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Want to Know More? Follow Link Below...
Marais des Cygnes
Basin Riparian Forestry Initiative
What is the Marais des Cygnes Basin?
The Marais des Cygnes Basin is a vital
natural resource, providing drinking water and other domestic uses including
municipal and industrial uses, recreational opportunities, agricultural
benefits, wildlife habitats and other benefits to thousands of residents in
portions of 13 counties in east central Kansas. The basin is
characterized by increasing development expanding from the Kansas City area;
growing recreational demands and municipal needs; a robust agriculture
comprised of feed grain production, grazing lands, and confined animal
feeding operations, especially dairy and beef cattle; and critical wildlife
habitat, including the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, a natural wetland
providing habitat for migratory waterfowl.
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Marais des Cygnes Basin Map |
The 1990 total population for the Marais des Cygnes
Basin in Kansas was 110,023. The Kansas Water Office projects an increase to
177,000 by 2040. Similar growth is taking place in Missouri. The Marais des
Cygnes Basin includes four HUC-8 subwatersheds: Upper Marais des Cygnes
(10290101), Lower Marais des Cygnes (10290102), Little Osage (10290103) and
Marmaton (10290104).
Watershed planning has occurred throughout this basin.
During 2002, several local Kansas entities conducted TMDL educational
efforts. The Lake Region RC&D and K-State Research and Extension offices
co-sponsored public tours and a workshop to develop a Watershed Restoration
Action Plan. During those sessions, residents identified the basin’s water
resources, determined watershed threats and defined opportunities for
restoration. A watershed protection plan was completed for Melvern Lake’s
223,360-acre watershed. A Hillsdale Watershed Resource Plan, for the
92,000-acre watershed, has also been completed.
Identified impairments in the basin’s streams include:
dissolved oxygen, nutrient loading and fecal coliform bacteria. Low
dissolved oxygen levels typically coincide with an abundance of algae and
are associated with heavy organic matter and nutrients. Sources of fecal
coliform bacteria found in the streams are human and warm-blooded animal
waste. The impairments in the basin’s lakes include eutrophication,
excessive biomass and sediment.
To Request BAC Information Online:
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Lake Region Resource
Conservation and Development
Marais des Cygnes Watershed
Riparian Initiative
Forester Works Throughout
Marais des Cygnes Basin
 Ryan Neises, pictured
left, began working June 7 for the
Kansas Forest Service, with an office in the Lake Region RC&D
Office as the new Marais des Cygnes Basin Forester.
Neises will provide
technical forestry services and one-on-one contact to landowners through an
EPA 319 Clean Water Act grant administered through the Kansas Department of
Health and Environment, sponsored by the Lake Region RC&D.
The Kansas Forest
Service, Lake Region RC&D and the Hillsdale Water Quality Project are
working on this joint effort to improve water quality in the Marais des
Cygnes River Basin by implementing best management practices long streams
and increasing vegetation and forest areas along streambanks.
For more information contact the Project at the below
numbers and email, or contact Ryan Neises directly at 785-242-2073 at
the Lake Region RC&D office in Ottawa.
Watershed Forester Biography
RYAN D NEISES
Watershed Forester
Ottawa, KS 66067
Phone: 785-242-2073
Fax: 785-242-5568
Ryan Neises grew up in Independence, Kan. He attended Kansas State
University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Park Resource
Management. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Forestry from the
University of Missouri.
Before coming back to Kansas, he worked for Missouri Department of
Conservation, U.S. Forest Service and Table Rock State Park in Missouri. He
also worked two seasons with Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.
Neises is now an employee of the Lake Region RC&D in Ottawa, Kansas
serving the watershed locally. |
Lake Region RC&D, Hillsdale Water Quality Project and
Marais des Cygnes Basin Advisory Committee partner on basin education
Initiative.
Lake Region Resource
Conservation and Development
Marais des Cygnes Watershed Water Quality Education Initiative
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For More Information
Email us at: hwqp@hwqp.org
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Marais des Cygnes
Basin Advisory Committee
What is a Basin Advisory Committee?
Who are the
Members of the Marais des Cygnes BAC?
BAC Calendar
Marais des Cygnes
Basin
Education Initiative
Marais des Cygnes Basin Advisory Committee to host activities
through second Information and Education grant.
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Marais des Cygnes Basin Advisory Committee Presented:
Paradigm Shift: Status Quo Is Changing
A Proactive Approach to Water Quality and Supply Summit
The Event was held March 21, 2006. More than
85 local water suppliers and basin leaders attended.
 
 
Covering Marais des Cygnes Basin Topics |
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Kansas Forest Service
Website:
http://www.kansasforests.org/ |
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Previous Workshops, Tours; Agendas and Information: |
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Additional Marais des Cygnes Basin Riparian Initiative
Forestry Tours and Workshops for 2008-2009 To Be Arranged
Landowners Interested in Forestry Managment or Hosting a Public Meeting
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Please Contact Ryan Neises, Watershed Forester,
at 785-242-2073
Franklin County Direct Seeding Workshop Held Nov. 8, 2007
**Click HERE
for Event Brochure!**
Franklin County
Timber Harvest Workshop
Held Feb. 23
Timber harvests, the marketing timber for
harvesting and selling of those trees are money-making propositions.
