Elk City State Park 4825 Squaw Creek Road Independence, KS 67301 (620) 331-6295 elkcitysp@ksoutdoors.com INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Park Passport 1 Open House 1 AmeriCorps 2 Park Projects Park Regulations Pocket Ranger Youth Programs Identification Game Live Bait Regulation Senior Licenses Fishing Forecast 2 3 3 4 5 6 6 7 ORMS 8 Trails 9 Lake/Park 10 FAQs 10 Kansas State Parks Passport Kansas State Park Passports are annual vehicle permits that will allow Kansans access into any park throughout the state. Passports will make enjoying our state parks more affordable and much more convenient. With a passport, families can enjoy a year full of adventure and outdoor activities. Kansans will be able to purchase their passport during their motor vehicle registration process. This will need to be renewed every year during this process. By law, passports are non-transferable to another vehicle. If you purchase your annual park permit before you register your vehicle, a prorated refund may be requested after you have purchased your passport. Refund forms are available at any KDWPT state park office or through ksoutdoors.com. Passports will cost $15.00, with a possible $.50 transaction fee. This is $10.00 Open House March 9th! 2 0 1 3 S P R I N G N E W S L E T T E R less than purchasing your permit through a KDWPT office or website. For more information regarding park passports, contact: Pratt Operations Office (620) 672-5911 Scan for Kansas State Parks Passport Information The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism announced that all state parks will hold an Open House on Saturday March 9, 2013. Visitors can take advantage of FREE vehicle entrance on that day. In addition to fishing, boating, hiking, camping and other everyday activities, KDWPT staff will be hosting several events geared toward family participation. Events will run from 10:00am to 3:00pm and include a one mile nature hike, fishing derby, and geocaching. A free cookout will be held from Noon-1:00pm with hotdogs, chips and a drink. There will also be free drawings for prizes.
PAGE 2 AmeriCorps Corner Photos: Team members help install playground and clean up shoreline along Table Mound Trail. The Kansas Outdoor AmeriCorps Action Team serves the State of Kansas by performing environmental service projects in state parks and local communities. Our program focus is in three areas: to assist emergency management agencies at disaster sites in response and restoration efforts; to restore, develop, and mitigate the loss of environmental resources within public managed lands; and finally, to develop new partnerships in outdoor recreation and form outreach support groups through public presentations and education to schools, civic groups and local governments. If you are interested in joining Ameri- Corps, visit www.ksoutdoors.com for more information and an application. Future Projects and Programs New Boat Dock - Park staff installed a new Rock Wall - The wall at the parking area for the boating courtesy dock on the north side of the hiking trails will soon be replaced with a stronger ramp. It will come in handy when a storm rolls cement structure. in and boaters rush to get off the water. The Cabins - KDWPT is exploring the possibility of surrounding water depth is slightly shallower building up to two cabins in the Timber Road than the main dock. Fishing boats, pontoons, campground. These cabins will be fully electric personal watercraft and similar vessels should with heat, a/c, kitchenettes, and full bathrooms. have no problem loading and unloading. Fishing off of the dock is prohibited. Please respect Signs - Signs with campground regulations and fellow boaters by keeping tie-up time to a minimum. ORMS information will be placed around the park Playground - Staff will soon break ground on the new playground in Prairie Meadow. It will look similar to the one located in Comfort Cove. Site Markers - Campsites will continue to be upgraded with new poles and markers. Shoreline Stabilization - KDWPT engineers are currently working on placing rip-rap and other structures along the shoreline to minimize erosion due to wind and waves. Do your part by observing NO WAKE ZONES. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on park conditions and events www.facebook.com/elkcitystatepark
ELK CITY SPRING 2013 PAGE 3 KDWPT Merchandise! First Question Microsoft Comments: Most of our state park regulations are not new, but warrant a reminder to all of Name SPEED Address LIMIT there is a 15 mph speed limit throughout the entire park. Phone Answer A Answer B Second Question Answer A Answer B Answer C Answer A Answer B our visitors as we begin looking forward to the new park season. Regulation Reminders Answer C 24 HOUR VISITATION is required for all campsites in Kansas State Fourth Question Parks, with the exception of designated Long-Term/Seasonal campsites. Answer A Answer B GREY WATER DUMPING all waste water from camping units (GREY Answer C and BLACK tanks) must be disposed of at dump stations only. Speed should be reduced even further when entering and driving the individual campground roads. Please take extra care to watch for pedestrians! SWIM Phone: BEACH 55-555-5555 no dogs allowed, no Primary alcohol, Business no glass Address containers. Please refer to Fax: sign 555-555-5555 for other regulations. Your Address Line 2 PARKING E-mail: someone@example.com no driving/parking vehicles Your Address entirely Line on 3 grass. Please keep at Your Address Line 4 least 2 wheels on pavement or gravel when parking. Passengers are not allowed to ride in boats or on PWCs on roadways Organization With everyone abiding by park regulations, we can continue to provide a safe and family-oriented park and enjoyable visits for all!! Thank You! Pocket Ranger Smart Phone App The Kansas State Parks Pocket Ranger mobile app by Parksby- Nature Network serves as an interactive State Parks tour guide accessible through today's leading mobile devices. It is built with the most up-to-date visitor information, and designed for both the novice outdoorsmen and the more seasoned park-goer. The interactive guide along with the advanced GPS mapping technology provides park goers with valuable information for planning that perfect trip to any state park, making it easy for anyone to choose an adventure of their choice. The app allows users to keep abreast of weather conditions, view state-surveyed trails, and more directly from their mobile device! Scan for Kansas State Parks Pocket Ranger mobile app!
