MENDOCINO LAND TRUST
P.O. BOX 1094 November
MENDOCINO, CA 95460
PHONE: 707 962-0470
FAX: 707 962-0444
EMAIL: mlt@mcn.org
www.mendocinolandtrust.org
Land Trust Joyfully and Officially Opens
Navarro Point to Public Access
Eighty people attended the Navarro Point Opening
Ceremony on the windswept sunny afternoon of October 8,
2005 to commemorate the completion of public access
improvements—the latest step in conserving the Navarro
Point Preserve and Scenic Trail that began with its
acquisition by the Land Trust in 1999. Led by Executive
Director James Bernard, the Land Trust publicly expressed
its appreciation to the California State Coastal Conservancy
for funding the acquisition, management planning, and
access phases of the project and to the many people who
enabled the eight-space parking lot and trail loops to be
completed.
In particular, the Land Trust recognized the volunteers
who designed and constructed the trails and bridges. Trail
design was undertaken in a charette by Dave Jensen, Shirley
Freriks, Chris Clutton, Art Morley, Dick Van Alstyne,
Louisa Morris and James Bernard with further consultation
from botanist Teresa Sholars and former Land Trust staffer
Jenny Griffin. Louisa Morris organized and led a trail
building crew composed of Alan Ross, Art Morley, Rich
Frank, James Bernard, Bob Gerbi, Dick Van Alstyne, Matt
Gerhart, Louise Mariana, Dale Gaynor, Rusty Gates, and
Jim McCummings.
Parking lot design was undertaken by Green Valley
Consulting Engineers of Santa Rosa. Construction was
successfully completed by Paulson Excavating of Albion
with engineering assistance from Welty and Associates of
Fort Bragg. Signs were created by Rick Sacks of the Sign
Shop in Fort Bragg.
The mood for the occasion was set by poet Theresa
Whitehill who read an excerpt of her work “Toe in the
Water” that derives its inspiration from Navarro Point.
The opening ceremony also included the dedication of a
memorial bench to honor the life of Deborah Bové, a
California Coastal Commission employee who had ties to
Navarro Point. Commission staff and the Bové family
donated a unique wormwood bench and memorial stone that
have been placed in the southern part of the property.
The Navarro Point public access trail loops are 1.25
miles in length and offer hiking and breathtaking views of
the Pacific Ocean and rugged coastline from the blufftops.
continued on page 4
2005
The mission of the Mendocino Land Trust is to
conserve important natural resources of Mendocino
County including working farmlands and forests,
wildlife habitat, open space, scenic vistas,
watersheds, and to facilitate public access.
With Thanks to All: Executive Director James Bernard addresses
the crowd at the Navarro Point Opening Ceremony. Photo: Matt Gerhart
Land Trust Receives Funding for Unique Coastal
Access Program from Coastal Conservancy
On September 8, 2005, the California State Coastal
Conservancy Board approved $240,000 in funding for a Land
Trust Coastal Access Program over the next two years. The
funding will enable the Land Trust to undertake tasks
necessary to open fifteen coastal access easements to public
use and to fund on-going operation of the three existing coastal
accessways managed by the Land Trust. Part of the funding
will be used to undertake an engineering feasibility study
required for a beach access stairway at Belinda Point, where
the Land Trust developed and opened a public access trail to
