Chasing the Channel – Blog No. 31

Is 2024 Your Year to Discover the Kaw?

Let this be your year to find your outdoor adventure right here in Kansas, literally in your backyard.  We have this beautiful resource with golden braided sandbars for you to explore!  As always, let me now how I can help you discover the Kaw. 

Well…I did not get my end of year blog post done but I have a good reason.  My little 16-month-old grandson was running through the house!  I got him a toddler tower this year so that I could get him near the kitchen sink to start playing in water!  And yes, it was a big hit!  I look forward to many outdoor adventures to teach this next generation all about the beauty of our world beyond the kitchen window.

Each December, our team meets to discuss planning for the new year. In January, our Board of Directors does the same.  We set goals for the both the Board and the Staff and the fun part is seeing all that we have accomplished from the past year.  While I do enjoy the occasional look back, I am more of a “here in the moment” person.  What am I doing today to move the needle? 

On Monday, the Kansas Legislator will gavel in and the session will begin.  Expect a great deal of the water conversations to continue in both the Statehouse and with my work with the Kansas Water Authority.  I will be at Governor Kelly’s State of the State Address this week at the Statehouse to listen to her vision for the year.  I hope you will tune in to listen on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 at 6:30 PM.  You can stream the State of the State Address here. 

We have drafted our river calendar for 2024 and will be announcing it soon.  We are bringing back Beginner Wednesday’s, Members Events and MANY big river cleanups.  We look forward to sharing more details!

This blog post is going to be short, because I will have much more to report after the Legislative session gets started.  For now, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that donated to Friends of the Kaw for our end of year giving.  This is one of the most important times of the year for us because it helps to set the foundation for the coming year.  Your gift allows us to focus on the important work of protecting the Kansas River.  Your gift also allows your Kansas Riverkeeper to remain a non-governmental public advocate.  If you would like to give, you can send a check to P.O. Box 1612, Lawrence, KS 66044 or you can donate online. If you would like to see our Wish List for 2024, you can see it on our website.  Thank you for making our work possible!

I wish each one of you a healthy and adventurous 2024!  Will this be your year to discover the Kaw?  Let me know how we can help.  We are your oldest resource for the Kansas River!

May you always have sand in your shoes in the coming year!

For the river,

Dawn Buehler

Kansas Riverkeeper

Chasing the Channel – Blog No. 30

Dumping, Advocacy and Some Good News!

Friends….how can it already be November?  The way that the days and months click on by leaves me wondering where summer went, and where is fall going so quickly? 

Our busy summer season ended with many public events including Beginner Wednesday’s, Beginner Camping, the signing of the water bills with Governor Kelly and a special trip on the river with Lt. Governor David Toland and his staff from the Kansas Department of Commerce.  We received great news that we have been awarded a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to pilot our kayak storage locker design with Sain Works Architecture at the Wamego Access Ramp!  We are thrilled to finally get this project off the ground and we hope to create some videos about the project to use to fundraise to get these installed at every Kansas River Access Ramp! 

Fall is officially cleanup season at Friends of the Kaw!  The weather is cooler and our partners and volunteers do not need a hot Kansas summer to remove tires from sandbars.  We had several big cleanups including tires and trash from the area downstream of Seward Access Ramp.  This area has been on our list for a few years and we were waiting for the right conditions (a drought year) to get it done.  We also had a very successful Manhattan Battery Case Cleanup.  Until we have a big flood push on this end of the river, we have removed everything in sight!  We have done this cleanup for 6 years.  I never thought there was enough for 13 cleanup events but here we are.  We know there are likely battery cases in the channel, so we will monitor it for future cleanups…but for now, the river is clean of battery cases!

We finished many restoration work days this fall and our team removed so much honeysuckle!  We have the spring season left at Topeka, so be sure to join us to finish out that project.  We have a lot of work ahead at both Lawrence and Eudora, so we hope to see you at those sites in 2024!

Our Kids About Water classes kicked off in late August and our Youth Education Coordinator has been busy educating the next generation.  There is nothing better than taking kids stream side to learn about water quality testing and seining for macro-invertebrates!  We also just won a grant to expand our program offerings to more students in the watershed.  Stay tuned to learn more about that!

We ended our public river season with our annual Kaw River Guide weekend.  We paddled from Belvue to Topeka on the most gorgeous fall weekend we have had in a long time!  We enjoyed each other’s company, a beautiful river, changing leaves and gorgeous weather.  What a great way to end the season! 

I will monitor the river all winter with our Kaw River Guides because pollution does not take the winter off.  Speaking of pollution and dumping, have you seen the news?  Read up here on the story that we participated in about dumping into the Kansas River:  https://www.ksnt.com/news/local-news/docking-building-rubble-dumped-into-kansas-river/.  We walked the site and it is heartbreaking to see how much construction debris is now on the sandbar.  It will take just one big rain event to wash all that concrete rubble down the river.  It is common sense to look at it and realize that those small rubbles of concrete are not going to hold the bank.  Why is this still allowed?  I do not think we have to remind all of you, but for anyone else reading, know this:  you cannot dump into the Kansas River and get away with it.  There are too many of us now…we monitor the river for pollution, so don’t even try.  As for this site, we will continue to push for it to be cleaned up. 

