Elk City State Park 4825 Squaw Creek Road Independence, KS 67301 (620) 331-6295 | [email protected]
2013 SPRING NEWSLETTER
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Kansas State Parks Passport Park 1 Kansas State Park Pass- If you purchase your annu- less than purchasing your Passport ports are annual vehicle al park permit before you permit through a KDWPT Open House 1 permits that will allow register your vehicle, a pro- office or website. Kansans access into any rated refund may be re- park throughout the state. quested after you have pur- For more information re- AmeriCorps 2 Passports will make enjoy- chased your passport. Re- garding park passports, ing our state parks more fund forms are available at contact: Park 2 affordable and much more any KDWPT state park Pratt Operations Office Projects convenient. With a pass- office or through ksout- (620) 672-5911 Park port, families can enjoy a doors.com. 3 Regulations year full of adventure and Scan for Kansas State outdoor activities. Parks Passport Information Pocket 3 Ranger Kansans will be able to Youth purchase their passport 4 Programs during their motor vehicle registration process. This Identification 5 will need to be renewed Game every year during this pro- Live Bait cess. By law, passports are Passports will cost $15.00, 6 Regulation non-transferable to another with a possible $.50 trans- vehicle. action fee. This is $10.00 Senior 6 Licenses
Fishing 7 Forecast Open House March 9th! The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism announced that all ORMS 8 state parks will hold an Open House on Saturday March 9, 2013. Visitors can take advantage of FREE vehicle entrance on that day. In addition to fish- Trails 9 ing, boating, hiking, camping and other everyday activities, KDWPT staff will be hosting several events geared toward family participation. Events will run Lake/Park 10 from 10:00am to 3:00pm and include a one mile nature hike, fishing derby, and geocaching. A free cookout will be held from Noon-1:00pm with FAQs 10 hotdogs, chips and a drink. There will also be free drawings for prizes.
PAGE 2 AmeriCorps Corner
The Kansas Outdoor AmeriCorps Action Team serves the State of Kansas by performing environmental service projects in state parks and local communities. Our program focus is in three areas: to assist emergency management agencies at disaster sites in response and restoration efforts; to restore, develop, and mitigate the loss of environmental resources within public managed lands; and finally, to develop new partnerships in out- door recreation and form outreach support groups through public presentations and educa- Photos: Team members help tion to schools, civic groups and local govern- ments. install playground and clean If you are interested in joining Ameri- up shoreline along Table Corps, visit www.ksoutdoors.com for more in- Mound Trail. formation and an application.
Future Projects and Programs New Boat Dock - Park staff installed a new Rock Wall - The wall at the parking area for the boating courtesy dock on the north side of the hiking trails will soon be replaced with a stronger ramp. It will come in handy when a storm rolls cement structure. in and boaters rush to get off the water. The Cabins - KDWPT is exploring the possibility of surrounding water depth is slightly shallower building up to two cabins in the Timber Road than the main dock. Fishing boats, pontoons, campground. These cabins will be fully electric personal watercraft and similar vessels should with heat, a/c, kitchenettes, and full bathrooms. have no problem loading and unloading. Fish- ing off of the dock is prohibited. Please respect Signs - Signs with campground regulations and fellow boaters by keeping tie-up time to a mini- ORMS information will be placed around the mum. park Playground - Staff will soon break ground on the Shoreline Stabilization - KDWPT engineers are new playground in Prairie Meadow. It will look currently working on placing rip-rap and other similar to the one located in Comfort Cove. structures along the shoreline to minimize ero- sion due to wind and waves. Do your part by Site Markers - Campsites will continue to be up- observing “NO WAKE ZONES”. graded with new poles and markers.
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RegulationFirst Question RemindersComments:
Most of our stateAnswer park A regulationsAnswer are A not new, but warrant a reminder to all of Answer B Answer B our visitors as we begin looking forwardAnswer C to the new park season.
24 HOURSecond VISITATIONQuestion Fourth — Question is required for all campsites in Kansas State
Parks, withAnswer the Aexception of Answerdesign A ated Long-Term/Seasonal campsites. Answer B Answer B GREY WATERAnswer C DUMPINGAnswer — Call waste water from camping units (GREY and BLACK tanks) must be disposed of at dump stations only. Name Address KDWPT Merchandise! SPEED LIMIT — there is a 15 mph speed limit throughout the entire park. Speed should be reduced even further when entering and driving the individ- ual campground roads. Please take extra care to watch for pedestrians! Phone SWIM Phone:BEACH 55-555-5555 — no dogs allowed, noPrimary alcohol, Business no glassAddress containers. Please refer toFax: sign 555-555-5555 for other regulations. Your Address Line 2 PARKINGE-mail: — [email protected] no driving/parking vehiclesYour Address entirely Line on 3grass. Please keep at Your Address Line 4 least 2 wheels on pavement or gravel when parking. Passengers are not allowed to ride in boats or on PWCs on roadways Microsoft Organization With everyone abiding by park regulations, we can continue to provide a safe and family-oriented park and enjoyable visits for all!! Thank You! Pocket Ranger® Smart Phone App The Kansas State Parks Pocket nology provides park goers with Ranger® mobile app by Parksby- valuable information for planning Nature Network serves as an inter- that perfect trip to any state park, active State Parks tour guide ac- making it easy for anyone to cessible through today's leading mobile devices. It is built with the choose an adventure of their most up-to-date visitor infor- choice. The app allows users to mation, and designed for both the keep abreast of weather condi- novice outdoorsmen and the more tions, view state-surveyed trails, seasoned park-goer. and more—directly from their mo- bile device! The interactive guide along with Scan for Kansas State Parks Pock- the advanced GPS mapping tech- et Ranger® mobile app!
