Wetland Learners
Wetlands are a central part to the health of watersheds. StreamLink has been working with students on restoration and protection projects for a number of years.
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Wakarusa Wetland Learners
Recently KVHA worked with several partners to launch a project called “Wetland Learners”.
Field trips are provided for 6th graders in the Lawrence area. The trips are facilitated community and partner volunteers as well as Wetland Learner Interns.
Post-secondary students in a range of disciplines are recruited for internships.
A $4,000 grant from the Elizabeth Schultz Environmental Foundation through the Douglas County Community Foundation has made it possible to launch this project.
There’s more pictures of Wetland Learner events at flickr.
The Wetland Learner website is http://www.wetlandlearners.org
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Coon Creek on the Wakarusa River/Clinton Lake
Coon Creek Background: In 2005 we received a Five Star Grant to incorporate community volunteers in the creation and restoration of a wetland area in the Wakarusa watershed above Clinton Lake. Slide show on the Coon Creek Wetland Construction
Early in May 2007 these hearty Webelos planted 75 trees out at a very wet Coon Creek wetland area. This is the first spring since the wetland development phase was completed – we’re excited to see the cells full of water!
This clip is from the final report submitted in the fall of 2006.
During the course of this project 3 acres of wetlands were created and 100 feet of buffers were restored. Overall 15 acres of wetlands were improved. This project directly engaged 10 partners and directly involved over 200 people. The Coon Creek wetland project is a part of a broader cooperative initiative to protect the Wakarusa watershed. Over 70 people representing diverse stakeholder groups were involved with watershed protection efforts in the last 18 months.
The project has been heavily promoted through professional and community presentations, by partners, and through various newsletters sent to watershed residents, water educators, and KVHA members. We conservatively estimate 5,000 people have received information about the project.
The residual effects of this project include additional habitat restoration, stronger community wetland education, more citizen-driven stewardship endeavors, and future academic pursuits.
There’s more pictures of Coon Creek at flickr
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Stormwater Detention “Wetland”
A snow-filled channel through a freshly constructed stormwater retention “wetland”. The mock wetlands are east of the Haskell campus and northeast of the Baker/Haskell Wakarusa Wetlands. Haskell Indian Nations University Ecology students are using the area to study stormwater outflows from different types of wetland areas. A major interest is how to integrate green infrastructure with environmental needs such as habitat restoration. The wetland slows stormwater from the north and then drains south into a tributary of the Wakarusa River.
A Rails-to-Trails walking trail runs along the east side of the wetland.
Kansas StreamLink 
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