Eagle Days and Upcoming Boat Show

February 2, 2015 by /

 

EAGLE DAY POSTER AS JPGCome 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

Filed Under: Newsletters

Volunteers Needed, and LawrenceHits Radio Interview

January 15, 2015 by /

Volunteers Needed!

Eagle Day at Free State High School in Lawrence

Eagle Day at Free State High School in Lawrence

Friends of the Kaw will have a booth at three events in the coming month! The Kaw Valley Eagle Day will be Saturday, January 24 at Free State High School in Lawrence from 9am to 4pm.  The Eagle Day at Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, KS takes place Saturday January 31 from 10am to 3pm.  The Topeka Boat Show will be at the Kansas Expocenter on February 6, 7, and 8. We need help manning these booths, particularly at the Topeka Boat Show event. (Bonus – you’ll get a free admission!)

Help is needed for the following shifts:

Eagle Day at Free State High School, 4700 Overland Drive, Lawrence, KS 66049
Saturday, January 24 from 8:45am to 12:30pm and 12:30 to 4:15pm

Eagle Day at Kaw Point Park, 1 Riverside Dr., Kansas City, KS 66101
Saturday, January 31 from 8:45am to 12:30pm and 12:30 to 4:15pm

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

Friday, February 6 from 12:45 to 4:30pm and 4:30 to 8:15pm

Saturday, February 7 from 9:45am to 3:00pm and 3:00 to 8:15pm

Sunday, February 8 from 10:45am to 3:15pm

If you can help man our booth for any of these events please contact the Kansas Riverkeeper by email or phone (785 312 7200.)

Can’t volunteer this time? You can still stop by to learn about the Kansas River and may other conservation organizations, and take advantage of an opportunity to view the eagles and get ready for spring paddling!

Wild and Scenic Film Festival

Friends of the Kaw also needs volunteers to help plan and promote the Wild and Scenic Film Festival scheduled for May 1 at Liberty Hall, as well as volunteers who would like to view and rank the films that are available for this event. Again, if you can help, please contact the Kansas Riverkeeper by email or phone (785 312 7200.)

Radio Interview on LawrenceHits

Kansas Riverkeeper Laura Calwell joined Jay Wachs of LawrenceHits.com  and Cile King from the League of Women Voters of Douglas County for a discussion of the KAW River and water quality in northeast Kansas on Wednesday 13, 2015.  To listen click HERE!

 

Filed Under: Newsletters

Support FOK in Fighting for Clean Water, and Year-End Review

December 11, 2014 by /

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

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

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!

Filed Under: Newsletters

DeSoto Ramp Cleanup and Support EPA Clean Water Rule

November 4, 2014 by /

De Soto Ramp Cleanup This Saturday, 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!

 

Please Make Comments on the EPA’s Proposed Clean Water Rule by November 14

Since 2008, over 400,000 requests have been sent by a wide variety of groups – including farmers, state and local officials, and members of Congress – asking the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers to make the Clean Water Act easier to understand. In response, the EPA and the Army Corps collaborated with all invested parties to create a new rule that clarifies existing law and ensures clean water protections for the streams and wetlands that many consider to be some of our nation’s great natural resources.

We should all help ensure this important rule is adopted by showing our support for the updated Clean Water Act definition of the “Waters of the U.S.”

The proposed rule would clarify existing laws, increase government efficiency and make our water cleaner by better defining which rivers, streams, lakes and wetlands the Clean Water Act protects from industrial pollution, oil spills, and outright destruction. Special consideration for agricultural concerns is addressed, and the new rule will strengthen our nation’s farming community by avoiding economic burden and bringing certainty and predictability to agriculture.

