The Upper Wakarusa River Watershed 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 Upper Wakarusa River.
Upper Wakarusa River Watershed
work details
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Upper Wakarusa River Watershed
About
Priority Areas
Our Work
Get Involved
Contact
About
Watershed Impairments we are currently addressing:
- Bacteria
- Nutrients
- Sedimentation
Watershed Coordinator: Jessica Layton, 785-424-4137
Stakeholder Leadership Team
Wayne Lukert: Shawnee County CD Board, Landowner
Rich Runnebaum: Shawnee County CD Board, Landowner
Gary Price: Landowner
Will Boyer: KSU Livestock Specialist
Tim Urban: KDWP
Suzy Mooney: Douglas County CD
Mindy Worthing: Shawnee County CD
Lori Kuykendall: Osage County CD
Angela Dake: Landowner
Jason Koontz: KDHE
Scott Purdon: Clinton Wildlife Area Asst. Manager
Amelia Lane: KWO
Margit Kaltenekker: Douglas County K-State Extension
Meredith Falkenstein: City of Lawrence
Kyle Broockerd: USACE
Bob Marsh: Great Blue Heron in Lawrence
Dan Magee: Landowner
Daryl Mellard: Shawnee County CD Board, Landowner
Kyle Abrahamson: KDWP
Partners*
- Douglas County Conservation District
- Osage County Conservation District
- Shawnee County Conservation District
- Kansas Water Office
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment
- Kansas Biological Survey
- Kansas Forest Service
- Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
- USDA – NRCS
- EPA
- Corps of Engineers, Clinton Lake
- USGS
*This list is ever-changing as the Upper Wakarusa WRAPS develops
Priority Areas
The Upper Wakarusa Watershed has three priority areas:
- Clinton Wildlife Area
- Riparian Areas along the Upper Wakarusa River and its tributaries
- Upland Areas
- Small-scale Farms
Maps
Counties
- Douglas
- Osage
- Shawnee
Our Work
Best Management Practices
Riparian Areas
– Alternative Water Systems
– Cover Crops for Grazing
– Exclusion Fencing
– Feed Site Relocation
– Small-scale Streambank Stabilization
– Vegetated Filter Strips & Buffers
Upland Areas
– Cover Crops
– No-till Conversion
– Nutrient Management
– Permanent Vegetation
– Vegetated Filter Strips & Buffers
Clinton Wildlife Area
– Cover Crops
– Nutrient Management
– Permanent Vegetation
– Small-scale Streambank Stabilization
– Vegetated Filter Strips & Buffers
Featured Projects
Runnebaum Project: Small Scale Streambank Stabilization – Cedar Tree Revetments at various stages
Get Involved
Contact
Jessica Layton, 785-424-4137, Watershed Coordinator
As a life-long resident of NE Kansas, Jessica has always enjoyed the wild places of the prairie. Whether she was fishing with her grandpa or digging up her folk’s backyard for a garden, she delighted in being outside and connecting to the spaces around her. This love of the land led to her receiving a Bachelors in Geography from KU, with an emphasis on humans and their interactions with the environment.
During her college years, she fell deeply in love with agriculture and gained experience working on local vegetable farms. After a few years of working for other farmers and starting a family, it was time to start her own farm. Jessica and her partner found their farm in 2013 and have been growing food for the Topeka, Lawrence and KC area ever since. She is excited to bring her knowledge of soil management and experience working with farmers to the Watershed Coordinator position.
In her free time Jessica loves relaxing with her three daughters on their farm near Perry, exploring their land and feeding treats to their sheep. She also enjoys sewing, working on the farm and meeting up with friends in Lawrence.
