Archives for June 2014

Pick up a Kansas River Trail Access Map at one of Friends of the Kaw’s booths on Sat. April 19!

• Party for the Planet at the Topeka Zoo from 9am to 3pm at Gage Boulevard and 6th Street
• Lawrence’s Earth Day Celebration from 11:30am to 4pm at South Park, 11th & Massachusetts Street
• Topeka Green Fair from 1 to 4pm at the Shawnee County/Topeka Library, 1515 SW 10th Avenue

This is Good News for the Kansas River!

After review of a consultants report and completion of an Environmental Assessment, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was unable to conclude that there are no potentially significant impacts associated with dredging activities proposed by the dredging companies. They have determined an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be necessary before dredging operations may be reauthorized in the Kansas River. Current dredging permits have been extended through this process.

The last EIS was published in 1990 and this new EIS is an important step to POSSIBLY getting sand dredging off the Kaw, a long time goal of Friends of the Kaw. We have worked to move in-river dredging to appropriately sited pit mines in the Kansas River valley for more than 20 years.

More information on our dredging advocacy efforts!

Friends of the Kaw will continue to follow this issue and let our members know when public meetings are scheduled or written comments need to be submited.

What will the future of the Kaw look like?

OR

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announces new development in dredging on the Kaw!

After review of a consultant report and completion of an Environmental Assessment (EA), the Corps was unable to conclude that there are no potentially significant impacts associated with dredging activities proposed by the dredging companies. They have determined an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be necessary before dredging operations may be reauthorized in the Kansas River. Current dredging permits have been extended through this process.

Friends of the Kaw will continue to follow this issue and let our members know when public meetings are scheduled or written comments need to be submitted.

For more information and read the Corps Press Release

More Good News Concerning Bald Eagles!

From a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers wildlife biologist on the current status of nesting bald eagles in Kansas: “We currently have 73 active nests in the state which exceeds the record we set last year of 56 nests. In addition, thanks to the generosity of Westar Energy we conducted an aerial survey of the Kansas River on Tuesday. We documented 20 active nesting territories from Ft. Riley to Bonner Springs which is also an all time record.”

The photos below were submitted to Friends of the Kaw from Chance Thoman of Turner High School. They were taken in Bonner Springs and at the Turner boat ramp.