March 06, 2012Land Committee Minutes

Items for Follow-up

□Review and legal interpretation of Gardens of Connemara conservation easement document by an attorney.

Available Projects (still open for a Volunteer)

□Write up on Strategic Plan profile for southwestern sector of focus areas.

Committee Chair:
Mark Yarbrough
Proposed Date of Next Meeting:
04/03/2012 / Members Present:
John Dugdale, Chris Ebling, Brett Johnson, Scott Norris, RJ Taylor (CCF staff), Mark Yarbrough

Mark Y. opened the meeting at 8am.

Strategic Plans for the CCF Land Committeeand Strategic Conservation Plan for Connemara’s outreach efforts–(PLEASE FILL IN.) Mark/RJ

-Conservation Plan Priority Areas

-Potential partnerships with other land trusts

-Systematic Conservation Planning concept

Updates on Easement Preparation

  • Montalcino Estates Conservation Subdivision in Flower Mound 140.326 net acres out of a 282-acre subdivision property. Easement signed on 02/01/2012. Effective Date: June 1, 2012. Phase I of site is under clearing and roadway installation.
  • Martin Ranch in Parker Co. – delayed completion (120 acres)
  • Gainesville Site in Gainesville, TX – final draft by Connemara submitted to Trustees last week. Final acreage number: 146.78 acres)
  • Mill Branch Mitigation Bank in N/W Denton Co. ( 76 acres)
  • Pittman Ranch (DWF) in Cooke Co. (790 acres)

Update on LeadsRJ

  • Sandbrock Ranch in Aubrey/Savannah, TX – planning a visit to meet the ranch owner of potential 1,500 acre easement.
  • Polo Ridge Partners Wetland Mitigation Bank –Building a relationship with potential developer/landowner on potential 2,540-acre mitigation bank.
  • Red Oak Umbrella Mitigation Bank in EllisCounty – 3 additional mitigation tracts totaling 458 acres. Client is ready to begin preparation of easements.
  • D Bar B Ranch in ParkerCounty – Planning a visit to meet children of deceased landowner
  • Stream Mitigation Bank lead – site in Baylor County on a historical ranch with opportunities for up tohalf a million acres of easement protection (total ranch covers approximately 530,000 acres)!!! Site adjoins the western edge of our current service area. More details to come as things progress.
  • Discussions with Dixon Water Foundation about using 2,500 acre Bear Creek Ranch for streammitigation credit generation.
  • Additional leads to be coming in as referrals from other land trust partners.

Stewardship Activity

  • No recent developments. All sites have been visited and photo-documented for the 2011 annual monitoring period, and monitoring reports will now be prepared.
  • RJ and Brett J. to work on revising the Management Plans for the Flower Mound conservation subdivision easements to address vegetation management and fire-wise issues.

Other Outreach Information

  • Next Landowner Workshop for ranchers and farmers proposed for a location in Granbury, TX on May 11, 2012.
  • Discussions with Upper Trinity Conservation Trust on a spring workshop for municipalities and developers. Tentative date: Thurs afternoon May 10th
  • Profiles of Conservation Easement Activity booklet being finalized.