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The following services are available through the Conservation District in addition to our financial assistance and technical assistance programs to help people who want to do their part in caring for our soil and water resources.
Technical assistance for planning, design, construction inspections for all cost share projects is provided through our federal partners at NRCS as their staffing allows. Kansas NRCS have experienced a 34% reduction in staff since February 2025.
Landowners do have the option of contracting with a private engineer on the USDA Approved Technical Service Providers List for these services to expedite designs. Local contractors and private engineers may complete the "become a TSP" process to be added to the approved TSP list to begin providing these services.
Landowners do have the option of contracting with a private engineer on the USDA Approved Technical Service Providers List for these services to expedite designs. Local contractors and private engineers may complete the "become a TSP" process to be added to the approved TSP list to begin providing these services.
CONSERVATION CONTRACTORS LIST
The Franklin County Conservation District provides a contractors list as a public service for landowners looking to have various conservation work completed on their land. The Franklin County Conservation District is not responsible for arrangements, quotes, contracts or any other business conducted between landowners and contractors. This information is provided as a public service and constitutes no endorsement by the Franklin County Conservation District. While an effort has been made to provide complete and accurate listing of services, omissions, or other error may occur and therefore other available sources should be consulted. This list is made up of the contractor's who contact our office and request to be on the list.
The Franklin County Conservation District provides a contractors list as a public service for landowners looking to have various conservation work completed on their land. The Franklin County Conservation District is not responsible for arrangements, quotes, contracts or any other business conducted between landowners and contractors. This information is provided as a public service and constitutes no endorsement by the Franklin County Conservation District. While an effort has been made to provide complete and accurate listing of services, omissions, or other error may occur and therefore other available sources should be consulted. This list is made up of the contractor's who contact our office and request to be on the list.
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Click here for a list of onsite waste system installers, waste haulers, inspectors, water well drillers and design/soil profile/site assessments contractors licensed with Franklin County.
NO-TILL DRILL FOR RENT
The Franklin County Conservation District (Kansas) owns a six foot Great Plains No-till Drill which is available for use in Franklin County. The current drill was purchased new in November 2022 and has the capability to seed native grass, food plots, conservation buffers, pastures, pollinator habitat, house yards and even grains such as wheat, oats, rye, and soybeans.
Effective November 4, 2022 the minimum rental charge is $150.00; cash and check only. This minimum rental charge allows for up to ten acres of use. Acreage over 10 will be billed at $12.00 per acre based off acreage meter reading. The drill is available for use in Franklin County only.
A minimum 40HP tractor with hydraulic hooks ups is required for using the drill. Drill is chain drive, not PTO and has a pin hitch, not a ball. Call 785-241-7201 or call/text our cell at 785-418-0707 to schedule the drill for all your seeding needs.
Funds generated through drill rental fees and seed sales are used to cover upkeep on drill and to cover replacement costs when needed. County/State tax funds are not used to cover operational expenses, or purchases, of the drill.
Below are the rental guide and specific drill setting information or each seed box on the drill.
The Franklin County Conservation District (Kansas) owns a six foot Great Plains No-till Drill which is available for use in Franklin County. The current drill was purchased new in November 2022 and has the capability to seed native grass, food plots, conservation buffers, pastures, pollinator habitat, house yards and even grains such as wheat, oats, rye, and soybeans.
Effective November 4, 2022 the minimum rental charge is $150.00; cash and check only. This minimum rental charge allows for up to ten acres of use. Acreage over 10 will be billed at $12.00 per acre based off acreage meter reading. The drill is available for use in Franklin County only.
A minimum 40HP tractor with hydraulic hooks ups is required for using the drill. Drill is chain drive, not PTO and has a pin hitch, not a ball. Call 785-241-7201 or call/text our cell at 785-418-0707 to schedule the drill for all your seeding needs.
Funds generated through drill rental fees and seed sales are used to cover upkeep on drill and to cover replacement costs when needed. County/State tax funds are not used to cover operational expenses, or purchases, of the drill.
Below are the rental guide and specific drill setting information or each seed box on the drill.
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CUSTOM BLENDED SEED FOR SALE
The Franklin County Conservation District offer to the public custom blended seed mixes for all your erosion control, pasture/hay land enhancement and wildlife habitat needs. We sell many types of grasses and seed; including traditional native mix of Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Side-oats, Switch Grass as well as Brome, fescue, rye, clover and more. We do not keep seed on hand as each order is custom blended to meet YOUR environmental benefit needs! We work directly with NRCS and FSA to assure the seed we order meet program requirements for CRP, EQIP and pollinator programs under the Federal Farm Bill.