and along the bluff in October 2004.
Land Trust staff identified these easements as priorities for
surveys and site plans because they 1) form part of the
California Coastal Trail alignment, 2) provide access to the
shoreline, or 3) are in heavily visited areas. The work will
involve botanical and archaeological surveys as well as
easement boundary surveys. Once surveyed, basic site
improvements for all fifteen properties will be designed. The
Land Trust is in the process of accepting transfer of the
easements (now held by the American Land Conservancy and
the Coastal Land Trust).
A key element in opening any coastal access way is
establishing good communication with the underlying property
owner and the neighbors. The Land Trust will be contacting
landowners and meeting with them to discuss the types of
improvements being contemplated for the easements that cross
their property, and will seek to address landowner concerns
with site design and management plans. Louisa Morris will be
the primary staff coordinating the new Program.
 Board of Trustees
President
The President’s Perspective by Dave Jensen
Dave Jensen I ran into an old friend the other day. He patiently listened while I chattered
Vice President on about the reasons I get up each morning – my wife, my dog, my ice cream
Bill Lemos store, landbirds, shorebirds, seabirds, and, of course, my day job. When I
Secretary mentioned that I was spending more time working with the Mendocino Land
Janice Gendreau Trust, he wanted to know why, with such a busy schedule, I would take on
Treasurer any more responsibilities. I just shrugged it off and made some lame joke
Chet Anderson about being the first-born son of a Lutheran farmer, then patiently listened to
Trustees
his latest adventures.
Alan Falleri
I later realized how I should have replied to my friend’s question. I support MLT because it is
Jessie Van Sant a vital and enduring part our community. The “M” in MLT does not stand for Mendocino Village
(on sabbatical leave) or even Mendocino Coast. We are dedicated to conserving valuable assets across the entire
county, from the mountains above Covelo to the pastures below Point Arena. MLT embodies
Staff
much of what it means to be from northern California in general and Mendocino in particular. Our
Executive Director organization reflects the spirit and values of the past, we are an active force for stewardship,
James Bernard education and conservation in these times, and our works will endure for the benefit of generations
Conservation to come.
Project Manager
Louisa Morris When I speak of MLT’s link to our past community, I don’t mean only the environmental
movement that has flourished for the past thirty-five years. I am speaking of all those who settled
Membership and here, or were here before the settlers, and loved this special place. MLT is working hard to
Outreach Coordinator
Holly Newberger
preserve the values of those who came before and honor their legacy by conserving lands that have
been part of family farms for generations.
Big River Program
Manager I support MLT because it is an essential part of our present community. We host the annual
Matt Gerhart Coastal Clean-up Day. We organize the removal of invasive plant species. With the help of other
Big River Stewards organizations and community volunteers, we are improving old roadways to prevent the siltation
Volunteer Coordinator of coastal streams.
Matt Coleman continued on page 5

