Kansas City is committed to protecting its natural resources, enhancing the quality of its environment, and ensuring the safety and well-being of its residents. In 2024, KC Water received a Regional Wetland Program Development Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The funding supports KC Water’s efforts to update the National Wetland Inventory of the localized level of watersheds listed in the national Watershed Boundary Dataset for Kansas City, MO.
The existing National Wetland Inventory (NWI) for Kansas City was generated in the 1980s. KC Water’s current NWI research aims to establish comprehensive and up-to-date data on Kansas City’s wetland resources, providing a foundation for long-term conservation, protection, and restoration efforts. The project also supports the 2023-2028 Missouri Wetland Program Plan.
As part of this project, KC Water will, from time to time, provide information from various sources to promote public awareness of the importance of wetlands and encourage the public to take practical actions that will help protect our local wetlands.
The state of Missouri is hosting its 2nd Missouri Birding Challenge (details to be updated in the coming months) at the beginning of May 2026. Wetlands are a great place to find a diversity of birds. There are various birding spots along the Missouri Birding Trail, including locations in the Kansas City region.
Here is an interactive map:
Missouri Birding Trails: https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/activities/birdwatching/missouri-birding-trail
This year, the Missouri Birding Challenge T-shirt will feature the Green Heron, a wetland-dependent species. The public is invited to provide input on the design. Go to: https://www.facebook.com/moconservation/posts/-hey-birders-help-choose-the-2026-missouri-birding-challenge-graphic-were-gearin/1257280109771876/
