Neosho River Basin:Kansas Water Office

Neosho River Basin

The Neosho Basin covers approximately 6,300 square miles and encompasses all or parts of 18 counties in southeastern and east central Kansas. The area is drained by the Neosho River and its tributaries which also drain parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. The Neosho Basin includes HUCS 11070210 through 11070207 in Kansas.

Map NEO BAC Membership

*No.*	*Member Name*	Representative Category	Term Expires
1.	*Chair* - James Triplett, Pittsburg, KS	Fish and Wildlife (CC)	6/30/2015
2.	*Vice Chair* - Peggy Blackman, Marion, KS	WRAPS (BSC)	6/30/2013
3.	Robert Hammond, New Strawn, KS	Industry/Commerce (CC)	6/30/2013
4.	Carl Hayes, Baxter Springs, KS	At Large Public (CC)	6/30/2015
5.	Steve Kubler, Chanute, KS	Municipal Public Water Supply (CC)	6/30/2013
6.	Gerald Menefee, Emporia, KS	Water Assurance District (BSC)	6/30/2015
7.	Donald Turner, Baxter Springs, KS	Other Public Water Supplier (BSC)	6/30/2015
8.	James Mayo, Elmdale, KS	Conservation/Environment (CC)	6/30/2013
9.	Pat Sauble, Cedar Point, KS	Agriculture (CC)	6/30/2013
10.	Vacant	Watershed District (BSC)	6/30/2015
11.	Vacant	Recreation (CC)	6/30/2013

Neosho BAC Message from Jim Triplett - Chairperson

Sometime back in the mid-90’s, I met with Margaret Fast at a coffee shop in Lawrence to talk about where the Basin Advisory Committees were headed and what might be done to make them more effective. I am not sure how it happened that we were both there at the same time, but my guess was a meeting of some sort. At the time, I was Chair of the Neosho Basin Advisory Committee and Chair of the Council of Basin Chairs. Margaret had been the Basin Planner for the Neosho Basin for much of her time with the Kansas Water Office to that point, but had taken on additional duties within the agency.

We had a shared concern that the Basin Planning Process was hitting a plateau, and was struggling with how to get projects on the ground in some of the basins, especially as it related to water quality issues. Western BAC’s benefitted from the Groundwater Management Districts. The more eastern areas had Watershed Districts, but they were focused on a pretty narrow set of issues, mostly lake construction and were running out of funding. The BAC’s covered large areas and the membership was spread all over by design. It was difficult for many of the BAC’s to develop, plan and implement specific projects at the local level. When it did happen, it was usually the result of one member of the BAC taking a leadership role with local stakeholders to get the job done. In some cases, these were Conservation Districts and in others they worked as subcommittees of the BAC, and that is the way it went for almost a decade.

That changed in 2004, when the Natural Resources Subcabinet formally recognized the Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) program. The administration and oversight of the program was given to KDHE, Bureau of Water, Watershed Management Division. Funding was identified from EPA 319 pass through funds at KDHE and from the State Water Plan Fund. As noted on the WRAPS website home page, “The WRAPS program is unique because the natural resource agencies of Kansas, supported by the Environmental Protection Agency, are seeking citizen and stakeholder input on how to best manage and protect our watersheds. Through WRAPS, local, state and federal program resources are being streamlined to do just that.”

The rest is history. There are now 25 active WRAPS groups, with 7 of them in the Neosho Basin. I like to refer to us as “fully wrapped”. These projects are exactly the elements Margaret and I saw lacking from the process those many years ago. This is where the work gets done and is where the owners of the watershed can take ownership of the problems and solutions in the watershed. For more information on WRAPS, go to http://www.kswraps.org/.

u Neosho Basin Advisory Committee Membership Application

Information Sheet - Attending a KWA Meeting as a Representative of your BAC

Current Projects in the Neosho Basin

Ozark Aquifer - The Division of Water Resources’ decision concerning the moratorium on new water rights in the Ozark Aquifer - KS Department of Agriculture - Ozark Plateau Aquifers; USGS Water Availability Report; USGS Water Quality Report.
ARRA Funding Project for Stream and Riparian Restoration in the Upper Neosho River Basin
Poultry Litter - The Middle Neosho WRAPS is working with producers to ensure proper management of the poultry litter, including the possibility of setting up future workshops.
Zebra Mussels - were confirmed to be established in Marion Reservoir in 2009.

Past Meetings & Materials

April 17, 2012 - NEO BAC Meeting, 9:00 am, Saddle Rock Cafe, 15 South 6th Street, Council Grove, KS (Lunch on your own after the meeting) - Meeting Materials
January 25-26, 2012 - KWA - Topeka
November 3-4, 2011 - KWA, Lawrence
October 25, 2011 - 8:30 a.m., NEO BAC Conference Call, KWO Small Conference Room, Topeka
October 20, 2011 - 1:00 p.m., Schermerhorn Park, Galena, KS - Meeting Materials
August 11 -12, 2011 - KWA, Lyons
June 23, 2011 - NEO BAC Meeting, 1:00 p.m., USFWS Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge, Hartford, KS - Meeting Materials
March 3, 2011 - Neosho BAC Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Emporia Water Treatment Plant, 2910 West 24th Avenue, Emporia, Kansas - Meeting Materials

Questions? - Contact Bobbi.Wendt@kwo.ks.gov - KWO Neosho Basin Planner - Bobbi is an Environmental Scientist and Water Resource Planner. She grew up in Auburn, KS and continues to live there today. Her background is in environmental studies and water rights. She has worked for the Kansas Water Office for 3 years and was previously employed in the Topeka Field Office, Division of Water Resources.

Upcoming Meetings & Materials

June 7, 2012 - NEO BAC Meeting, 1:00 p.m., Coffey County Courthouse, Basement Meeting Room, 110 S. 6th Street, Burlington, KS

Water News for the BAC Members

Meeting Notes

Basin Related Links