The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams Inc. works with people to create, protect and restore the state’s wetland sand stream resources.

Organized in 1996, the alliance is an educational public charity reaching various individuals, groups and governments to improve the wetlands and streams they own or control. It provides services through 12 local chapters that cover state, including the Eastern I-70 chapter for Douglas County.

The alliance operates by giving grants to help get demonstration projects completed and increase education for a variety of targeted audiences. It is facilitating project implementation through chapters; about $3 million worth of projects are under way. Most of the projects are completed with local farmers and ranchers to help them solve natural resource concerns, especially to reduce nonpoint source pollution and/or restore and improve critical wildlife habitat.

In 2004, the alliance anticipated completing nearly 130 projects using grant funds totaling $550,000 and nonfederal matches valued at $3.13 million, amounting to almost $4 million in projects to impact water quality and restore or improve wildlife habitat.

The alliance has been working with local conservation districts to provide staff direct contact with county landowners. The Flint Hills chapter conducted its first joint meeting with the Marion County Conservation District last summer. The alliance received several new projects as a result of the meeting, and we were able to address about 40 landowners that day.

The partnership approach between chapter members and conservation districts seems to be working well as an avenue for the alliance to interact directly with farmers and ranchers.

Other educational efforts include targeting water quality in Miami County with a grant to the conservation district. The funds were provided to help promote fencing livestock water ponds, adding a pipeline and frost-proof waterer to remove animals from the ponds and offering them a high-quality year-round source of fresh water.

The alliance also is working with state agencies to promote the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategies in watersheds above the major reservoirs. Some strategies under way include the watersheds above Clinton, Melvern, Council Grove, Marion, El Dorado, Cheney and Hillsdale. Future focus areas include John Redmond, Perry, Milford, Fall River, Smoky Hill River and Tuttle Creek watersheds.

For more information on the alliance or to find out what chapter you can affiliate with, contact the Douglas County Conservation District, or visit www.kaws.org.

— Tim Christian is state coordinator for The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams Inc.