Thursday, September 25th, 6pm LAWERENCE KS: Abe & Jakes Landing, SE 6th Street

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/12/2014 -- Have you stood at the confluence of the Kansas & Missouri Rivers? Did you know the Kansas (Kaw) River is 170 miles long and provides recreation and drinking water to many in our area? For these reasons it is important to keep it healthy.

We have a full time advocate making sure to protect it, Friends of the Kaw. But we need your help to continue to do so. With issues such as dredging, runoff, industrial pollution, and stormwater runoff constantly threatening the health of the ecosystem, support is now critical.

You can support Friends of the Kaw by attending a Catfish Fry on Thursday, September 25th at Abe & Jake's on the river in Lawrence. Tickets may be purchased online for $10 in advance or for $12 at the door. Enjoy a catfish dinner, a live band, a great exhibit on the Kansas Riverkings, and lots of fun and conversation about the Kaw. Support our work, and have a fun evening!

PRESS: To set up an interview with the Kansas Riverkeeper, call 785-312-7200.

ABOUT Friends of the Kaw
Friends of the Kaw (FOK) serves the Kansas River, known locally as the Kaw. The Kaw is the largest prairie watershed in the world. The river originates at the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers and runs more than 170 miles to meet the Missouri in northeast Kansas. The Kaw provides drinking water for 800,000 people. Its main uses are industrial: irrigation; water for three coal-fired power plants (including two of the nation's filthiest); municipal wastewater; industrial discharges; and commercial sand and gravel mining.

For more than twenty years, our water-focused friends group has been the only grassroots conservation group dedicated to protecting the Kaw. Our members come from rural, urban, and suburban areas and represent canoers, kayakers, fisherfolk, hunters, birdwatchers, and locals who love the river. For more information check out http://kansasriver.org

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/05/2014 -- Empowering communities throughout the Tijuana River Watershed, improving water quality in Maine's Casco Bay, being a leading advocate for rivers in Kansas, giving back as a tireless volunteer river trail steward in Illinois, and developing national showcases of urban renewal in Rhode Island are just a few of the accomplishments of an extraordinary group of individuals who have dedicated themselves to protecting our most vital natural resource—water.

Since 2002, sixty-two individuals from around the U.S and world have been honored with this prestigious award.

Laura Calwell, Friends of the Kaw (KS) For over 20 years, Laura has worked tirelessly as both a volunteer and as Kansas Riverkeeper for Friends of the Kaw to promote public awareness of the Kansas River, an outstanding natural resource and valuable drinking water source in the state of Kansas. Each year she paddles the entire 170 mile Kansas River to check on its health and condition. Laura has been instrumental in moving sand dredging operations out of the river, and led the effort to institute the Kansas River Inventory, the first comprehensive, publicly available inventory documenting the entire river system's on-going conditions, structures, animal and plant life and recreational opportunities.

"I'm very honored to be recognized as a 2014 River Hero by River Network. I'm totally "in love" with the Kansas River, it's many sand bars, tree lined banks and wildlife viewing opportunities. The Kaw is now a Nation Water Trail and has over twenty access points so Kansans can enjoy an awesome paddling experience in their own back yard."

The four other exceptional 2014 River Heroes are:

Margarita Diaz, Proyecto Fronterizo de Educacion Ambiental A.C. (Mexico) Margarita has become the leading community advocate for water quality protection in the coastal community of Playas de Tijuana and throughout Baja California. Over the past 13 years she has mobilized more than 35,000 volunteers, fostering "awareness through action"; coordinated the removal of nearly 200 cubic tons of trash; trained over 400 youth leaders as "coastal stewards"; and become a guiding citizen in coordinating efforts to protect not just the region's beaches, but all streams, creeks and waterways in the Tijuana River Watershed.

Joe Payne, Casco Baykeeper/Friends of Casco Bay (ME) Joe is one of the first seven Waterkeepers and a founder of Waterkeeper Alliance. For more than 20 years, Joe has been the eyes, ears and voice of Casco Bay, working to protect the environmental health of Maine's premier bay. He has built an impressive and sustainable operation with outstanding water quality monitoring programs and science-based advocacy, helping to get the bay declared a federally-designated "no discharge area". Joe even led the charge to relocate 35,000 lobsters to save them during dredging in the Portland harbor.