Coastal Cleanup Day 2005 A Success

by Holly Newberger, Outreach and Membership
Coordinator

The Mendocino County portion of the California

Coastal Cleanup Day September 18, 2005 was well
attended this year with 285 volunteers (up from 225 last
year) cleaning 25 beaches from Gualala to Westport.
Volunteers found less trash this year than last (1,200
pounds versus 2,400), but more recyclables (450 pounds
versus 380).

The Mendocino Land Trust again served as county
coordinator and would like to extend special thanks to the
Beach Captains and all the volunteers who annually make
Coastal Cleanup Day a satisfying success. Mendocino
County beaches were made cleaner and safer for both
human visitors and wildlife.
The 2005 Cleanup marked the 21st anniversary of the
California Coastal Cleanup Day program, making this
one of the longest running and largest volunteer events in
the state.
2 was attended by many hungry Cleanup volunteers.
Noyo Harbor Beach cleaned by MCDOG volunteers: Pat
Dunbar, Gail Brodkey and David Plummer. Photo: Holly Newberger
Statewide, 47,776 volunteers cleaned 794,270 pounds of
trash and 87,103 pounds of recyclables from 2,017 miles of the
California coast, as well as along the inland shorelines of bays,
creeks, rivers, and lakes throughout California.
The Land Trust appreciates the support of local businesses
for the Cleanup: Fort Bragg Disposal for donating dumpsters;
Safeway, Corners of the Mouth and the Mendocino Cookie
Company for donating food and drinks for the barbecue that
 Land Trust Welcomes Matt
Coleman as Big River Stewards
Coordinator
The Big River Program of the Land Trust
is pleased to announce the addition of a
half-time Big River Stewards
Coordinator, Matt Coleman. Matt began
working in early October to coordinate a
full suite of volunteer restoration, monitoring, and outreach
activities at Big River this year.
Prior to joining the Land Trust staff, Matt most recently
worked with State Parks facilitating summer interpretive
programming at MacKerricher State Park. As a naturalist,
fisheries technician, and long-time local resident, he brings to
the Land Trust a wealth of knowledge of Big River, having
worked in fisheries science with the U.S. Forest Service,
Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, and California
Department of Fish and Game.
By mutual agreement, we’re calling Mr. Coleman
“Matteo” to differentiate him from Matthew Gerhart, the Land
Trust’s Big River Program Manager, as the program expands
to address the recommendations of the Big River Preliminary
Plan (available on the Land Trust’s website at www.
mendocinolandtrust.org) and continues to provide meaningful
opportunities for public involvement with the Big River
property acquired by the Land Trust in July 2002.
Renewing Redwood Research at the Fritz Wonder Plot
by Matt Gerhart, Big River Program Manager
In 1923, Professor Emanuel Fritz of U.C. Berkeley set aside
a grove of "the best and oldest second growth of the entire
redwood region" at Big River. For sixty years, Dr. Fritz
conducted decadal surveys of redwood survivorship and growth
at the one-acre plot, naming it the "Wonder Plot" for its
outstanding growth. Today, the redwoods at the Fritz Wonder
Plot are 143 years old, with residual old growth trees
intermixed.
This year, the Big River Program was able to continue
studying the Wonder Plot with grant funding from the Save-the-
Redwoods League. First steps involved searching historical
archives to compile information about the Plot. In late July, the
Land Trust, partnering with the League, California Department
of Parks and Recreation, and U.C. Cooperative Extension,
brought researchers together at the Plot to explore potential
future research directions in redwood forest ecology at Big
River. Re-measurement of the Plot was undertaken in August
and September by a team of researchers led by U.C.
Cooperative Extension Forest & Wildland Ecology Advisor
Greg Giusti, with generous support by Humboldt State
University and the League, which provided laser measurement
equipment for the project.
Data analysis and reporting of the Plot’s 2005 status are
underway, and will provide a new base for extended research
into redwood forest ecology at Big River for years to come.
Annual Big River Bird Surveys Completed
Big River Stewards, Mendocino Coast Audubon and
Mendocino High School’s School of Natural Resources
(SONAR) repeated the Spring Breeding Bird Survey at Big
River with great success and a few new finds. 35 people
attended trainings held by biologist Ron LeValley on April
24th and 30th, as well as a May 14th walk with survey leader
David Jensen. Along with additional leaders Toby Tobkin
and Warren Wade, a dozen team members braved 6:00 a.m.
start times, mosquitoes and more to accomplish nine
surveys. Over 70 bird species were recorded, including
Peregrine Falcon and Bullock’s Oriole, a pair of immature
Great Horned Owls roosting high in the redwoods, and a
nesting record for Red-Breasted Nuthatch (potentially new
for the coast). A bobcat and mountain lion were also
sighted.
While less active than the spring surveys, our six Fall
Migratory Bird Surveys in October and early November
provided seasonal contrasts and discoveries of their own.
Eight volunteers (including new surveyors Falcon Friedland,
Jeanne Coleman, and Ivan Samuels) assisted our leaders in
recording 45 species at the property, with common
detections of Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Chestnut-backed
Chickadees. Highlights included Pileated Woodpeckers in
close view, a diversity of raptors including Sharp-shinned
Hawk, and repeated detections of Virginia Rail at the Big
River Laguna.
Many thanks to our dedicated volunteers for making
these surveys possible!
Early Risers: October Bird Survey at Big River Laguna.
Photo: Matt Gerhart
Marking and Monitoring Big River’s Watercourses
Big River Stewards has embarked on an ambitious
project of aiding State Parks in marking and monitoring
important watercourse crossings throughout the property this
winter. Visitors to Big River may have already seen a
difference: the Big River Program aided State Park’s effort
to mark all previously-assessed watercourse crossings by
donating 200 flexible mileage markers to the project. With
this work completed and volunteer trainings underway,
Stewards will be able to get out, monitor and fix roadside
watercourse problems before they become major impacts to
the watershed. For more information and to sign up, contact
Big River Stewards Volunteer Coordinator Matt Coleman at
962-0470 or at mcoleman@mendocinolandtrust.org.
3

