Strategic Plan 2001-2005
Mission
Butters Land Trust conserves wild landscapes in Butters Canyon
and along Peralta Creek and promotes environmental awareness
throughout the watershed, to preserve vital habitat
for all Bay Area residents to enjoy.
Goals and Strategies
Conserve undeveloped lands in Butters Canyon using the tools of private land conservation.
- Develop and implement flexible land conservation strategies, including purchase, conservation easements, or other strategies.
- Act as capable stewards in perpetuity of the land we acquire.
Increase awareness about the benefits of private land conservation and the mission of the Trust.
- Conduct educational and outreach activities in the neighborhood surrounding Butters Canyon.
- Target key technical advisers and make them available to landowners.
- Ascertain and publicize tax and other benefits to potential donors of properties and conservation easements.
Promote environmental and habitat awareness throughout the neighborhood surrounding Butters Canyon.
- Develop working relationships with a broad range of environmental experts, including creek preservationists, native plant and wildlife biologists, watershed specialists, and city parks and recreation personnel.
- Enlist the aid of naturalists and other scientific and environmental specialists who can lead educational activities.
- Maintain working relationships with and seek assistance from organizations involved in conservation, such as environmental groups and governmental agencies engaged in creek, watershed, and open space preservation.
- Plan neighborhood educational events which promote environmental awareness.
Create an efficient and effective organization capable of protecting and managing lands in perpetuity.
- Develop a diverse board supported by effective committees and advisers
- Involve all board members and as many donors as possible in fund-raising activities.
- Develop a large and diverse membership that provides stable, unrestricted revenue.
- Maintain clear and open lines of communication with major donors, neighborhood creek enthusiasts, and neighborhood associations.
Projects
Conserve undeveloped lands…
- Secure purchase of or conservation easements on undeveloped lands in Butters Canyon, including creekside properties and those fronting on Rubin Drive (2002–2003).
Increase awareness of private land conservation…
- Conduct a neighborhood meeting every two months to provide updates and receive feedback (2001-2003).
- Sponsor seminars on conservation easements for creekside and canyon property owners, in partnership with Trust for Public Land and the California Coastal Conservancy (2004).
Promote environmental and habitat awareness…
- Conduct workshops and canyon walk-throughs on topics such as creek restoration, creek hydrology, storm water awareness, plants and trees of the canyon, geology of the canyon, and wildlife corridors.
- Seek funding sources for creek restoration projects once lands have been conserved.
- Explore ways to maximize public recreation benefits of the canyon, such as a hiking trail linking Butters Canyon to Joaquin Miller Park, nature study trail, etc.
Create an efficient and effective organization…
- Hold monthly board meetings.
- Hold at least one fund-raising event annually.
- Secure financial support from 300 donors by year-end 2003.
- Secure funding to support one staffperson by end of 2003.
Long-Range Projects
Engage in outreach to landowners in Peralta Creek tributaries above Highway 13 (2003-2005).
Secure conservation easements on creekside properties in all Peralta Creek tributaries above Highway 13 (2004- 2005).
Sponsor creek restoration projects, such as ivy abatement and native plant revegetating in Butters Canyon (2004-2005).
Construct hiking trail linking Butters Canyon to Joaquin Miller Park, or a nature study trail, as neighborhood interest and support allows.