Michael Taylor, Illinois Water Trailkeeper (IL) The Little Calumet River runs through the south side of Chicago and its southern suburbs. As a volunteer trail steward and promoter of paddling, Michael reaches thousands of people each year, getting them actively involved with cleanup and restoration projects, expanding water trail access and training volunteers. He is helping local high students learn how to kayak, and at a recent cleanup made sure every kid who attended had a canoe or kayak for the event – an opportunity most would never experience if it weren't for Michael's tireless efforts. All of this happens when he is not at his regular full-time job.

Jane Sherman, Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (RI) Jane founded the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council in 1998 to expand river revitalization initiatives to the entire river system, and involve every community. Her vision and hard work have completely altered the quality of life in one of the most economically challenged communities in Rhode Island. Among many accomplishments, she led the charge to convert a 12-acre dilapidated textile mill complex into Riverside Park, now one of the most vibrant, active parks in the city, and helped leverage funding to create the Woonasquatucket River Greenway, a $12 million project that is a national showcase of urban renewal.

"We couldn't be more impressed than we are by the important work these individuals and their organizations are doing to make a meaningful impact on water resources around the nation", said Nicole Silk, River Network President. "Their dedication to - and love of rivers and water- is what inspires us all."

In addition, each year River Network celebrates one individual's accomplishments with the James R. Compton River Achievement Award. This year's honoree is Rebecca Wodder (Washington, DC). Rebecca is a nationally known environmental leader who has devoted her career to conservation causes, beginning with the first Earth Day in 1970, and as a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson (WI) on environmental and energy issues. Most recently she served at the U.S. Department of the Interior as Senior Advisor to Secretary Ken Salazar, advancing river and watershed objectives. Rebecca was nominated by President Obama for the post of Assistant Secretary of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. She previously served as President of American Rivers from 1995-2011.

River Network hosted the 2014 River Heroes Award winners at a banquet during this year's River Rally conference in Pittsburgh, PA May 30-June 2.

For details about the River Hero program, visit http://www.riverheroes.org. Nominations are now open for 2015 River Heroes.

About River Network
River Network is empowering a national watershed protection movement that includes more than 2,000 local, state and regional grassroots organizations whose primary mission is to protect and restore rivers and other waters that sustain the health of our country. For twenty-five years, River Network has worked closely with watershed protection groups from coast to coast – building the capacity of state and local organizations, assisting people grappling with water and environmental health problems, protecting habitat for fish and wildlife, developing blue cities and reducing our country's use of water and energy. Visit us online at http://www.rivernetwork.org or on Facebook.

About Friends of the Kaw
Friends of the Kaw is a grassroots, non-profit, conservation organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas (Kaw) River for present and future generations. Friends of the Kaw sponsors the Kansas Riverkeeper, a non-governmental advocate working as the eyes, ears and voice of the Kansas River. Our goals are to fight pollution and in-river sand dredging, increase public river access, and educate the public and government stakeholders on water quality issues. Visit us online at kansasriver.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contacts:
Laura Calwell, Friends of the Kaw
riverkeeper@kansasriver.org; (785) 312 7200

Matt Burke, River Network
mburke@rivernetwork.org; (503) 784-0977

RIVER NETWORK ANNOUNCES 2014 RIVER HEROES AWARDS
TO CELEBRATE THOSE WHO PROTECT AND CARE FOR WATERWAYS

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Free student tickets, raffle prizes, great films, and a great cause!

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/09/2013 -- Join us this Friday for Friends of the Kaw's fifth annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival! We will be showing the 10 best films from this touring festival, providing a chance to win some great raffle items, and special offers for new members to join.

Among the items that be raffled off includes a 9 foot Emoticon Charger, sit-on-top kayak and Cannon paddle(donated by KC Paddler and Brad Loveless, a $500 value). Raffle tickets are $5 for current and new FOK members!

