The voters of Baldwin City passed a new 0.25 percent sales tax to fund “quality of life” projects, such as hiking and biking trails. The proposition passed 290-243, or about 55 percent to 45 percent (Source: Lawrence Journal-World, 4 November 2009).
The Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy will be holding its annual meeting on Saturday, 21 November in the village of Berryton (located southeast of Topeka). A reception will begin at 11:00 a.m. in Creekside at Berryton followed by a catered lunch and a short business meeting. Cost for lunch is $10.00 and all trail advocates are invited to attend. A field trip on the adjacent Landon Nature Trail will be held following the meeting.
Doug Walker, superintendent of the Osawatomie Division of the Kanza Rail-Trails Conservancy, reports that a Horse and Buggy club spent Sunday 1 November riding the Flint Hills Nature Trail. There were over 14 buggies and riders starting in Rantoul and going both directions. Trail users enjoyed watching the lines of horses and buggies on the trail. Riders came from Alma, Topeka, Lawrence, Spring Hill, Wellsville and various locations in Miami and Johnson County. In addition to the horses there were several hikers and bicyclists on the trail that day.
The Central Kansas Conservancy provided the following news release: “Central Kansas Conservancy held a work day on the Sunflower-Santa Fe Trail east of Canton on Sunday October 25. Volunteers from Marion, Canton, McPherson and Lindsborg helped clear trees and brush and a minor amount of trash in preparation for mowing allowing the walking and mountain bike use on the trail on both sides of Canton. This area of Kansas has the convergence of the old Santa Fe wagon train trail, Chisholm cattle drive trail, the Marion and McPherson Railroad which turned into the Santa Fe Railroad and the new Sunflower Santa Fe hiking biking trail and the Prairie Trail Scenic Byway. History and beauty coming together.”
The trail follows the general route of the Santa Fe National Historic Trail.
The following is excerpted from a news release from the Kansas Wildlife Federation.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service proposes to purchase up to 1 million acres of voluntary conservation easements within an area of about 1.9 million acres of intact native Tallgrass Prairie in the Kansas Flint Hills.
It's important to understand that implementation of the voluntary easement program depends on input received from three public meetings as well as input from an Environmental Assessment. The Initiative must also be approved by the Secretary of the Interior.
The stated purpose of the proposed Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area Initiative is to help maintain the integrity of Tallgrass Prairie wildlife habitat in the Flint Hills. The fact sheet goes on to say that Tallgrass Prairie is rapidly being lost to residential and commercial development, and that such development fragments important wildlife habitat. In addition to conserving wildlife habitat, U.S. Fish & Wildlife recognizes the importance of protecting and fostering traditional cultural values and ranching economies.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service will hold three public meetings to solicit comments on the proposed creation of the Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area Initiative.
The US Fish & Wildlife Service will answer questions and receive Comments From The Public about their proposed Flint Hills Legacy Conservancy Area Initiative at the following meetings:
Alma: Monday, 30 November, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Alma Community Center 244 E 11th St.
Wichita: Tuesday, 1 December, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Great Plains Nature Center 6236 E 29th St N.
Cottonwood Falls: Wednesday, 2 December, 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Cottonwood Falls Community Building 220 Broadway
The Fish & Wildlife Service will consider all public comments in the development of an environmental assessment (EA) for establishing the Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area Initiative. One may also submit public comments to: amy_thornburg@fws.gov
Editor's commentary: To make the best program it is necessary to ensure that the taxpayer receives something for the monies given to landowners. Although most Flint Hills ranchers are good stewards of the land, not a few ranchers mismanage these lands. Biologists confirm that many ranchers:
Trail users generally like walking or biking through a natural setting. However, many trails pass by industrial or other eyesores. One way to remedy this is to screen the eyesores with hedges. American Holy, an evergreen, is excellent source for hedges. American holy is a hardy plant, native to southeast Kansas and grows well throughout the state. If planted 4-5 feet apart, it can be turned into a 12-14-foot-high hedge which blocks sight and sound and serves as excellent habitat for birds.