Kansas River Watershed Enhancement Initiative

Alison Reber, Executive DirectorKaw Valley Heritage Alliance

Kansas River Junction City to Kansas City (170

miles)

Drains an area slightly larger than the state of Iowa

Cedar Bluff Res, Wilson Lake, Kirwin Res, Webster Res, Waconda Lake, Keith Sebelius, Lovewell Lake, Milford Lake, Tuttle Creek Lake, Perry Lake, Clinton Lake

Consensus building approach to preservation

Cooperative of diverse perspectives & disciplines

Grassroots public/private partnerships

GOAL

Build awareness of the cultural &

natural resources of the

Kansas (Kaw) River Valley

Kaw Valley Heritage AllianceThe people of the Kaw Valley will maintain a

strong sense of place and community.

The Valley will be a land of farms and families, of neighborhoods, towns and cities.

It will be a place where industry and business thrive; where natural and historical places are preserved; and where clean, healthy rivers and

streams support aquatic life and offer recreational opportunities.

People will build consensus for resource conservation and will promote responsible use of air, water, and land, while supporting a healthy

economy.

http://www.kgs.ku.edu/Physio/physio.map

The Gentle Wakarusa River

Early postcards captured the calm serenity of the Wakarusa, with its tranquil pools, gently flowing current, rocky banks,

and wooded shores…. By the early 1900s the Wakarusa was a favorite recreation area for Lawrence residents, with walking paths, picnic areas, boat moorings and favorite

fishing spots.

Finding a Common Language

Quality of Water / Quality of Life

Cohesion Relevancy

acquire knowledge

apply knowledge

coordinating experiences

coordinating people

teaching learning

Cohesion Relevancy

acquire knowledge

apply knowledge

coordinating experiences

coordinating people

teaching learning

Downtown Topeka 2006

Arrows here and arrows there….

…should I really care?

River Festivals• Rollin’ Down the River 1997

• Rollin’ Down the River 2003

Local

Festivals

Initiative

Mudscapes and a Carnival of BMPs

Kaw Valley Voices

1997 – 2001

Series of recorded interviews “oral histories”

Traveling Museum Display

Interviews Transcribed

2003 – present

Storytech interviews of event participants

Community Heros

Don’t dump that oil down the drain,

Or all my efforts will be in vain,

To keep our streams nice and healthy,

You needn’t be smart or wealthy,

Just think about your water before you act, And my clean water

fantasy will soon become fact.

Community CooperationMeeting the public on common

ground…..• Attitudes Towards Water, Water Quality, and Water Stewardship

• Attitudes Towards Land Use Changes

• Attitudes Towards the Lake and its Purpose

•Attitudes Towards Government, Private vs. Public Need, etc…

Creating a Watershed Community

Local Stream Teams work in

tributaries feeding into the

lake.

Citizen’s have expressed interest in

becoming more involved.

Wolf Creek, Johnson County

Mission Valley Middle School

Shunganunga Creek, Shawnee County

Most Pure Heart Of Mary, Topeka

Naismith Valley Creek, Douglas County

Lawrence Broken Arrow Elementary

A developing creek, Douglas County Lawrence Free State High School

John Dewey Learning Academy, LeCompton

Partner Support

Go fetch a pail of water….

July 13, 1951

Lawrence Municipal Airport

Photo by Lawrence Journal-World

What makes you feel safe?

Things look clean.

We have food to eat.

We have water to drink.

We can play outside.

We know what’s going to happen.

Lawrence 6th Graders

two weeks after the war with Iraq began

The Wakarusa River begins in Wabaunsee County, east of Eskridge, and joins with

the Kansas River west of Eudora.

The Upper Wakarusa Watershed is a KVHA special project area.

Wakarusa River Valley 1867

Wakarusa River

Clinton Lake

• Flood Control Authorized in 1954

• Clinton Lake Authorized in 1962

• Appropriations Authorized in 1971

$55 Million; 9 Million Cubic Yards of Earth Later….

• Flood protection for 156 square miles

•Drinking water supply for +100,000 people

•800,000 people use park facilities annually

Annual field crop production is estimated to be $19,993,499.

Annual livestock/poultry production is estimated to be $9,750,317.

Visitors to Clinton Lake spent an

estimated $17,134,000 in 2001.

Physical Setting

• Floodplain width varies from less than a mile to several miles

• Hydrologic system is still adjusting including stream bank erosion

• Soil erosion has reduced fertility resulting in increased use of fertilizers.

• This leads to more runoff of phosphorus and nitrogen into the watershed and lake.

Water Quality Impairments

Wakarusa RiverFecal Coliform

Bacteria

Clinton LakeEutrophication

Nitrogen and Phosphorus

Assessments Reviewed•Taste and Odor Studies - causes & effects

•Total Maximum Daily Loads(TMDL) - limits met

•The Environmental Quality Incentive Program(EQIP) Projects - practices completed

Assessment ResultsLake water quality is being

affected by excessive nutrient loading and sediment.

WRAPS Development:

Studying the Watershed

Single most effective action is

•riparian restoration • to reduce stream bank

erosion, sediment, nitrogen and phosphorus.

Next most effective action is •riparian protection.

Creating Community Dialogue Strands

(through community interaction)Streambank Protection & Restoration

•setback ordinances; targeted stabilizingLand Use Considerations

•aligning usage with erosion factors

Water Consumer Education

•public perception doesn’t match reality

Building Community Awareness

*Increase internal knowledge base for key people

Short one on one visits with elected officials and support staff to create a “safe” situation for asking

candid questions and exchanging ideas.

In order to have meaningful dialogue, people must have a sufficient baseline

understanding.

*Increase internal knowledge base for journalists

In-depth one on one visits improved their overall grasp of broad water issues and has strengthened

media coverage.

Targeting Education

Funding by the Kansas Department of Health & Environment through Section 319 Funding, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, the National Park Service, the City of Lawrence Public Works Division, and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams.

(ponder slide)

Lend me your eyes…..

…so I can see what you see.