Students and area science teachers can attend this event for free! Just RSVP in advance to Mike at mjrawitch@gmail.com. For more information, and to watch a few film trailers, visit our website at

Special thanks go out to the Westar Green Team for sponsoring student and teacher tickets. Other local sponsors include the Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club, Kansas City Paddler, Kansas Canoe and Kayak Associations, LawrenceHits.com, Stroke Technique for the Triathlete, Kansas Wildlife Foundation, Coleman, Brad Loveless, and the Kansas Chapter of the Sierra Club.

About Friends of the Kaw
Friends of the Kaw is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the Kansas River for all generations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lawrence, KS (KS) -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/30/2013 -- Friends of the Kaw (FOK), a conservation group focused on protecting the Kansas River, is anxiously awaiting the public notice on a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) on Kansas River sand and gravel dredging. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is expected to release the notice in early October.

FOK is concerned about elements of the ongoing environmental assessment process. The Corps is not carrying out the assessment itself. Instead, the dredgers are paying a private consultant to provide a report to serve as the basis for the Corps' draft EA.

"Through the NEPA process, the Corps of Engineers has an obligation to be skeptical about the conclusions of the dredgers' hired consultants," said Mark Dugan, FOK's attorney. "The Corps needs to exercise independent judgment, and it should not simply define down what environmental impact is 'significant.' As a permitting agency, the Corps' job is to protect and manage waters, not to protect the industry it's regulating."

"We are concerned that the dredgers paying for the draft report injects a troubling note into what otherwise appears to be an open, transparent, and impartial process that protects the public interest," said Laura Calwell, Kansas Riverkeeper and FOK executive director.

Once the Corps issues the draft EA, they will then hold a thirty-day public comment period. They will also hold an open house for public reactions to the EA before developing a final version.

However, if the Corps concludes in a "Finding of No Significant Impact" as a result of the EA process, then the Corps will not pursue an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The problem is that the lack of an EIS would clear the way for a massive increase in private dredging on the Kaw. The Corps is expected to issue their final decision on the November 2011 proposal for five private dredging companies to increase dredging on the Kaw by close to 50%, from 2.2 million tons to 3.2 million tons by the end of the year.

"The EA is key to the dredging decision," said Calwell. "Yet the EA is at risk of being compromised."

More Background

Another wrinkle in the process was the May 2013 revocation of three permits east of Lawrence because of unacceptable bed degradation. Unacceptable bed degradation is classified by the Army Corps as a drop in the riverbed of more than 2' in five years.

During the 1990s, dredging operations in the fifteen mile stretch of the Kaw around De Soto were asked to leave the river because of unacceptable bed degradation. In 2003, three dredging operations in the Kaw through the city of Topeka were removed from the river, again because of unacceptable bed degradation. None of the removed dredge operations have returned to the river.

Longtime residents of Kansas City, KS have confirmed that sand bars were common place on the Kaw through Kansas City, KS. For the past twenty years there have been NO sand bars east of the K7 bridge over the Kaw to the confluence of the Kaw with the Missouri River – a twenty mile stretch of the river.

The river has been dredged for over 100 years through Kansas City, KS and currently six of the eight dredge permits are located in this reach. Only two of the permits are active. The other two active dredging permits are just below Bowersock Dam in Lawrence and above the Seward Access Ramp in east Topeka.

Beginning in 2012 Friends of the Kaw received a grant from the Water Protection Network to work with the Kansas State University Rivers Systems Research Group to monitor and study dredge operations on the river. In year one of the project the active dredge hole east of Topeka in the Kansas River was surveyed on three separate occasions using an ADCP (Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler), an instrument that uses Doppler waves to sense the water and river bottom.

The first survey, in October 2012, established that the dredge hole depth was approximately 33 feet deeper than the nearby channel of the Kansas River The average river water depth at the time of this survey was only about three feet.

After a dry winter with no flows capable of transporting large quantities of sediment, the dredge site was resurveyed on June 16th, 2013. This repeat survey revealed a substantially larger dredge hole. It appeared that the dredging operation had extended laterally to mine directly into a large sand bar.

Although the dredge hole expanded in area, the maximum depth remained the same.

