Kansas Land Trust Protected Places

Earles (2009) – Douglas County – 134 acres

The Earles easement protects upland oak-hickory and several acres of post oak-black jack woodlands, the latter woodlands being rather rare for northeast Kansas. These wooded areas provide unique habitat for reindeer moss, white moss, and maiden-hair ferns. The property is located immediately southeast of Douglas County State Lake and near the Wall, Breidenthal, Rice, and Boyd Preserves. The Earles easement extends the protection of the Baldwin Woods, a historical stand of broad-leaf deciduous forest in southern Douglas County. The easement features many beautiful trails, several ponds, and a small acreage of brome and potential horticultural cropland. Learn more about the Earles Family and their connection to the land in this KLT Stewardship Notes article.

Hollowell (2009) – Douglas County – 49 acres

This property's native prairie and replanted native grasses provide an important vegetative riparian buffer for the Deer Creek arm of Clinton Lake, which in turn help naturally filter the drinking water for the residents of Douglas County. This easement also protects open space providing a wonderful scenic view of Clinton Lake.

Moyer Ranch (2009) –- Geary County – 2,857 acres

KLT's largest conservation easement to date! This property of native tallgrass prairie and prime prairie chicken habitat is located in the Flint Hills just southwest of the Konza Prairie Preserve. KLT utilized our Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program partnership to make this easement happen. ACUB's purpose is to protect vital wildlife habitat areas and limit encroachment, such as wind farms and housing developments, surrounding Fort Riley. Coincidentally, this property was once the Simpson Ranch, named for the family of John Simpson and Sarah Dean, two of KLT's founding board members. KLT's work is truly coming full circle!

Smith (2009) – Geary County – 87 acres

The Smith easement protects 26 acres of native prairie and 32 acres of woodlands and riparian area along Dry Creek. Cropland on the easement features 44 acres of prime farmland soils with all the remaining soils being of state-wide importance. Two historical stone quarries showcase the geological features of area. This easement prohibits any residential buildings, enhancing the open space quality of this protect land.

Strauss (2009) – Geary County – 231 acres

The Strauss easement protects prime farmland and a small wooded area in the Kansas River Valley. This property will be protected forever for its agricultural and open space conservation values. This easement was purchased with funding from the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Wehrle (2009) – Osage County – 197 acres

The Wehrle easement protects 162 acres of native prairie with the remaining 36 acres being woodlands and riparian areas. The native prairies will be managed as hay meadows further enhancing the quality of the prairie. The Wehrle easement has 90 acres of prime farmland soils with an additional 86 acres containing soils of statewide importance. This easement prohibits any residential buildings enhancing the open space quality of this protect land.

Haines Family (2009) - Riley County - 1,250 acres
Purchased utilizing Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program and USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) fund, this easement is near the existing Garzio (2007), Griffin (2005), Kunze (2007), and Laman (2006) easements in the Flint Hills just west of Tuttle Creek Reservoir. Learn more about the Haines Family and their connection to the land in this KLT Stewardship Notes article.

Muller 1 & 2 (2009) - Morris County - 577 acres
Our most recent easements to close utilized KLT's Flint Hills Fund and the USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP). They are near the existing Bacon (2006) easement in the Flint Hills southwest of Council Grove. Learn more about Kenneth Muller and his land ethic in this KLT Stewardship Notes article.

Wahl (2009) - Riley County - 96 acres
The Wahl easement protects prime farmland and a riparian area. This easement was purchased with funding from Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Burr (2008) - Jefferson County - 314 acres
Along Buck Creek in Jefferson County, this conservation easement is directly adjacent to KLT’s existing Johnson, 2004 and Johnson-Engleman, 2004 easements (see 2004 below). Now, 837 total contiguous acres are forever protected as wildlife habitat, riparian buffer, and open space.

Stueck (2007) - Johnson County - 114 acres
The Stueck easement protects land in a developing area in the Blue River watershed. This is the Kansas Land Trust’s second easement on the banks of the Blue River (see Blair, 2004). This easement will protect water quality and also a heron rookery found in the riparian woodland area.

Garzio (2007) - Riley County - 75 acres
The Garzio easement protects native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance in the northern Flint Hills. This property will be retained forever in its natural, scenic, agricultural and open space condition.