Because Kansas’ forestlands often are next to
streams and rivers, incorrect tree harvesting can damage other benefits. One of
the biggest problems is the negative effect on water quality and clarity, said
Ryan Neises, Kansas Forest Service watershed forester.
“Often called riparian woodlands, trees in these
areas stabilize streambanks and minimize flood damage,” Neises said. “They also
provide a buffer, or filter, for runoff sediments and pollutants.”
To help Kansas landowners and loggers address these
issues, Marais des Cygnes Watershed Riparian Initiative will host a half-day
Timber Harvest Workshop, Feb. 23, from 1-4 PM at Brian Shurtleff’s property in
Franklin County. The workshop will demonstrate how to properly plan harvest
operations and apply best management practices (BMPs) to reduce impacts on
streams and water quality.
Gary Naughton, consultant forester, will be on hand
to discuss how to evaluate your timber resource and if a sale is the proper
management practice how to go through the process. The contracted logger Tom
Stottlemire will be in the process of harvesting the timber and will demonstrate
the logging process. This may include felling a tree, bucking it into a log and
skid to landing site. “Harvesting the mature trees and damaged trees and leaving
smaller trees to continue to grow,” Stottlemire said about how he selects trees
to cut.
Dave Bruton, Kansas Forest Service Utilization and
Marketing Specialist, will demonstrate a portable sawmill operation and show the
different characteristics of a dissected tree. Ryan Neises, Watershed Forester,
will start off the session by explaining what is involved with best management
practices (BMPs) in riparian areas and the impacts on not using BMPs. Planning
harvest operations and applying BMPs can reduce these impacts on streams and
water quality. Neises will also discuss what follow up timber improvements
should be done to provide for future quality timber.
If the ground conditions are too wet the workshop will be postponed to March 9th
at same time and location. Shurtleff’s property is located south of Ottawa on
Hwy 59 to Haskell Road, east to Montana Road then south ¼ mile with entrance on
east side of road. Please dress appropriately for field and weather conditions.
The Marais des Cygnes Watershed Riparian Initiative is funded through an
Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 Clean Water Act Nonpoint Source
Pollution grant administered by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The grant sponsor is Lake Region Resource Conservation and Development Council.
The Kansas Forest Service and Hillsdale Water Quality Project are Initiative
partners.
The Marais des Cygnes Watershed Riparian Initiative will also be partnering with
Kansas Forest Products Association by hosting a timber tax seminar from 9 a.m.
to 3 p.m., Feb. 28, in Emporia. The timber tax seminar is a short course for the
person who owns woodlands and conducts forestry operations. The instructor, Dr.
Debbie Gaddis is Associate Extension Professor at Mississippi State University
Department of Forestry specializing in forest taxation issues. Tax professionals
also would benefit from her expertise. Seminar registration is $35 per person or
$50 per 2 people of same family. Questions about seminar please contact Charles
Barden at 785-532-1444.
For more information on either event, contact
Ryan Neises, watershed forester, at 785-242-2073 or kansasforests.org under the calendar of events.
FALL FORESTRY FIELD DAY HELD
Marais des Cygnes Basin Riparian Forestry Initiative Co-Sponsored
Fall Forestry
Field Day with Kansas Forest Service
Oct. 5, 2007 in Bourbon County
Click Here for Brochure and Additional Information
Forestry Tree Planting Tour Held in Linn County May 9, 2006
Click Here for
More Information and Map to Site
Press Release
Bourbon County Direct Seeding
Workshop Nov. 17, 2005
Featured John Olds, One-Stop Forestry from Iowa
John Olds graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in fish and
wildlife management.
He has worked for county conservation boards in Iowa and northern Minnesota,
and is now co-owner of One Stop Forestry. In the last seven years, One Stop
Forestry has seeded nearly 1,500 acres.
Contact Olds at One Stop Forestry, 101 E Greene Street, Postville, IA 52162;
(563) 864-3586.
Workshop Brochure
Press Release:
The Marais des
Cygnes River Basin will soon have more trees along streams following the 9
a.m.- 4 p.m., Nov. 17, Direct Seeding Workshop in Bourbon County.
The workshop will teach and inspire Marais des Cygnes River Basin landowners
to complete direct seeding of trees along riparian corridors, also known as
stream sides.
Ryan Neises, watershed forester, said he is looking forward to working with
John Olds, One Stop Forestry, Inc., consultant from Iowa.
"Olds is a leader in direct seeding methods," Neises said, "We look
forward to bringing his experience and expertise to the basin to share with
local landowners and contractors."
Olds and Kansas Forest Service Rural Forester Bob Atchison will be on-hand
to lead indoor and outdoors direct seeding demonstrations. In addition, Ryan
Neises, Kansas Forest Service watershed forester, will introduce landowners
to the cost-share funds available through the Marais des Cygnes Riparian
Forestry Initiative and background on the grant-funded program in the
basin.
