Public Meeting Regarding Dredging of the Kaw

What will the future of the Kaw look like?

Natural & Scenic

Dredged & Degraded

Friends of the Kaw Members and Supporters ~

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze the direct, indirect, and cumulative effects of commercial dredging of sand and gravel from the Kansas River in the State of Kansas.

The existing permits for dredging, last issued in 2007, allowed for a potential annual total of 3,150,000 tons of materials to be extracted from the Kansas River. The current permits, originally scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, were indefinitely extended until after completion of an EIS. Five applicants are currently requesting to extract 1,900,000 tons of material per year from the river at eight locations.

We are asking that you join us at the Scoping Meeting on August 4, 2015.  Public attendance at this meeting is very important and it shows that the public supports and is interested in the EIS process.  The public is invited to contribute additional information concerning the proposed project.  Statements should be supported by factual information.  Here is how you can help:

• Attend the public meeting.  It is important to show that we have public support.
• Attend the public meeting and present oral comments to the Corps of Engineers staff.
• Submit written comments to the Corps of Engineers

There will be another very important opportunity for public comments when the public notice comes out with the draft Environmental Impact Statement.  We expect that to happen in late 2015 or early 2016.

Date:  A scoping meeting will be held: August 4, 2015, 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Lawrence, Kansas.
Address:  The scoping meeting location is: Lawrence Public Library Auditorium, 707 Vermont Street, Lawrence, Kansas.
Submit Written Comments:  Questions and comments regarding the proposed action and EIS should be addressed to Mr. Brian Donahue, Regulatory Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at 601 East 12th Street, Room 402, Kansas City, MO 64106; (816) 389-3703; Brian Donahue. For special needs (visual or hearing impaired, Spanish translation, etc.) requests during the scoping meetings, please call Brian Donahue by July 20, 2015.
The Federal Register Notice can be viewed here.

Read about the damage dredging can cause here.