PAGE 4 Recreation Programs Renew Outdoor Interest for Youths Due to a strong partnership between the local school districts and State Park Staff, visitation numbers for youths skyrocketed in 2012. All images must be emailed to eisenhowersp@wp.state.ks.us in order to be considered. Participants of all ages are welcome! Images MUST be taken at the park. One submission per person. It all started with activities on March 31 st for the Open House celebrations. Kids explored the park by participating in a scavenger hunt. Families were able to take a nature hike and wet a line at the fishing derby. The whole day was a great success and will continue to grow in the coming years. Jefferson Elementary brought students out to the park in May for a day of fun and outdoor learning. Students played disc golf, fished, and channeled their inner Robin Hood on the Archery range. They also learned about local wildlife and flora while on a guided nature hike. The annual OK Kids Day took place in May. Families participated in a fishing derby and clay target shooting with shotguns. In October, Jefferson Elementary returned for an Amazing Race inspired event. Students competed in activities including tent building, trivia, blind tastetesting, and various races. The activities were designed to teach the kids teamwork while also giving them skills such has using a hammer and building a fire. All the running around helped get the students some exercise without them realizing it. Many other schools and organizations visited the park throughout the year. The park is great outdoor classroom for students of all ages. Fishing, golf, disc golf, and hiking are just some of activities available. For more information on what Elk City State Park can offer for your organization, call the office at 620-331-6295. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on park conditions and events www.facebook.com/elkcitystatepark
ELK CITY SPRING 2013 PAGE 5 Can You Identify the Species? 1. 6. 2. 7. 3. 8. 4. 9. 5. 10. (Answers on page 8)
PAGE 6 Bait Law Amended for 2013 In 2012, KDWPT enacted a regula on Nuisance Species. Many peo regarding the use and transport of bait fish. The provisions garnered a ple knew li le or passionate response from anglers toward the agency. In general, the reg zebra mussels nothing about ula on prohibited the transport of and Asian carp fish (and water) from one department un l the regulaowned water to another. This included using live shad and green sunfish species will greatly degrade our on was passed. The spread of these as bait. Anglers also needed to show aqua c resources in Kansas. a receipt for live bai ish purchased at The amendment for 2013 allows anglers to use bluegill and green sunfish a bait dealer. The controversy helped bring to light for live bait at any department owned a very serious issue regarding Aqua c water AS LONG AS the bait was taken New Senior Hunting & Fishing Licenses Effective January 1, 2013, Many other states have required seniors to purchase Kansas residents 65-74 must purchase a hunting and/or licenses for years. The reason behind the change is fishing license. states get federal funding A yearly license costs $11.50 based on the number of license holders. With budget each. A lifetime hunting and fishing combination license cuts and operating costs rising, the Fisheries and Wild- can be purchased with a one - time fee of $42.50. life Division is trying to offer All stamps and permits such the same services and programs with as little impact as HIP and three pole permit are also required. to the public as possible. legally from a non ANS body of water. For more informa on regarding Aqua c Nuisance Species, ANS waters, and the live bait regula on, visit www.ksoutdoors.com. The money generated with this new provision will help fund hunter s education, fishing clinics, CFAP, WIHA, the Urban Fishing Program, and countless other programs. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on park conditions and events www.facebook.com/elkcitystatepark
ELK CITY SPRING 2013 PAGE 7 Fishing Forecast for 2013 White crappie Excellent 7-15 inches White bass Excellent 8-18 inches Good numbers of large fish in the 2012 sample suggest good fishing in 2013. Additionally, a strong 2012 year class should supplement the existing population in future years. The Elk River above the reservoir continues to support one of the best spawning runs in the state. Look for fish moving through riffles in March-April. Channel catfish Good 12-30 inches Channel catfish support a popular fishery in summer and fall. Bank anglers do well along the dam and boat anglers do well along the creek channel. 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Jan Feb What kind of fish did I catch? tinyurl.com/ksfishid Nearly 45% of all angling effort in March-October 2012 was directed toward crappie. An additional 26% was spent fishing for channel catfish. White bass comprised 23% of effort in March and nearly 10% in July and August. We will be conducting another creel survey in 2013. Information obtained from these surveys helps us to better understand what anglers want and structure our fish management plans accordingly. Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Total Other White crappie White bass Catfishes No preference Youth Fishing Pond EKCP and the fisheries biologist created a youth/mentor fishing pond in the park. Youths under 16 may fish at anytime. Anglers 16 and older must be licensed and must be accompanied by at least one angling youth to fish. Statewide fishing regulations are enforced and special creel limits are posted. No boats or float tubes are allowed. Releasing any fish into the pond from outside waters and placing any structure into the pond is strictly prohibited. Call or visit the park office for more information.