Letter from the
Executive Director
James R. Bernard
The Past is Prologue. Aldo Leopold, one of the fathers of
the modern American conservation movement and author of A
Sand County Almanac, in his essay “The Farmer as
Conservationist” described conservation as “harmony between
men and land.” Leopold envisioned the practice of
conservation as “not merely a negative exercise of abstinence
or caution” but “a positive exercise of skill and insight”
whereby the “pure fire of intellect” is made manifest. In
defining conservation in such terms, he consciously placed the
burden of responsibility for it not in the hands of government
agencies, but with individual landowners. Why? “Government
cannot own and operate small parcels of land,” he wrote, “and
it cannot own and operate good land at all.” Leopold found
government approaches to be too clumsy, its solutions too
general, and its policies too monolithic. While the Land Trust
has found Leopold’s assessment to be too general to be broadly
applicable and that public-private partnerships are a viable way
to conserve and manage land, it has validated his finding that
individual owners have the local knowledge needed to manage
land wisely and conserve its wealth and beauty.
The take-away is that if Leopold is right—if individuals
have the responsibility to exercise an appropriate stewardship
ethic toward their land, and if such exercise must be done in a
creative and entrepreneurial manner—then the task at hand is
to ensure the preservation of an institutional arrangement that
enables and encourages such creative and ethical activity.
Therefore, land conservation depends on the successful
interplay of markets, private property, and the rule of law.
Success Breeds Success. It seems the Land Trust is making
an annual tradition of opening a coastal trail. Last year, we
were able to open the Belinda Point Trail in Fort Bragg and this
year the Navarro Point Preserve and Scenic Trail was officially
opened to public use. Both represent work on behalf of all the
people of California so that we all can appreciate the natural
resources of this coast we call home and enjoy spectacular
places to visit. Both projects mean dollars put into the local
economy, now during construction and in the future as visitors
are attracted to the Mendocino Coast to see its grandeur. We
hope and expect that the new Coastal Access Program will
yield us another opportunity to celebrate same time next year.
Looking to the Future. We have a limited-time opportunity
to accomplish meaningful land conservation in Mendocino.
We ask that when you receive our Year-End Appeal letter that
you respond with a generous contribution that will support the
Land Trust at this crucial time.
4
Land Trust 2004-2005 Fiscal Year Annual
Reports Available
For the first time, the Land Trust has produced fiscal
year 2004-2005 five-page annual reports for the
organization and for its Big River Program. The Land
Trust’s annual report discusses administrative issues and
changes and covers conservation, stewardship,
membership, education and outreach. The Big River
Program annual report is oriented to both shareholders
(people and organizations that contributed fiscally to the
Big River Fund) and stakeholders (people and
organizations who hold a stake in the management of Big
River) covering planning, stewardship, and partnership.
Both annual reports contain financial information and are
available on the Land Trust website or by request in
hardcopy.
Toe in the Water: the Navarro Point bluffs looking south.
Photo: Matt Gerhart
Navarro Point Opening continued from page 1
The Preserve harbors exceptional unique and fragile
botanical resources that recreational users of the land will
admire and treat with respect.
The Navarro Point Stewardship Fund was created in
December 1999 in order to create an interest income
stream to support the annual costs to the Land Trust of
managing the Navarro Point property. The goal of the
Land Trust is to raise a $297,000 endowment to fund
regular site monitoring to assess public access impacts on
the natural resources of the property so that levels of
protection may be increased as necessary. The Fund
supports hand removal of invasive exotic plant species
and regular trail monitoring and maintenance.
Since opening the property has been used by a large
number of local residents and visitors investigating the
rich viewshed and walking the trails. Revegetation of
areas disturbed during construction is ongoing, using
native species propagated from material collected on the
property.
 Stock Gifts to the Land Trust
A number of our members are finding that stock