In recent years, there has been a lot of confusion and controversy over whether smaller streams and certain wetlands are protected by the Clean Water Act. As a result, some waters have been opened up for industrial dumping and others have become harder to protect. Without a clear definition of what is protected, 59% of our streams and at least 20% of our wetlands are threatened. It’s important to protect even the smaller streams, creeks and wetlands because they help reduce flooding, supply drinking water, and provide critical support and habitat for fish and wildlife in downstream waters. And, as any kid who grew up near a creek can attest, small streams provide access to adventures, exploration and wildlife. They truly are some of our most treasured—and accessible—places.

As part of the official rulemaking process, we can insist that EPA and the Corps ensure automatic protection for all streams and wetlands scientifically proven to have significant connections to downstream waters. This helps the Mississippi River by protecting the water feeding into it.

We expect strong opposition to this rule from institutions that use our rivers, streams and wetlands as dumping grounds. Regretfully, these polluters have the ear of many members of Congress and are working hard to defeat the rule. Don’t let them block this noble effort!
Show your support for this clean water rule by sending a comment to the EPA and we will copy your Representative in Congress so they hear your voice as well. Together we can ensure the Clean Water Act’s definition of “Waters of the U.S.” is finalized and our waters protected.

It’s easy – here are several web sites where you can make comments:

National Resource Defense Council

National Wildlife Federation

EPA

Filed Under: Newsletters

Annual Dinner RSVP Deadline and DeSoto CleanUp Date

October 29, 2014 by /

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

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

kidsaboutwaterOn 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!

Filed Under: Newsletters

DeSoto Cleanup Update and Urgent Message from Sierra Club

October 17, 2014 by /

Cleanup at the De Soto Ramp – Oct. 18 – Canceled

The good news is our reservoirs are full but the bad news is after all the rain we have had in the past month the river is to high to effectively do the cleanup below the De Soto Ramp on this Saturday, October 18.Westar’s Green Team was bringing a line truck to lift heavy objects over to the ramp where a skid loader would transport heavy items up the ramp to dumpsters arranged for by the city of De Soto. We so appreciated both Westar and De Soto for helping us plan this and we will RESCHEDUAL most likely in March.

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.

Volunteer Water Monitoring Training – IS STILL ON!

Volunteer Training - Oct. 7

Volunteer Training – Oct. 7

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!

Annual Dinner and Silent Auction

Wednesday, November 5, 2014 from 6 to 9pm at the Bass Pro Shop in Olathe. MORE INFORMATION

Urgent Message from the Sierra Club:

Take Immediate Action! Time is short!

Don’t let politics trump science.

On October 16, the Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism will determine the future of nongame wildlife in Kansas.

The Commission legally responsible for conservation of wildlife in Kansas is being asked by KDWPT Secretary Jennison to remove protection for the harmless redbelly snake strictly for political and economic reasons.

For 40 years, identification and protection of threatened and endangered species in Kansas has been based on science.

If the Commission approves delisting for political reasons, the Kansas wildlife protection act will be gutted. A precedent will be established that will put some 60 currently listed species in Kansas at risk.

We simply can’t let this happen. Take action for Kansas critters.

Click here to send comments directly to KDWPT today:

sheila.kemmis@ksoutdoors.com

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism
512 S.E. 25th Ave.
Pratt, Kansas 67124.

or go to send a message via MoveOn.org

Tell the KDWPT Commission to retain threatened status for the redbelly snake on October 16. Allowing politics to trump science is unacceptable.

A recent survey concluded that over 90% of Kansans support protection of nongame species and their habitat.

For news release and more facts to support your comments,
go to Kansas.SierraClub.org.

Filed Under: Newsletters

Clean-Up at DeSoto Ramp

October 10, 2014 by /

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!

desoto cleanup

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!

water monitor bank

Filed Under: Newsletters

Thursday Night Fish Fry

September 25, 2014 by /

 

CATFISHFRY.2014

Tonight’s the night!

