North East Kansas Value Added Farm Bus Tour August 23

Our bus tours visiting farms with value added enterprises have been very popular. Our next bus tour will be Wednesday, August 23. Please mark this date on your calendar.

This bus tour will leave Lawrence in the morning and return in the late afternoon. We will visit five farms featuring value added enterprises including fresh produce, mushrooms, a subscription service, alpaca products, pastured poultry and a variety of berries and fruits. Thanks to Karen Pendleton for organizing this tour! This bus tour is supported through a partnership with USDA's Risk Management Agency. Details for the bus tour will sent to you later in July. The only charge will be for participants who purchase a box lunch during the tour.

I hope to join you on the bus on August 23! Sincerely,

Jerry Jost Kansas Rural Center Click here to learn more about the Kansas Rural Center

Army Corps closes Clinton Lake dam outlet after trash buildup

Alison has sent you the following story:

Posted on Friday, Jul. 13, 2007

Army Corps closes Clinton Lake dam outlet after trash buildup

By The Associated Press

LAWRENCE | The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers today closed the Clinton Lake dam outlet to ward off fishermen.

Officials said a rapid release of lake water has attracted more fish in the outlet on the dam’s east side. The corps is releasing 1,000 cubic feet of lake water per second, up from 21 cubic feet due to heavy rains.

The people who have come to take advantage of the plentiful fishing have also left more trash, said Jon Carlisle, ranger and natural resources specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Read More...

County hires former city planning director

Lawrence Journal World June 19, 2007

>>The former planning director for the city of Lawrence has been hired to work full time for Douglas County. At the request of County Administrator Craig Weinaug, Linda Finger was appointed by county commissioners Monday to fill the new position of planning resource official.
Finger will work with the public, the county���s Building and Zoning Department and the Public Works Department in implementing the subdivision and access management regulations approved late last year.

County hires former city planning director

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jun/19/county_hires_former_city_planning_director/

New planning director sees exciting future

From Lawrence Journal World July 4, 2007

>>The city has tapped a planner who has overseen growth in areas ranging from Phoenix to Miami County to serve as its new director of planning and development services.

Scott McCullough, who currently oversees the planning department for Miami County south of Kansas City, was announced as the city and county's choice for the new department, which will oversee planning efforts for the city and county and be in charge of building permits and inspection services for the city.

New planning director sees exciting future

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2007/jul/04/new_planning_director_sees_exciting_future/

Static Federal Funding

Note: Clinton Lake area groups met March 6th to talk about issues of interest. I'm using seperate posts to cover different topics. -ALR

Federal funding for maintenance and improvements of the lake's facilities, including dam maintenance, has not increased in the last 5 year. Our local Corps staff have limited means to keep the lake infrastructure functional. Meanwhile the public's need for outdoor recreation & eco-tourism is on the rise. Maintenance is not sufficient to keep pace with the wear and tear from more users, let alone making facilities improvements. Additionally, as the lake ages, maintaining its water quality becomes more challenging. Many costly land management practices aren't able to happen with the limited funding. It's easy to associate flaking paint and unkempt bathroom areas with underfunding. But...when water from the kitchen sink isn't up to snuff, federal funding to the Corps for maintaining water quality is about last on peoples' list of considerations.

Web Notebook

Wild Hogs

Note: Clinton Lake area groups met March 6th to talk about issues of interest. I'm using seperate posts to cover different topics. -ALR

Wild hogs are frustrating landowners in the watershed. These animals are several generations forward from their domestic lineage and have a much more feral appearance - most notably tusks and a much thicker form. They're smart enough and large enough to be creating serious damage to agricultural and conservation pursuits. Unfortunately independent thrill seekers have added to this dangerous situation and their efforts have further scattered these prolific animals. Wild hogs are not game animals and it is illegal to hunt them. Successful eradication will require coordinating agency and landowner efforts.

Web Notebook

Prairie Fires and Grassland Health

In Kansas, fire has been used as a management tool to rejuvenate and maintain grasslands for decades. Fire is essential to maintain the prairie ecosystem. Without it, our prairies will eventually become a forest.

Fire has been integral to the development of Great Plains grasslands. Based on early records, natural fires, started by lightning, varied from only a few acres to some that covered thousands of acres and lasted weeks. In addition, the Plains Indians started fires to move game into certain areas.

Prescribed burning is a major management tool of rangeland. Properly used, it can be a cost-effective method for increasing the productivity of rangeland and controlling many undesirable plants. It also can reduce the hazards of wildfires and benefit domestic livestock and wildlife.