Kunze (2007) - Riley County - 630 acres
The Kunze easement protects native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance in the northern Flint Hills. This property will be retained forever in its natural, scenic, agricultural and open space condition. This easement was purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchlands Protection (FRPP) program, the Kansas State Conservation Commission, and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Dibben (2007) - Geary County - 208 acres
The Dibben easement protects prime farmland in the Kansas River valley. This easement was purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchlands Protection (FRPP) program, the Kansas State Conservation Commission, and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Laman I (2006) - Riley County - 269 acres
The Laman I easement protects native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance in the northern Flint Hills. This property will be retained forever in its natural, scenic, agricultural and open space condition. The ranch also features five ponds and two intermittent streams. This easement was purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchlands Protection (FRPP) program, the Kansas State Conservation Commission, and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Laman II (2006) - Riley County - 20 acres
The Laman II easement combines with the Laman I easement to form one continuous tract of protected native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance. This property will be retained forever in its natural, scenic, agricultural and open space condition.

Otto (2006) - Riley County - 63 acres
The Otto easement protects native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance. An intermittent stream on the property flows into Wildcat Creek, home to the Topeka Shiner, a federally endangered fish. This property will be retained forever in its natural, scenic, agricultural and open space condition. This easement was purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchlands Protection (FRPP) program, the Kansas State Conservation Commission, and the Army Compatible Use Buffer (ACUB) program.

Bacon (2006) - Morris County - 500 acres
The Bacon easement protects native tallgrass prairie, prime agricultural soils and soils of statewide importance in the northern Flint Hills. This property has natural, agricultural, scenic, ecological, and open space values. The easement was purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchlands Protection (FRPP) program and the Kansas State Conservation Commission.

Miller (2006) - Jefferson County - 61 acres
The Miller easement protects a tract of native tallgrass prairie and overlooks Perry Lake. This property contains agricultural soils of federal and statewide importance and possesses natural, agricultural, scenic, ecological, and open space values.

Ziegler (2005) - Cass County, Missouri - 120 acres
This easement protects and preserves woods and pastureland with ecological, agricultural and open space values. The public is allowed to enjoy the land through educational purposes.

Griffin (2005) - Riley County - 205 acres
The Griffin tract protects native tallgrass prairie and soils of statewide importance in the northern Flint Hills. This property has natural, scenic, ecological, and open space values. This easement was the first KLT purchased with funding from the Farm and Ranchland Protection (FRPP) program. KLT donors generously provided the matching funds required by the program, allowing KLT to secure the federal grant.

Blair (2004) - Johnson County - 58 acres
This easement, on the banks of the Blue River, features forest and riparian areas as well as a beautiful 15-20 foot limestone bluff located near the top of the hill. The woods are primarily oak and hickory including some exceptionally large bur oaks that may be over 150 years old. The riparian areas also include silver maple, box elder, black walnut, and paw paw trees.

Olson (2004) - Douglas County - 51 acres
This easement protects gently sloping grazing land located in a rapidly developing area outside of Lawrence. This property possesses natural, scenic, and open space values.

Johnson (2004) - Jefferson County - 276 acres
The Johnson easement features riparian woodlands and crop land with some replanted native grass and beautiful rock outcrops. The easement protects property on both sides of Buck Creek.

Johnson/Engleman (2004) - Jefferson County - 247 acres
The Johnson/Engleman easement adjoins the Johnson easement, forming one continuous protected area along the banks of Buck Creek and the surrounding hills. The property features riparian woodlands and crop land with some replanted native grass and beautiful rock outcrops.

Guess (2002) - Douglas County - 30 acres
The Guess easement protects high quality native tallgrass prairie, restored prairie, and upland woods. The prairie features a wide variety of species including Mead’s milkweed, a federally threatened plant species. The property also contains riparian woods and two intermittent streams.

Spring 2003 Volume 14, Number 2
Doug and Ruth Ann Guess protect a native prairie in northwest part of Douglas County by Sondra McCoy

Hillesheim (2002) - Douglas County - 61 acres
This property includes thirty-five acres of replanted prairie, fourteen acres of which is available for future organic agricultural use. Woods on the property provide an ecological and viewshed buffer to nearby Clinton Lake and the adjacent federal land.

Spring 2003 Volume 14, Number 2
Jim Hillesheim's land near Clinton Lake includes 61 acres of woodland, restored prairie, and farmland. by Sondra McCoy

Stauffer (2002) - Saline County - 20 acres
This easement protects agricultural lands with natural, scenic, historic, educational, and open space values. The property, known as Heritage Hill, features native prairie, wooded areas, Stauffer family history, and a path with artful trail markers. Ninety-two plant species have been identified on the property. The walking trail is open to the public.