PAGE 4 Recreation Programs Renew Outdoor Interest for Youths Due to a strong partnership between the local school districts and State Park Staff, visitation numbers for youths skyrocketed in 2012.
It all started with activities on March 31st for the Open House celebrations. Kids explored the park by participating in a scavenger hunt. Families were able to take a nature hike and wet a line at the fishing derby. The whole day was a great success and will continue to grow in the coming years.
Jefferson Elementary brought students out to the park in May for a day of fun and outdoor learning. Students played disc golf, fished, and channeled their inner Robin Hood on the Archery range. They also learned about local wildlife and flora while on a guided nature hike.
The annual OK Kids Day took place in May. Families participated in a fishing derby and clay target shooting with shotguns.
All images must be emailed In October, Jefferson Elementary returned for an to [email protected] Amazing Race inspired event. Students competed in in order to be considered. Participants of all ages are wel- activities including tent building, trivia, blind taste- come! testing, and various races. The activities were de- Images MUST be taken at the park. signed to teach the kids teamwork while also giving One submission per person. them skills such has using a hammer and building a fire. All the running around helped get the students some exercise without them realizing it.
Many other schools and organizations visited the park throughout the year. The park is great outdoor classroom for students of all ages. Fishing, golf, disc golf, and hiking are just some of activities avail- able. For more information on what Elk City State Park can offer for your organization, call the office at 620-331-6295.
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Can You Identify the Species?
1. 6.
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4. 9.
5. 10.
(Answers on page 8)
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Bait Law Amended for 2013 In 2012, KDWPT enacted a regula on Nuisance Spe‐ regarding the use and transport of cies. Many peo‐ bait fish. The provisions garnered a ple knew li le or passionate response from anglers to‐ nothing about legally from a non‐ANS body of wa‐ ward the agency. In general, the reg‐ zebra mussels ter. ula on prohibited the transport of and Asian carp For more informa on regarding fish (and water) from one department un l the regula‐ Aqua c Nuisance Species, ANS wa‐ owned water to another. This includ‐ on was passed. The spread of these ters, and the live bait regula on, visit ed using live shad and green sunfish species will greatly degrade our www.ksoutdoors.com. as bait. Anglers also needed to show aqua c resources in Kansas. a receipt for live bai ish purchased at The amendment for 2013 allows an‐ a bait dealer. glers to use bluegill and green sunfish The controversy helped bring to light for live bait at any department owned a very serious issue regarding Aqua c water AS LONG AS the bait was taken New Senior Hunting & Fishing Licenses Effective January 1, 2013, Many other states have re- Kansas residents 65-74 must quired seniors to purchase
purchase a hunting and/or licenses for years. The rea- fishing license. son behind the change is states get federal funding A yearly license costs $11.50 based on the number of li- each. A lifetime hunting and The money generated with cense holders. With budget fishing combination license this new provision will help cuts and operating costs ris- can be purchased with a one fund hunter’s education, ing, the Fisheries and Wild- - time fee of $42.50. fishing clinics, CFAP, WIHA, life Division is trying to offer the Urban Fishing Program, All stamps and permits such the same services and pro- and countless other pro- as HIP and three pole permit grams with as little impact grams. are also required. to the public as possible.
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Fishing Forecast for 2013 Good numbers of large fish in the 2012 sample suggest good fishing in 2013. Additionally, a White crappie Excellent 7-15 inches strong 2012 year class should supplement the existing popula- tion in future years.
The Elk River above the reser- voir continues to support one of the best spawning runs in the White bass Excellent 8-18 inches state. Look for fish moving through riffles in March-April.
Channel catfish support a popu- lar fishery in summer and fall. Bank anglers do well along the Channel catfish Good 12-30 inches dam and boat anglers do well along the creek channel.
What kind of fish did I catch? tinyurl.com/ksfishid Youth Fishing Pond Nearly 45% of all angling effort in March-October 2012 was EKCP and the fisheries biologist cre- directed toward crappie. An additional 26% was spent fishing for channel catfish. White bass comprised 23% of effort in ated a youth/mentor fishing pond in March and nearly 10% in July and August. We will be conduct- the park. Youths under 16 may fish ing another creel survey in 2013. Information obtained from these surveys helps us to better understand what anglers want at anytime. Anglers 16 and older and structure our fish management plans accordingly. must be licensed and must be accom- panied by at least one angling youth 100% 90% to fish. Statewide fishing regulations 80% are enforced and special creel limits 70% Other are posted. No boats or float tubes 60% White crappie 50% are allowed. Releasing any fish into 40% White bass the pond from outside waters and 30% Catfishes placing any structure into the pond is 20% No preference 10% strictly prohibited. Call or visit the 0% park office for more information. Jul Jan Oct Jun Apr Feb Sep Dec Mar Aug Nov May Total
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ORMS: A New Way to Reserve!
