Upper Wakarusa Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy: Accomplishments 2006, cont.

U p p e r Wa k a r u s a
Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy

U p p e r Wa k a r u s a Fa c t s
• The Upper Wakarusa Watershed covers 367 square miles, running across 40 miles
from east to west across 4 counties: Douglas, Shawnee, Osage, and Wabaunsee.
• The watershed is 56% rangeland/grassland and 27% cropland with a population of
approximately 30,000.
• Clinton Lake was constructed in the late 1970’s and is a drinking water source for seven
counties and six rural water districts, serving over 100,000 people.
• The City of Lawrence pumps up to 10 million gallons of water per day from Clinton
Lake to its treatment plant.
• Clinton is the most heavily used reservoir for water supply in Kansas.
• TMDLs have been identified for fecal coliform bacteria, nutrient and biological
demand, and total suspended solids.
• Upper Wakarusa WRAPS was completed in 2003 identifying 13 water quality goals.

Publications
3 x Wakarusa Review newsletters Æ 7134 mailed

4 x educational brochures Æ 525 distributed

4 x promotional brochures & mailings Æ 5445 distributed

3 x flyers/fact sheets Æ 400 distributed

1 x website

13 x posters/displays Æ 2420 people contacted

1 x database of partners and stakeholders Æ 4787 entries

Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance 412 East 9th Street Lawrence, KS 66044 Prepared by Aimee E. Polson 9/2006
Upper Wakarusa Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy: Accomplishments 2006, cont.

Events/Projects/Field Days/Presentations
1 x From the Tap (WaterLINK, KU, World Media Corp.)
2 x Clinton Lake Cleanups (USACE) - #204 people

5 x Water festivals (Eagle’s Day, April Shower to Water Towers, KDHE) - #3000
2 x Douglas County Fair (Watershed Specialist) - #200
2 x Shawnee County Crops Tour (County Extension) - #70
2 x Shawnee County VIP Tour (SCCD)- #40
1 x Stream Assessment Workshop (StreamLink) - #20
2 x Shawnee County Crop School (SCCD, County Extension) - #70
2 x East Central No-Till Workshop - #60
1 x Beef Tour (County Extension) - #30
1 x Douglas County Livestock Association Annual Meeting - #160
1 x State Assn of Kansas Watersheds Annual Meeting presentation - #80
2 x Student gathering (StreamLink) - #45
1 x Douglas County Livestock Association Field Day - #50
3 x House parties (KVHA, Watershed Specialist) - #35
7 x Public meetings (KVHA, Watershed Specialist, SCCD) - #144
1 x Shawnee County Wheat Tour (County Extension) #30
1 x Berryton Kiwanis Club - #20
1 x Sericea Lespedeza field day (OCCD, NRCS, County Extension, FSA) - #225

Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance 412 East 9th Street Lawrence, KS 66044 Prepared by Aimee E. Polson 9/2006
Upper Wakarusa Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy: Accomplishments 2006, cont.

Best Management Practices

67 x BMP’s implemented (44 in 2005 and 23 between January and June 2006). Impacting
more than 28,425 acres. Total cost of $429,521 with $187,729 in Cost share.

3 x abandoned well pluggings

1 x access road
1 x brush mgmt
1 x conservation tillage
6 x fencing
1 x field borders
1 x filter strips
7 x grass plantings
4 x grassed waterway or grassed waterway restorations
2 x livestock feeding sites
2 x nutrient mgmt facilities
4 x onsite wastewater systems (and upgrades)
2 x pasture/hay plantings
2 x pipelines
5 x prescribed burnings
1 x pumping plants
2 x range plantings
1 x seedings of declining habitat
4 x soil tests
1 x stream bank stabilization
4 x terraces (or restorations)
2 x trash & area control
1 x tree shrub establishment
1 x watering facility
1 x well
3 x wetland construction
1 x wetland restoration
1 x wildlife-upland area mgmt
1 x windbreak establishment

Etc.
• Clinton Lake Museum Fundraisers (Martha Parker)
• 5-Star Grant / Coon Creek
• KSU Extension Grant
• Lynn & Six-Mile WRAPS (Judy Boltman)
• Bottle Sales
• Windmill Projects
• Wakarusa Music Festival

Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance 412 East 9th Street Lawrence, KS 66044 Prepared by Aimee E. Polson 9/2006
Upper Wakarusa Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy: Accomplishments 2006, cont.

new & improved partners

• Shawnee County Conservation District
• Army Corps of Engineers
• Osage County Conservation District
• Osage NRCS
• Wabaunsee Conservation District
• WaterLINK
• No-till on the Plains
• Rural Water Districts
• Wakarusa Watershed District
• Grassland Water Quality Project
• Overbrook Pride Park
• Bowersock Mills & Power Company
• Douglas County Farm Bureau
• Douglas County Livestock Assn.
• Osage County Farm Bureau
• Osage County Farm Services Agency
• Kansas Farm Bureau
• City of Lawrence
• ECO2
• State Association of Kansas Watersheds

Kaw Valley Heritage Alliance 412 East 9th Street Lawrence, KS 66044 Prepared by Aimee E. Polson 9/2006