photo by: Journal-World

The west side of the Douglas County Courthouse, 1100 Massachusetts St.

Douglas County commissioners will hear about three conservation projects currently underway in the county — ranging from a forest corridor with recreational opportunities to prairie preservation and urban farming.

On Wednesday, county commissioners will receive an update on a partnership between Douglas County and the Kansas Land Trust, which has identified three key voluntary land conservation easement projects as part of the county’s Open Space Plan. Conservation easement projects are when landowners voluntarily place restrictions on how their property will be used or developed in the future. The easements can create restrictions that last even after the property has been sold to a new owner.

Project One involves a collaboration among five neighboring landowners who collectively manage 400 acres of oak-hickory forest and 1.34 miles of streambank in southwest Douglas County. Together, they envision creating a conservation corridor that offers recreational opportunities. Their plan includes developing public trails and designated low-impact tent camping areas on part of the property.

The second project centers on a private landowner with remnant prairie near Clinton Lake. Upon the landowner’s passing, the property will be transferred to a conservation-focused organization for purposes of public education and low-impact recreation. Located near other protected areas, including Clinton Lake, the property will serve as a key wildlife corridor and could support future recreational trail connections, especially as residential development expands west of K-10.

The final project supports multiple community and environmental goals, aligning with Douglas County’s Climate Action Plan, Food Systems Plan, Open Space Plan, and the KLT’s Strategic Conservation Plan. According to the memo, KLT received an application from an urban farmer who seeks to permanently protect their land for future agricultural use, with a focus on supporting new and beginning farmers.

Overall, sixteen landowners had expressed interest in voluntary land conservation, and the KLT received eight applications from eligible landowners, the memo said. Of those applications, these three projects were selected. According to the memo, the first and second projects are well underway. Project 3 is in its early stages as KLT works to identify appropriate partners who are well-suited to support the vision of this landowner as an urban farm for new and beginning farmers.

The pilot program is funded by $250,000 of the $2.78 million in American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, funding allocated by the County Commission in 2022 for open space planning and related goals, including enhancing current parks, supporting private land conservation programs and preserving the Wakarusa River Corridor. The use of ARPA funds is in compliance with federal guidelines, a memo in the agenda said, and must be fully expended by December 2026.

In other business, county commissioners will:

• Consider appointing Adam Y. Zentner as special counsel in any and all criminal investigations and prosecutions involving Justin Robert Royer due to conflicts of interests. This was requested by Douglas County District Attorney Dakota Loomis, who previously served as Royer’s defense attorney. Loomis and staff estimated that the cost would not exceed $25,000, the funds were available in the District Attorney’s Office budget, and Zentner had agreed to take the case along with the negotiated rate, a memo in the agenda said.

In May, a similar request was made for Zentner to be appointed to special counsel for the State vs. Justin Royer case, but the memo in the agenda said this appointment is related to a new case. The Journal-World reached out to the DA’s office for more information, but the DA’s office did not respond.

The County Commission’s business meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday in the Douglas County Commission meeting room at 1100 Massachusetts St. The meeting will also be available on Zoom.