Outdoor Recreation Management System: In April of 2012, the state park system began using Reserve America to manage campsite reservations. Frequent patrons of Federal parks may already be familiar with the website. As with any switch to a new system, there were growing pains. However, going into the second year, the benefits of the program are very apparent.
Campsite Availability—Website visitors can see which sites are available for any date.
Campsite Features—Size, cost, amenities, location, and even a picture accompany the listing
Reservations—Visitors can make reservations at their conven- ience (not all sites are Reservable)
If you plan on camping at a state park and have not already regis- Tr y it ; tered, go to http://ksoutdoors.com/Reservations or www.reserveamerica.com. Registration is free and signing up before your trip greatly speeds up check in times.
IDENTIFICATION ANSWERS We Think You’ll Like 1. Asian (Bighead) Carp 6. Poison Oak It! 2. Gizzard Shad 7. Copperhead 3. Black Crappie 8. Black Rat Snake 4. Cottonwood Tree 9. Great-Tailed Grackle 5. Poison Ivy 10. Pileated Woodpecker
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Elk City State Park Trail System Elk City State Park offers multiple trails for visitors to use based on their skill, interest, or time. The goal is to provide users an enjoyable and safe experience regardless of ability. Seasonal changes ensure each trip will be unique.
The South Squaw Trail is a paved path that takes walkers down to the original state park area. The open fields and marshes provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife. The Green Thumb Nature Trail is great for beginning and experienced hikers. At only one mile long, it offers a relaxed experience anyone can enjoy. Its trailhead is located in the Timber Road Campground. The trail me- anders through the wooded hillside and rock formations and features wooden pedestrian footpaths and interpretive signing for the plants and animals native to the area. Organ- izations can schedule guided hikes with park staff. The trail is described as a moderately strenuous hike that is somewhat uphill. At the top of the hill, the surrounding trees frame a spectacular view of Elk City Lake.
Table Mound is the most popular trail. This linear trail is nearly three miles long and has a trailhead at the Scenic Overlook near the dam and at the Timber Road Campground. Due to its length, the trail offers hikers many different and picturesque scenes from shoreline to rock bluffs. This trail is blazed with blue paint mark- ings and is considered a moderately strenuous hike. This trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail under the U.S De- partment of the Interior’s National Trail System.
The Post Oak self-guiding trail is located at the Overlook area. It is about a mile in length and takes hikers through a wooded area on top of a hill.
The Eagle Rock Mountain Bike trail is located below the dam and runs along the Elk River. The trail is great for beginners wanting to challenge themselves and also for advanced bikers to hone their skills.
The Elk River trail is fifteen miles long and runs along the north side of the lake up to the Elk River. The length and terrain make it a challenge for both novice and experienced hikers. Many users camp along the trail and spend several days exploring the area.
Lake and Park Conditions As of 02/27/13 Prairie Meadow and Sunset Point u lity
sites along with Comfort Cove sites 21‐52 ELK CITY Current Lake Level: 793.5 (‐ 2.5 ) STATE PARK will remain closed un l warm weather re‐
Surface Temperature: Low 40s turns (projected mid‐late March). Visit 4825 Squaw Creek Rd www.reserveamerica.com or call the park Fishing Report: Independence, KS office for more informa on. 67301 Crappie – slow in 8‐16
PHONE: (620) 331-6295 Meet the Park Staff
Park Manager – Chris Hammerschmidt. Chris started as a Park Ranger here in 1998. He E-MAIL: spent a few years as a local Conserva on Officer before returning in 2006 as the manager. [email protected] Park Ranger ‐ David Breth. David became the chief ranger in November 2010. He enjoys Chanute guiding nature hikes and teaching kids about natural resources. Regional Office (620) 431-0380 Administra ve Specialist ‐ Diane Hight. Diane enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of entomology with visitors. Pratt Operations Office Facili es Specialist ‐Bob Winebrenner. Bob has worked at the park for 6 years. He takes (620) 672-5911 great pride in the appearance and upkeep of the park.
Elk City Fish & Wildlife Office F A Q s (620) 331-6820 Are umbrella/Alabama rigs legal fishing equipment? By Kansas regula on, anglers are lim‐
ited to only 2 ar ficial lures per line. Therefore these rigs are only legal if they have no more Operation than 2 lures with hooks a ached. Game Thief Do I have to drain my live well before leaving the lake? Yes. Before leaving any department 1-877-426-3843 managed lake, all live wells and any water holding compartments must be drained or plugs pulled.
Can I buy ice and wood in the park? Yes. The Friends Group sells ice and wood year round and offers on‐site laundry facili es. All proceeds go to improve the park.
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