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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.

Upcoming Land & Grazing Management Workshops

The Kansas Rural Center and K-State Research & Extension have partnered up to present several land management workshops. Small or Large: Managing Your Acreage allows landowners to apply personal and professional goals to a land management plan. The tri-County (Douglas, Osage, Shawnee) Extension Grazing Management Seminar includes discussion on soils, fertility, fencing, systems, and using grazing sticks to make decisions.

Small or Large: Managing Your Acreage
November 7 & 21, 7:00 - 9:00 pm
Grace Community Church, Highway 56 in Overbrook
Contact one of these extension office for full details of the program and to pre-register:
Osage County - 785-828-4438
Shawnee County - 785-232-0062
Douglas County - 785-843-7058

Grazing Management Seminar
Speaker: Gary Kilgore, Southeast Area Extension Agronomist
December 14, 6:30 pm
Overbrook Livestock Commission Co., 700 Sunset Lane, Overbrook
Please RSVP by December 11 to the Osage County Extension Office at 785-828-4438

Shawnee County Conservation District Watershed Projects Take Off

The Shawnee County Conservation District (SCCD) embarked on a watershed restoration effort last year. With grant funding from KDHE, input from residents of the Lynn and Sixmile Creek watersheds has been sought. Participants share concerns and ideas for improved education or land management efforts. More infomation about this work is available at www.sccdistrict.com.

It's apple picking time and KVHA is making a meeting out of it

There's an orchard in Overbrook, KS called Fieldstone Orchard. They have asparagus, grapes, pecans and the like, but their main emphasis is on apples. They are also a bed and breakfast. The house is a beautiful, renovated barn with all sorts of interesting furnishings.

KVHA was trying to figure out when and where to host its annual meeting. Since Fieldstone is a business within the Upper Wakarusa watershed, and since September is a great month for picking apples, we decided September at Fieldstone. There will be presentations from various KVHA staff highlighting projects that are in the works. Attendees will also hear from representatives of WaterLINK, the KU School of Journalism, Rathbun Land and Water Alliance, and the Watershed Institute.

If you think that you may be interested in attending this event, please call Aimee at 785-840-0700.

Watershed meetings continue

Following the success of the meetings that took place in July where participants were asked to share their concerns about Clinton Lake and drinking water, another working meeting has been scheduled. This meeting will bring the people together who both impact and are impacted by Clinton Lake. We hope to find the common or connected issues of participants and to identify potential options in remediation. Results of this and previous meetings will be posted soon.

The upcoming meeting is scheduled for Thursday, September 14 at 9:00 am in the Clinton Lake Visitor's Center, 872 N. 1402 Road.

KU J-School focuses on Clinton Lake

The University of Kansas School of Journalism's Environmental Reporting class taught by Rick Musser spent the summer researching and reporting on Clinton Lake, water quality issues, and the interrelationship between this resource and the surrounding communities. Partnering with WaterLINK, The Journal World, and Channel 6 the class covered topics such as nonpoint source pollution, the history of the area and Clinton Lake, and drinking water quality. This was a multimedia effort, meaning that there are print stories, photo essays, and video reports. You can find them at http://www2.ljworld.com/news/out_of_the_tap/.

June 2006 - Upper Wakarusa Watershed Report

WRAPS - Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy

• Helped with a booth at Wakarusa Festival and was interviewed about Wakarusa water quality by a reporter from lawrence.com.
• Attended a conference on conservation easements. Deb Baker told me that WRAPS funds could potentially be spent on purchasing easements/development right.
• Helped Shawnee County Partners in Conservation plan the Lynn Creek
• stakeholder meeting.
• Discussed agriculture and water quality education needs with Douglas County Extension Program Development Committee.
• Helped Agriculture Agents in Douglas, Shawnee and Osage Counties develop a proposal to K-State for water quality education/demonstrations.

