Topeka ? A state transportation official Monday said that even though Kansas didn’t have the money to complete the South Lawrence Trafficway, it could start on preliminary work by moving parts of the wetlands that American Indians say are sacred.

Sally Howard, chief counsel for the Kansas Department of Transportation, said the agency “would not rule out taking steps in the future, such as wetland mitigation.”

Construction of the proposed $110 million road, which would connect U.S. Highway 59 south of Lawrence with Kansas Highway 10 east of town, would destroy some of the Baker Wetlands near Haskell Indian Nations University.

To offset this destruction, the road project would include the creation of new wetlands by pulling “plugs” of the Baker Wetlands and relocating them away from the proposed road, Howard said.

Last week, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a trafficway route along a 32nd Street alignment.

But state officials said funding for the road was not included in the transportation agency’s comprehensive program and noted that because of revenue shortfalls it was unlikely money would be available for several years.

Even so, Howard said that in order to preserve time limits in the Corps permits, the transportation agency might start on wetlands mitigation.

She provided no further details and said there was no specific funding at the agency to begin wetlands work.

Still, her statements and the Corps’ decision generated protest Monday from defenders of the wetlands.

Corps selects route for SLT (12-13-03) 6News video: South Lawrence trafficway plans finalized Army Corps of Engineers press release on SLT alignment Past stories

Nick Luna, president of the Wetlands Preservation Organization, said the wetlands provided spiritual and educational sustenance to American Indians.

“That is our church. It’s a living, breathing ecosystem-slash-classroom,” Luna said.

David Prager, an attorney representing the Prairie Band Potawatomi, said the tribe would file a lawsuit to try to force the Corps to reconsider a route farther south along a 42nd Street alignment.

The opposing sides of the issue testified before the Joint Committee on State-Tribal Relations. Chairwoman Lana Oleen, a Republican state senator from Manhattan, said she wanted to keep the committee up-to-date on the issue.

State Sen. Mark Buhler, R-Lawrence, attended the meeting, although he is not a member of the committee.

Buhler, a former Douglas County commissioner who has pushed for the trafficway’s completion, said he supported the 32nd Street route, and that he was “hopeful” the state transportation agency could adjust its budget to come up with money for the project.