PPLT Timeline 2001-2005

What follows are some of the highlights of PPLT's first five years. As we develop this timeline further, you will be able to click on topics in hypertext to go directly to the associated pages within this website.

2001

• Feb.-Founding. Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, Board handbook established.
• Oct.-Received Tax Exempt Status from IRS

2002

• Feb.-Workshop 1: Conservation Easements for Land Use Professionals
• Mar.-National Wildlife Federation awards $7000 grant to build breeding ponds for the endangered Lost Pines toad (Bufo houstonensis) and develop and publish 5000 copies of Conservation Resources for Landowners brochure
• June-Workshop 2: Origins of the Lost Pines/Restoring Native Prairies; published and mailed out first Newsletter
• Oct.-Four Board members attend Land Trust Alliance Rally in Austin; PPLT conducts bike ride between Bastrop and Buescher State Parks for 15 Rally attendees
• Nov.-Lost Pines National Bank donates house to be moved ($4000 value); Aqua Water Corporation donates $1000 and Hobby Foundation donates $15,000 unrestricted grants
• Dec.-Office space secured in Bastrop; computer, furniture, and office supplies donated by Bastrop County Environmental Network

2003

• March-Held first Board Strategic Planning Retreat; second Newsletter published.
• Apr-PPLT unsuccessfully applies for Section 6 land acquisition grant from USFWS
• May-First staff person hired (Executive Director); grants awarded to build or enhance six breeding ponds for the Lost Pines toad on private lands in Bastrop and Lee Counties by National Wildlife Federation ($7000) and US Fish and Wildlife Service Private Stewardship Grants Program ($4350).
• Jun-Sign first conservation easement-670-acre Billig Farm in Paige, Texas
• Oct-PPLT chosen to purchase and manage properties in Bastrop and Lee Counties with funds ($1,750,000) generated by a legal settlement between the Aluminum Company of America and citizen and federal entities; grant awarded by Texas Forest Service to produce Tree Planting Guide ($4000); two Board members and ED attend LTA Rally in Sacramento.
• Dec.-Workshop 3: Conservation Easements for Utilities

2004

• Feb-Purchase first fee-simple wildlife tract, 302-acreYegua Knobbs Preserve (Bastrop and Lee Counties)
• Mar-PPLT unsuccessfully applies for Section 6 land acquisition grant from USFWS
• June-Second annual Board retreat
• Oct---ED attends LTA Rally in Providence
• Dec-Acquire second fee simple wildlife tract, 60-acre Colorado River Refuge (Bastrop County).

2005

• Jan.-Sign second conservation easement-215-acre Kestner Double D Ranch (Caldwell County); local cable TV station films Colorado River Refuge
• Feb.-First Major Donor Campaign begun to support Colorado River Refuge grants; PPLT wins first annual Excellence Award from the Texas Land Trust Council
• Apr-PPLT's third Section 6 land acquisition grant submitted to USFWS.
• May-Tom's of Maine grant awarded for Colorado River Refuge ($5000)
• Jun.-Published 4000 Tree Planting Guides with assistance of TFS.; LTA magazine and website publish our Excellence Award coverage; Third Annual Board Retreat.
• July-LTA provides facilitated "Organizational Assessment" ;