K-State Research and Extension

Land Stewardship Assistance Program Funding 

Sharon Ashworth 
Horticulture & Natural Resources 
Extension Agent 

Douglas County Extension has received funding from the Heritage Conservation Council of Douglas County (HCC) to initiate a Land Stewardship Assistance Program.  

While Douglas County Extension strives to provide landowners with information on best practices to sustainably care for their land, the resources available are scattered across different program areas within Extension and among our partnership organizations. 

The goal of the Land Stewardship Assistance Program is to provide contemporary land stewardship services and resources to the residents of Douglas County. We aim to connect rural landowners and agricultural producers in Douglas County with financial and technical resources, partner organizations, and each other with the common goal of maintaining and improving land stewardship.  

The proposed project aims to help landholders in Douglas County preserve or restore native vegetation, improve soil health on farms and grazing lands, enhance water access and management, and improve the viability of businesses engaged in agricultural production. These activities will help preserve the biodiversity, food systems, and rural character of Douglas County. 

The entire project, submitted to the HCC Natural and Cultural Grant Program by the Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Development Committee (PDC), involves three main proposals: 

1. A dedicated website providing information about available land stewardship resources. Such resources include government agency assistance and funding, businesses providing services or technical advice, and non-profits and universities providing information and technical advice. The website would also serve as a platform for communication and networking among the residents of Douglas County.  
2. An updated “Living in Rural Douglas County” publication specifically written for Douglas County (online and print). 
3. A resource fair to connect rural landowners and producers with appropriate agencies, services, and vendors. 

The partial funding received from the Natural and Cultural Grant Program will seed the development of items 2 and 3 while we work to secure resources to fund the entire effort.  

Highlighting the “Living in Rural Douglas County” (placeholder title), the Agriculture and Natural Resources PDC would like to know from county residents the kind of information that should be in such a publication. We imagine this publication will include information on permitting for a new home, zoning regulations, dust control, pesticide drift, and invasive species programs as well as where to go for help with pond algae, well maintenance, windbreaks, and native vegetation establishment. As a Douglas County resident, what other topics of concern do you have? Have you struggled to find information or services to help you manage your property? Have you found a particular service or agency to be particularly helpful with managing your property? We want to make this publication as useful to county residents as possible. 

Please contact Sharon Ashworth (sashworth@ksu.edu) with any suggestions for content or if you have a land stewardship need. As the natural resources agent, I can help provide you with information and resources on pond management, native vegetation establishment and maintenance, windbreak establishment and maintenance, wildlife enhancements or control, water conservation, and low-maintenance landscaping.