KACEE Award for Kate Delehunt

Kate Delehunt, Friends of the Kaw’s Educational Specialist, will be honored on Friday, April 11 at the 2015 Excellence in Conservation and Environmental Education Awards Celebration of Kansas Association of Conservation and Education (KACEE.) She will receive the John K. Strickler Award. Kate has played a significant role in environmental education in Metro Kansas City for the past 35 years. She joined Friends of the Kaw’s staff in August of 2014 and helped to develop the Kids About Water (KAW) Project.

Kansas River Cleanup Results

With the help of Westar’s Green Team, over 35 volunteers removed over 300 tires and metal debris from bank of the Kansas River below Westar’s power line east of Lawrence on Saturday morning, March 14. Volunteers braved a chilly morning to help dig tires out of the bank and they also collected over 50 bags of trash and recylables
Two line trucks lifted tires and debris to the top of the bank where two bobcats moved waste to three large containers. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management arranged for the proper disposal of the tires and waste.
This was a very successful activity of Friends of the Kaw’s Douglas County Heritage Grant.

Earth Day Volunteers Needed!

If you can help us man a booth at one of the following Earth Day events please e-mail Dawn.

Saturday, March 28 – Prairie Village Earth Fair from 10am to 12:30pm or 12:30 to 3pm at Shawnee Mission East (75th and Mission Road.)

Saturday, March 28 – Johnson County Healthy Yards Expo from 9am to 11:30 or 11:30am to 2pm at the Shawnee Civic Center (SW corner of Phlumm and Johnson Drive)

Saturday, April 11 – Earth Day Celebration from 11am to 1:30pm or 1:30 to 4pm at South Park.

Saturday, April 18 – Party for the Planet at the Topeka Zoo in Gage Park from 9am to 12noon or 12 noon to 3pm.

Sunday, April 19 – Topeka Green Fair from 1 to 4pm at the City/County Library

We will set up the booths, have all the materials and train you at the beginning of your shift. Thanks – these are really fun events and you meet lots of interesting people.

Clean Energy Day at the Capitol – Wednesday, February 25!

Kansans want a responsible energy plan to transition our state to clean, renewable energy like wind and solar and improvements in energy efficiency. Investments in a clean energy economy create and keep good jobs in communities across Kansas, save money for families and businesses in the long run, and improve our health and environment.

Let’s show our state leaders we support a clean energy plan!

9:00 a.m. – Advocate Briefing and Energy Policy Update at theKansas State Capitol Visitors Center (enter on 8^th Street)

Remaining activities will take place on the 1^st Floor Rotunda of the Capitol

9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Clean Energy Business and Community Booths

10:30 a.m. – Press Conference

11 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Meetings with Legislators

12 p.m. – 1 p.m. – Free Box Lunch

RSVP Online: http://tinyurl.com/RSVPCleanEnergyDay

Booth Space Registration: http://tinyurl.com/CleanEnergyDay

Directions & Parking: http://www.kshs.org/p/kansas-state-capitol-parking/11708

Public Input Meeting for Setting Water Supply Goals for the Kansas River Basin

Kansas Water Regional Goal Leadership Teams to hear water supply priorities

Recently the 14 Regional Goal Leadership Teams met to begin the water supply goal setting process to help develop water supply goals for each region. The role of each team is to participate in a public scoping process in their region, develop and draft water supply goals for their region based on public input and available resource condition information.

Beginning in March, the 14 teams will be holding public meetings in their region to hear input from stakeholders and citizens that will assist each team with drafting the goals for the future water supply needs in each region. Recommended water supply goals should seek to implement the following Vision statement:

Kansans act on a shared commitment to have the water resources necessary to support the state’s social, economic and natural resource needs for current and future generations.

The public will be asked to share their input on specific topics that are water supply issues for their region. Trained facilitators from Kansas State University Research and Extension as well as the Institute for Civic Discourse and Democracy will be helping with the goal development and facilitate the public meetings. Region stakeholders and citizens are encouraged to attend one of the input sessions.

Monday, March 9

DeSoto, KS – 7 p.m., De Soto Senior Center, 32905 W. 84th Street

Wednesday, March 11

Manhattan, KS – 7p.m., Fire Department Headquarters, 2000 Denison Avenue

The teams will present the proposed draft regional water supply goals to the Kansas Water Authority in May 2015. The KWA will provide advice towards further development of the regional goals with final goals to be approved by the Authority in August 2015.

For more information on the upcoming public meetings in other regions to be held in March, water supply information about each region or read the final version of the Long-Term Vision for the Future of Water Supply in Kansas, visit www.kwo.org.

