The Restoration Reserve is the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council's savings account, a fund expected to be worth about $140 million by October, 2002, after the last settlement payment by Exxon. The reserve was set aside to fund long-term restoration activities. Exactly how the fund will be used has yet to be determined. Kachemak Heritage Land Trust strongly supports use of some of the Restoration Reserve funds for continued large and small parcel habitat acquisition, protection, and restoration. There cannot be a better way to protect and assure the existence of viable habitat than to preserve it as such forever. To better achieve this end, we believe that purchase of conservation easements should become a high priority. Instead of outright purchase of sensitive lands, a fund within the Restoration Reserve could purchase enough of the development rights to important parcels ofland to preserve significant conservation values, while keeping them in private hands (and on the tax rolls). Stewarding these conservation easements would ensure long-term monitoring and data collection as well, and far less money will be spent for far more protection. The Trustee Council is currently seeking public input for possible uses of the fund. Twenty-five public meetings will be held throughout the spill region prior to a formal decision in the fall of 1998. KHLT encourages your participation in this process.

To submit your ideas and comments to the Council, please consider the following questions:

• Should a permanent endowment be set up with annual dividends used to finance restoration projects? Or should the fund be budgeted for expenditure over a 10-20 year period?
• Should funds be used to protect habitat? Should they be used for research and/or community restoration projects? What other options should be considered?
• How should the fund be governed? Should a new trustee structure be developed? Should the 17 member Public Advisory Group continue to exist?