Who We Are

KHLT was founded in 1989 as the first land trust in Alaska, one month before the Exxon Valdez oil spill. The early days were spent gathering information about private land conservation, drafting bylaws, unleashing the talents of visionary founders as they created a way to protect the future of land of on Kachemak Bay.

KHLT was born of people passionate about land who were also foresighted and hardworking enough to translate that passion into action. This talented group of community members created KHLT before legislation existed to create conservation easements in Alaska.

Today, we serve the entire Kenai Peninsula. Our strategic focus is preserving irreplaceable fish and wildlife habitat as well as recreational lands for the future.

Our Team

Marie McCarty
Executive Director
Marie@KachemakLandTrust.org
Heather Brinster
Accounting and Grants Manager
Heather@KachemakLandTrust.org
Joel Cooper
Stewardship Director
Joel@KachemakLandTrust.org
Lauren Rusin
Lauren Rusin
Conservation Projects Manager
Lauren@KachemakLandTrust.org
Courtney Dodge
Stewardship Coordinator
Courtney@KachemakLandTrust.org
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Carson Chambers
Communications and Development Manager
Carson@KachemakLandTrust.org
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Mary Sasso
Legal Intern
Mary@KachemakLandTrust.org

Honorary Team Member

Cathi Purington
Volunteer Team Member
Cathi@KachemakLandTrust.org

Board of Directors

Donna Aderhold
President
Karen Wuestenfeld
Vice President
Larsen Klingel
Treasurer
Sam Means
Secretary
Joey Allred
Director
Hannah Bradley
Director
Read Dunn
Director
Bernie Griffard
Director
John Mouw
Director

Community Partners

  • Alaska Humanities Forum
  • Charlotte Martin Foundation
  • City of Homer Alaska
  • Homer Foundation
  • Kenai Peninsula Foundation
  • Land Trust Alliance
  • Mifflin Memorial Fund
  • Rasmuson Foundation
  • The Conservation Fund
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service