Compatible Lands Foundation Winter Newsletter

Looking back at a great 2024 and looking forward to an even better 2025!

Sustaining readiness. Strengthening resilience. Serving generations.

This year has been one of momentum and meaning for the Compatible Lands Foundation. Across the country, we have strengthened and increased our DoD partnerships, completed key conservation projects, and continued to demonstrate that protecting land is about far more than boundaries on a map — it’s about safeguarding the places and communities that sustain our nation’s defense and our way of life.

CLF’s success has always come from collaboration. Every acre protected, every easement signed, and every new initiative reflects the trust we have built with landowners, military partners, and conservation organizations who share our vision. Together, we are proving that voluntary conservation remains one of the most effective tools for mission sustainment and community resilience.

As we look ahead, CLF will continue to lean into innovation — developing creative approaches to natural capital, strengthening partnerships across regions, and helping connect the dots between healthy landscapes and military readiness. Through it all, we remain guided by the same principles that have carried us since the beginning: integrity, commitment, and the belief that good work done well makes a lasting difference.

Thank you to our team, our partners, and the landowners who make this mission possible. The landscape of opportunity continues to evolve, and CLF is ready — steady, adaptive, and grounded in purpose.

— Joe Knott
Executive Director, Compatible Lands Foundation

CLF’s MISSION AND MILESTONES

Since our founding in 2009, Compatible Lands Foundation (CLF) has been at the forefront of many land conservation initiatives, including innovative partnerships with federal, state, and local stakeholders, along with support to communities and species.

Compatible Lands Foundation continues to demonstrate success through a growing number of easement and project closings. Each closing represents more than just acres protected—it is a tangible win for landowners, communities, and military readiness.

Since July of 2025, CLF has conserved 2,339 acres across 8 installations, within 5 states, through 10 successful closings. These projects include $9.5M in REPI contributions and $12M in partner cost-share support.

By guiding projects from initial conversations to signed agreements, CLF ensures land remains open, resilient, and productive for generations to come. These successful closings showcase the trust landowners place in CLF’s voluntary approach and underscore our ability to deliver results that align with both conservation goals and national defense priorities.

CIBOLO PRESERVE PROTECTS WATER & MISSION

In September of 2025, CLF proudly celebrated a major conservation win in the Texas Hill Country: the permanent protection of the 654-acre Cibolo Preserve near the headwaters of Cibolo Creek in Boerne, Texas. Thanks to a fully donated, multi-million-dollar conservation easement through the Camp Bullis REPI partnership, this privately owned property is now protected forever.

Located in a critical recharge zone, Cibolo Preserve helps filter and stabilize water entering the Edwards Aquifer—benefits that directly support both regional water quality and the long-term training mission at Joint Base San Antonio–Camp Bullis. By safeguarding this landscape, the easement helps moderate stormwater flow, reduce flash-flood risks, and strengthen the installation’s operational resilience.

“This is a positive story for everyone involved,” said CLF Program Manager Clayton Livingston. “Protecting this land not only conserves a unique Hill Country property, but also supports the mission at Camp Bullis by improving water flow stability and water quality.”

The Cibolo Preserve project shows what’s possible when landowners, military partners, and conservation leaders work together—advancing both land stewardship and national defense.

In addition to Cibolo Preserve, CLF successfully completed two additional conservation easement projects at Camp Bullis: the Schmidt and Wohlfarht properties in Bexar County, Texas — totaling 159.1 acres. These properties protect the fundamentals that Camp Bullis depends on for a realistic training environment—open space, working lands, wildlife habitat, and dark skies—resources that strengthen the installation’s mission while also supporting the character and quality of life of the Hill Country community. Larry Dotson, Chief Operating Officer of CLF, notes that both projects exemplify how consistent collaboration with local landowners keeps momentum going strong.

DYESS AIR FORCE BASE REPI SUCCESS IN WEST TEXAS

The Dyess Air Force Base REPI partnership continues to make major strides in protecting both the long-term mission of its B-1B Lancer and C-130J Super Hercules aircraft – as well as future plans to host the B-21 Raider bomber – and the wide-open landscapes that define West Texas.

Through strong collaboration with willing landowners, the program has recently surpassed 4,000 acres of newly conserved land—a milestone that strengthens Dyess’ ability to maintain critical low-level flight routes, preserve training airspace, and guard against encroachment risks like incompatible development and urban growth or extreme weather events and wildfire risks.

The Dyess REPI program continues to demonstrate how mission sustainment, rural livelihoods, and land conservation can move forward together—one willing landowner at a time.