As we wind down into winter plans, let me take a moment and say THANK YOU to everyone that donated to our Day of Giving.  It is because of people like you that love our river, that we can continue this work.  I always say that we know how to stretch a dollar a long way – we are the masters of it – but we also have increased expenses as the cost of everything rises.  So, thank you, for supporting our work! 

This coming Sunday, November 5, 2023 is our biggest fundraiser of the year:  Beers of the Kaw!  We use beer from the Kansas River watershed to teach people about our work.  It also happens to be a great fundraiser; however, we need your help.  The only way this is a big fundraiser is to sell out of tickets.  So even if you don’t drink beer, or you can’t join us on Sunday, or you live in another state, please consider buying a ticket to support our work:  https://bit.ly/3PseNnb  You can also bid on items from our Silent Auction because you don’t need to be present ….check out the great items that we have this  year:  https://www.32auctions.com/BOK2023.  Please give special attention to our Fund-A-Need opportunities – these are the major projects that we need help with in 2024!  THANK YOU for your continued support….we are grateful! 

We will spend the winter season planning for the coming year.  We have so many new projects coming your way and we cannot wait to share more soon.  In the meantime, we wish you a peaceful winter season ahead and may you always have sand in your shoes, even in the winter.

For the river,

Dawn Buehler

Kansas Riverkeeper

Chasing the Channel – Blog No. 29

Spring, Summer and Kansas Water! 

Friends….it was a typical super busy spring and start to the summer at FOK.  If you follow us on social media, then you know!  Cleanups, beginner paddles, student paddle trips, restoration work days, Kids About Water classes, and my work advocating at the legislature.  We also added a couple of new members to our team – Jane Liebert, our new Director of Major Gifts & Planned Giving; and Macy Baumgartner, our new Administrative Coordinator.  These new team members have already hit the ground running and have met many of you at our events.  Macy is the new face of our membership and Jane will work with donors to help them meet their goals for the Kansas River.   We have such a bright future ahead for the Kansas River – thanks to this great team and people like YOU!

We had a very successful legislative session for water this year.  By end of April, Governor Kelly signed Senate Substitute for HB 2302, a bipartisan bill that increases funding for the State Water Plan.  The Governor also signed House Bill 2279, a bipartisan bill that requires Kansas’ five Groundwater Management Districts to submit annual reports to the Kansas Legislature with updated water conservation and stabilization plans for groundwater.  You can learn more here:  Senate Substitute for HB 2302: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2302/.  House Bill 2279: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/measures/hb2279/

I also took a trip to Dodge City for the Kansas Water Authority Meeting in June. Following that was the Kansas Geological Survey tour in southwest Kansas. I learned how to measure the wells of the Ogallala Aquifer, a program that is performed every January, usually in very wintry conditions!

We also were grateful to be invited to the Symphony in the Flint Hills this year as a speaker. I spoke under one of the big tents about the Kansas River and the importance of being a prairie based river. When we protect prairie, we also protect the Kansas River!

Just released this week, I joined the podcast in my role as Chair of the Kansas Water Authority. Along with Connie Owen, the Director of the Kansas Water Office, we discussed water issues in Kansas. Click below to listen to the podcast and you can learn about the State Water Plan, the role of volunteers and public outreach, and efforts to elevate water funding in the Kansas Legislature. This podcast has it all!  Listen here:  https://ksoutdoors.com/KDWP-Info/News/Flatlander-Podcast

We have many more Beginner Wednesday’s coming up, so be sure to join us for your first Kansas River paddle!  This is one of our most popular events and we love sharing what we know with you so that you can create your own river adventure.  You can see the dates and sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/friends-of-the-kaw-17751155327

We also have Beginner Camping – two more events with one in Edwardsville and one in Junction City!  https://www.eventbrite.com/o/friends-of-the-kaw-17751155327

Lastly, and very importantly, Friends of the Kaw is The Merc Co+op‘s, Change for our Community recipient for July! We are honored to be chosen and to represent our wonderful community. Every time you round up at checkout, you’re helping to protect the Kansas River! Thank you so much for your support!

We are getting ready for the fall season for both our Kids About Water (KAWS) Program and our Riverbank Restoration Program….so watch for more details coming soon.  Oh….and Beers of the Kaw is coming up Sunday, November 5, 2023 at Abe & Jake’s Landing in Lawrence!  Make sure you have the date on your calendar.  The tickets will go on sale just after Labor Day!

Thank you for supporting our work. We are truly grateful to have all of you in partnership! We hope to see you all on the Kansas River soon!

