PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST

connecting land and people

To inspire connections to

the landscapes, water, wildlife,

recreation and agricultural

heritage of west-central Montana

through conservation, now

and for future generations.

Dear Members, Volunteers, Supporters and Friends,

What a year! For Prickly Pear Land Trust, 2016 was a time of growth, diversification and opportunity.

In the spring, we stood side by side with our supporters and military-disabilitiescommunity and trail-advocate partners and announced the acquisition of the newTenmile Creek Park, part of the larger 550-acre Peaks to Creeks Initiative. The vision forthe park is to provide a place for everyone in our community — no matter age or physicalability — to connect with the outdoors. This park, along with our open space easementsand trail projects, is just one more way to engage the community in conservation.

In the fall, PPLT staff and board met to assess PPLT’s progress during our first 20 years and to discuss the outlook forconservation in our region for the next 20 years. For land trusts throughout Montana, the changing political and real estateenvironment presents not only great challenges but also incredible opportunities that make our work in building communityand conservation more important than ever.

As the community landscape evolves, so too does the work of land trusts. To address these challenges and opportunities,PPLT staff and board crafted a new mission statement, found on the facing page.

People connect with the outdoors in many ways. Our mission is to ensure and cultivate those values and connections tobuild happier, healthier and stronger communities for Montana’s future generations. We believe conservation is an essentialservice, and our work in our three program areas — community conservation, private land conservation and trails — seeks to achieve exactly that.

You inspire us. You make it possible for PPLT to continue to build connections to the outdoors and to create newopportunities for community conservation. Thank you for making 2016 such a wonderful year!

With gratitude,

Mary Hollow, Executive Director Jim Utterback, Board PresidentAll photos in the 2016 annual report are courtesy of Eliza Wiley.

Not everyone can enjoy a hike up Mount Helena. Whether it’sbecause of mobility issues, healthconcerns or any other number ofreasons, trails in the South Hillstrail system aren’t accessible orenjoyable for all. That’s wherePPLT’s Peaks to Creeks projectcomes in. Tenmile Creek Parkoffers wide, flat, crushed granitetrails easily accessible to everyone.

Veterans at the VA hospitalrecovering from traumas of warcan cross the street and touchnature. Residents at SpringMeadow Resources will be able

to enjoy the accessible trails nextto their home. All Helena residentswill have the opportunity to seeand feel the source of theirdrinking water.

Community conservation meanshappy trails for all. And in 2016,PPLT moved closer to that goalwith progress on our Peaks to Creeks projects.

community conservation

Communityconservation means happy trails for all.

Tenmile Creek Park givesvisitors the opportunity to see and feel the source ofHelena’s drinking water.

“I am honored to partner with PPLT on the Peaks to Creeks

project and trails, and lookforward to future partnerships

that aid in bringing thecommunity together.”

–James Bissett Jr., CEO, Spring Meadow Resources

trails Happy trails lead to happy places,and PPLT couldn’t continue itswork in the South Hills TrailSystem without the help of thehappy faces of hundreds of volunteers.

In 2016, more than 200volunteers provided close to 700 hours of work. In addition,two Montana Conservation Corps crews provided more than560 hours of work. That’s morethan 1,260 hours combined!

Two scouts from Troop 214completed their Eagle Scoutprojects. Mark Mousel constructeda trail on the east property line of PPLT’s Tenmile Creek Park.Daniel Leas rerouted the lowerportion of the Pinchot Trail tomake it more sustainable.

We also want to thank all thevolunteers who attended PPLT’sTrail Workdays, not only theindividual volunteers but alsogroups representing Girls Thrive,Helena Dynamos, Carroll College,Deloitte Consulting, MontanaBicycle Guild, Helena middle andhigh schools, and PPLT’s Adopt-a-Trail and Trail Committeevolunteers.

In 2016, more than 200volunteers provided closeto 700 hours of work.Volunteers help

keep trails happy.

private land conservation

“The window that a person owns a piece of land is small.” – Bill Gehring

From a high point on his ranch offLincoln Road, fourth-generationrancher Bill Gehring can see Helenato the south, the Sleeping Giant tothe northeast and, creeping intoview from almost every direction,houses that are part of minorsubdivisions.

Through a conservation easementwith Prickly Pear Land Trust andpartial funding from the Lewis &Clark County Open Space Bond, andgrants from the Rocky Mountain ElkFoundation and Travelers for OpenLands, Gehring will keep his 3,000-acre ranch safe from developmentand ensure that future generationsenjoy the view of wide open space.

“Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever,”Bill said. “Hopefully, this will be my legacy to the land; this will be

my stewardship. The window that a person owns a piece of land issmall. God gave me the gift topreserve this.”

In addition to the Gehring Ranch,PPLT finalized a conservationeasement on 125 acres of ranchland near York. The new easementprotects important habitat for elk,deer, black bears, mountain lions,beavers, bobcats, rainbow andbrown trout, several species of bats, and many species of birds,including bald eagles, golden eagles, and osprey, and includes a public access component.