Please join us for the Catfish Fry fundraiser at Abe & Jakes Landing at 8 E. 6th St. in Lawrence, KS starting at 6pm on Thursday evening, September 25. You will receive a delicious catfish dinner prepared by Terrabonne Cafe. The cost is $10 in advance and tickets can be purchased HERE, or pay $12 at the door. As well as a yummy dinner, you will enjoy a blue grass band, a great exhibit on the Kansas Riverkings, a cash bar, and lots of fun and conversation about the Kaw!

You will also have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous items from Lawrence merchants in our silent auction.

We would like to thank our sponsors:
Abe & Jakes
Westar’s Green Team
Cromwell Solar
Thompson Financial Group
Cottin’s Hardware & Rental
Landmark National Bank
LawrenceHits.com
KLWN
Downtown Lawrence

Float on the Kaw – Wednesday, October 1st

You and your family are invited to join us for an exciting 11-mile float trip on the Kansas River.
This float is sponsored by Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and is at no charge to participants.  What a deal – come experience the Kansas River National Water Trail!

Date:  Wednesday October 1, 2014

Time:  Meet at 8:30 a.m.; the float will start at 9:00 a.m. and end at 1:00 p.m.

Starting Point:  Eudora River Access in Eudora, KS

Ending Point:  De Soto River Access in De Soto, KS

Along the way, we’ll stop at a sandbar for a break and stretch. Lunch will be provided at the DeSoto take out.

RSVP: Please RSVP to Roger Wolfe (roger.wolfe@ksoutdoors.com) if you plan to float with us so he can plan for lunch. IMPORTANT: Indicate if you’ll need a canoe or kayak and which you prefer. If a canoe is your preference, you’ll either have your partner or you can be paired with a partner. If you will bring your own canoe or kayak please tell Roger that, as well.

IMG_0951

Community Forum on Kansas Environmental Issues

Thursday, October 2, 2014
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208
Hosted by Environmental Action Committee of Village Presbyterian Church

Environmental Policy and Politics in Kansas: Which One Needs More Help?
A Conversation with Joshua and Kimberly Svaty

5:30 p.m.                  Appetizers & Exhibits by Kansas Environmental Organizations
6:00 p.m.                  Dinner of Locally Grown Foods Catered by Blue Bird Bistro
7:00 p.m.                  Program: Zack Pistora, Vice-President, KNRC; Josh Svaty, Vice-President of The Kansas Land Institute, former Kansas State Representative & Secretary of Agriculture; Kimberly Svaty, Owner of Gencur Svaty Public Affairs; Moderator Burke Griggs, Assistant Attorney for Kansas, Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford
8:30 p.m.                  Adjourn

Advance reservations advised by Friday, September 26. $20 donation covers dinner and program. $10 covers program only ($5 for students). Payable on-line @ www.knrc.ws or by check mailed to KNRC/Community Forum, 7301 Mission Road, Suite 248, Prairie Village, KS, 66208. Receipt of on-line payment or check confirms your reservation.

Filed Under: Newsletters

Catfish Fry and Community Forum

September 18, 2014 by /

CATFISHFRY.2014Please join us for the Catfish Fry fundraiser at Abe & Jakes Landing at 8 E. 6th St. in Lawrence, KS starting at 6pm on Thursday evening, September 25. You will receive a delicious catfish dinner prepared by Terrabonne Cafe. The cost is $10 in advance and tickets can be purchased  HERE, or pay $12 at the door.  As well as a yummy dinner, you will enjoy a blue grass band, a great exhibit on the Kansas Riverkings, a cash bar, and lots of fun and conversation about the Kaw!

You will also have the opportunity to bid on some fabulous items from Lawrence merchants in our silent auction.

We would like to thank our sponsors:
Abe & Jakes
Westar’s Green Team
Cromwell Solar
Thompson Financial Group
Cottin’s Hardware & Rental
Landmark National Bank
LawrenceHits.com
KLWN
Downtown Lawrence

 

Fall Floats on the Kaw!

