Algoma Highlands Conservancy Raises $650,000 for Land Purchase  

The Algoma Highlands Conservancy (AHC) has attracted nearly $650,000 in its fundraising efforts to purchase 2,600 acres of land adjacent to the Stokely Creek Lodge. Since the summer of 2007, AHC has received $170,000 in pledges, many of which have been paid.

In addition, AHC board member Gaylen Byker has generously offered to match all private donations. The AHC can also apply approximately $300,000 of former Stokely owner Chuck Peterson’s bequest to the land purchase, bringing the total to nearly $650,000.

The AHC has finalized its partnership with Astina Establishments and the 2008 ski season is now in full swing. The legal agreements with Astina provide a 10-year license for exclusive use of the entire Stokely trail system for silent sport recreation.

The agreements also include a two-year option to purchase the 2,600 acres below the Tupper-Van Koughnet line (all lands immediately beyond the lodge, through to King Mountain, and beyond to the Robertson Cliffs). Hence the fundraising program.

Gaylen Byker, his wife Susan, daughter Tanya and son-in-law Ian Phair have purchased and are operating the lodge under the name “Stokely Creek Lodge.”

According to the AHC, ownership of the land surrounding the Stokely Creek Lodge is important for several reasons.

First, despite the best intentions of the three parties involved in the trail license, only ownership of a significant land base around the lodge will guarantee its long-term sustainability in the event of unforeseen changes in land management priorities.

Second, the King Mountain area supports sensitive ecosystems that would be very difficult and expensive to subject to sustainable harvesting operations. These sensitive ecosystems include steep slopes, shallow soils and provincially rare plants such as Braun’s holly fern (Polystichum braunii), oval-leaved bilberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium) and northern wild licorice (Galium kamtschaticum). Protecting this area as an island surrounded by land subjected to sound, sustainable forest management is simply good conservation.

Coupled with the Robertson Cliffs property, this new ownership will also guarantee a solid, protected 3,000-acre land base for the AHC to use as a platform for conservation, silent sport recreation, outdoor education and research; all in perpetuity.

All donations pledged during from October 2007 to October 2009 will be directly applied to the land purchase. As there will also be fundraising and operational costs during this period, the AHC has earmarked a portion of Peterson’s bequest to cover these costs. Other funding sources such as the Trillium Foundation will also be approached for assistance. Once the land purchase has been consummated, fundraising efforts will gear down to cover the costs (such as insurance and taxes) of maintaining the land.

The Byker and Phair families hope is to make Stokely Creek Lodge a long-term, sustainable operation on a break-even basis. Should the lodge ever close its doors, the AHC will continue to retain the trail license and ownership of any purchased lands. The land would continue to be available for conservation, silent sport recreation, outdoor education and research.

Trail passes will still be required of those who donate to the land purchase. Trail grooming and maintenance represents a significant operational cost to the lodge that must be recovered through the sale of trail passes and lodging income.

Donations other than cash, such as appreciated stock, can also be made. Donors will receive a tax receipt for the market value of the stock at the time it changes hands. If you are interested in donating by credit card go to the AHC website ( www.algomahighlandsconservancy.org) and click on the “Donate Now” button. Charges to credit cards will be in U.S. funds.

For more information contact the Algoma Highlands Conservancy at info@algomahighlandsconservancy.org.