One of the most meaningful recent additions is the 260.9-acre property donated by the Hohertz family, a long-time local ranching family deeply committed to keeping their land working, open, and compatible with the military mission. Supporting air operations and safeguarding essential habitat in the region, the easement advances mission sustainment while strengthening the local conservation network.

The family’s generosity and project success reinforce the shared values that make the Dyess REPI program so effective: voluntary stewardship, community partnership, and a dedication to keeping both local heritage and national defense strong for generations to come.

RESILIENCE IN BLOOM: PEONIES IN ALASKA

Third-generation Alaskans Ron and Margie Illingworth (CLF’s Mary Nixon, shown in the photo along with Mr. Illingworth) own and operate North Pole Peonies, a thriving peony farm just outside Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. Known for producing high-quality, late-season peonies prized by florists and designers, the farm has become a standout agricultural enterprise in Interior Alaska—where the region’s long summer days and cool nights create ideal growing conditions.

The Illingworth’s have long been dedicated to responsible land stewardship. Wanting to ensure their property would remain open, productive, and healthy for future generations, they partnered with CLF through the Department of Defense’s REPI Program to place a 29.68-acre conservation easement on their farm.

This permanently protects the land from incompatible development while ensuring it continues to operate as an agricultural farm.

With guidance from CLF’s Mary Nixon, the Illingworths shaped an easement that reflects both their personal goals and the region’s broader conservation priorities.

“The restrictions in the easement were nothing we were not already doing. It fit perfectly with what we wanted for our land,” said Ron Illingworth.

Today, North Pole Peonies continues to flourish as a sustainable, family-run farm—and now also serves as a compatible buffer supporting the mission and long-term readiness of Eielson Air Force Base.

CONSERVATION SUCCESS IN KENTUCKY

In Christian County, Kentucky, Brian and Lanna Keith have spent nearly 20 years farming with a focus on stewardship and sustainability. Their 100-acre Blackmon Farm—part of their 2,100-acre operation—uses no-till practices that protect soil health and long-term productivity. In September 2024, the Keiths took a major step to safeguard the land’s future by placing Blackmon Farm into a permanent conservation easement through USDA’s ACEP-ALE program, with support from the DoD’s REPI Program. Because the farm sits near Fort Campbell, the easement not only preserves productive farmland—it also helps protect vital military training space from encroaching development.

Fort Campbell relies on large, uninterrupted landscapes to support air assault training, helicopter operations, live-fire ranges, and brigade-level maneuver exercises. As the fast-growing Kentucky–Tennessee region continues to expand, new neighborhoods, commercial projects, and increasing infrastructure pose challenges that can limit when, where, and how the Army trains. Through the REPI Program, CLF works proactively with landowners and conservation partners around Fort Campbell to maintain compatible land uses around the installation and prevent these conflicts before they arise.

Blackmon Farm’s voluntary conservation easement ensures the property will remain open, working land—allowing the Keiths to continue farming while also preventing incompatible development in a key training buffer. The result is a win-win: safeguarding Fort Campbell’s mission while supporting the region’s agricultural economy and rural character.

“This ensures it will always stay in agriculture,” said Brian Keith.

“A real win-win,” added Lanna.

By keeping farms and forests intact, REPI strengthens Fort Campbell’s ability to train today and sustain its mission well into the future, benefiting military readiness, local communities, and the working lands that define this region.

PARTNERS CORNER: COLLABORATION IN ACTION

CLF’s mission is powered by partnerships that each strengthen conservation and military readiness in different ways. Through its work with the Great Springs Project, CLF helps protect groundwater, expand open-space conservation, and support trail connectivity across a region where healthy natural systems directly contribute to community and installation resilience.

Collaboration with the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS) connects CLF’s efforts to national trail corridors, ensuring protected lands remain accessible, linked, and ecologically strong. CLF also works closely with USDA NRCS, whose technical expertise and collaborative frameworks help landowners steward working lands in ways that benefit both local communities and nearby military missions. CLF was able to secure investments from the states of Florida ($3M), Utah ($500K), and Washington ($2.5M), providing critical support that amplifies these efforts and expands conservation impact in key landscapes. Together, these partnerships help CLF protect the open spaces that sustain wildlife habitat, rural livelihoods, and the military missions that depend on resilient landscapes.

KERRVILLE, TEXAS: STILL RISING STRONG

When devastating July 4th flooding swept through Kerrville in 2025, the community rallied—neighbors clearing debris, sharing meals, and opening their homes to those in need. CLF joined that effort, helping raise $3,200 for the Kerr County Flood Relief Fund to support families directly impacted by the disaster.

A single red chair left standing in the mud has become a symbol of the town’s resilience—battered but unbroken. As Kerrville continues to rebuild, CLF Program Manager and local resident Mary Nixon captures the spirit best: “We’re tough. We will overcome this.”

