Where Did Our Soils Come From? 
By Lonnie Miller
Have our soils always been here? No. Soils form in parent materials. This parent material can be bedrock that has weathered in place. It can be alluvial materials moved in by water. Some soils are blown in and deposited. Some soils were developed in glacial till; moved in by glaciers. Parent material is the unconsolidated material in which soil is formed.
Once the material is deposited, it starts the weathering process. In the case of bedrock, it may take thousands of years to develop into a soil. In the case of
recent alluvial materials, the weathering process moves much faster. As soon as the material is deposited, the weathering starts and soil start to develop. Young soils do not have a complete soil profile. However, with time, they develop and a soil profile determines what soil we call it.
The type of parent material that is present will influence the soil that is developed in the material. Difference
in material size, mixture of minerals available, chemical influences and time all affect the soils that are developed. The longer a soil has to develop the more clay that will be found in the profile. Soils developed from bedrock usually will not be as fertile as soils developed from other sources. This is because the bedrock is more homogeneous and does not have a good mixture of minerals. The soils in Wyandotte County that come from bedrock material of limestone, sandstone, and shale are not very productive.
The glacial soils are not too common in Wyandotte County. Most of the glacial deposits have been washed away; there are some found in the county. The further north you go the more likely you are to find glacial soils. In many areas, the wind blown loess material covers what glacial material is there. These wind blown soils are generally on the flatter and more rolling areas closer to the river systems.
The alluvial materials may be recent deposits or older deposits. They are the most variable also. The biggest variable is the texture. It can be from sand to clay and everything in between. These soils are generally productive but can be subject to flooding in some cases. Materials close to the streams are usually sandy or loamy materials. The further you get away from the stream the more clay you find. Streams do tend to meander and you may find heavy clays close to the streams in some cases. These materials usually have some courser textures deposited above them.
Parent material plays the biggest part in determining what soil name we put on the soil. Than we look at the texture of the soil to determine how much sand, silt and clay are in the material. Last, we look at how long it has been developing. Does it have a strongly
developed profile or is it a recent deposit with little development. All of these things influence the soils we have today.
Calendar
July
  • 1:   Board Meeting·
  • 3:   Closed (Independence Day)
  • 22: Open House/ Rain Barrel Workshop
  • 23: Shawnee Mission Park Festival
August
  • 5:   Board Meeting·
  • 6:   Environmental Educators Workshop·
  • 20: EE Provider’s Event at Lakeside Nature Center
What We’ve Been Up To
The last few months seemed to have flown by, but not before presenting to over 18,297 students and adults.  That number may seem far-fetched, but environmental education has no bounds.  Ranging from baseball fields to home school groups, the Wyandotte County Conservation District does it all.
April 3 started us off at Hillsdale Water Festival where Humpty Dumpty made an impression on 140 middle school students.  The program focuses on reclamation of lands we have mined and disturbed.
April 7 marked the presenter’s luncheon where 31 volunteers and presenters attended to learn about the Water Rally.
On April 17, the District hosted its annual Water Rally for 550 students, 29 teachers, 103 chaperones, and 21 volunteers.  Everyone enjoyed a fantastic spring day of outdoor, hands-on learning at Camp Naish.
April 20 took the district manager to Miami County for their Earth Festival assisting with Enviroscape, H2Olympics, and the Earth Balloon.
April 21 took the district to Leavenworth County for their E.A.R.T.H. Festival presenting Gooey Garbage, a program on landfills, and the Stream Trailer, a lesson on soil erosion, to 71 students.
April 22 took the district manager to Franklin County, where she presented What’s My Plastic to 375 middle school students.
The district manager was invited, on April 23, to Welborn Elementary Career Fair to explain how conservation district work to protect our natural resources to 75 students.  That evening, the district hosted an open house, where 28 individuals walked through making edible soil, bottle fish, and asking questions about goats and district services.
April 25, the district manager went to the Kansas City Zoo for Scout Day building and demonstrating 155 soil profiles with the scouts attending the special events.
April 29, the district manager attended Mad for Ag in Miami County presenting Incredible Journey with 426 fourth grade students.
May 5 and 11, the district manager presented soil-based mini festivals call Mud Puddles for 82 Hazel Grove Elementary second graders where they made soil profiles and a soil mural.
May 7, the district manager attended Day at the K where she took part in a Guinness Book record, the largest weather lesson to 16,110 people.
May 8, the district manager presented Incredible Journey to 24 home school students in Leavenworth.
May 12, the district manager presented a leave no trace behind, water quality protection and animal prints program to 10 cub scouts.
May 15, the district hosted it annual Soil & Water Stewardship Poster Awards ceremony.  About 110 people attended watching the students walk across the KCKCC theater stage to receive certificates, medals, and goody bags.  Parents had plenty of photo opportunities of their student and their respective posters from the Power point presentation displaying the students’ artwork.
May 19, the district hosted a rain barrel workshop in conjunction with Leavenworth and Miami Counties.  Attendees had the opportunity to take home a fully furnished rain barrel and information on the uses and benefits of owning them.  Continuous calls spurred the planning of a second rain barrel workshop June 11.
May 31, the district manager presented the Stream Trailer to a cub-scout group at Shawnee Mission Park.
June 11, 19, and 25 the District either hosted or co-hosted Rain Barrel workshops for the public.
June 16 and 18 the District presented programs and facilitated a storm drain-marking program to nine students.
Finally, the district hosted an Environmental Education workshop, on June 23, for eight formal and informal educators at Camp Naish.

