Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S
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Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Second Quarter Report Tourism April 1 - June 30, 2013 Boating 2013 Significant Legislative Laws & Actions Benefits Vessel Taxation (SB 83) Wounded Warrior Deer Kansas This bill was a result of the ballot is- Permits (HB 2030) Economy sue passed in November 2012 allowing The law allows the department to is- the state constitution to be amended to sue 10 “Wounded Warrior Deer Permits” allow a change to the way watercraft are to disabled veterans who were injured Boating brings a “boatload” of eco- taxed. The law reduces the percentage in combat and have a service-connected nomic benefits to Kansas. In June, the of value at which watercraft are assessed disability of not less than 30 percent. National Marine Manufacturers Associa- to 11.5 percent in 2014 and 5 percent in Signed April 2. tion (NMMA) reported the total annual economic impact of recreational boating 2015 and thereafter. Signed April 16. in Kansas in 2012 was $898.7 million. New Public Land Consider these numbers for 2012: Boating Under the Influence The legislature also approved the Time Period (HB 2218) purchase of about 800 acres in Jefferson • There were 97,672 registered The old law made it unlawful to County to be used as a public hunting boats in Kansas. operate a vessel with a blood or breath area. Seventy-five percent of the $1.2 • Spending related to recreational alcohol concentration of .08 at the time million cost will be funded with monies boating was $382.6 million. of or within two hours of operating a received from federal excise taxes on • There were 137 boating-related vessel. This new law will increase the hunting and shooting equipment, and the businesses. • Boating supported an estimated time period from two hours to three remaining 25 percent will come from 7,063 jobs. hours after operation of a vessel, making state wildlife fee funds. • The total estimated labor income it consistent with state DUI laws for mo- was $291.9 million. tor vehicles. Signed May 23. There's No Place Like Kansas Tourism staff kicked off a five-month Tourism staff attended the International On June 11, road trip across the state when they Pow Wow (IPW), June 8-12 in Las Vegas. the Kansas launched the third year of the Faces & IPW is a tourism marketplace designed Department of Places Tour in June. Tourism staff and to generate international visits to the U.S. Transportation Kansas travel bloggers (“Roadies”) will visit It attracted nearly 6,400 delegates from announced events in more than 20 cities before the the U.S. and 70 other countries, including it awarded a tour concludes in mid-October. The Road- 1,300 tour operators that sell travel to U.S. $1.5 million ies are slated to cover 10,000 miles in a and nearly 500 travel media. federal Transportation Enhancement grant graphic-wrapped minivan, underwritten in Kansas had 51 appointments with tour to KDWPT to further the development of part by Briggs Auto Group. operators and met with new tour operators the Flint Hills Nature Trail. The 117-mile from Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, trail stretches across seven counties be- France, Italy, Netherlands and Australia. tween Osawatomie and Herington. 1 Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Ste 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1327 (785) 296-2281 KWPT Commission Active in Second Quarter Parks At its April 25th meeting in ment staff had requested changes to the On June 11, the Kansas Department of Wichita, the Kansas Wildlife, Parks coyote hunting regulations because of Administration issued a request for bids and Tourism commission approved incidents involving individuals using for a qualified and experienced developer to design, construct, finance and operate establishing short-term RV parking for vehicles and radios to hunt deer under a quality lake resort/conference center at a monthly fee of $50 at Scott, Meade, the guise of coyote hunting. Current Clinton Reservoir near Lawrence. The De- Glen Elder, Kanopolis and Webster state regulations allow coyotes to be hunted partment of Commerce is the lead agency parks. The commissioners also approved from vehicles and with the use of radios. for the proposed project. standard season dates for the 2013 elk At the same meeting, commissioners and antelope seasons. approved a variety of changes to furhar- The annual Country Stampede music vesting regulations and approved a regu- and camping festival was held at Tuttle At the meeting on June 27 in Gar- lation requiring all hunters who hunt big Creek State Park June 27-30. Approximate- den City, the commission rejected a game or wild turkeys with a crossbow to ly 150,000 people attended. The festival was first held in 1996. staff recommendation to prohibit coyote obtain a free Crossbow Survey Number hunting