The State Association of Kansas Watersheds will have its 68th annual meeting in the Topeka Capitol Plaza Hotel on Jan. 22 to 23, 2019. The theme for this year’s meeting is, “The SAKW Family Coming Together for Future Success.”
Barb Oltjen, president of SAKW from Robinson, will preside over the meeting that will bring together representatives from the 76 watershed districts in Kansas, many state and federal agencies, organizations, and individuals.
The SAKW 68th annual meeting starts off with a keynote address from Col. Douglas B. Guttormsen, commander of the Kansas City District of the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Guttormsen will speak on his activities and responsibilities throughout the Kansas City District.
The second day of the conference will begin with a keynote address from Dan Sebert, the National Watershed Coalition CEO and executive director. Sebert will speak on how to celebrate the past successes of the watershed programs and then how the entities can take advantage of future opportunities. Those opportunities will be driven by future funding appropriated to the US Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Public Law—566 watershed program.
Activity reports from several agencies, Kansas Water Office, Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Division of Water Resources and Conservation, the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment will be presented throughout the conference.
A presentation by city of Manhattan employee Chad Bunger will bring attendees up to speed on the past, present and future flooding challenges surrounding Wildcat Creek as it cuts a path across the southwest section of Manhattan.
Special attention will be given to a representative from the newest organized watershed district in Kansas, Dry Creek and Clay County. Brent Rundell will relate insight on being on the steering committee that has led the charge of convincing the local people to support the newly formed watershed district.
A panel composed of William Simshauser, president of the Kansas Association of Conservation Districts, from Lakin; Rod Vorhees, chairperson of the Kansas Conservation Commission, from Fredonia; and Oltjen will discuss how these organizations can work for a common good.
Information on annual meeting registration, motel reservations, resolutions listings and the complete meeting agenda can be found on the SAKW website at www.sakw.org. Additional questions about the annual meeting can be directed to Herbert R. Graves Jr., SAKW executive director, at 785-922-6664, or by e-mail [email protected].