Office of Sen. Moran
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) held his 15th annual Conservation Tour last week, which included visits across four Kansas counties – Sheridan, Logan, Thomas and Sherman – and was joined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resource Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Acting Chief Kevin Norton, NRCS Kansas State Conservationist Karen Woodrich and Kansas Farm Service Agency Executive Director David Schemm.
SEE RELATED CONTENT: Moran hosted a private dinner in Hays for tour participants.
“Kansans understand the importance of conserving natural resources like water and grasslands, because their livelihoods and communities depend on these resources for raising cattle, growing crops and attracting tourism to western Kansas,” said Sen. Moran. “I’m grateful Acting Chief Kevin Norton could join me on my 15th Annual Conservation Tour to see the great partnerships between local communities, the state and federal government that are helping protect the natural resources that are vital to the long-term success of communities in rural Kansas.”
“It is an honor to join Senator Moran on his 15th Annual Conservation Tour,” said Acting Chief Norton. “It has been exciting to see first-hand the conservation partnership come together under local leadership and providing sustainable solutions for water conservation of the Ogallala Aquifer, working grassland preservation, technology adoption, and incorporating playa lakes restoration into working farms. NRCS will take the information gleaned and continue to strengthen our locally-led, locally delivered conservation programs.”
“This year’s tour again was exceptional,” said State Conservationist Woodrich. “To see the level of commitment that our Kansas land and water stewards have is always inspiring. USDA-NRCS appreciates being able to offer alternative solutions to the natural resource issues our farmers and ranchers face every day. We are honored to be a partner in the cooperative community conservation efforts demonstrated in NW Kansas on Senator Moran’s tour.”
Sen. Moran’s 15th Annual Conservation Tour stops
- Hosted by the Hoxie Feed Yard, the tour stopped in Sheridan County to learn more about the Sheridan 6 Local Enhanced Management Area (LEMA) that works to conserve groundwater for agriculture use. Local producers from six townships came together to cap water use in order to preserve the viability of irrigated agriculture and extend the use of the water.
- Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park, which is owned by The Nature Conservancy in Kansas (TNC) and located in Oakley, partnered with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to make portions of the 332–acre area park open to the public, showcasing the chalk rock formations.
- Smoky Valley Ranch borders Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park and is owned and operated by TNC. The ranch has collaborated with USDA’s NRCS for more than 20 years to protect the grassland through grazing management plans such as stocking rates and grazing times.
- Located just outside of Colby, the Ducks Unlimited Wetland Reserve Easement Project consists of 34 acres of land currently under restoration with the help of the NRCS. This project will provide a habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species, improve water quality by filtering sediments and chemicals, reduce flooding and recharge groundwater.
- The Water Technology Farm at Northwest Technical College in Goodland is a public-private partnership with the college, students and local farmers that allows for the exploration and testing of water irrigation technology that could increase the efficiency of water use in agriculture.