Work with landowners/local stakeholders

• Helped lead the well plugging demonstration and local water quality discussion held at Mike Fawl's in Douglas County.
• Met with Ken Krause from the Overbrook area to discuss potential water quality related improvements for the Overbrook City Park Pride Project.
• Continued work with five livestock producers in the watershed this month.

Watershed Forums

Upcoming meetings/workshops/forums concerning water quality in the Upper Wakarusa Watershed schuduled for the end of the July.

#1 Upper Wakarusa Watershed landowners meeting - Will discuss watershed concerns, needs, priorities, and goals of the residents of the watershed.
Monday, July 24th at 8:00 am at the Kanwaka Township Hall, 776 HWY 40
OR Monday, July 24th at 7:00 pm at the Kanwaka Township Hall.


#2 Urban Rural Partnership meeting - Will determine ways in which the City of Lawrence can partner with watershed residents and landowners to achieve short and long term water quality initiatives.
Thursday, July 27th at 4:00 pm at the Douglas County Extension Office, 2110 Harper, Lawrence

Email watershed@kvha.org or call Will Boyer at 785-843-7058 or Aimee Polson at 785-840-0700 with questions.

June Newsletter

Check out the latest Wakarusa Review.

Mid-October is the anticipated publication time of the next newsletter, if you would like to submit something, email watershed@kvha.org or call 785-840-0700.

Will Boyer - Upper Wakarusa Watershed Report - May 2006

WRAPS - Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy
- Drove part of the watershed with Dean Davis to evaluate potential sites for the SN County Beef Tour which may be held in the watershed this fall.
- Participated in rural committee meeting.
- Met with Aimee to discuss the Wakarusa Festival and upcoming two public forums.

Work with landowners/local stakeholders
- Attended an oral history presentation by Martha Parker.
- Developed and distributed a flyer for the June 8th well plugging demonstration/water quality discussion to be held on Mike Fawl's place.
- Met with Rich Runnebaum to discuss Lynn Creek subwatershed WRAPS development.
- Continued work with three watershed livestock producers this month.
- Participated in the Shawnee County Wheat Tour.

Will Boyer, Extension Watershed Specialist
Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper
Lawrence, KS 66046-3242
phone: 785 843-7058
fax: 785 843-6745

Upper Wakarusa Cost Share Opportunities

KVHA and the Upper Wakarusa WRAPS project are offering cost share opportunities to people within the boundaries of the Upper Wakarusa watershed. Download an application here or phone 785-840-0700 for an application or more information.

Upper Wakarusa Cost Share form (.pdf)

Upper Wakarusa Watershed map

Lower Kansas Watershed Specialist Update

To: Conservation Districts
Ag Agents
Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance
Wakarusa Watershed District

Below is a report describing some April activities related to the Upper Wakarusa Watershed.

Upper Wakarusa Watershed Report - April 2006 - Will Boyer

WRAPS - Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy
-Met with Extension staff in Shawnee and Douglas Counties to discuss information & education resources
-Met with Dean Davis to begin planning the SN County Beef Tour which may be held in the upper Wakaursa this fall .
-Assisted Shawnee County Conservation District with a meeting announcement mailing and with planning activities for prioritizing and implementing WRAPS goals in the Lynn and Six-mile Creek subwatersheds.
-Participated in WRAPS committee meetings to discuss implementation activities and to develop next years grant application.
-Did a windshield survey of two Deer Creek subwatershed with Aimee from Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance.
-Work on 1/4ly report and 2007 grant application with Aimee


Work with landowners/local stakeholders
- Gave a presentation to students about Total Maximum Daily Loads at Kanwaka Township Hall.
-Planned a June 8th well plugging demonstration/water quality discussion with the landowner, DG Co Extension, DG Co Farm Bureau, DG County Conservation District, Frontier Farm Credit and Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance.
-Presented runoff demonstration at Lawrence April Showers to Water Towers Earth Day Festival.
-Continued work with six watershed livestock producers this month.

Will Boyer, Extension Watershed Specialist
Douglas County Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper
Lawrence, KS 66046-3242
phone: 785 843-7058
fax: 785 843-6745