Beginning in 2002, Lake Region Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) compiled a Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) for the Marais des Cygnes (MDC) Basin, the first basin-wide WRAPS Project. The plan brought together community leaders to discuss the basin's current issues, future needs and implementation strategies. Residents identified the basin's priority water resources, determined watershed threats and defined opportunities for restoration during the preparation of the plan.
     The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) approved the WRAPS final draft in 2003, which includes the latest geographic watershed maps, reports and reference materials, all designed to help residents better understand water quality issues of the MDC Basin. In addition, the plan includes information on future water management to preserve and improve quality of life for the people choosing to live in the MDC Basin.
     The Marais des Cygnes Forestry Initiative identified the following goal: "To restore and protect water quality in the Marais des Cygnes Basin by restoring, protecting and enhancing riparian woodland and associated vegetation along identified high priority Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) streams."
     Partnerships are focused among residents, landowners, businesses, municipalities and local, State and Federal agencies to implement best management practices within the MDC Basin. Specific areas include: promoting involvement of the MDC Basin's TMDL implementation process and working with area entities on issues surrounding storm water and source water protection. Key community members and volunteers will work with staff to implement basin protection measures as identified by the WRAPS and directed by the basin's TMDL report.
     The MDC Riparian Forestry Initiative continues to assist landowners in the basin to plant and manage trees along streams to improve water quality. The Forestry Initiative focuses on forestry best management practices for restoring and protecting water quality. Installing forest buffers along riparian areas decreases stream bank erosion, provides filtration of pollutants entering waterways and reduces sediment entering the streams.
     The Initiative includes two primary targets: restoration and education. To read more about the Marais des Cygnes Forestry Initiative and it's restoration and education projects, click on the link below to view the 2002-2008 Progress Report.




 


 

What is the Marais des Cygnes Basin?

The Marais des Cygnes Basin is a vital natural resource, providing drinking water and other domestic uses including municipal and industrial uses, recreational opportunities, agricultural benefits, wildlife habitats and other benefits to thousands of residents in portions of 13 counties in east central Kansas.  The basin is characterized by increasing development expanding from the Kansas City area; growing recreational demands and municipal needs; a robust agriculture comprised of feed grain production, grazing lands, and confined animal feeding operations, especially dairy and beef cattle; and critical wildlife habitat, including the Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, a natural wetland providing habitat for migratory waterfowl.

The 1990 total population for the Marais des Cygnes Basin in Kansas was 110,023. The Kansas Water Office projects an increase to 177,000 by 2040. Similar growth is taking place in Missouri. The Marais des Cygnes Basin includes four HUC-8 subwatersheds: Upper Marais des Cygnes (10290101), Lower Marais des Cygnes (10290102), Little Osage (10290103) and Marmaton (10290104).

Watershed planning has occurred throughout this basin. During 2002, several local Kansas entities conducted TMDL educational efforts. The Lake Region RC&D and K-State Research and Extension offices co-sponsored public tours and a workshop to develop a Watershed Restoration Action Plan. During those sessions, residents identified the basin’s water resources, determined watershed threats and defined opportunities for restoration. A watershed protection plan was completed for Melvern Lake’s 223,360-acre watershed. A Hillsdale Watershed Resource Plan, for the 92,000-acre watershed, has also been completed.

Identified impairments in the basin’s streams include: dissolved oxygen, nutrient loading and fecal coliform bacteria. Low dissolved oxygen levels typically coincide with an abundance of algae and are associated with heavy organic matter and nutrients. Sources of fecal coliform bacteria found in the streams are human and warm-blooded animal waste. The impairments in the basin’s lakes include eutrophication, excessive biomass and sediment.





 

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