Kansas ranks second in nation for waterway sediment reduction

Kansas ranked second in the nation for reducing sediment runoff into its waterways and sixth in the nation for reductions in phosphorus and nitrogen according to an announcement this week by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), the Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) Division of Conservation, and the Kansas Water Office (KWO).

Testing to determine the rankings was done by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The state of Kansas has implemented the Kansas Water Plan and State Water Plan Fund as part of an ongoing effort to reduce sediment and nutrients, particularly above the state's water supply reservoirs. Reduction plans have also been put in place at federal, state and local levels, and cooperation from landowners has contributed to successful reduction efforts.

KDHE and local Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) coordinators are backed by the Conservation Partnership, National Resource Conservation Service, Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, State Conservation Commission and the Division of Conservation KDA, which offers both technical and financial assistance for sediment and nutrient reduction projects throughout Kansas.

For more information on WRAPS, NPS pollution and information on KDHE programs concerning water quality restoration and protection efforts, visit www.kdheks.gov/nps. Landowners interested in obtaining financial assistance to put water quality improvement and conservation practices in place can be found at http://agriculture.ks.gov/divisions-programs/division-of-conservation/.