photo by: Douglas County

Akin Prairie is a native wildflower prairie that is permanently protected in southeastern Douglas County, spanning 16 acres.

Rural landowners interested in conserving natural spaces in Douglas County can now apply for a pilot program that will help them restrict how their land can be used or developed in the future.

Douglas County and the Kansas Land Trust are now accepting applications for the program, which will help landowners cover the costs of developing, establishing and upholding conservation easements. The easements are legal documents that landowners can voluntarily use to place restrictions on the future use of their property — restrictions that can last even after the property has been sold to a new owner.

“Permanent land conservation is a cost-effective natural solution for many contemporary issues. Protected lands may provide significant habitat for wildlife, support local food systems and land access for beginning farmers, or serve as natural or recreational spaces where community members can find respite and improve their mental and physical health,” said Kaitlin Stanley, director of the Kansas Land Trust, in a press release. “This pilot program will highlight the power of local partnerships which are especially important in a state that severely lacks designated funding for conservation.”

The program is supported by a federal grant from the American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, with up to $225,000 available.

As the Journal-World has reported, the county has been working on new ways to preserve natural spaces in its rural areas through its Open Space Plan, and Douglas County Heritage Conservation Coordinator Kaitlyn Ammerlaan said this would give landowners a tool to help join in those efforts.

“In developing the Open Space Plan, we heard from many landowners and community partners about existing barriers to conserving open space,” Ammerlaan said. “We hope that this pilot program is a helpful first step to reducing barriers and supporting the long-term protection of open spaces in Douglas County.”

Landowners who take part in the program will make an agreement with the Kansas Land Trust. The trust will accept the easement with the commitment to enforce its terms indefinitely. Once the easement is finalized and signed, it will be recorded in the county land records, and its conditions will apply to all future owners of the land.

A few requirements need to be met in order for a property to be eligible for the program. Among other things:

• The property must be in Douglas County.

• The property must meet the Kansas Land Trust’s criteria for conservation easement projects and promote the overall goals and values of the Douglas County Open Space Plan.

• The property must have natural resources, historical and cultural importance, agricultural value or recreational value.

• Protection of the property must be be a public benefit to county residents.

This partnership is one of many efforts that the county hopes to accomplish with its Open Space plan. The plan focuses on three areas, including current park improvements and enhancements, programmatic support for private land conservation and conservation of the Wakarusa River Corridor. In 2022, commissioners allocated $2.78 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to help with these initiatives.

In January, the Kansas Land Trust and Douglas County will host three public information sessions about the easement program at the following locations:

* Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St. in Lawrence, on Wednesday, Jan. 8 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

* Lecompton Community Building, 333 Elmore St. in Lecompton, on Tuesday, Jan. 14 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

* Lone Star Lake Community Building, 665 East 665 Road in Lawrence, on Thursday, Jan. 16 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

The deadline to apply is Feb. 28, 2025. The application and more information about the Douglas County Land Protection Program are located on the Kansas Land Trust’s website at www.klt.org/douglas-county-pilot-program. The projects will be selected by Mar. 31, 2025 and the goal is to have them completed by November 2026.