The Gehring Ranch has been in the same family forfour generations and has seen little change since it was homesteaded in 1864.

Jim Greene & Martha VogtNeil & Kathleen HarringtonSiobhan Hathhorn & John Hines

Jane & Rick HaysDiana HolshueBrad & Jody HurdSarah JaegerLynn & Pietro JamesJewett ExcavatingCallie JohnsonKimberly KallestadEloise Kendy & Tim ByronJoe KielyBonnie Lambert & Marshall Mayer

John LambingBrad & Barbara LancasterJudy Landecker & Charles Udell

Paul & Renate LehmannGordon & Judy LevinLewis & Clark Tap RoomTom & Peggy LikensRon & Barb MarcouxPad McCracken & Nisan Burbridge

Angela McDannel & Bruce Kuyper

Andrew & Katie McLainNancy & Adam McLaneHeather McRee & Dan McCardle

Tim Meloy & Kay SatreTaffy MillerChristine MillsPaul & Orpha MontgomeryMosaic Architecture, PCMountain Meadow InnLois & Robert OlsenRichard Opper & Sally MuellerLuke & Amanda Osborne

Neil & Kimberly PattersonCraig & Gwen PozegaRick PyferSusan Miles & Wilbur RehmannKarla Ritten & Lawrence DolanRobert PecciaDave & Joyce RobertsLaura SandersRock Ringling & Bobbi UeckerSRA Design StudiosSarah ScottSusan Epstein & Spencer Shropshire

Silverman Law OfficeLee & Kimmy SkiftunWilliam Smith & Kimberly Kuhr Smith

Peter Strauss & Cynthia ParryTaco Del Sol - Shalon HastingsRoger ThorvilsonJeanene TjadenJohn & HeatherTupperLeo & Julie WardMike & Cori WellensteinJerry Wells & Faye BerganGeorge & Mary Ann WinterMeghan Trainor Wirth & Gregory Wirth

Ralph YaegerZackheim Creative

Amounts include auctionpurchases and in-kindservices and donations. A special thanks to allmembers who donatedthrough workplace givingand to those who gave to the organization’sendowment through theMontana CommunityFoundation.

Total assets $3,748,176

Liabilities $ 610,129

Net assets $3,138,047

Unrestricted net assets $3,017,368

Restricted net assets $ 120,679

Conservation land held $2,612,752

Investments $ 833,561

Donated conservation $2,228,788easements and land

Grants $1,918,270

Dues and contributions $ 278,196

Fundraising events $ 253,735

Sales and program fees $ 44,605

Investments and other $ 24,478

Total Revenues $4,748,072

Trails and conservation $2,371,870programs

Fundraising $ 202,095

Administration $ 112,294

Total Expenses $2,686,259

$5,000 and aboveAnderson ZurMuehlenWillow Springs FoundationCity of HelenaHigh Stakes FoundationMontana Community Foundation

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana

Dick & Margaret AndersonCinnabar FoundationHarry Israel & Mary Douglass

Bob KieslingJohn & Laura HeitTim BallweberLee Harrison & Fred OlsonSpeyer Family FoundationJim & Cindy UtterbackFirst Interstate BankLeRoy & Diana SchrammThe Beth & Michael Cummings Foundation

John Morrison & Catherine Wright

The Orvis Co.Anonymous

$2,500 – $4,999Alice & Ed SantosSt. Peter’s HospitalKen Ford & Heather GrahameMorrison Sherwood Wilson Deola

Chelsey & Mike FrankSam PharesJohn & Debra BeaverCurt & Mary LarsenAubrey & Brad HutchisonDonna BarerDave & Sandi AshleyBarb Howe & Jim Hunt

Great Divide CycleryDawn & John NorthAmerican ChemetBallweber OrthodonticsConfluence DesignFischer Physical TherapyHelena MotorsNate & Lisa McCarthyJoan PostonRichard & Helen RietzSullivan Financial Group Toyota

$1,000 – $2,499Barrett & Laura AdamsMary Louise Backus RankinEd & Mary BarrettThe Base CampAnonymousBlackfoot River Brewing Co.Richard BrunerArt & Amie ButlerKeith & Laren CarparelliChristensen & Prezeau, PLLPTerry CoheaDavid & Connie ColeLisa & Tom CordingleyCrowley Fleck PLLPAndrew & Leah CupinoCWG Architects -Tony Perpignano

Tim & Jennifer DavisLucy Dayton & Mark O’KeefeElkhorn Dental/Helena Orthodontics

Eric & Ellen FeaverSarah Fenton & Randall RakeKeith & Susan FosterAlvaro FreyreHelena McDonald’sGeorge’s Distributing IncAnonymous