gifts are a wonderful way to make a gift to the Land
Trust. A gift of securities is fully tax-deductible at its
market value at the time of your contribution. An
added benefit is that by contributing your stock directly
to the Land Trust, you avoid the capital gains tax. The
Land Trust can sell stocks tax-free and use 100% of
your gift to save land. To make a gift of stock to the
Land Trust, please do the following:
Step 1: Contact your stockbroker. Your broker
can make a direct electronic transfer of your stock
certificates to the Land Trust’s account with the
following instructions:
DTC #0226 National Financial Services LLC
Account Name: Mendocino Land Trust
Account Number: Z06-060062
Fidelity Investments
Attn: Banking Services
Mail Zone KC1N
100 Crosby Parkway
Covington, Kentucky 41015
Step 2: Give your stockbroker the Land Trust’s
taxpayer identification number: 94-236-2450
Step 3: Notify the Land Trust as soon as the
transfer instructions have been given so that we can
alert our stockbroker. Please provide James Bernard at
the Land Trust with the name of the security, the
number of shares to be donated, and the name and
phone number of your broker.
We Encourage You to Support the Business and Organizational Members of the Land Trust…
Bay View Café, Mendocino
Caspar Beach RV Park, Caspar
Coast Real Estate, Mendocino
Field & Associates, Georgetown
5LP, Ukiah
Kent Graney Landscaping Co., Mendocino
Jenny Griffin, Conservation Planning
Consultant, Caspar
Lane Geographics, Gualala
And We Thank the Community Businesses that Support Our Events through their Generous
Contributions.
Alegria
Barefoot Cellars
Catch-a-Canoe and Bicycles, Too
Corners of the Mouth
Cowlick’s
Fort Bragg Disposal
Garden Bakery
Headlands Coffeehouse
President’s Perspective continued from page 2
But the main reason I support MLT is the promise we offer to
the future. Fifty years from now, persons not yet born will walk
the coastal trail at Navarro Point and experience the same feelings
of wonder and awe that I feel today. Seventy-five years from now
some future guide will stop on the path along Big River and show
others the nests where young osprey and herons are still raised. A
hundred years from now, your children’s children’s children will
take their offspring to a special picnic spot where the family has
come for years. Their cares and fears may then be different from
ours, but the solace and peace they will receive from the land will
be as comforting and healing as it is today.
That’s the honest answer to my friend’s question. That’s why
we all work so hard for this organization. I thank you for working
with us and for supporting our efforts.
Thank you to the volunteers who help with our mailings!
Photo: Holly Newberger
Mendocino Area Parks Association, Mendocino
Mendo Realty, Mendocino
Old Gold, Mendocino
Racine’s, Fort Bragg
Sea Rock Inn, Mendocino
Dean Strupp, Commercial Real Estate Appraiser, Mendocino
Sylvandale Gardens, Phillipsville
Tom’s Aircraft Enterprises, Lakeport
Webb Capital/Spring Ranch House, Ross and Little River
The MacCallum House Inn & Restaurant
Mendocino Café
Mendocino Cookie Company
Moody’s Organic Coffee
Ravens Restaurant
Rick’s of Mendocino
Safeway
The Stanford Inn
5
 Louise Young and Bill Adams led hikers at the Land Trust’s
Jon Klein Nature Photography Walk at Ten Mile Beach Navarro Point Preserve and Scenic Trail on October 23, 2005.
Photo: Holly Newberger
on September 11, 2005. Photo: Holly Newberger

Quarterly Calendar of Land Trust Events

November 19, 2005. Big River Stewards Invasive Plant January 21, 2005. Big River Stewards Invasive Plant
Removal Day at Big River Laguna; meet at Big River Haul Removal Day at Big River Beach; meet at Big River Beach
Road Parking Lot; 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Parking Lot; 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

November 23, 2005. Land Trust office will be closing at February 18, 2005. Big River Stewards Invasive Plant
Noon for the Thanksgiving holiday and will re-open Removal Day at Big River; meet at Big River Haul Road
Monday, November 28, 2005. Parking Lot; 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

December 17, 2005. Big River Stewards Invasive Plant

Removal Day at Big River; meet at Big River Haul Road This newsletter is printed on recycled paper
Parking Lot; 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. with 30% post consumer waste content.

MENDOCINO LAND TRUST

P.O. BOX 1094 NON-PROFIT
POSTAGE
MENDOCINO, CA 95460 PAID
PERMIT #3
PHONE: 707 962-0470 FORT BRAGG, CA
FAX: 707 962-0444
EMAIL: mlt@mcn.org
Post Office: Return Service Requested www.mendocinolandtrust.org