Funding generated form seed sales has allowed the Conservation District to host and fund several tire collection days since 2012 and also purchase new no-till drills on a regular basis to keep our equipment in good shape. Thank you for supporting our seed sales program as we return the benefits right back to you, the county landowners!
Other Available Grasses include:
Blue Grama, Buffalo Grass, Eastern Gama Grass, Western Wheatgrass, Annual Ryegrass, Prairie Cordgrass, Reed Canary, Wild Rye, Alfalfa (grazing type & common), Ladino White Clover, Medium Red Clover and Fescue.
We can also supply you with various forbes and legumes such as:
Black-eyed Susan; Blanket Flower; Blue Flax; Butterfly Milkweed; Coneflower~ Clasping, Grayhead, Pale Purple, Purple, Upright; Plains Coreopsis; Sunflower ~ False, Maximilian; Illinois Bundle Flower; Indian Blanket; Partridge Pea; Pitcher Sage; Purple Prairie Clover; Wild Bergamont; and Wild Blue Indigo.
We are pleased to offer pollinator mixes, honey bee mixes and other specialty blends.
We can even order cover crop mixes, erosion blankets/logs and other erosion products.
Learn about Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses at: http://www.kswildflower.org/
The Franklin County Conservation District offer to the public custom blended seed mixes for all your erosion control, pasture/hay land enhancement and wildlife habitat needs. We sell many types of grasses and seed; including traditional native mix of Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Indian Grass, Side-oats, Switch Grass as well as Brome, fescue, rye, clover and more. We do not keep seed on hand as each order is custom blended to meet YOUR environmental benefit needs! We work directly with NRCS and FSA to assure the seed we order meet program requirements for CRP, EQIP and pollinator programs under the Federal Farm Bill.
Funding generated form seed sales has allowed the Conservation District to host and fund several tire collection days since 2012 and also purchase new no-till drills on a regular basis to keep our equipment in good shape. Thank you for supporting our seed sales program as we return the benefits right back to you, the county landowners!
Other Available Grasses include:
Blue Grama, Buffalo Grass, Eastern Gama Grass, Western Wheatgrass, Annual Ryegrass, Prairie Cordgrass, Reed Canary, Wild Rye, Alfalfa (grazing type & common), Ladino White Clover, Medium Red Clover and Fescue.
We can also supply you with various forbes and legumes such as:
Black-eyed Susan; Blanket Flower; Blue Flax; Butterfly Milkweed; Coneflower~ Clasping, Grayhead, Pale Purple, Purple, Upright; Plains Coreopsis; Sunflower ~ False, Maximilian; Illinois Bundle Flower; Indian Blanket; Partridge Pea; Pitcher Sage; Purple Prairie Clover; Wild Bergamont; and Wild Blue Indigo.
We are pleased to offer pollinator mixes, honey bee mixes and other specialty blends.
We can even order cover crop mixes, erosion blankets/logs and other erosion products.
Learn about Kansas Wildflowers and Grasses at: http://www.kswildflower.org/
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WE SELL MARKING FLAGS
Available in bundles of 100 for $15.00 per bundle. (Cash or check payment accepted)
We keep florescent pink on hand and occasionally have blue available also.
Flags have a 30" wire stake.
photo credit: blackburnflag.com
Available in bundles of 100 for $15.00 per bundle. (Cash or check payment accepted)
We keep florescent pink on hand and occasionally have blue available also.
Flags have a 30" wire stake.
photo credit: blackburnflag.com
DRIP TORCHES FOR LOAN
The Franklin County Conservation District has two Panama Drip Torches available for loan to assist with conducting a controlled burn. Tank capacity is 1 3/8 gallons. Fuel mixture to be used is 1 part gasoline to 4 parts diesel fuel OR 1 quart gasoline to 1 gallon Diesel Fuel. Person borrowing the torch is fully liable for any damage resulting from the fire and cost of suppression, should the fire escape. Make sure the tank is empty before returning it to our office.
There is no charge to borrow our drip torches; they were purchased and are maintained through funds generated through our seed sales. Revenue from seed sales are returned to our programs to benefit Franklin County landowners. file photo from demonstration burn at Pomona Lake.