PAGE 8 ORMS: A New Way to Reserve! Outdoor Recreation Management System: In April of 2012, the state park system began using Reserve America to manage campsite reservations. Frequent patrons of Federal parks may already be familiar with the website. As with any switch to a new system, there were growing pains. However, going into the second year, the benefits of the program are very apparent. Campsite Availability Website visitors can see which sites are available for any date. Campsite Features Size, cost, amenities, location, and even a picture accompany the listing Reservations Visitors can make reservations at their convenience (not all sites are Reservable) Try it; If you plan on camping at a state park and have not already registered, go to http://ksoutdoors.com/reservations or www.reserveamerica.com. Registration is free and signing up before your trip greatly speeds up check in times. We Think You ll Like It! IDENTIFICATION ANSWERS 1. Asian (Bighead) Carp 6. Poison Oak 2. Gizzard Shad 7. Copperhead 3. Black Crappie 8. Black Rat Snake 4. Cottonwood Tree 9. Great-Tailed Grackle 5. Poison Ivy 10. Pileated Woodpecker Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on park conditions and events www.facebook.com/elkcitystatepark
ELK CITY SPRING 2013 PAGE 9 Elk City State Park Trail System Elk City State Park offers multiple trails for visitors to use based on their skill, interest, or time. The goal is to provide users an enjoyable and safe experience regardless of ability. Seasonal changes ensure each trip will be unique. The South Squaw Trail is a paved path that takes walkers down to the original state park area. The open fields and marshes provide excellent opportunities to view wildlife. The Green Thumb Nature Trail is great for beginning and experienced hikers. At only one mile long, it offers a relaxed experience anyone can enjoy. Its trailhead is located in the Timber Road Campground. The trail meanders through the wooded hillside and rock formations and features wooden pedestrian footpaths and interpretive signing for the plants and animals native to the area. Organizations can schedule guided hikes with park staff. The trail is described as a moderately strenuous hike that is somewhat uphill. At the top of the hill, the surrounding trees frame a spectacular view of Elk City Lake. Table Mound is the most popular trail. This linear trail is nearly three miles long and has a trailhead at the Scenic Overlook near the dam and at the Timber Road Campground. Due to its length, the trail offers hikers many different and picturesque scenes from shoreline to rock bluffs. This trail is blazed with blue paint markings and is considered a moderately strenuous hike. This trail has been designated as a National Recreation Trail under the U.S Department of the Interior s National Trail System. The Post Oak self-guiding trail is located at the Overlook area. It is about a mile in length and takes hikers through a wooded area on top of a hill. The Eagle Rock Mountain Bike trail is located below the dam and runs along the Elk River. The trail is great for beginners wanting to challenge themselves and also for advanced bikers to hone their skills. The Elk River trail is fifteen miles long and runs along the north side of the lake up to the Elk River. The length and terrain make it a challenge for both novice and experienced hikers. Many users camp along the trail and spend several days exploring the area.
ELK CITY STATE PARK 4825 Squaw Creek Rd Independence, KS 67301 PHONE: (620) 331-6295 E-MAIL: elkcitysp@ksoutdoors.com Chanute Regional Office (620) 431-0380 Pratt Operations Office (620) 672-5911 Lake and Park Conditions As of 02/27/13 Current Lake Level: 793.5 ( 2.5 ) Prairie Meadow and Sunset Point u lity sites along with Comfort Cove sites 21 52 Surface Temperature: Low 40s will remain closed un l warm weather returns (projected mid late March). Visit Fishing Report: www.reserveamerica.com or call the park Crappie slow in 8 16 office for more informa on. Meet the Park Staff Park Manager Chris Hammerschmidt. Chris started as a Park Ranger here in 1998. He spent a few years as a local Conserva on Officer before returning in 2006 as the manager. Park Ranger David Breth. David became the chief ranger in November 2010. He enjoys guiding nature hikes and teaching kids about natural resources. Administra ve Specialist Diane Hight. Diane enjoys sharing her extensive knowledge of entomology with visitors. Facili es Specialist Bob Winebrenner. Bob has worked at the park for 6 years. He takes great pride in the appearance and upkeep of the park. Elk City Fish & Wildlife Office (620) 331-6820 Operation Game Thief 1-877-426-3843 F A Q s Are umbrella/alabama rigs legal fishing equipment? By Kansas regula on, anglers are limited to only 2 ar ficial lures per line. Therefore these rigs are only legal if they have no more than 2 lures with hooks a ached. Do I have to drain my live well before leaving the lake? Yes. Before leaving any department managed lake, all live wells and any water holding compartments must be drained or plugs pulled. Can I buy ice and wood in the park? Yes. The Friends Group sells ice and wood year round and offers on site laundry facili es. All proceeds go to improve the park. Like us on Facebook to keep up to date on park conditions and events www.facebook.com/elkcitystatepark