with the use of vehicles and from KDWPT before hunting. Dennis Swanson, General Mainte- two-way radios during the regular fire- nance and Repair Technician at Lovewell arm deer season. KDWPT law enforce- State Park, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award during a state parks di- vision meeting on April 24 at Wichita State University Hughes Metropolitan Complex. Cheyenne Bottoms Canal Update KDWPT started an online forum and In 2011, KDWPT authorized a The $5,479,000 project began in survey in June to learn more about what project at Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife January and was substantially complete park-goers want, as part of the State Area near Great Bend to replace five by the end of June. Additional work has Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan miles of water supply canal with 60- been scheduled to repair portions of the (SCORP). Public input is needed on topics inch diameter water-tight concrete pipe. diversion dam on the Arkansas River including managed park use, issues and The project is located four miles west that sends water into the canal when needs, and the types of experiences park- of Great Bend, and stretches from just river flows allow. goers hope to have in the future. Input north of US-56 to the north fork of Dry from the forum will be shared with the Walnut Creek. State Outdoor Recreation Plan Advisory Committee at their September meeting. The online forum is being moderated by Dr. Sid Stevenson of Kansas State University. Education The results will help planners and deci- sion- makers develop strategies to address Jim Bussone, hunter education In June, KDWPT assumed operation issues facing outdoor recreation in Kansas instructor and KDWPT natural resource of the Southeast Kansas Nature Cen- over the next five to 10 years. officer was selected as the 2012 Instruc- ter (SEKNC) under a lease agreement tor of the Year by his fellow teachers. with the city of Galena. The center is Each year, instructors select one of their in Schermerhorn Park south of the city. own who has demonstrated extraordi- KDWPT will lease the center and 10.1 nary, above standard actions that reflect acres of the park for $1.00 annually for favorably on hunters, the Hunter Educa- a term of two years, with an option to tion Program and the KDWPT. renew for two additional years. KDWPT will manage the center, care Nearly 300 students competed in the for exhibits, maintain nature trails, and Kansas Archery in the Schools program offer education programs. The city of hosted the fourth annual state archery Galena will continue to own and man- tournament, Saturday, April 6, at Fort age the park (including Schermerhorn Hays State University in hopes of Cave and the park area along Shoal making nationals. The Kansas Archery Creek), as well as maintain the center. Southeast Kansas Nature Center program operates under the umbrella of KDWPT and the National Archery in the Schools (NASP) program. 2 Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, 1020 S. Kansas Ave., Ste 200, Topeka, KS 66612-1327 (785) 296-2281 Fisheries Law Enforcement A fish barrier was installed at Bassmaster Maga- The Law Enforcement Lovewell Reservoir to prevent flush- zine included Wilson Division held its 11th ing fish through the outlet tube when Reservoir and Perry annual K-9 recertification water is released for irrigation. Reservoir in its list training, April 22-25 at Mil- ford Reservoir. The annual of the 100 Best Bass four-day training ensures KDWPT and the Waconda Lake Lakes of 2013, an- that every dog and handler Association hosted the 9th an- nounced in May. meets or exceeds current nual Youth Fishing Tournament at agency standards. Waconda Lake (Glen Elder Reser- voir) on Saturday, June 1st. Of the A tip received by KDWPT law enforce- 136 youth who fished on the 33 boats ment officers led to a 10-month investiga- volunteered by local anglers and the Wildlife tion resulting in the May conviction of four eight youth who fished off the bank, Louisiana men on deer poaching charges in Iowa and Kansas. KDWPT participated 76 were able to catch at least one One of North America’s most highly in the investigation, along with officers fish. Nearly 300 people participated, sought after migratory birds, the dove, of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, including boat drivers and other will be the focus of a national survey Iowa Department of Natural Resources, volunteers. Eighty sponsors donated to be conducted beginning June 20 and Louisiana Department of Game and Fish over $2,500 in prizes. Each youth running through the end of the year. A and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife took home a fishing pole, t-shirt, cooperative effort of the U.S. Fish and Conservation. goodie bag of tackle and gift certifi- Wildlife Service, the Flyway Councils, KDWPT officers participated in Opera- cates, and other prizes.