☺Thank you all for the 53 years of support to the Conservation District, Environmental Education, and the services we provide. If you are interested in participating, volunteering, or offering support to the district, let us know.  We would be happy to have you.  You may contact us on our website- www.wycocd.com or e-mail give us a call at 334-6329.
Kids Corner

Tools of the Trade
Every gardener needs tools to work with plants. For example, a gardener uses wooden stakes and string to make straight rows, a hand trowel for transplanting and a watering can to water the plants. Listed below are several tools that you might need to work in your yard or garden. Look in books and on the Internet to find out how each tool is used.  Make a poster about the tools and their uses. Then, look for the words in the puzzle.

  Play Soil-doku!  From Soil-net.com                 
CULTIVATOR
GARDEN SPADE
HAND TROWEL
HOE
RAKE
SHOVEL
SPADING FORK
SPRAYER
STAKES
STRING
WATERING CAN
WHEELBARROW
E L E W O R T D N A H K
D W P R K O E W S H R C
A L H H E B N E Q O V U
P E X E F Y K A F E X L
S V F J E A A G W X S T
N O K R T L N R H J Q I
E H C S A I B C P N T V
D S K L D K J A H S Y A
R O D A K W E O R F D T
A Y P S T R I N G R N O
G S U C J N D M J O O R
W A T E R I N G C A N W
Fill in the missing parts of soil into the empty boxes. 
There must be a complete set of the six parts of soil in each row and column.
SiltClayWaterSand
AirSIlt  Water     Organic
  Matter   
Clay   WaterSandSilt
  WaterClay
Water  SandClay
SiltClay      Organic
    Matter       Air
Fill in the missing parts of soil into the empty boxes. There must be a complete set of the six parts of soil in each row and column.
    Organic
Clay AirWaterSandSiltMatter
Wyandotte County Conservation District Open House
July 22, the Wyandotte County Conservation District plans to hold an open house and Rain Barrel Workshop.  Open House commences from 3:00 to 5:00; the Rain Barrel workshop is from 5-6:30.   Attendees will learn about cost-share assistance and other programs/services offered, as well as the functions, installation, and assembly of rain barrels 
·Water Resource Cost Share
·Non-Point Source Pollution Cost Share
·Environmental Education
·Workshops