For the river,

Dawn Buehler

Your Kansas Riverkeeper

Chasing the Channel – Blog No. 28

Historic Legislative Bills…and fun on the river for 2023!

What a whirlwind start to 2023!  I hope that each of you have started off 2023 on a good note and that you are already making plans for spring on the Kaw!  I have so many things to update you about, so let’s get to it.

First, I would like to say what an honor it was to be invited to attend Governor Kelly’s State of the State Address at the Statehouse last month. It’s not very often that a small town farm girl gets the chance to do something like that. I soaked it all in, knowing that this is one of those rare opportunities that doesn’t come along every day. It was also wonderful to hear our Governor talk about water, how important it is to our entire state, and how her administration would make a water a priority in her second term.

I want to share with you the historic vote by the House Water Committee and the full Kansas House of Representative today in support of two water related bills.  One of the bills is House Bill 2279 and it is centered around the Ground Water Management Districts, their conservation efforts and reporting.  This bill should provide some help for the sustainment of the Ogallala Aquifer.  The second bill is House Bill 2302 which sets aside 1.231% of state sales tax revenue to support the State Water Plan, as well as provide support to municipalities.  We have been long time supporters for increasing the funds for water across our state.  We have been advocating for years for funding and are so excited to see this advancement of the funding conversation. This effort has been bi-partisan and had wide ranging support from conservation organizations, municipalities and agricultural groups.  It is great to see what we can do, when we do it together. 

We applaud the House Water Committee for their vision, the Kansas Water Authority and Regional Advisory Committees for their efforts over the years, and the water related agencies for all the great work they do in support.  You can learn more about these bills here:  http://kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_h_water_1/ .  The next step for these bills is the Senate, so we are not done yet!  Please write your Senator if you are in support of these water-related bills.  You can find your Kansas Senator here:  https://openstates.org/find_your_legislator/

You can learn more by reading this article today in the Kansas Reflector:  https://kansasreflector.com/2023/02/22/theres-still-hope-kansas-house-advances-bills-to-help-save-ogallala-aquifer/

I also wanted to tell you today about Kansans for Conservation.   Kansas for Conservation is a coalition of diverse organizations working collaboratively to ensure a healthy and sustainable future for Kansas, focused on water, land, outdoor recreation, and environmental education resources for Kansans. Friends of the Kaw became a member of the coalition when it began in 2017, when the group of organizations gathered to address the growing need for dedicated funding aimed at conservation in Kansas. This group conducted a feasibility study in 2018, a needs assessment in 2019 and incorporated as a 501(c)4 in 2022.

Kansans for Conservation provided proponent written testimony for House Bill 2302 outlining the need for the increased funding as well as the fundamental benefits that water conservation has for all other realms of conservation, including agriculture, wildlife, and recreation.  You can read the coalition’s testimony on the website.  https://www.kansansforconservation.org.  We hope you will join us in supporting our statewide efforts to bring funding for conservation, focused on water, land, outdoor recreation, and environmental education for all Kansans. 

So, who is ready for spring on the Kaw?  We are!

To get ready for spring, we’ve got a few housekeeping things to do.  First, please make sure you have renewed your membership!  Members is due March 1 each year and is important to us for many reasons, including the financial support, your ability to get on the Kaw with us for FREE with your own boat, and to raise our voice!  We can do more, when we do it together and nothing says “together” more at FOK than membership! 

Second, join us for the 14^th Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival this year on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Liberty Hall in downtown Lawrence.  We are thrilled to bring this event back year after year, so we can all gather and get inspired by these films.  If you can’t join us on March 3, please go ahead and buy a ticket through Liberty Hall and then you can watch the films “on demand” for the few days after the event.  We so very much appreciate your support for this event!

And…. we are getting river ready my friends.  We have finished our calendar, although we will not open our events until we are about 6 weeks out.  But mark your calendar for all of the great fun ahead including Beginner Wednesdays, Beginner Camping on the Kaw, and more! 

Our annual Kaw River Guide Workshop is Sunday, May 7, 2023.  If you have ever thought that this might be fun, come and join us.  You just need your own boat and life jacket and an attitude to volunteer!  We welcome everyone and hope you can join us for some fun this year helping others learn about kayaking the Kaw or helping us dig tires and debris out of our river!  No matter what, we have fun even if it’s hard work!  You can RSVP for the workshop here:  https://forms.gle/TuZic2RJws9zkzFH9

Well, I hope that all of you have a great remainder of the winter season. If you know me, you know that I very much dislike winter, so I can’t wait for the spring days to stay.  I look forward to seeing you all on the Kansas River this year.  If you need help planning your trip, please reach out and I would be happy to help.  You can also find a ton of information on our River Access Map.

Happy Paddling….and may you always have sand in your shoes.

For the river
Dawn Buehler

Kansas Riverkeeper