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Federal and state officials express a great deal of concern for the loss of native wetlands. In Kansas, KCPL worked with state and local organizations to develop a wetland near Gardner, Kan.
KCPL began constructing the wetland in 1995. The 55-acre site includes 23.6 acres of wetlands in three cells. Our partners in developing the wetland are the City of Gardner, Kansas Wildlife and Parks, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Johnson County Conservation District, Hillsdale Water Quality Project and Connley Ranch. Area students study the dynamics of wetlands at this site. Kansas Wildlife and Parks and the Natural Resource Conservation Service use the area as a demonstration wetland, to document habitat development and study water quality. The Hillsdale Water Quality Project wants to learn if the wetland acts as a filter to remove certain elements that contribute to water-quality problems in Hillsdale Lake, a water-supply reservoir. Hillsdale received a National Watershed Management Award and was featured on a nationwide broadcast for its work on the wetland. Connley Ranch, a private developer, supports development of the
wetland in exchange for a site where the existing wetland was disturbed.
Soil with seed from the disturbed site was transported to the new
area to accelerate species diversity. Velma Kelly, a former schoolteacher, read about the wetland partnership and donated funds to build an observation blind there in memory of her late husband, an outdoor enthusiast. Two Eagle Scout projects resulted in foot bridges to carry visitors through the site. All partners look forward to continued development of the wetland.
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