This Saturday, September 20,  Friends of the Kaw will host the Kanza and Thomas Hart Benton Sierra Clubs on a Kaw River float from Seward Ave. access in Topeka to the Rising Sun access just north west of the Lecompton Bridge.  This is a particularly scenic 13 mile float and we still have a few boats available for the public to rent.   If you have your own canoe or kayak you are welcome to join the float.  We will meet the group at the Rising Sun access at 8am to organize the shuttle and caravan to the Seward Ave. access in east Topeka. After a safety and basic paddling talk we will launch about 9:30am.  We will paddle as a group for about an hour and a half and then stop on a sand bar for a hotdog and marshmallow roast.  Participants will have time to explore the sand bar and also listen to a short Sandbar Seminar about the Kaw.  We will paddle for another hour and half and take out at Rising Sun about 2pm.  Drivers will be taken back to their cars at Seward Avenue and then return for their boats and passengers.

In case of eminent thunderstorms or high wind we will cancel the float at 6am on the day of the float. Call or email the Kansas Riverkeeper for more info or questions!

RIMG0370

 

Community Forum on Kansas Environmental Issues

Thursday, October 2, 2014
Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS 66208
Hosted by Environmental Action Committee of Village Presbyterian Church

Environmental Policy and Politics in Kansas: Which One Needs More Help?
A Conversation with Joshua and Kimberly Svaty

5:30 p.m.                  Appetizers & Exhibits by Kansas Environmental Organizations
6:00 p.m.                  Dinner of Locally Grown Foods Catered by Blue Bird Bistro
7:00 p.m.                  Program: Zack Pistora, Vice-President, KNRC; Josh Svaty, Vice-President of The Kansas Land Institute, former Kansas State Representative & Secretary of Agriculture; Kimberly Svaty, Owner of Gencur Svaty Public Affairs; Moderator Burke Griggs, Assistant Attorney for Kansas, Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford
8:30 p.m.                  Adjourn

Advance reservations advised by Friday, September 26. $20 donation covers dinner and program. $10 covers program only ($5 for students). Payable on-line @ www.knrc.ws or by check mailed to KNRC/Community Forum, 7301 Mission Road, Suite 248, Prairie Village, KS, 66208. Receipt of on-line payment or check confirms your reservation.

Filed Under: Newsletters

Fall Floats and Catfish Fry

August 27, 2014 by /

IMG_2970

August has been beautiful, bring on the September floats!!

The Friends of the Kaw Dad/Sons float trip on August 9th was enjoyed by all. As shown in the photo above, during the break from floating the boys enjoyed nice swim! Many fish and bald eagles were spotted on the trip and instead of hot dogs, the treat of choice for the August float was watermelon! The sand bar and nice cloudy day were enjoyed by everyone.

In September we have floats planned on Saturday 6, 13 and 20. Anyone with their own canoe or kayak are welcome to join any of our floats – just be sure to call and let us know you’re coming so if we have any last minute changes we can get in touch. Also, for any of our floats we rent out the available canoes or kayaks not used by the group. September is a beautiful month to be on the Kaw, so come join us!

Catfish Fry!

CATFISHFRY.2014
Friends of the Kaw welcomes you to join us for one of our most popular events of the year – the Catfish Fry at Abe & Jake’s Landing in Lawrence, KS. Tickets may be purchased online for $10 in advance or for $12 at the door. Enjoy a catfish dinner, a live band, a great exhibit on the Kansas Riverkings, and lots of fun and conversation about the Kaw. You do not want to miss this event!

Rain Garden Maintenance and Cleanups

Friends of the Kaw will be maintaining the rain garden near the DeSoto ramp on September 6th before the float at 9am. There will be many more opportunities to volunteer with other Kansas River maintenance and river cleanups and we encourage you volunteer a few hours helping us take care of our amazing river, which is a National River Trail and a 172 mile Kansas gem of sandbars and wildlife. Thank you!

Filed Under: Newsletters
« Previous Page
Next Page »