The Franklin County Conservation District has two Panama Drip Torches available for loan to assist with conducting a controlled burn. Tank capacity is 1 3/8 gallons. Fuel mixture to be used is 1 part gasoline to 4 parts diesel fuel OR 1 quart gasoline to 1 gallon Diesel Fuel. Person borrowing the torch is fully liable for any damage resulting from the fire and cost of suppression, should the fire escape. Make sure the tank is empty before returning it to our office.
There is no charge to borrow our drip torches; they were purchased and are maintained through funds generated through our seed sales. Revenue from seed sales are returned to our programs to benefit Franklin County landowners. file photo from demonstration burn at Pomona Lake.
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Kansas Forest Service District Forester servicing Franklin & Miami Counties
Howard Freerksen assists private landowners with tree planting projects, forest management, NRCS cost share programs, forest health, and Tree Farm among other things. |
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CONSERVATION TREE PLANTING PROGRAM
The Kansas Forest Service’s Conservation Tree Planting Program offers tree and shrub seedlings, as well as other items for use in conservation plantings available for sale. Plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.
Online sales for Containerized seedling sales run Sept through mid October and bareroot seedling sales run December through May 1.
The Kansas Forest Service’s Conservation Tree Planting Program offers tree and shrub seedlings, as well as other items for use in conservation plantings available for sale. Plantings may function as wildlife habitat, windbreaks, wood lots, timber plantations, or educational and riparian (streambank) plantings.
Online sales for Containerized seedling sales run Sept through mid October and bareroot seedling sales run December through May 1.
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Kansas Department Wildlife & Parks Wildlife Biologist for Franklin County, Tim Urban, provides technical assistance to private landowners for wildlife habitat improvement on their land and can answer questions regarding state and federal financial assistance for habitat improvement projects. For those interested, Tim can also discuss options for public hunting access agreements.
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Looking for Wildlife Conservation Assistance? Visit the KDWP links below
NOXIOUS WEED IDENTIFICATION AND CONTROL
We work with the Franklin County Noxious Weed Department to help landowners with weed control issues; including but not limited to serecia lespedeza control on the 4,344 acres of CRP we assist with information related to the management of in Franklin County. The Noxious Weed Department has sprayers available for rent. For in depth information on the control of noxious weeds landowners should contact the Franklin County Noxious Weed Department at 785-229-8470, or visit the Franklin County website.
Noxious Weed in Franklin County:
Musk Thistle- The leaves of the musk thistle are deeply segmented, hairless, and are dark green with a light green mid-rib. A silver gray leaf margin is characteristic of each spine tipped lobe. The leaf base extends down the stem to give the plant a winged appearance. Flowering begins in mid-May and continues through early July.*
Field Bindweed- Flowers are white, pink, or white with pink. Funnel shaped, they are about 1 inch across and usually borne singly in the axis of leaves. Heavy infestations of field bindweed reduces land value as well as crop yields.*
Johnson Grass- Johnson Grass is an upright perennial grass. Stems are 6 to 8 feet or higher from a freely branching stout, rhizome-possessing, fibrous root system. Leaves are alternate, simple, relatively wide and long. Johnson Grass flowers from May until frost and seeds to frost.*
Sericea Lespedeza- Sericea lespedeza is a perennial with erect stems up to 5ft tall and small hairs laying flat along the ridges on the stem. Flowering occurs from mid or late July to October and may be tinged with purple but always dry to yellow.
*Information provided by County Weed Directors Association of Kansas
We work with the Franklin County Noxious Weed Department to help landowners with weed control issues; including but not limited to serecia lespedeza control on the 4,344 acres of CRP we assist with information related to the management of in Franklin County. The Noxious Weed Department has sprayers available for rent. For in depth information on the control of noxious weeds landowners should contact the Franklin County Noxious Weed Department at 785-229-8470, or visit the Franklin County website.
Noxious Weed in Franklin County:
Musk Thistle- The leaves of the musk thistle are deeply segmented, hairless, and are dark green with a light green mid-rib. A silver gray leaf margin is characteristic of each spine tipped lobe. The leaf base extends down the stem to give the plant a winged appearance. Flowering begins in mid-May and continues through early July.*
Field Bindweed- Flowers are white, pink, or white with pink. Funnel shaped, they are about 1 inch across and usually borne singly in the axis of leaves. Heavy infestations of field bindweed reduces land value as well as crop yields.*
Johnson Grass- Johnson Grass is an upright perennial grass. Stems are 6 to 8 feet or higher from a freely branching stout, rhizome-possessing, fibrous root system. Leaves are alternate, simple, relatively wide and long. Johnson Grass flowers from May until frost and seeds to frost.*
Sericea Lespedeza- Sericea lespedeza is a perennial with erect stems up to 5ft tall and small hairs laying flat along the ridges on the stem. Flowering occurs from mid or late July to October and may be tinged with purple but always dry to yellow.
