Friends of the Kaw is Featured in KCUR’s Up From Dust Podcast!

Friends of the Kaw is Featured in KCUR’s Up From Dust Podcast!

“If you’re quiet and you go slowly, you can see otter.  The beavers, sometimes they will stop and freeze in place on the bank and wait until you go on by before they dive into the water.  Kingfishers diving into the river, bald eagles with their catch of some fish on the sandbar and dragging it across.”

 – Dawn Buehler, Kansas Riverkeeper and Executive Director, discussing
Kansas River wildlife on the Up From Dust podcast.

We’re so excited to announce the launch of “Kayakers vs. River Pollution” an Up From Dust podcast episode highlighting our work to clean up legacy trash sites on the Kansas River.

In the last 10 years, Friends of the Kaw, our volunteers, and partners have removed over 35 tons of battery cases and thousands of tires from sandbars on the Kansas River.  These “legacy” trash sites have existed for decades, but it’s our goal to eliminate all of them by 2030.

In March 2025, Up From Dust host and producer Celia Llopis-Jepsen joined the team for a tire cleanup near De Soto to learn what makes the Kansas River so special, and how we’re working to clean up decades-old trash sites.  

We can’t wait for everyone to experience the podcast episode where you’ll hear from Dawn Buehler, your Kansas Riverkeeper, the Kaw River Guides who do the heavy lifting on the water, and some of the partners who help make this difficult work happen.  Thank you to Celia, her team at KCUR, and all the amazing people who have supported our work through the years.

If you’d like to support our efforts, please consider making a donation to Friends of the Kaw at https://kansasriver.org/donation/?did=1.  With your help, we can eliminate trash on the Kansas River and leave it healthier and thriving, both today and for future generations.

Lisa Grossman, Friends of the Kaw Board Member and Kaw River Guide, picks up plastic trash in the Manhattan-area eddy mentioned in the podcast. 

BELIEVE IN OUR COMMITMENT

Your Kansas Riverkeeper, Dawn Buehler, collecting samples from the Kansas River.

BELIEVE IN OUR COMMITMENT

Dear Friends of the Kaw,

As the year draws to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and commitment to Friends of the Kaw.

We have achieved remarkable milestones in our mission to protect, preserve, and advocate for the Kansas River…none of this would be possible without your support.

Your contributions enabled us to: 

  • Remove tires, battery cases, trash, etc.
  • Advocate for the rehabilitation of the Kansas River’s environs, including its water quality, water quantity, and wildlife habitat.
  • Promote compatible public recreational uses of the Kansas River and encourage the development of public access.
  • Educate the public and youth about the importance, benefits, and beauty of the Kansas River.
  • Cooperate with other persons, organizations, and public agencies in support of a healthy Kansas River ecosystem.
  • Monitor, respond and mediate suspected pollution incidents.

Great things are in store for 2025, and I ask for your support in building a lasting future for the Kansas River.

For the river,
Dawn Buehler
Kansas Riverkeeper® & Executive Director

PS: Giving online is simple. Make your gift today kansasriver.org/donation

Click here for our 2024 WISH LIST!

Your generosity makes our mission possible!

2024 WISH LIST

FOK Board Member Lisa Grossman, digging a discarded tire out of the Kansas River.

2024 WISH LIST

Dear Friend of the Kaw,

As another year draws to a close, I want to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and commitment to Friends of the Kaw.

Friends of the Kaw achieved remarkable milestones in our mission to protect, preserve, and advocate for the Kansas River… none of this would be possible without your support.

In the past year alone, your contributions enabled us to: 

  • Remove tires, battery cases, trash, etc.
  • Advocate for the rehabilitation of the Kansas River’s environs, including its water quality, water quantity, and wildlife habitat.
  • Promote compatible public recreational uses of the Kansas River and encourage the development of public access.
  • Educate the public and youth about the importance, benefits, and beauty of the Kansas River.
  • Cooperate with other people, organizations, and public agencies in support of a healthy Kansas River ecosystem.
  • Monitor, respond and mediate suspected pollution incidents.

Great things are in store for 2024, and I ask for your help to build a lasting future for the Kansas River.

Dawn Buehler

Kansas Riverkeeper® & Executive Director

PS: Giving online is simple. Make your gift today kansasriver.org/donation

Read all about our 2024 Wish List here!

Beers of the Kaw

8TH ANNUAL BEERS OF THE KAW

Get Your 2023 Tickets: https://bit.ly/3PseNnb

Sunday, November 5, 2023

3:00 to 6:00 PM

Abe & Jake’s Landing, Lawrence, KS

Tickets $35 and supports Friends of the Kaw and our work for the Kansas River!