Kansas River Cleanup on Saturday, March 14

Friends of the Kaw will sponsor a cleanup on the Kaw from 9am to 2pm on Saturday, March 14.  Meet at the corner of 1550 Rd. (11th Street) and 1600 Rd. just east of Lawrence.  Wear long pants, long sleeved shirts, sturdy shoes and bring work gloves and a shovel.  We will be going down the bank to dig up tires and metal debris so this is not a good activity for kids under 12 years old. Westar Green Team will bring a line truck to lift tires and debris to the top of the bank. Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management will assist in recycling as much material as possible.  This is an activity of Friends of the Kaw’s Douglas County Natural and Cultural Heritage Grant. Rain date for this cleanup is Saturday, March 28. For more information call 785 312 7200 or contact the Kansas Riverkeeper.

Come Visit Us at the Topeka Boat Show – February 6, 7, and 8

Friends of the Kaw will have a booth at the Topeka Boat Show at the Kansas Expocentre on February 6, 7, & 8. Laura Calwell, Kansas Riverkeeper, and Roger Wolfe, Kansas Dept. of Wildlife Parks and Tourism, will do a seminar on Kansas River Recreational Activities from 12:00 to 12:55pm on Saturday, February 7 at the venue stage. Folks who become a member of Friends of the Kaw at the show will get a free insulated coffee mug – memberships start at $15. Come visit us, learn about the Kansas River and get ready for spring paddling!

The Topeka Boat Show is at the Kansas Expocentre, on the SW Corner of Topeka Ave. & 17th St.

Friday, February 6 from 3 to 8 pm

Saturday, February 7 from 10am to 8pm

Sunday, February 8 from 11am to 3pm

Support Clean Water with a Gift for the Kaw!

Dear Friends,

In March of 2014, the Corps of Engineers (COE) announced that a new Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be required to reauthorize dredging permits on the Kaw. The COE “was unable to conclude that there are no potentially significant impacts associated with the activities proposed by dredging companies.” The new EIS is a positive development, but there’s still work to do. Commercial sand and gravel dredging have seriously degraded the Kansas River, and to prevent additional damage all operations should move to appropriately sited pit mines in the Kansas River valley. When it comes time for the public meeting that will be held in the fall of 2015 we’ll need you to submit your comments in support of protecting the Kaw. We’ll keep you updated!

DeSoto Kiosk

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, with the assistance of the National Park Service and Friends of the Kaw, has continued to improve the Kansas River Water Trail.  With the participation of Westar’s Green Team informational kiosks have been built at many of the access ramps, including the De Soto ramp.

 
In June of 2015, our Kansas Riverkeeper, Laura Calwell, was honored by the River Network as a River Hero.  This award is peer-nominated and given yearly to five individuals who have dedicated themselves to protecting our most vital natural resource—water.  After years of service, Laura will be retiring in the near future, so we are actively seeking applications for a new Kansas Riverkeeper.  Visit the job description page for more details.

River Hero Awards

Finally, as we approach the end of the year, please consider making a tax-deductible gift via PayPal or by sending a check to Friends of the Kaw, P.O. Box 1612, Lawrence, KS 66044.  Your gift will support efforts to protect the river, including getting dredging operations out of the river. Already an FOK member? Consider giving a membership as a holiday gift! Over 800,000 Kansans depend on the Kaw for drinking water, and it is only through working together that we can protect this valuable resource for future generations.

Thank you for your continued support of Friends of the Kaw. From all of us at FOK, have a wonderful holiday season and best wishes for the new year!

Warm regards,

Jim Walton, President

Your gift to Friends of the Kaw helps FOK keep dredging out of the river, report and follow up on pollution violations, advocate for reduction of stormwater pollution from both urban and rural areas, and demand enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

2014 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 for new Environmental Impact Statement.

Pollution & Policy

• Responded to eight pollution reports including trash, concrete & asphalt dumping, oil spill in KCK; questionable application of herbicides in Lawrence; questionable waste management practices; and a questionable discharge from a pit mine operation.
• With assistance from Westar’s Green Team, KDHE, REI and the City of De Soto cleaned up the area just below the De Soto access ramp.  Ww also made arrangements to clean up 500 tires and other debris below a Westar power line just east of Lawrence for March of 2015.
• Kansas Riverkeeper is a member of the Governor’s River Recreation Committee charged with promoting the Kansas River National Water Trail and the Kansas Lower Republican Basin Advisory Committee representing recreation.
• Provided input for the Vision for the Future Water Supply in Kansas via the Basin Advisory Committee and a consortium of Kansas environmental organizations.
• Promoted and made comments on EPA’s Waters of the U.S. Proposed Rule.

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 twelve educational float trips for over 400 people.
• Provided five Boys and Girls Club paddling experiences 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, and helped organize a community float attended by over 50 paddlers on October 8, 2014.
• Presented at over thirty educational outreach events at schools, outdoors shops, churches and community gatherings in the Kansas River valley, reaching over 7,500 people in the community.
• Received six grants for a total of $33,500 for river cleanups, floats and stormwater education (both urban and rural.)
• Developed the Kids About Water (KAW) project, a water quality issues and actions curriculum for grades 6 -12.
• Recruited volunteers for De Soto Rotary’s Winesong event (FOK was one of the beneficiaries!)
• Fundraising Events: Catfish fry in Lawrence and the Annual Dinner and Silent Auction at Olathe’s Bass Pro Shop.  MARK YOUR CALENDARS!  The Wild and Scenic Film Festival will be held on April 30 at the Glenwood Theater in Overland Park and on May 1 at Liberty Hall in Lawrence.

