Visionaries Roger Johnson and Lance Burr Make Buck Creek Wildlife Area Possible
Approximately six miles northwest of Lawrence in Jefferson County sits the Buck Creek Wildlife Area. The 840-acre property, which is protected by three contiguous KLT conservation easements and managed by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP), is named for the creek that bisects the property.
“The Buck Creek spring is one of the longest unimpeded springs in the area,” said Land Manager Justin Hamilton. “Buck Creek Wildlife Area has a lot to offer with native grasses and forbs and good oak-hickory timber. There are some great opportunities for deer and turkey hunting as well.”
The Buck Creek Wildlife Area has been owned and managed by KDWP since only 2015. Before that, this wooded riparian area with scenic rock outcroppings was an amalgamation of privately owned parcels that a group of conservation-minded friends gradually purchased and protected. The foresight of these friends, Roger Johnson and Lance Burr, leaves an impressive conservation legacy and a special natural space that everyone can enjoy.
According to Roger Johnson, who still lives in the Buck Creek area with his wife Lorraine, it was through mutual friend Dodge Engleman that Roger met Lance Burr in the early 80s. When Roger and Lance realized they were both looking to move to Lawrence from the Salina area, Roger, his wife Lorraine, and Lance went together to look for land. They all eventually decided to purchase land in the Buck Creek area.
“It was pretty rugged,” Roger said. “There was absolutely nothing here, but it had a uniqueness from a natural standpoint.”
Roger said that one reason for the lack of development in the area at the time was that running a water supply to the area was cost-prohibitive. Today, there are still patches in the Buck Creek area that do not have running water. This includes the site where Roger and Lorraine have their home.
“We are sitting on the best limestone deposit in the state. If you want water, you have to go through all that limestone,” Roger said. “Which really means if you want water, you either bring your water in or you collect it.”
Roger and Lorraine have a 4,000-gallon cistern as well as rain barrels on the property that provide them with most of the water they need.
After purchasing their initial pieces of land along Buck Creek in the early 80s, Roger and Lance continued to buy land in the area over the next 20 years. By 2003, Roger, Lance, and Dodge had acquired a total of 837 acres in the Buck Creek area. They then started to think about what the future might hold for this special land.
“Any time something was available that was contiguous one of us tried to buy it,” Roger said.
“We eventually started thinking thought about who was going to want this land in the future, and if they did want it, what they would want to do with it, and we couldn’t really think of anything nice.”
The friends decided to look into preserving the land. In 2004, Roger worked with KLT to permanently protect 276 acres of land along Buck Creek and then protected an additional 247 contiguous acres that he co-owned with Dodge Engleman. In 2008, Lance permanently protected his 314 acres of contiguous land. These three easements are what now make up the Buck Creek Wildlife Area.
“We had an agreement among the owners that this was what we were going to do,” Lorraine said. “Lance had the conservationist mindset and the vision, and Roger was there to do the footwork to make sure it happened. To know that 100 years from now this valley is going to remain the same is absolutely mind-blowing.”
Roger said that he is pleased to see the 840-acre area protected through KLT and managed through KDWP.
“I would say that it has worked out reasonably well and that we are fortunate,” Roger said. “I’m not a very good park ranger and it’s a big piece of property. They have done an excellent job of keeping up with it and knowing what’s going on.”
Public Access to Buck Creek Wildlife Area:
Access to the area from April 1-May 30 and September 1-January 31 is only for individuals who have won a “special hunt” lottery for the opportunity hunt the property. Anyone can access the property during the months of February, March, June, July, and August by signing in through the Go Outdoors Kansas app.
“There are no hiking trails, so hiking on the area provides a more natural experience.” said Justin Hamilton. “The boundaries of the property are marked with purple signs. If you have questions about the boundaries of the property you can contact the wildlife area office at 785-887-6882.”
