Scholarship Winners are:

John Aden Grathwohl, Hiawatha High School nominated by Wolf River WS # 66. He plans to attend Northwest Missouri State University and major in Agricultural Science.

Cade Gossen, Peabody-Burns High School nominated by Doyle Creek WS # 86. Cade plans to attend Kansas State University and major in Agricultural Economics or Animal Science.

The Spring Operation and Maintenance Workshop was held on April 29 - May 1, 2025 at the Decatur Conference Center - Decatur, Texas

The workshop included technical presentations and in-field demonstrations.

You can view the fact sheets at:

https://watershedcoalition.org/fact-sheets/

Watch videos of the January 15, 2025 Webinar: NRCS/Project Sponsor Responsibilities now available on the NWC YouTube Channel:National Watershed Coalition - YouTube

NWC News Release- Organization Changes 2025

Click here to view our 2025 newsletter and the membership form to become a NWC member!

2025 Newsletter and Membership Form

Sign Up Here

Kansas Department of Agriculture, Manhattan, KS

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Watershed and Drainage Districts are encouraged to apply for FY 2026 State Cost-Share Assistance for existing flood control dam rehabilitations. 

The deadline for state cost-share assistance for rehabilitation is June 30, 2025.

PL-566 structures will not be considered for state cost-share assistance as they could benefit from federal rehabilitation cost-share.

Time and weather take their tolls on flood control dams.  Rehabilitation/repair work includes, but is not limited to:

*Deteriorated components

*Hydrologic (Lake & Structure) inadequacies

*Hazard change due to downstream development

*Addition of municipal water supply

*Protection of sensitive riparian areas

*Addition of recreational features

*Restoration of stream systems

*Limiting future development downstream

*Decommissioning

*Breach Inundation Mapping

Permits/clearances must be acquired prior to any rehabilitation work. 

Applications can be obtained from the Division of Conservation website:

https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1778/638457507631770000

https://www.agriculture.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/1772/638457507611300000

Or

Contact Hakim Saadi at (785) 307-9161 or hakim.saadi@ks.gov

Finch Theatre, 122 E Lincoln Ave, Lincoln, KS-September 2 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Fisher Community Center, 201 East Iowa, Hiawatha, KS-September 16 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

Butler County Conservation District, 2503 Enterprise Ave, El Dorado, KS- November 3 - 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM

More details to come.

https://kswraps.org/kansas-healthy-watersheds-project/discussed this morning.

Unfortunately, some of the Youtube links were taking disabled, I have included the more important one for the topic. If you see something you are interested in on the list but can’t open it, email me and I will see what I can do.  There are 4 things I want to highlight: the Technical Report for the KS Healthy Watersheds project, two Youtube videos one from Union of Concerned Scientists (presenter who is now an assistant professor for the ag extension and research department at the University of Nebraska) “Soils to Sponges” https://youtu.be/5Xv6GRcZwgwand one from The Noble Foundation “How Does Soil Health Prevent Flooding and Drought? Rainfall Simulator “ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xv6GRcZwgw. These is also a double side fact sheet Healthy-Soil-makes-Healthy-Watersheds-both-pages-12-14-2022-wrapsweb.pdf. One can also find the above web link to the project on the front and my email address at the bottom.

Scott L. Satterthwaite

Kansas Department of Health and Environment

Bureau of Environmental Field Services, Watershed Management Section

1000 S.W. Jackson St., Suite 430

Topeka, KS 66612-1367

EMAIL- Scott.Satterthwaite@ks.gov

Phone (785) 296-5573

Mobile (785) 480-9837

FAX- 785-559-4258

Dear Watershed Districts and Officers,

In order to afford one final opportunity for public input prior to the Kansas Water Authority’ final review and FY2026 budget recommendations, the Governor’s strategic planning team has created a summarized virtual consult meeting website about the current state water planning & funding process.

You may access the webinar and related materials here : https://burnsmcd.mysocialpinpoint.com/kansas-water-planning/home .

A proposed 10-year legislative funding proposal will result from this strategic outreach effort which will certainly involve concepts about streamlining State Water Plan Fund program delivery and outcome-based performance expectations for related organizations. In my opinion, it is very important that watershed districts have a strong presence in this conversation.

As always, we look forward to working with you in the future, and please write or call if …

Steve

Steven K. Frost, Executive Director

Kansas Department of Agriculture