Question 1

What is WRAPS?

Accepted Answer

Watershed Restoration and Protection Strategy (WRAPS) is a planning and management framework that engages stakeholders within a particular watershed in a process to:

Identify watershed restoration and protection needs and opportunitiesEstablish management goals for the watershed communityCreate a cost-effective action plan to achieve goalsImplement the action plan

WRAPS represents a shift from "top-down" government intervention in watershed issues, to a more citizen-stakeholder approach, in which funds, guidance and technical assistance are provided for stakeholders to reach consensus on issues of relevance in their watershed, and then design and execute a plan to address those issues.

Question 2

Where did WRAPS come from?

Accepted Answer

The term "WRAPS" was coined by KDHE in response to the 1998 Clean Water Action Plan issued by the Clinton Administration. The Clean Water Action Plan directed the state environmental agency and the State Conservationist of each state to complete a "unified watershed assessment". Once the assessment was completed, states were then directed to develop "watershed restoration action strategies" (WRAS). Kansas' has long contended that restoration of damages is only part of the need and that action to protect water is also necessary, hence the term WRAPS. As used by KDHE, WRAPS referred to the development of action plans to address nonpoint source pollution sources on a watershed basis. WRAPS projects were initiated by watershed stakeholders and received financial support from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to address Total Maximum Daily Loads and related water quality concerns.

In 2003, a review of the Basin Sections of the Kansas Water Plan showed that watershed restoration and protection was a priority issue in most of the river basins of Kansas, and an interagency work group was appointed to develop a Water Issue Strategic Plan. The work group found that Kansas and the federal government have many different programs and activities that address related water resource management issues. The work group determined that much more could be accomplished through a collaborative watershed planning process that addressed not only water quality/pollution issues but the entire spectrum of watershed water resources needs.

The WRAPS initiative is the result of a long history of Kansas' water resource management programs and activities. Watershed planning and management is not a new concept in Kansas. Since the 1950's, watershed districts have been developing and implementing watershed general plans to address flooding and erosion concerns with federal and state assistance. The Kansas Department of Agriculture, Division of Water Resources has been initiating the development of subbasin (i.e. watershed) management plans since the early 1990's to address ground and surface water quantity issues in selected areas of western Kansas. The current WRAPS initiative is intended to address priority issues identified in the basin sections of the Kansas Water Plan through the development and implementation of WRAPS in priority watersheds.

Question 3

How can I get involved?

Accepted Answer

There are many ways to contribute your voice and skills to help protect and restore your watershed. Visit the WRAPS Project directory to determine if there is a WRAPS in your area. Then contact the sponsoring organization to ask how you can participate in the WRAPS process.

Question 4

Is there a WRAPS project already started in my area?

Accepted Answer

Please visit the WRAPS Map for the most current listing of WRAPS Projects.

Question 5

What will a WRAPS document contain?

Accepted Answer

Although individual WRAPS documents will vary somewhat in format and content, the general components of a WRAPS document should include:

Watershed assessment information describing the natural resource conditions and associated challenges/opportunitiesSummary of stakeholder involvement (stakeholder recruitment, leadership team, public involvement, etc.)Watershed goals for the areaActions recommended to achieve goals (includes implementation, monitoring and evaluation)Identification of technical and financial resources needed to implement the recommended actionsSupportive documentation (statements of adoption, agency approvals and memorandums of understanding)

Name	Post Type
K-State Pollution Prevention Institute	service_provider
K-State PRIDE Program, Healthy Ecosystems-Healthy Communities	service_provider
K-State Research & Extension - Office of Local Government	service_provider
K-State Research & Extension - Watershed Modeling and Assessment	service_provider
HydroGeo Designs LLC.	service_provider
K-State Watershed Specialists	service_provider
Habitat Architects, LLC	service_provider
Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS)	service_provider
Greenhorne & O'Mara	service_provider
Kansas Association for Conservation and Environmental Education (KACEE)	service_provider
Kansas Biological Survey	service_provider
Kansas Forest Service	service_provider
Kansas Geological Survey	service_provider
Kansas Rural Center	service_provider
Geotechnical Services, Inc.	service_provider
Kansas Rural Water Association	service_provider
Kansas State Conservation Commission	service_provider
Kansas StreamLink Program	service_provider
Friends Of the Kaw	service_provider
Kansas WaterLINK	service_provider
Flint Hills Resource Conservation and Development Council	service_provider
Lake Region RC&D - Ecotone Forestry	service_provider
Marais des Cygnes WRAPS Grant Livestock Project	service_provider
Marshlands Environmental Consulting	service_provider
Environmental Finance Center	service_provider
Natural Systems, LLC	service_provider
No-till on the Plains, Inc.	service_provider
Norman Ecological Consulting, LLC	service_provider
E.A.R.T.H.	service_provider
Northeast Kansas Environmental Services	service_provider
Rangeland and Natural Area Services	service_provider
State Association of Kansas Watersheds (SAKW)	service_provider
See-Kan RC	service_provider
Citizen Science - KSU Extension	service_provider
SES, Inc.	service_provider
Shockey Consulting Services, LLC	service_provider
Terracon Consultants, Inc.	service_provider
Chloeta Fire, LLC	service_provider
The Cadmus Group, Inc.	service_provider
The Groundwater Foundation	service_provider
Burns and McDonnell Engineering Company	service_provider
US Army Corps of Engineers	service_provider
Water Resources Solutions, LLC	service_provider
Aqua Tech Engineering Consultants	service_provider
Watershed Institute, Inc.	service_provider
Watershed Land Trust, Inc.	service_provider
Western Kansas WRAPS Coordination	service_provider
Agricultural Engineering Associates	service_provider
Upper Wakarusa Watershed WRAPS	project_listing
Twin Lakes WRAPS	project_listing
Tuttle Creek Lake WRAPS	project_listing
Toronto Lake WRAPS	project_listing
Milford Lake WRAPS	project_listing
Middle Kansas WRAPS	project_listing
Marion Reservoir WRAPS	project_listing
Lower Kansas WRAPS	project_listing
Little Arkansas River WRAPS	project_listing
Kanopolis Lake (Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River) WRAPS	project_listing
KACD - WRAPS Partnership	project_listing
John Redmond WRAPS	project_listing
Hillsdale WRAPS	project_listing
Fall River WRAPS	project_listing
Adaptive Ecosystems, Inc.	service_provider
Delaware River WRAPS	project_listing
Cheney Lake WRAPS	project_listing

Kansas WRAPS

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