photo by: Contributed/Baker University

The Baker University Wetlands.

Douglas County’s new drafted plan for the Wakarusa River Valley seeks to balance conservation with growth, all while expanding recreation and access to the river corridor.

The Wakarusa River Valley Vision Plan was created to “proactively plan for conservation” of the river corridor, establishing a guided framework for balancing conservation values with the needs of the growing community. The project was led by Douglas County alongside consultants Biohabitats, Alta Design and Hoxie Collective.

The river valley has multiple characteristics that make it a priority for open space in Douglas County, according to the county’s larger plan to conserve and prioritize open spaces. However, it is also one of the areas that is most pressured by new developments.

During a work session on Wednesday, Douglas County commissioners will review the findings of the plan and hear from the consultants and partners on the project. The county commissioners are not scheduled to vote on the plan this week, but following the presentation, county staff and the consultants will seek additional feedback before presenting the final draft at a later date.

The research for the plan was completed over the last 18 months, where the consultants met with local governments, partner agencies, students and educators from Haskell Indian Nations University, conservation organizations, advocacy groups and other community members at multiple events.

The near-final plan is divided into four chapters – planning, ecology, living heritage and recreation – each with outlined goals. There are also a series of potential pilot projects identified in the plan, providing examples of how strategies to achieving goals could be put into practice.

• The plan proposes using property around the Wakarusa River Wastewater Treatment Plant as a model for riparian buffer management. The work could include removing trash and debris, retaining native trees, controlling invasive species, adding native trees, shrubs and grasses and potentially using “bioengineering” techniques to stabilize eroding banks.

• Another pilot focuses on the Haskell and Baker University Wetlands and Naismith Channel. The plan says Naismith Channel currently carries stormwater from impervious areas west of the wetlands directly toward the Wakarusa River, bypassing some of the wetlands’ ability to store and filter water. The proposed pilot would look at reconnecting ditches and waterways to the historic floodplain and potentially redirecting some Naismith Channel flows into the wetlands.

• The plan also proposes a project to mimic more natural flows in the Wakarusa River. This would involve working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and The Nature Conservancy to examine whether Clinton Lake dam releases could have more seasonal variability. The releases could potentially include spring pulses beneficial to fish and freshwater mussels, while gradual reductions in flows could reduce abrupt water-level changes that contribute to bank instability.

• One pilot would consolidate research about the river valley into a collaborative research program involving nearby universities – such as the University of Kansas, Haskell Indian Nations University and Baker University Wetlands Discovery Center. The research could combine ecological monitoring, historical research, Indigenous knowledge and community perspectives to create a more complete understanding of how the valley has changed.

• Another concept is a six-mile Lower Loop Extension at Baker University Wetlands. The idea is to build on the existing gravel trail system and connect the wetlands and Wakarusa River to neighborhoods north of K-10 through connections at East 1350 Road, Louisiana Street and East 1500 Road. The extension could provide an all-ages, all-abilities route and become part of a larger trail system.

• A related idea is creating a Wakarusa “blueway” – essentially a water-based recreation route connecting public access points. The plan identifies potential segments including Clinton Lake to East 1150 Road, Clinton Lake to Highway 59, Highway 59 to the Baker wetlands area, Eudora’s future public park to the Eudora boat ramp, and the boat ramp to the Kansas River.

Many of the potential pilots and other actions identified in the plan are dependent on whether or not the Douglas County commissioners, other governments, institutions, landowners, agencies and other community partners decide to implement them.

While there are many conservation and recreational goals established in the plan, it also acknowledges that the area has been the topic for future growth and development.

The plan does not call for stopping development throughout the Wakarusa Valley, instead, it says Douglas County, Lawrence and Eudora should coordinate their land-use policies so future growth can occur while protecting floodplains, wetlands, agricultural land and other sensitive areas.

The plan identifies Eudora’s priority growth area along the Wakarusa River as an area where development is likely to occur. It says much of that area is privately owned, and some property owners have indicated they intend to subdivide and sell their land for residential development.

In addition, there are references to the proposed and controversial Wakarusa Drive extension project, as the Journal-World reported. The plan describes the project as an opportunity to coordinate transportation improvements with river access, trails and conservation.

The plan’s main point is that if the extension moves forward, its planning could incorporate public access to the river and connections to existing or future trails.

A majority of the Wakarusa River borders thousands of acres of private lands, the plan said. By Kansas law, private property rights extend over the streambed to the middle of the river. Therefore, it is essential that any steps toward a vision for a connected and protected river valley include landowner collaboration.

“The stewardship decisions made by these landowners influence water quality, habitat connectivity, flood resilience, scenic character, and recreational opportunities throughout the valley,” the plan said. “As development pressures increase, successful implementation of the vision will depend on voluntary partnerships that respect private property rights while supporting shared conservation goals.”

As the Journal-World reported, some of this work has already been done with the county’s pilot Land Protection Program in partnership with the Kansas Land Trust. The voluntary program established conservation easements for willing landowners interested in permanently conserving their property.

The plan offers the idea of sustaining a capital fund to continue the Land Protection Program – with the Wakarusa River Valley being a priority area – and partnering with municipal, agency, and nonprofit partners on grant proposals to bring in additional funding for conservation in the valley.

The plan ultimately envisions the Wakarusa River corridor as more than just a natural resource, and it has the potential to serve as a recreational and community gathering space.

“(T)his plan recognizes the Wakarusa River as both an ecological resource and a community asset,” the plan said. “Through thoughtful planning and collaboration, the corridor can become a place where people connect with nature, connect with one another, and enjoy lasting recreational and environmental benefits for generations to come.”

IN OTHER BUSINESS, COMMISSIONERS WILL:

• Consider approving the Monarch CARES – which stands for Crisis and Respite Extended Stays – pilot program at the Lawrence Community Shelter. As the Journal-World reported, county commissioners discussed the potential pilot during a work session last week.

The pilot will use up to three of the “tiny homes” in the Monarch Village, located behind the shelter, in the last three months of 2026 to offer crisis respite and extended stay options for individuals with complex behavioral and medical needs following a health crisis.

The total cost to support the pilot for the rest of 2026 would not exceed $28,500, and any additional costs to provide health services would not exceed $8,000. If the project is successful and sustainable, it has the potential to continue into 2027.

• Consider approving a site plan for an electrical substation expansion on approximately 1.94 acres at 1645 E. 400 Road. The improvements would include a new 160-by-70-foot secured work area immediately north of the existing substation area. The area is intended to give utility crews space to access, service and maintain the existing substation safely.

• Consider renewing a conditional use permit for Midnight Farm, located at 2084 N. 600 Road. Midnight Farm is operated by Community Living Opportunities to provide residential and therapeutic services in a rural setting to persons with developmental disabilities.’

The County Commission will hold a work session at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Douglas County Commission meeting room at 1100 Massachusetts St. The business meeting will follow at 5:30 p.m. The meeting will also be available via Zoom.