Project Background
Wichita WRAPS is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Wichita and the Sedgwick County Conservation District as well as other federal, state, local agencies and private sector organizations to develop a watershed restoration and protection strategy for the Arkansas River watershed in the metro Wichita area. This watershed starts at approximately the Reno / Sedgwick County line above Wichita and terminates with the confluence of the Ninnescah River.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has designated segments of the Lower Arkansas River Basin, including the City of Wichita (City), on its 303(d) list of impaired waters.
In July 2009, the city hired Geotechnical Services, Inc. (GSI) to complete the “Development Phase” of the KDHE WRAPS program, described on KDHE’s website at: http://www.kswraps.org/development. This project includes meeting the goals set forth in the WRAPS Development Phase to create a community of watershed stakeholders and equip the community to effectively lead the watershed through the watershed restoration and protection strategy.
GSI will assist the city in furthering the development of a watershed leadership team to facilitate identification of water resource management issues important to watershed stakeholders, establish watershed management goals and prepare a watershed action plan which achieves identified watershed goals.
Also, it is important to note that the City of Wichita has been involved in improving the quality of the Arkansas River as it flows through the city for decades. In November 2000, the city council and city manager established two Arkansas River Committees, one for community education and communication and another as a technical task force to study and recommend actions for water quality improvement.
In September, 2000 a community-wide public meeting was held, called the Arkansas River Symposium, which attracted more than 200 participants to identify issues of concern and priorities. The members of these committees will be considered stakeholders and the issues and priorities identified from the Arkansas River Symposium will be included in this project.
For more information contact info@wichitawraps.com »