Kelly/Varvil (2002) - Douglas County - 14 acres
This property adjoins the Lichtwardt easement and protects agricultural, forest, and greenspace values. The parcel is now part of a 100-acre public park owned by the City of Lawrence featuring hiking trails and open to annual nature walks and other educational activities.

Lichtwardt (2001) - Douglas County - 37 acres
This easement protects an oak-hickory woodland with steep ravines and a tributary of Baldwin Creek. It contains an ecologically significant savannah and unique limestone outcroppings. The parcel is part of a 100-acre public park owned by the City of Lawrence featuring hiking trails and open for nature walks and other educational activities.

Mission Valley's Fin and Feather (2001) - Miami County - 800 acres
This easement protects areas of native prairie, riparian forest, and agricultural lands that lie in the path of development moving southwards from Kansas City. The forest area alone contains over 200 plant species and federally threatened Mead’s milkweed has been discovered in the prairie area. South Wea Creek meanders through the north end of the easement. The property also possesses open space, scientific, ecological, and educational values.

Kennedy (2000) - Wabaunsee County - 24 acres
This easement protects a high quality native tallgrass prairie and a buffer area that protects the prairie from grazing. The Kennedy tract preserves natural, scenic, historic, agricultural, ecological, and open space values.

The Nature Conservancy (2000) - Linn County - 240 acres
This easement protects areas of native prairie, agricultural land, and wildlife habitat. The agricultural area is used for grazing, haying, and crops. 106 plant species have been identified to date on the native prairie. This tract possesses natural, open space, agricultural, scientific, ecological, and educational values.

Oldfather (1999) - Douglas County - 60 acres
The Oldfather easement protects the highest point in Douglas County, a forested knoll overlooking Clinton Lake and the City of Lawrence. This property possesses agricultural, open space, and ecological values.

Ashton (1998) - Sumner County - 1300 acres
This easement preserves nine tracts of prime farmland. Major crops grown are wheat, milo, corn, and cotton.

Russell (1998) - Osage County - 53 acres
The Russell tract includes approximately thirty-one acres of native prairie as well as six acres of naturally regenerated wildlife habitat, harboring a significant diversity of plant species, and approximately sixteen acres of cropland, which has a long history of farming and haying. The Russell easement has ecological, scenic, agricultural, open space, and educational values.

Allen (1997) - Douglas County - 162 acres
The Allen easement includes approximately sixty acres restored to native prairie grasses as well as approximately one hundred acres of agricultural land. Historic stone walls can also be found. This tract possesses significant natural, scenic, open space, agricultural, scientific, historical, ecological, and educational values.

Klataske (1996) - Riley County - 40 acres
This native tallgrass prairie is adjacent to the Konza Prairie, an ecological research area owned by The Nature Conservancy and managed by Kansas State University. The Klataske property possesses ecological, educational, scenic, open space, and recreational values. The easement also provides viewshed protection for visitors on the Konza Prairie hiking trails.

Nasseri/Givechi (1994) - Douglas County - 1 acre
This easement protects a native tallgrass prairie of biological significance. Mead’s milkweed, a federally threatened plant species, has been found on the property. This property possesses natural and ecological values.

Akin Prairie (1994) - Douglas County - 16 acres
KLT’s very first conservation easement, and the first established in the state of Kansas, the Akin Prairie was protected in 1994. This splendid 16-acre tract native wildflower prairie was protected as a memorial to Dorothy Akin and her love of colorful prairie wildflowers. An iron fences surrounds a small memorial to Mrs. Akin. Her surviving husband, Tom, and their children donated the conservation easement to KLT. The easement stands as an enduring testament to the generous individuals who made this protection possible.

The prairie has hosted numerous wildflower walks over the years because of its high quality and diversity of plant species. It provides a wonderful setting to identify prairie grasses and wildflowers and to hear the interesting lore surrounding them. The tract provides natural, scenic, open space, ecological, and educational values.

Directions: Two miles east of Lawrence on K-10, take the E. 1900 Rd (Douglas Co. 1057) exit and go south two miles to N. 1150 Road. Take N. 1150 to the west (right) about .4 mi. The prairie is on the south, and the top of the hill. You’ll see an iron gate, and just inside the fence, a small memorial to Ms. Akin. Respectful daytime public access is allowed year-around.

Protected Places

KLT stewards more than 11,500 acres on 41 protected properties