Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Assistant to the City Manager
DATE:	November 11, 2008
RE:	Conservation Easement

In 1989, as part of the development of the Kansas River Plaza (Riverfront Mall), the City of Lawrence granted a conservation easement to the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks for the land located generally east of the Riverfront Mall adjacent to the Kansas River. The conservation easement, often referred to as the Habitat Restoration Area, is not a City park, but receives minimal maintenance by the Parks and Recreation Department.

The purpose of the conservation easement was to mitigate the effect of the riverfront development on the “critical wintering habitat” of the Bald Eagle, as designated by the Department of Wildlife and Parks. The conservation easement expressly prohibits certain activities that would cause increased human activity on the property or impair or interfere with its continued use as Bald Eagle habitat, including: construction of trails, picnic shelters or residential developments, removal of sand or other minerals, or removal/trimming of trees without prior approval of the Department of Wildlife and Parks.

It is staff’s opinion that allowing camping of any kind within the conservation easement property would be a violation of the letter and the spirit of the City’s agreement with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.