Hi all!

In response to a request, I am posting a copy of my original message and the
message I sent to Denny Grandstand when he requested additional information.
Thanks for your support!!

Here they are:

>Tweets:

For those of you that are unaware of recent developments on the Reardan
slough (Audubon ponds) in Reardan, Lincoln Co., WA:

The owner of the acreage on the east pond was planning on subdividing it and
selling it for development. Fortunately, she contacted the Spokane Audubon
Society first, and thanks to some quick work of some dedicated people, the
Inland Northwest Land Trust has made an agreement with the land owner to
hold the property off the market until March 15th, 2004. If we can come up
with $50,000.00 by then, the property will then be held off the market for
another two years to give us time to come up with the remainder of the sale
price (price to be determined after assessment completed).
We are hoping to acquire the 270-acre property to protect this area for
birds and hope to have better (safer) access for birders (and others!) in
the future.
Even with the limited access available now, there have been over 210 species
of birds recorded at these ponds and they have been a major stop for birders
in and traveling in eastern Washington.

I am announcing this in hopes that you, or someone you know, can help us
meet these goals to preserve the Reardan Slough. We need bird lists,
photographs of the ponds, photos of birders at the ponds, and, of course,
donations. Any donations can be made to the Inland Northwest Land Trust
(tax deductible!) www.inlandnwlandtrust.org.


Please contact me if you have any information, questions, or comments.

Thanks,

Cindy

Cindy McCormack
Spokane, WA
cbirds at comcast.net

>Hi Denny:

The property that is available is owned by Susan Eastman. Her husband died
last year (he owned an excavation company and was planning on developing
10(?) acre lots on this land) and left her with considerable debt. She was
going divide the property into 20 acre lots (so they wouldn't need to be
improved before selling) and sell it. However, she contacted Spokane
Audubon first to see if we would be interested in the property. That's how
Inland NW Land Trust became involved. They met with Mrs. Eastman, toured
the property, and came to an agreement. The papers were signed (I lent my
copy to someone, so I will give you the generalities)--some earnest money
was given with the agreement that the land trust would have to come up with
$50,000 by March 15, 2004 in order to hold the land off the market for 2
years. That would give us two years to come up with the balance of the
purchase price, which will be fair market value after an assessment. An
assessor was selected that both parties agreed to and the assessor's fees
will be split between Mrs. Eastman and the land trust.
The land trust has already approached Spokane Audubon about stewardship of
the property. I was all for it, but many of the other board members are
concerned about the cost of property taxes, liability insurance, and the
upcoming nature center in north Spokane. Anyway, stewardship is something we
are working on with the committee, as is fund-raising and publicity.
Future plans for the property have been discussed, with hopes for a small
parking area, a trail, and some blinds for birders.
The property available for purchase is the area surrounding the east pond
(east of the Hwy 231)--240 to 270 acres. Over 210 species of birds have
been recorded at these ponds.

I hope this covers all the information you needed. It would be wonderful if
other chapters could donate to the purchase fund. Wouldn't it be great to
be able to park and view the ponds in a safer location? Have more access
for viewing? Not to mention just preserving this habitat?

Cindy


Cindy McCormack
Spokane, WA
cbirds at comcast.net