Olds, a 12-year forestry expert, said landowners can expect to learn the
pros and cons of direct seeding from his workshop demonstrations.
“Landowners will learn how to plant seeds versus seedlings,” Olds said. “We
will stress the need for site preparation and weed control along with what
we have learned over the years.”
The workshop begins with participants singing in at 9 a.m., Nov. 17, at the
Consolidated Rural Water District No. 2 of Bourbon
County, located at
715 215th St. in
Fort Scott, Kan., with an
indoor direct seeding session presented by Olds and Atchison
with lunch following on-site. Following lunch, workshop attendees will
travel to a site near Mapleton, Kan., to participate in an outdoor session
on direct seeding led by Olds.
The all-day Direct Seeding Workshop will take place at Bill Danley’s
property.
"The property has been in the Danley family ever since my granddaddy
traveled to Kansas back in 1865," Danley said. "I have taken care of the
land since 1928.
"The demonstration site will preserve the property in a good state for
wildlife habitat and flood control.”
Participants who register early, postmarked before Nov. 10, costs is only
$10. Registration postmarked after Nov. 10 and day of workshop is $13.
Registration covers workshop materials, lunch and refreshments.
All participants are requested to dress for the weather,
since the workshop will take place rain or shine.
For more information or to register for the event, make
a check or money order payable to the Lake Region RC&D, 107 East 23rd
St., Suite 4, Ottawa, KS 66067. Persons with special accommodations are
asked to state these at the time of registration.
The Direct Seeding Workshop is made possible through an
Environmental Protection Agency Section 319 Clean Water Act Nonpoint Source
Pollution grant administered through the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment. The grant sponsor is Lake Region Resource Conservation and
Development Council. Kansas Forest Service and Hillsdale Water Quality
Project are Initiative partners. Contributions for the workshop also include
donations and representation from Kansas State Tree Farm Committee, Kansas
Forest Productions Association and Kansas Walnut Council. Event partners
also include: One Stop Forestry, Inc., Marais des Cygnes Basin Advisory
Committee, K-State Research and Extension Office, Bourbon County
Conservation District and Bourbon County Natural Resource and Conservation
Service and Consolidated Rural Water District No. 2 of Bourbon County.
For more information, contact Ryan Neises, watershed forester,
at 785-242-2073 or via email
at
rneises@oznet.ksu.edu. |
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100 participate in Recent
Anderson County Woodland Management Tour, Nov. 10, 2005
Workshop
Brochure |
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Douglas County Timber Stand Improvement Workshop
Oct. 5, 2005 - about 40 Basin Landowners Participate!
Workshop Brochure |
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Walnut and Pecan Tree Grafting
Workshop
Held May 6, 2005
Workshop Brochure
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Fall Forestry
Tour Held Nov. 9, 2004
in Osage County!
Click here for the agenda and map.
  
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First
Fall Tour Held October 28, 2004 More Than 80 Attend! The first
forestry tour turned out to be a brilliant success! numerous landowners and
local and state supporters of the initiative attended.
 Purpose: To inform landowners of the benefits of
forestry practices and promote best management practices in priority watersheds.
Benefits of good management not only impact individual landowners, but the
surrounding communities with enhanced water quality. The tour will show a
variety of forestry practices including tree plantings and forest stand
improvements that accomplish the different landowner objectives. The overall
focus of the tour is to educate landowners how to improve water quality through
forestry practices and provide future economic returns.
Schedule: 9:00 AM- Leave from Miami County
Fairgrounds in Paola
The first site is a 6 year old tree planting located on Bob Creason’s
property. The trees planted are nut producing species like red oak, walnut, and
pecan. The landowner objective was to prevent soil erosion while improving
wildlife habitat and nut production. The Watershed Forester Ryan Neises will
discuss the economic and water quality benefits of timber stand improvements.
The second site is a riparian forest buffer located on Jim Lee’s property.
The landowner objective was to increase bank stabilization. The Extension
Forester Charles Barden will discuss the conservation benefits of riparian
woodlands. The NRCS Buffer Coordinator Becky Hendrickson will discuss cost-share
and specifications for establishing riparian forest buffers.
The third site is a pecan grove located on Leland Prothe’s
property. The landowner objective is pecan production and establishment with the
aid of grafting. Leland will explain the economic benefits of pecan production
and grafting different varieties of pecan species. The Research and Extension
Specialist Bill Reid will discuss pecan grafting and nut production.
Lunch was provided for pre-registered participants.
The fourth site is a tree planting located on Brad Carter’s
property. The landowner objective is in pecan production. The Watershed Forester
Ryan Neises will discuss the importance of competition control and compare among
the previous sites visited. The use of grafting will be discussed and benefits
of grafting for nut production compared to timber production.
Return to Fairgrounds.
Sponsors: Lake Region RC&D Council, Kansas Forest Service
and
Hillsdale Water Quality Project, with the following partners: Miami County Conservation District, Natural
Resource Conservation Service, and K-State Research & Extension.
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