Douglas County is rolling out a pilot program that incentivizes private landowners to participate in permanent land conservation for the public’s benefit.
The Douglas County Land Protection Program is the result of a partnership between the county and nonprofit organization Kansas Land Trust. One common way to facilitate permanent land conservation is through a conservation easement, a legal agreement in which landowners consent to restrict developments on their land.
Once a conservation easement is created, a government agency or land trust — Kansas Land Trust, in this case — will accept the easement “with the commitment to enforce its terms indefinitely,” according to a news release from the county. The document will then be finalized and signed before being recorded in county land records.
Conditions outlined in conservation easements apply to all future owners of the land.
The program is estimated to lower high costs for landowners interested in permanently conserving their property, according to the release. Funding from a federal American Rescue Plan Act grant from the county will cover costs related to developing, establishing and upholding conservation easements.
Up to $225,000 is available to support the pilot program as part of Douglas County’s open space initiatives.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with the Kansas Land Trust to offer this opportunity to interested landowners,” Douglas County Heritage Conservation Coordinator Kaitlyn Ammerlaan said in the release.
“In developing the Open Space Plan, we heard from many landowners and community partners about existing barriers to conserving open space. We hope that this pilot program is a helpful first step to reducing barriers and supporting the long-term protection of open spaces in Douglas County.”
Kaitlin Stanley, Kansas Land Trust director, said permanent land conservation is an economical and natural solution to pressing environmental issues. She said it can protect biodiversity, support local farming and cultivate space for communities to thrive.
“This pilot program will highlight the power of local partnerships which are especially important in a state that severely lacks designated funding for conservation,” Stanley said in the release.
According to the release, private landowners may be eligible for the program funding if the property is in Douglas County; the project meets the land trust’s criteria and promotes the overall goals and values of the county’s open space plan; protection of the property is in alignment with existing community goals and plans and will yield a significant public benefit to county residents; and if the property contains an open space feature such as natural resources, historic and cultural importance, or agricultural value or recreation.
Informational meetings set
The county and Kansas Land Trust will share more information at three upcoming public meetings:
• 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 at the Lawrence Public Library auditorium, 707 Vermont St.;
• 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 at Lecompton Community Building, 333 Elmore St. in Lecompton; and
• 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 at Lone Star Lake Community Building, 665 East 665 Road in Lawrence.
Applications for the pilot program are due Friday, Feb. 28. Learn more and apply on Kansas Land Trust’s website, klt.org/douglas-county-pilot-program.
Projects will be selected by March 31, according to the release, and are projected to be completed by November 2026.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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