Division of Conservation

(This website was updated 4/24/2024)
                

                                DOC_Logo



Welcome to the Division of Conservation (DOC)

Conservation of natural resources is an important concern for all Kansans. The Division of Conservation (DOC), working with 105 local Conservation Districts, 75 organized Watershed Districts, other special-purpose districts, as well as state and federal entities administer programs to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, conserve water, reduce flood potential and provide local water supply. The DOC has the responsibility to administer the Conservation Districts Law, the Watershed District Act and other statutes authorizing various programs. The agency budget is financed from the dedicated funding of the Kansas State Water Plan Special Revenue Fund, State General Fund, and fee funds.

Conservation District AreasThese five conservation regions are each represented by a commissioner who serves on the State Conservation Commission.

Who We Partner With

Kansas Association of Conservation Districts (KACD)
Kansas Association of Conservation District Employees Organization (KACD-EO)
National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD)
National Association of State Conservation Agencies (NASCA)
State Conservation Commission (SCC)
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Kansas Water Office (KWO)
Kansas Forest Service (KFS)
Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE)
Watershed Restoration & Protection Strategy (WRAPS)
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP)
State Association of Kansas Watersheds (SAKW)
Kansas State University (KSU)
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA)
Watershed Districts

Division of Conservation News

KDA Hires Executive Director for Division of Conservation

The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission have hired Steve Frost to serve as the executive director for the KDA Division of Conservation.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture and the State Conservation Commission have hired Steve Frost to serve as the executive director for the KDA Division of Conservation. The KDA–DOC works to protect and enhance Kansas’ natural resources through the management and implementation of programs to support water conservation, water quality, land reclamation, and watershed management.

Frost brings over four decades of public service, from local government to state agency roles, nearly all of it in the field of water resources and conservation. He has spent the past 17 years at KDA–DOC, with a focus on water conservation programs and oversight of conservation districts and watershed districts. Frost’s career also included nine years as the executive director of the Southwest Kansas Groundwater Management District and several years in the Bureau of Water at the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

“Steve has shown great dedication and commitment to conservation issues in Kansas, and brings a wealth of experience to this position,” said Rod Voorhees, chair of the State Conservation Commission. “He will be a great asset to the state as we expand collaboration with our conservation partners.”

The KDA Division of Conservation works with the SCC and 105 local conservation districts, 88 organized watershed districts, other special purpose districts, and state and federal entities to administer programs to improve water quality, reduce soil erosion, conserve water, reduce flood potential, and provide local water supply. As director, Frost will lead the efforts of the KDA–DOC, including the administration of the Conservation Districts Law and other laws designed to assist local entities and individuals in conserving our natural resources.

To learn more about the SCC or the KDA Division of Conservation, visit the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/DOC