Linda Gryczan & Constance Enzweiler

Kerry Hale & Mark AagenesHeadwater Rafts - Art Keeler & Betsy Burns

Helena Area Community Foundation

Helena Tourism AllianceHelena Ultra Runners LeaguePhil Hohenlohe & Andrea Rankin

Paula Jacques & Patrick CirilloThe James Brown Law Office, PLLC

Jane Kollmeyer & Terry ChuteGeorge & Ruth KraussAnn Mary Norton & Jonathan Krauss

John & Gale KuglinRob & Melanie LaClairMichael & Cheryl LambLamb & Carey Law OfficesAngie Leprohon & David Nimick

Jason & Sarah LobleTodd & Libbi LovshinJodi Mattson & John PerrosMcBride Family FoundationDennis & Deborah MilburnBrian Morris & Cherche PrezeauKen & Sherry MorrisonMorrison Maierle, IncAlan NicholsonNorthwestern EnergyOpportunity Bank of MontanaRon HunterKevin & Mary PitzerPlacer MotorsJason ReeseBob Rowe & Melanie ReynoldsJon Satre & Paulette EtchartDavid Schatz

Mark & Andrea SchertingBill & Audra ShropshireRobin Shropshire & Shaheen Siddiqui

John & Luanne SmithWill SniderRon Bartsch & Bekka CantrellAl SwansonBrian & Vanessa SybertSuzanne & Dick ThweattLeah & John TietzBill Tonidandel & Pam AttardoKen & Stephanie WallaceRon WatermanTim & Barbara WetherillNate McCarthy, WipfliJason & Erin WoodrowHeidi & Clif YoumansAnderson ZurMuehlen & Co.

$500 – $999Bob & Carolyn AdamsKyle Spencer - AllegraJessica Bailey & Lyn StimpsonEd BangsBig Dipper Ice CreamBig Sky Acoustics, LLCBig Sky CycleryBKBH ShareholdersJohn & Charlotte Bowenhollow

Jennifer BrunsdonMarc & Kelli ButenkoRuss & Karen CaterMatt Cohn & Mary Ellen Holverson

Dr. JT CreppsMike DaltonShaun & Lin DeolaChris DorringtonSharla DosierDowl HKM - Cody Salo

Judy & Fred FlandersBill GalleaLaura GeorgeJeff & Libby GoldesTodd GordonMary K GrandeDori GrosshauserHelena High Green GroupPhil HessTyrrell & Mary HibbardChase Hibbard & Emily Stonington

Bergetta & Lanny HubbardChris & Carol HunterMarcus & Lisa KelleyRenee & John KowalskiDave & Nina KrainackerLeisure VillageIngrid & John McLellanSherry & David MeadorJim MunozSusan NimickGreg NormandinPhil OdegardPerformance Injury CareSimon Perkins & Elisabeth Van Woert

The Perkins Charitable Foundation

Bob & Toni PersonKen & Brenda PriceRobert RasmussenReal World DesignRialto BarDeborah Schaaf & Ron FloydVonne SchatzKatie SchulzKatie & Jeff SealeyJason & Rebecca SeylerHarlan & Bill ShropshireTimmie & Mike SmartPhillip & Beth Steele

Jack Stults & Daphne CrosbieChris & Angie CharltonDaniel & Cassie TrostLarry TurneyValley Bank of Helena Rachel WeissJamie & Florence WilliamsJim & Marilyn Williams

$250 – $499Nancy Aagenes & Jason JonasAmerican Storage - Tim DavisSue & Leland AndersonJeff & Janiece BalckenDon & Joan BishopPaula & Mark BlessingerNeal Blossom & Kathie RoosJock & Teri BovingtonJoe & Chrissy BrandAnn BrodskyTom & Ann BrookeCarolyn CaldwellRuss CargoAndrew CarsonCasne & Associates, Inc Bob ClarkeClearwater Montana Properties - Mitch Kowalski

Hunter & Karen ColemanTerry & Sharon CopenhaverMike & Pat CotterGerry & Marilyn DaumillerMargaret Ulvestad & Doug Dellwo

John & Anna DoranAnne Hedges & Michael Downey

Dr. Thomas & Lisa EvansBob & Marylis FilipovichRay Flaherty & Lisa LarsenAnn GilbertHeather Greene

financial summaryFiscal year ending December 31, 2016

Notes: Prickly Pear Land Trust is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization under 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. This financial information has not yet been audited.

Revenue

Expenses

88%

PRICKLY PEAR LAND TRUST

40 W. Lawrence, Suite APO Box 892Helena MT 59624

406-442-0490

pricklypearlt.org

STAFF

Mary HollowExecutive Director

Andrea SilvermanLand Protection Coordinator

Lanie WhiteDevelopment Manager

Claudia DavisAdministrative Services

Peggy O’NeillCommunications and Events Coordinator

Evan KulesaTrails Coordinator

Nate KoppProject Associate

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

John BeaverTyrrell HibbardChris HunterPaula JacquesSarah JaegerJane KollmeyerJonathan KraussDennis MilburnDawn North Ed SantosLeRoy SchrammJim UtterbackErin Woodrow