The Blue River

Action Plan

The Blue River Action Plan is a culmination of decades of efforts from various regional plans including initiatives such as the Mid-America Regional Council’s MetroGreen Plan, KC Water’s Combined Sewer Overflow Plan, the Upper Blue River Watershed Plan, and Kansas City WildLands’ Conservation Opportunity Action Plan. The Blue River Action Plan aims to prioritize and summarize the extensive work required to restore the health of the Blue River watershed.

 

Download the Blue River Action Plan

Action Areas: Focal Points for Change

 

Eight Action Areas within the Blue River watershed were identified to serve as focal points for restoration and conservation efforts. Each area represents a unique geographic location with varying types of habitat. The Heartland Conservation Alliance, along with other organizations, actively works in these areas to improve the health of the watershed. The current and potential conservation projects are outlined in the Plan within each Action Area. 



Understanding Focal Species and Keystone Habitats


The Blue River Action Plan highlights a few focal species – plants or animals native to a region that depend on key habitats – to underscore the importance of protecting their habitats. Additionally, the keystone habitats in each Action Area showcase HCA’s strategic focus on specific ecosystems.

The Blue River Action Plan – Action Areas

The Blue River Headwaters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Area: 17,828 acres

Restoration Area: 3,000 acres

Habitat: Ephemeral Streams

Focal Species: Redbelly Snake

Blue River Parkway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Area: 993 acres

Restoration Area: 40 acres

Habitat: Healthy riparian corridor and floodplain

Focal Species: Pawpaw

Alex George Wetland at Blue River Parkway

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Area: 1,416 acres

Restoration Area: 60 acres

Habitat: Bottomland forest and wetland

Focal Species: American Beaver

Marlborough

 

Total Area: 2,810 acres

Restoration Area: 10 acres

Habitat: Wetland

Focal Species: Monarch Butterfly

 

Swope Park

 

Total Area: 1,738 acres

Restoration Area: 25 acres

Habitat: Upland woodland

Focal Species: Prothonotary Warbler

 

Municipal Farm

 

Total Area: 1,393 acres

Restoration Area: 35 acres

Habitat: Bottomland woodland and wetland

Focal Species: Tri-color bats

 

Heart of the City

 

Total Area: 1,731 acres

Restoration Area: 65 acres

Habitat: Urban forest

Focal Species: Ruby throated hummingbird

 

Blue Valley Park

 

Total Area: 2,464 acres

Restoration Area: 65 acres

Habitat: Oxbow wetland and riparian forest

Focal Species: Red-eared slider

 

For more in-depth information

 

Download the Blue River Action Plan | Visit a Map of the Action Areas