Wichita launches a new project to clean up the Arkansas

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. City of Wichita launches WRAPS project The City of Wichita Environmental Services Department is launching a new project aimed at improving the water quality of the Arkansas River and its tributaries that flow through the city. The Wichita Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) will help identify water quality priorities and actions. The initiative is funded by a $50,000 grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) as part of its Kansas Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy. KDHE has assigned a high priority for restoration of the river basin in the Wichita area.Wichita WRAPS will focus on restoring the Lower Arkansas River Basin watershed. “We’ve known for a long time that the Lower Arkansas River Basin does not meet surface water quality standards and have taken actions for improvements”, said Kay Johnson, Environmental Services Director. “However, this grant permits us to engage citizens in determining the interests and needs of the community for watershed protection. We’d also like to find partners to help implement water quality improvement actions.” The project will begin with a developmental phase to identify community interest, followed by three additional phases of assessment, planning and implementation. The City will use the grant funds to retain Geotechnical Services, Inc., (GSI) to gather citizen input and hold informational community meetings. The project also includes launching a Web site for posting local Arkansas River water quality information and an online survey. For more information about Wichita WRAPS or upcoming community meetings, visit www.wichitawraps.org . E-mail questions and comments can be submitted to info@wichitawraps.org. Project funded by an EPA Section 319 grant Could You Be a Stakeholder? Anyone with an interest in the watershed's resources is a stakeholder. In reality, everyone who lives in a watershed is a stakeholder in the restoration and protection of that watershed. Examples of stakeholders include urban and rural residents; local, state or federal government agencies; elected officials; agricultural producers; recreational users and wildlife enthusiasts. If you are interested in participating as a stakeholder fill out the stakeholder information form and someone will contact you within 48 hours. Take the Stakeholder Survey click here You're receiving this newsletter because you signed up for the Wichita WRAPS e-mail list or you have attended a meeting about the Lower Arkansas River watershed. Unsubscribe JLMiller@wichita.gov from this list. Our mailing address is: Wichita WRAPS 4503 East 47th Street South Wichita, KS 67210 Add us to your address book Copyright (C) 2009 Wichita WRAPS All rights reserved. Forward this email to a friend Update your profile