*Information provided by County Weed Directors Association of Kansas
FLOOD PLAIN MAPS
The Franklin County Conservation District has a set of FEMA Flood Plain maps for Franklin County available in the office for public to view. 8.5" x 11" black and white copies are available for $3.00 each. Cash or check are the only two forms of payment accepted. Checks must be payable to the Franklin County Conservation District; and exact amount on the cash is greatly appreciated as we do not keep cash to make change in our office. The Conservation District only has one full time employee; so we recommend calling 785-241-7201 before you come in to confirm conservation district staff is available to assist you. Conservation District hours are 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday; with the exception of all Federal Holidays. Flood plain maps are also available to view online for free at FEMA Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov
The Franklin County Conservation District has a set of FEMA Flood Plain maps for Franklin County available in the office for public to view. 8.5" x 11" black and white copies are available for $3.00 each. Cash or check are the only two forms of payment accepted. Checks must be payable to the Franklin County Conservation District; and exact amount on the cash is greatly appreciated as we do not keep cash to make change in our office. The Conservation District only has one full time employee; so we recommend calling 785-241-7201 before you come in to confirm conservation district staff is available to assist you. Conservation District hours are 8:00 AM until 4:30 PM Monday through Friday; with the exception of all Federal Holidays. Flood plain maps are also available to view online for free at FEMA Map Service Center at www.msc.fema.gov
POND INFORMATION
While the conservation district idoe not offer any type of cost share/financial assistance programs for pond construction or maintenance we do provide the following information for landowners who are considering constructing a pond.
What dams require a permit under state law? A dam regulated by DWR is defined as any artificial barrier, including its appurtenant works, with the ability to impound water, waste water or other liquids that has either: (a) a height of 25 feet or more; (b) a height of 6 feet or more and a storage volume at the top of the emergency spillway elevation of 50 or more acre feet. The height of a dam is determined from the lowest elevation of the streambed, downstream toe or outside limit of the dam to the elevation of the top of the dam.
You should contact Division of Water Resources for additional information on state laws regarding permits to construct.
Kansas Department of Agriculture- Division of Water Resources
1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan KS 66502
(785) 564-6700
Online at http://agriculture.ks.gov or the following takes you to a more information about DWR permits.
Landowners should also check with Franklin County Planning and Building about local regulations, such as set-backs from property lines which may pertain to ponds.
Looking for information on aquatic plants and their control?
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service have a publication available entitled "Aquatic Plants And Their Control" which covers topics such as classification of aquatic plants, identification, control and herbicides and their use for aquatic plants. This publication is available in pdf format at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/c667.pdf paper copies, in limited supply, are available in the Conservation District Office.
Additional information on aquatic plants may be obtained through the following sources:
Kansas State University Research & Extension; Frontier District Extension
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks
While the conservation district idoe not offer any type of cost share/financial assistance programs for pond construction or maintenance we do provide the following information for landowners who are considering constructing a pond.
What dams require a permit under state law? A dam regulated by DWR is defined as any artificial barrier, including its appurtenant works, with the ability to impound water, waste water or other liquids that has either: (a) a height of 25 feet or more; (b) a height of 6 feet or more and a storage volume at the top of the emergency spillway elevation of 50 or more acre feet. The height of a dam is determined from the lowest elevation of the streambed, downstream toe or outside limit of the dam to the elevation of the top of the dam.
You should contact Division of Water Resources for additional information on state laws regarding permits to construct.
Kansas Department of Agriculture- Division of Water Resources
1320 Research Park Drive, Manhattan KS 66502
(785) 564-6700
Online at http://agriculture.ks.gov or the following takes you to a more information about DWR permits.
Landowners should also check with Franklin County Planning and Building about local regulations, such as set-backs from property lines which may pertain to ponds.
Looking for information on aquatic plants and their control?
Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service have a publication available entitled "Aquatic Plants And Their Control" which covers topics such as classification of aquatic plants, identification, control and herbicides and their use for aquatic plants. This publication is available in pdf format at http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/crpsl2/c667.pdf paper copies, in limited supply, are available in the Conservation District Office.
Additional information on aquatic plants may be obtained through the following sources:
Kansas State University Research & Extension; Frontier District Extension
Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks