intro to kvha
Post on 17-May-2015
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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.
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.
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