The current position held by the dredging industry is that the river will eventually just fill the holes dredged out in the mining process. However, the K-State study is indicating that dredge holes migrate both up and down river and permanently damage the bed of the river. Dr. Melinda Daniels, now of the Stroud Water Research Center but still directing the K- State study, has stated:

In-channel mining dredges dig holes deeper than any natural pool, causing bed and bank erosion both up and downstream. The native fish populations eventually wither and disappear. Although still a beautiful and wild river in its upper reaches, the Kansas River is on this sad trajectory. The Kansas River is on the brink of a permanent change – a change in state from an already impacted, yet remarkably resilient and still wild river, to a controlled ditch.

Friends of the Kaw (FOK) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas River for future generations. Check out our website at www.kansasriver.org.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Hundreds of dollars in door prizes, inspirational films, and a good time!

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/26/2013 -- On October 11th Friends of the Kaw will host our fifth annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival. We have brought together the 10 best films from this touring festival, combined them with a chance to win some great raffle items, and provided special offers for new members to join. Many Audubon members have enjoyed this event in past years, and it is sure to be another great year for outdoor enthusiasts and conservationists alike. Join us as we climb Mount Kenya in search of water with documentarian Pete McBride, ski the back country in British Colombia, fish for King Salmon, and much more.

The film program includes spectacular stories of conservation, climate change, kayaking, and more! Some of this year's incredible raffle prizes include a plethora of camping gear, tickets to the Mother Earth News Fair, and a five hundred dollar nine foot Emoticon Charger Kayak and Cannon paddle. If you are lucky you will be able to enjoy the films, and come away with a haul of useful booty.

This year is even more special due to the generosity of Westar Energy, who has agreed to sponsor all student and science teacher tickets for this event.

Friends of the Kaw is a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to protecting and preserving the Kansas River for all generations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/13/2013 -- Do you love catfish? Join Friends of the Kaw for a crisp fall evening of live music, delicious catfish, and libations - on the banks of the Kansas (or Kaw) River. While you are having a good time, you will also be supporting a great cause; protecting the Kaw River!

Also enjoy river art showcasing local artists, Kansas Riverkings artifacts, food prepared by Terrebone Cafe and live music by Brody Buster Band, a great harmonica driven blues band. You can learn more about the beautiful Kaw River, and how you can get involved. Also meet new friends while enjoying a catfish dinner.

Just $10 includes entrance and food!

Sponsors for the event are: Abe and Jakes, Bowersock Hydropower, Cromwell Solar, Westar Energy and O'Malley Beverage.

The Kansas River (known locally as the Kaw) begins at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers near Junction City and flows 170 miles to Kansas City, where it joins the Missouri River. The Kaw drains almost the entire northern half of Kansas, as well as part of Nebraska and Colorado (53,000 square miles in all), and is the longest prairie based river in the world.

About Friends of the Kaw
Friends of the Kaw is a 501 c 3, grassroots conservation organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas(Kaw) River for present and future generations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival comes to Lawrence!

Lawrence, KS -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/06/2013 -- The Wild & Scenic Film Festival is a collection of films from the annual festival held the third week of January in Nevada City, CA which is now its 11th year! Wild & Scenic focuses on films which speak to the environmental concerns and celebrations of our planet. "Films featured at Wild & Scenic give people a sense of place," says Tour Manager, Lori Van Laanen. "In our busy lives, it's easy to get disconnected from our role in the global ecosystem. When we realize that the change we need in this world begins with us we can start making a difference. Come watch and see!"

The Wild & Scenic Film Festival was started by the watershed advocacy group, the South Yuba River Citizens League (SYRCL) in 2003. The festival's namesake is in celebration of SYRCL's landmark victory to receive "Wild & Scenic" status for 39 miles of the South Yuba River in 1999. The 4-day event features over 100 award-winning films and welcomes over 100 guest speakers, celebrities, and activists who bring a human face to the environmental movement. The home festival kicks-off the national tour to over 100 communities nationwide allowing SYRCL to share their success as an environmental group with others organizations. It is building a network of grassroots organizations connected by a common goal of using film to inspire activism. With the support of their National Partners: Patagonia, CLIF Bar, Sierra Nevada Brewing and Mother Jones, the festival can reach an even larger audience in tour venues coast to coast.

