000
2. −48 °F (-44.4 °C) on December 30, 1968
3. John McKinney
4. Harlequin Ducks
5. Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), also known as Antelope Bitterbrush or
Buckbrush
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Imagine a Celebration Party!