Here in Douglas County, Kansas we have the Wakarusa Wetlands, a remnant of the 18,00 acres of periodic prairie wetland that was largely drained in the 19th century.
About 600 acres of wetland, most of which was drained to prevent Indian boarding school students from using it as a refuge from cultural extermination and suppression of their spiritual traditions, is now owned by Baker University, with the University of Kansas, and Haskell Indian Nations University each now owning smaller contiguous sections of wetlands.
If we ever manage to resolve the decades old battle to keep the South Lawrence Trafficway out of this extraordinary place look for our tri-university Wakarusa Wetlands to give the Olentangy Wetlands Research Park a run for its status as the premier site for planet-saving projects.
Competition is a good thing. Good luck and be sure to stop by the Wakarusa Wetlands aka Haskell-Baker Wetlands, the next time you are traveling in our vicinity.