Featured at the tour venue in Lawrence are several fun films including "Yosemite Nature Notes-Sky Islands", a film that shows the Sierra Nevada's extremely isolated "sky islands" in pristine detail. Other films show everything from waterfall kayaking to skiing in remote Alaska, and much more! The festival is a natural extension of Friends of the Kaw's work to inspire people to act on behalf of the environment. This year we are very excited to offer FREE tickets to science teachers and students. Friends of the Kaw is the only grassroots environmental group that works to protect and preserve the Kansas River, and events like this one allow us to reach out into the community and show them what an amazing thing the Kansas River is.

About Friends of the Kaw
Friends of the Kaw, (http://www.kansasriver.org), based in Lawrence, KS, is a non-profit, grassroots environmental organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas River for all generations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Friends of the Kaw is a 501(c)3, grassroots conservation organization whose mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas (Kaw) River for present and future generations.

Lawrence, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 07/26/2013 -- Stormwater pollution, likely caused from an overwhelmed combined sewer system, has been contributing to raw sewage and other pollutants ending up in the Kansas River. The situation was recently brought to Friends of the Kaw's attention by a Strawberry Hill Resident that frequents Kaw Point and fishes the Kaw regularly. In his account the resident describes the pollution with devastating accuracy.

"When I reached the bank, I saw the usual trash, Styrofoam, plastic etc. floating on this 'slick'. Then I saw a feminine pad, and lots of toilet paper.

This disgusting first hand account is all to familiar. The EPA, the Unified Government of Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri have been working on long term solutions to this problem. Despite this action, the current situation is still far from favorable, and has been a problem for many years.

It is important more people know the water they are drinking comes from polluted waterways. It seems ridiculous that approximately 2.5 billion gallons' of sewage from Kansas City (Karen Dillon, Kansas City Star) ends up in the river each year.

"The water they are drinking, and giving their children to drink, came from a waterway containing used toilet paper, used feminine products, used condoms, and all the other stuff that is flushed down a toilet including 2.5 billion gallons of raw sewage each year."

All of us should be conscious of how our actions impact the environment, and how our actions collectively impact our community. Please report pollution in your community, and do what you can to prevent it from impacting our river.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

Lawrence, KS -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/21/2013 -- "We have five fabulous chefs competing this year and have sold this event out in the past so don't wait too long to buy your tickets" says Laura Calwell, Kansas Riverkeeper for Friends of the Kaw. The River City Cook Off will start at 6:00pm at Abe and Jake's Landing at 8 E. 6th St., Lawrence, KS 66044 located on the south bank of the Kaw in downtown Lawrence. Once you step in the door you will have the opportunity to taste the chef's sumptuous creations and vote on your favorite. One of the following fine chefs will be awarded the title of The River City Cook-Off Champion: Garth Atchison from Wheatfields Bakery & Cafe (904 Vermont Street); Angel Alvarez from Tortas Jalisco (534 Frontier) Brad Walters from Basil Leaf Cafe (3300 West 6th Street), Jimmy Martin from Free State Brewing Co. (636 Massachusetts) and Armando Paniagua from Genovese (636 Massachusetts.)

Abe and Jakes's has recently been remodeled. It is a fabulous facility and you can enjoy a view of the Kansas River as well as dance to music from DJ Stiga. Tickets are a suggested donation of $18 in advance, $22 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at any of the participating Lawrence restaurants, via "Donate" at http://www.kansasriver.org (please put in notes from buyer that donation is for River City Cook Off tickets) or at the door!

Friends of the Kaw appreciates the generosity of the following sponsors of this year's River City Cook-Off: Abe & Jake's Landing, Thompson Financial Group, Cottin's Hardware & Rental, and Bowersock Mills and Power Company. Friends of the Kaw's mission is to protect and preserve the Kansas (Kaw) River for present and future generations. The Kaw River, one of Kansas' greatest natural resources and source of drinking water for over 800,000 citizens. Friends of the Kaw is the only environmental organization in the state of Kansas that is dedicated to monitoring those issues that impact the Kansas River! Your donation will help us keep the Kansas Riverkeeper investigating polluters, patrolling the Kansas River and most importantly educating people about the wonderful opportunities a clean Kansas River brings to the citizens of Kansas.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm