Expanding Dredging Will Threaten Economic Benefits of New Designation.

Great news - the Department of Interior has chosen a proposal from the state of Kansas and Governor Sam Brownback to turn the Kansas River into a 171 mile long Water Trail as one of its Top 100 conservation projects under the Americas's Great Outdoors Initiative.

This designation is meant to recognize the nation’s best potential investments in conservation. The Kansas River Water Trail would create jobs in travel, tourism and outdoor-recreation, conserve wildlife and working lands, and support a healthy and active population. The project could also qualify for federal dollars.

Expanding dredging on the Kansas River threatens these benefits. The current proposal before the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would increase dredging from 2.2 million tons to 3.2 million tons, an increase of almost 50%.

Public comments are due to the USACE  by tomorrow – email yours to kale.e.horton@usace.army.mil.

Friends of the Kaw has helped Junction City, Ogden, St. George, Wamego, Topeka, DeSoto, Edwardsville, and Kansas City, Kansas, add a total of eleven access ramps to the Kansas River. We are currently working with Belvue and Shawnee on two more. We are delighted that this Department of Interior designation could bring additional funding for signage and improvements  (like restrooms and picnic tables) at the river access parks.

The Kansas River is the longest prairie river in the nation, and as a sand bed river, it is a unique natural resource. If we develop this water trail right, it has the potential to provide something new and appealing for kayakers and canoers in the region and the nation. This project is also a great economic development opportunity.

However, the Kansas River faces multiple threats, ranging from pollution by agricultural chemical run-off to in-river sand and gravel dredging. The Kansas River Water Trail is among the best potential conservation investments in the nation. Unfortunately, dredging will only harm this investment, not maximize it.

Email your comments on dredging by this Friday, December 9, 2011.  It’s easy - see instructions and a sample letter.   

Personal comments are always preferred but just making a comment is the most important action – you can even add personal comments to the sample letter. Make it your holiday gift to the Kaw!