EVENT

SOUTHWEST TEXAS LAND & WILDLIFE SUMMIT – DEL RIO, TEXAS

The Southwest Texas Land & Wildlife Summit in September was a tremendous success, bringing together landowners, conservation leaders, and community partners to share knowledge and strategies for protecting Texas’s most treasured landscapes. Hosted by the Devils River Conservancy with support from CLF and others, the Summit created a platform for meaningful dialogue on conservation easements, water and wildlife protection, and the future of working lands. The energy and collaboration at this event underscored the power of partnership in safeguarding both natural resources and community resilience across the region.

NATIONAL TRAILS SUMMIT – SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS

CLF had a successful showing at the Partnership for the National Trails System Conference in San Antonio, where conservation leaders from across the country gathered to share ideas and strengthen partnerships. Inspiration abounds, the October event provided an excellent opportunity for CLF to connect with peers, learn from other organizations, and highlight our ongoing work to protect open spaces around military installations. (Shown above, Left to Right: George Clendenin, Texas A&M NRI; Clay Thompson, Green Space Alliance; Coral Eginton, CLF Deputy Executive Director; Larry Dotson, CLF Chief Operating Officer).

With the vibrant River Walk as the perfect backdrop for collaboration and connection, the event underscored how aligned the conservation community is in supporting both community resilience and national defense. (Left: Dan Chapin, CLF’s Director of Military Partnerships).

KEY WEST RETREAT

We closed out the season with our annual staff retreat at Naval Air Station Key West —a rare chance for the CLF team to step back, reconnect, and refocus on the mission that drives us. Between strategy sessions, shared meals, and a few ocean breezes, we strengthened our teamwork and sharpened our vision for the year ahead. The retreat reminded us that the heart of CLF is its people—collaborative, creative, and committed to protecting landscapes and military readiness for generations to come. Here’s to carrying that energy forward!

Welcome to Our New Team Members and Leaders

Welcoming Alex Beehler to the CLF Board

Welcome Alex!

Alex A. Beehler is an environmental lawyer and former senior government official with decades of experience in sustainability, conservation, and defense readiness. He served as the 8th Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations, Energy and Environment from 2019 to 2021, following earlier leadership roles at the Department of Defense, where he became the agency’s first Chief Sustainability Officer. A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Alex has also worked in the private sector with Koch Industries and the Charles G. Koch Foundation. He and his wife, Stephanie, live in Virginia and are the proud parents of two adult children.

Welcome, Coral!

Coral Eginton, Deputy Executive Director

With nearly 20 years of program management experience—including a decade supporting the Department of Defense — Coral Eginton is honored to step into the role of Deputy Executive Director at Compatible Lands Foundation. In her most recent role as REPI Program Manager for active-duty Army installations, Coral oversaw more than 30 cooperative agreements across 20 locations, guiding partners and installations to develop projects that reduce encroachment and protect mission capabilities.

Coral brings expertise in data-driven mission impact analyses, community engagement, encroachment management planning, and landscape-scale conservation, along with a proven ability to secure funding for high-impact initiatives.
Having worked closely with CLF on multiple REPI programs, Coral has long admired the organization’s agility, integrity, and dedication to both the military mission and the communities it serves. Inspired by CLF’s recent growth and reputation as one of REPI’s strongest partners, Coral is excited to help shape CLF’s next chapter.

Welcome, Mary Ryan!

Mary Ryan Krieger, Communications & Community Engagement Program Manager

Mary Ryan Krieger is a seasoned environmental and stakeholder-relations leader with more than a decade of experience advancing national defense through land conservation, community engagement, and strategic communication. At Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort and Townsend Bombing Range, she led two REPI programs that conserved more than 70,000 acres and leveraged over $30 million in partner investments to protect critical training missions.

As part of a team recognized with the Secretary of the Navy Environmental Award, Mary Ryan is known for building effective partnerships, securing complex funding streams, and aligning land-use planning with mission readiness, community resilience, and long-term landscape stewardship. She is excited to continue work that bridges military, conservation, and community interests—ensuring that both people and missions thrive for generations to come.

Welcome, Jake!

Jacob Henden, Assistant Program Manager – Operations

Jacob Henden recently earned his Bachelor of Science in Sustainability from Arizona State University, where he focused on renewable energy and international development. As Vice President of Phi Delta Theta, he led organizational strategy and fundraising initiatives, while also gaining professional experience through an internship with General Atomics Aeronautical Systems. Dedicated to sustainability and community service, Jacob is eager to apply his skills in supply chain and procurement to create lasting impact.