Subject: repost Reardon Pond info to Tweeters
Date: Jan 9 14:02:43 2004
From: Blevins, Gary - GaryB at spokanefalls.edu



This e-mail is in response to Ed Newbold's request. The original posting
was made by Cindy McCormack a member of the Reardan ponds task force.

The purchase of the east Reardan pond shoreline is a joint project by
Spokane Audubon society and the Northwest Inland Land Trust. We have put
together a task forces that is also working closely with Ducks Unlimited and
the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The long term goal besides
protection is to provide better wildlife viewing at the site.

We have worked out an agreement with the land owner for a $50,000.00 payment
by March 2004 that would prevent the land from being sold to another party
and provide us with two years to come up with the total purchase price. The
land value will be determine by the end of January by an independent
appraiser.

The task force is in the process of putting together a campaign to obtain
the funds to purchase the property. We will be looking for funds through
private donations, foundation donations, conservation groups, and State and
Federal funds. For some of these proposals we need specific data regarding
species numbers that use the area. We have been contacting individuals we
know that bird the area on a regular basis. If anybody on Tweeters has
collected data at Reardan Ponds, please forward it to me.

Our most important need at this time is obtaining the 50K needed by March so
we can continue the process. Given the short time frame for collecting this
money, it will mostly likely have to come from private donations. Donations
can be made through the Land Trust at http://www.inlandnwlandtrust.org

Please feel free to contact me regarding this issue.

Gary Blevins
President, Spokane Audubon Society