Non-Point Source Pollution Cost Share
Sign up commences on June 1, 2009 for 2010 funds allocated to the Non-Point Source Pollution Control practice.  In this rebate program, the state will assist landowners pay for 70% (or up to $2000) of the cost leaving the remainder an obligation to the landowner.  Finding the contractor and maintaining the practice is the responsibility of the landowner.
The State Conservation Commission provides funding for the NPS program from the Kansas Water Plan Fund.
Practices eligible for Cost-Share Funds include
1.on-site wastewater systems-  fix failing septic systems
2.Nutrient management- An agreement with WYCO K-State Extension and WCCD allows us to pay for soil testing.
3.abandoned water-well plugging-   assistance  with the cost of plugging
Previously set landowners in priority areas will, most likely fill the limited slots, but please come in and fill out an application.  For more information, or to fill out an
application on the Non-Point Source Pollution Control program, please contact Water Quality Coordinator, Jasmine Lowe, at (913) 334-6329, jasmine.lowe@nacdnet.net, or visit our website http://www.wycocd.com.
*The Wyandotte County Conservation District is not responsible for arrangements/quotes/contracts between landowners and contractors. Landowners are encouraged to get a quote from contractors prior to beginning any construction. 
Water Resource Cost Share Program
Sign up for the WRCSP begins June 1, 2009 and will continue throughout the year.  The WRCSP is a rebate program that enables landowners to apply for cost share funds, which are approved for conservation practices to prevent soil and water erosion.  The State Conservation Commission funds the WRCSP through the Kansas Water Plan Fund.
The Wyandotte County Conservation District will pay 70% (up to $2000) of the county average cost to any qualified individual that owns land and constructs a conservation practice on their property.  Maintenance of the practice and the hiring of a
contractor is the responsibility of the landowner. Eligible practices for the cost share funds include:  permanent vegetative cover (grasses and trees); grassed water ways or outlets; diversions; water and sediment basins; tree windbreaks and buffer zones; pasture and hay-land planting; ponds (must be constructed on a minimum of 40 acres); range speeding; underground tile outlet; terraces; stream-bank stabilization; wetland development and enhancement; and riparian work.  For more information, or to fill out an Application, contact Cheri Miller, District Manager, at (913) 334-6329, wyco.conservation@gmail.com, or visit our website http://www.wycocd.com.
*The Wyandotte County Conservation District is not responsible for arrangements/quotes/contracts between landowners and contractors. Landowners are encouraged to get a quote from contractors prior to beginning any construction. 
Summer Water Saving Tips
From www.watersavingtips.org

Kansas Summer Recipes- www.kansassoybeans.com
CINNAMON SOYNUTS
1 egg white, slightly beaten
2 cups soynuts*
1/3 cup sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Mix egg white and soynuts in medium bowl until nuts are coated and sticky.  Combine sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over nuts and stir until thoroughly coated.  Spread nuts in single layer in a greased jellyroll pan.  Bake at 300 degrees about 30 minutes or until toasted. Store tightly covered.
HOT AND SPICY SOYNUTS
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon vegetable oil
2 cups soynuts
2 teaspoons chili powder
¼-teaspoon red pepper

Sauté minced garlic in oil in a small skillet. Stir in soynuts, chili powder, and red pepper.  Cook for about 2 minutes to blend flavors and nuts are warm.  Remove from pan, serve warm or cool, and serve at room temperature.  Makes 2 cups.

Super Crunchy Caramel Corn
1-cup brown sugar¼-teaspoon baking soda
¼-cup light corn syrup1-teaspoon vanilla
½ cup soy margarine3 quarts popped corn
¼-teaspoon salt1-cup roasted soy nuts      
Mix brown sugar, corn syrup, margarine and salt in medium saucepan; bring to a boil; boiling 2 minutes.  Add baking soda and vanilla extract, stirring well.  Pour mixture over popped corn and soy nuts in a large shallow baking pan.  Stir to blend.  Bake at 250 degrees for 60 minutes; stirring every 15 minutes.  Cool; store in airtight container.  Makes 12 cups
Board of Directors Staff
Martha Bach, Chairperson Cheri Miller, District Manager
John Shidler, Vice-ChairpersonJasmine Lowe, Water Quality Coordinator
Kris Blevins, Secretary/Treasurer Lonnie Miller, Soil Scientist
David Andervich, Board Member Debbie Sumner, District Conservationist

Please support the efforts of the Wyandotte County Conservation District by filling in this portion and returning it with a donation for our educational programs promoting the conservation of our natural resources during the upcoming year.  The mission of the Wyandotte County Conservation District is to conserve our natural resources:  soil, water, and wildlife through planning and education.

Please accept my donation(s) of $___________ for the ongoing programming of the Wyandotte County Conservation District.

Signed____________________________________
Address___________________________________
Make Checks payable to the Wyandotte County Conservation District and mail:

1204 N. 79th Street
Kansas City, KS 66112-1540