Happy New Year to our FRIENDS of the KAW! We wish you all a very healthy and happy 2017! Thank you for joining us in this last year. We were very busy working to educate, advocate and monitor the river for suspected pollution. Read on to learn about what we accomplished this year!
2016 FOK Accomplishments:
POLICY & ENFORCEMENT
Friends of the Kaw’s first priority is to physically monitor the river, report suspected pollution and mediate a solution.
DREDGING
- Documentation and monitoring of sand dredging operations by visually monitoring dredge sites and communicating with the Corps of Engineers. Following progress and publicized decision for new Environmental Impact Statement. Advocated for public comments for the EIS.
POLLUTION & POLICY
- Responded to six pollution reports including questionable discharges, sewage spills, fish kills and milky discharges.
- With assistance from Westar’s Green Team, cleaned up metal in the river below Bowersock in Lawrence; completed 4 cleanup floats, and 3 riparian cleanups.
- Kansas Riverkeeper is a member of the Governor’s River Recreation Committee charged with promoting the Kansas River National Water Trail and the Kansas Regional Advisory Committee representing recreation.
- Provided input for the Vision for the Future Water Supply in Kansas via the Regional Advisory Committee and a consortium of Kansas environmental organizations.
RIVER ACCESS AND OUTREACH
Our goal is to increase awareness of the Kaw as a drinking water source for 800,000 Kansans and access to the river.
- Organized and led 17 educational float trips for over 400 people. Took 256 paddlers on the Kansas River for the Little Apple Paddle as part of the Manhattan Convention and Visitor Bureau’s Paddle Event!
- Provided nine Boys and Girls Club paddling experiences for over 270 kids and 50 volunteers in conjunction with day camps organized by the National Park Service and Freedom’s Frontier. Thanks to our volunteers who spent the morning paddling with the kids!
- Worked with the KS Department of Parks, Wildlife and Tourism and the National Park Service on promotion of the KS River Water Trail.
- Provided 50 KAW (Kids About Water) 5-unit classes with approximately 1,200 kids and 90 volunteers.
- Presented at 37 educational outreach events at schools, outdoors shops, churches and community gatherings in the Kansas River valley, reaching over 8,500 people in the community.
- Received eight grants for a total of $67,665 for WRAPS Programs, River Cleanups, Paddle Trips, KAW Classes (Kids About Water), ending in-river dredging and stormwater education (both urban and rural.)
- Recruited volunteers for De Soto Rotary’s Winesong event and the Great Kaw Adventure Race. FOK is a beneficiary of both events.
- Fundraising Events: The Wild and Scenic Film Festival in both Lawrence and Leawood, Beers of the Kaw in Lawrence and the Wine & Astronomy Event at Middlecreek Winery. MARK YOUR CALENDARS! The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be held on May 4 in Leawood at Prairiefire Cinetopia in Overland Park and on May 5 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence. Beers of the Kaw will be back for the 2nd Year on Sunday, November 5, 2017!!!
Would you please considering supporting Friends of the Kaw and our work to protect and preserve the Kansas River with an end of year gift? Your gift supports your hometown Kansas River and the Kansas Riverkeeper Program. Thank you for following us on this journey and supporting our programs! Come join us in 2017 at one of our events, education programs or on the river! Contact the Riverkeeper if you wish to become an FOK Volunteer!
“Protect and Preserve the Kansas River”
Clean Water Creates Strong Communities – Support FOK
YES – I will support the Kansas Riverkeeper in advocacy efforts to protect and preserve the Kaw River.
Your tax-deductible contribution to Friends of the Kaw will assure the Kansas Riverkeeper’s ability to spend maximum time on river protection efforts.
Please Consider Becoming a FOK Sustaining Member:
When you become a Sustaining Member, FOK takes a monthly donation from your credit card, debit card or bank account. This allows you to spread your support out over the year to make generosity easier on your budget. It also
gives FOK a steady stream of reliable income and reduces administrative costs so more of your money goes to the Kansas River!
As long as you are a Sustaining Member, you never have to renew your membership. Just let us know if you ever want to change the amount of your donation or need to update your information. You can also do this online.
Download our membership form here and mail your check to: Friends of the Kaw and mail to: P.O. Box 1612 Lawrence, KS 66044
https://kansasriver.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/FRIENDS-OF-THE-KAW-DONATION-FORM-2016.pdf
If you would like to pay online, please go to www.kansasriver.org and make a donation at the top of the page.
Thank you for all you do for the river….and see you in 2017! Happy New Year!
Paddle safely! Use the links below to quickly access information that impacts river conditions.
