Middle Kansas River Watershed

The Middle  Kansas River WRAPS (Watershed Restoration & Protection Strategy) program provides cost share assistance to producers for establishing best management practices (BMPs) to improve water quality in designated priority areas of the Middle  Kansas River watershed.

Watershed Impairments we are currently addressing:                  

• Rock Creek: Bacteria from livestock manure
• Soldier Creek: Sedimentation from erosion of soil and stream banks

Watershed Coordinator: Megan Rush
at 913-204-0179

Stakeholder Leadership Team

• Dennis Schwant, Chair   Pottawatomie Conservation District
• Douglas Helmke, Vice Chair    Kansas Rural Water Association
• Judy Boltman, Shawnee County Conservation District
• Mary Howell, KAWS Service provider and Producer
• Theo Wahquahboshkuk, Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
• Francis Kelsey, Shawnee County Conservation District
• Shane Neel, Kansas Forest Service
• Brian Boeckman, Jackson County Conservation District
• Molly Schmidt, Pottawatomie County Conservation District
• Dennis Mulroy, Jackson County Producer
• Bill Riphahn, Shawnee County Commissioner

Partners*

• Kansas Department of Health and Environment
• Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS)
• Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism 
• Jackson County Conservation District
• Pottawatomie County Conservation District
• Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation
• K-State Research and Extension
• Heinen Brothers

*This list is ever-changing as the Middle Kansas WRAPS develops

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency 319 funds. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

The Middle Kansas River Watershed has two priority areas:

• Rock Creek in Pottawatomie County
• Soldier Creek in Nemaha and Jackson Counties.

Maps

• Soldier Creek with Tributaries Named
• Soldier Creek – Nemaha and Jackson Counties with targeted section areas
• Rock Creek with Tributaries Named
• Rock Creek – Pottawatomie County with targeted section areas

Counties

• Pottawatomie
• Nemaha
• Jackson

Best Management Practices

Rock Creek Priority Area
– Alternative Water Systems
– Cover Crops for Grazing
– Feed Site Relocation
– Grazing Management Plans
– Riparian Buffers

Testimonial video on cover crops in the Soldier Creek area

Soldier Creek Priority Area
– Cover Crops for Ground Cover
– Field Erosion
– Sensitive Riparian Program
– Small-scale Streambank Stabilization
– Vegetated Buffers

Featured Projects

Workshops: TBA

Public Meetings: Held quarterly. Please contact Megan Rush for information

Meeting Date: Friday June 4th at 9:30am
Location: 101 Vine St in Wamego, KS.  Enter the building through the west doors.
Details: Masks be required until everyone is seated in order to respect everyone’s personal safety and comfort level.  Megan will provide printed out meeting materials for each person, individual snacks, and water. Please plan to bring your own coffee.

Volunteer Opportunities: TBA

Stakeholder Leadership Team (SLT) Application: Coming soon!

Contact Megan at 913-204-0179

Megan Rush is the Watershed Coordinator for Middle Kansas River Watershed. Megan is based out of Lawrence, KS and graduated from the University of Kansas with a master’s in Environmental Assessment. When she isn’t working on water quality, you can find her kayaking or stand up paddling boarding on the water, traveling, or petting every animal she comes across.

FAQ

• Do you give financial assistance for ponds? No, WRAPS does not fund the repair or construction of ponds. Please check with your local NRCS office.
• How much financial assistance do you provide for BMP projects? Typically, the safe answer is 70%, but that can look different for every project. Your time and labor equals money!