CONSIDER GIVING A MEMBERSHIP AS A HOLIDAY GIFT!

Friends of the Kaw’s Annual Dinner & Silent – RSVP Deadline TODAY!

Friends of the Kaw is holding its 18th Annual Dinner and Silent Auction on Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 6 to 9pm at the Bass Pro Shop in Olathe (just SW of I-35 and 119th Street.)

Our guest speaker is Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office.  He will speak about the 50-year vision for the future of water in Kansas.

Enjoy a buffet dinner, cash bar, informative presentation and the opportunity to do some holiday shopping. The cost is $45/person and RSVPs with a check or credit card need to be made by today.  Call 785 312 7200.

MORE INFORMATION on the event and how to make a reservation.

We also need items for the Silent Auction so if you have a donation please let us know!

De Soto Ramp Cleanup Rescheduled – New Date is November 8th

Friends of the Kaw is working with the City of De Soto, Westar Green Team, and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Waste Management to clean up an area on the Kaw just below the De Soto access ramp and we need some volunteer assistance.  The cleanup will start at 9:00am and end once the job is done or at 4pm, so you can come for the morning, the afternoon or both.  The Green Team will be using a line truck to lift objects over to the ramp where a skid loader will transport heavy items up the ramp to a dumpster. Because we are using heavy equipment, the activity on the ramp is not appropriate for kids under 18 years old.  Younger folks are welcome to come and will be able to help do some maintenance on the demonstration rain garden near the access ramp or pick up litter in Riverfest Park.

Area below the De Soto Access

Many of Friends of the Kaw’s group float trips start at the De Soto ramp so cleaning up this area will give float participants a better first impression of the river.  We are grateful for the efforts of the City of De Soto, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and Westar Green Team and also a grant from REI to accomplish this effort.

Please wear long pants, gloves and sturdy shoes that can get wet.  We will do a hot dog roast for lunch at 12:30pm for volunteers.

It would help us get a count for the hot dog roast if folks would RSVP with the Kansas Riverkeeper – also contact us for more information!

Kids About Water (KAW) Project at Lexington Trails Middle School

On October 22, 23, 24, 26 and 27 Friends of the Kaw held our first Kids About Water (KAW) classes with seventh grade students in Mr. Jim Brabac’s science class.  The KAW class is a five-lesson water quality issues and actions curriculum that targets students in grades 6-12. The class informs  students about stormwater issues and problems and actions they can take to be part of the solution.  Pictured to the right are students doing water testing at a small pond adjacent to the school in De Soto.  This activity is funded by Johnson County Stormwater Education Grant.  We want to thank all the volunteers who helped the kids test water last Thursday and Friday.  Everyone enjoyed themselves and most likely learned something!

Cleanup at the De Soto Ramp – Oct. 18

Friends of the Kaw is working with the City of De Soto and Westar Green Team to clean up an area on the Kaw just below the De Soto access ramp (see photo below) and we need some volunteer assistance. The clean up will start at 9:00am and end once the job is done or at 4pm so you can come for the morning or afternoon or both. The Green Team will be using a line truck to lift objects over to the ramp where a skid loader will transport heavy items up the ramp to a dumpster. Because we are using heavy equipment the activity on the ramp is not appropriate for kids under 18 years old. Younger folks are welcome to come and will be able to help do some maintenance on the demonstration rain garden near the access ramp or pick up litter in Riverfest Park.

Many of Friends of the Kaw’s group float trips start at the De Soto ramp and cleaning up this area will give float participants a better first impression of the river. We are grateful for the efforts of the City of De Soto and Westar Green Team and also a grant from REI to accomplish this clean up.

Please wear long pants, gloves and sturdy shoes that can get wet. We will do a hot dog roast for lunch at 12:30pm for volunteers.

It would help us get a count for the hot dog roast if folks would RSVP with the Kansas Riverkeeper – also contact us for more information!

Volunteer Water Monitoring Training

Friends of the Kaw is hosting a second 3 hour, hands-on, super fun volunteer training session on Saturday, October 18 from 1 to 4pm at the De Soto Access Ramp. In this training, you will conduct both chemical and non-chemical water monitoring tests. You will seine for macroinvertebrates and learn to identify them. You will measure impervious surface area and determine runoff volumes. You”ll have lots of fun and you might even accidentally learn something! Most of the training will be outside at a water site so please dress appropriately and wear shoes that can get wet! Lunch will be provided at 12:30pm.

We are training volunteers to help us with our new Kids About Water (KAW) project that we will implement in middle school and high school classes this year. We had six people attend the session on Oct. 7 and all had a great time.

For more information or to RSVP contact the Kansas Riverkeeper!