KDWP's Ecological Services Division provides timely professional reviews of proposed development projects with special emphasis on Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species protection. Major strategies for project reviews are to address ecological concerns during the earliest stages of project planning and to use the latest technology and scientific information in developing sound ecological recommendations. Actions requiring a review are any that involve public funds, government assistance, require another state or federal permit, or potentially affect a current state-listed species or its critical habitat. Once a project sponsor has received an Ecological Review from KDWP, the results remain valid for one year. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to contact us using the information below. 

Publicly-funded Projects: In accordance with the Kansas Nongame and Endangered Species Conservation Act, an Ecological Review is required for all projects that are partially or entirely funded with public monies or receive governmental technical or financial assistance.

Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Notice of Intent (NOI): The KDHE requires applicants to identify whether the project will impact T&E species. KDWP can provide the appropriate regulatory documentation for the NOI application process in the form of a completed Ecological Review letter or report.

Projects requiring Division of Water Resources or Corps of Engineers permits: In accordance with the Water Projects Environmental Coordination Act [82a-325-327], KDWP is required to provide comments on projects applying for a Kansas Department of Agriculture - Division of Water Resources permit. In addition, KDWP provides comments to the Corps of Engineers on all public notices posted for Section 404 permits. Applicants may wish to submit their project for Ecological Review beforehand so that potential concerns with Threatened and Endangered species and wildlife habitat can be addressed prior to submitting applications to these other agencies.

How to submit a project for Ecological Review: 

Option 1 (preferred) - Kansas Ecological Review Tool (ERT) 

We encourage project sponsors or their agents to submit projects through the recently launched ERT website. Submitting a project through this easy-to-use tool can result in a regulatory response from KDWP in less than 15 minutes. If you are not currently a registered user, you must create a user account to begin submitting projects through ERT. Please review the “Help” page before submitting projects – there are even some handy video tutorials! Projects that receive an Automated Determination of “Project Clearance Granted” may move forward with no additional steps necessary. Projects that receive an Automated Determination of “Further Review by KDWP Required” should follow the instructions provided in the report to continue coordination with KDWP. If you have any questions regarding the Kansas ERT, please feel free to contact us using the information at the bottom of this page.  

Option 2 - Request an Ecological Review from KDWP 

You may request an Ecological Review directly from KDWP by submitting the information below, and you will receive a response or request for additional information within 30 days. Review requests that lack sufficient detail or information may lead to delays in the review process. 

Required information to submit for KDWP Ecological Review:

1. Project Name
2. Location (Section-Township-Range; or GPS coordinates in decimal degrees) + County. For projects that span a large area (i.e. pipelines, roadways, railroads, etc.), please feel free to provide a .kmz file with the project outline in lieu of a list of location coordinates.
3. Brief Description of the project (i.e. residential subdivision, industrial, commercial facility, etc.).
4. Any project ID numbers assigned to this project, if applicable. (Primarily KDOT numbers)
5. A map with the footprint of the project delineated.  Aerial photographs are preferred. Maps can be obtained from sources such as Google Earth (https://www.google.com/earth/), Maps Live (http://maps.live.com/), WebGIS (http://www.webgis.com/terraserver.html), Kansas Data Access and Support Center (https://hub.kansasgis.org/). County resources include: Johnson County AIMS (http://maps.jocogov.org/ims/); Sedgwick County (http://gis.sedgwick.gov/); Riley County (http://gis.rileycountyks.gov/)
6. Design Plans

Please submit review materials to:

email: kdwpt.ess@ks.gov 
fax:(620) 672-2972
or sent via mail to Ecological Services Division, 512 SE 25th Avenue, Pratt, KS  67124-8174.

If you have any questions, please contact us at:

(620) 672-0720 or (620) 672-0798

Additional links:

Kansas Ecological Review Tool (ERT)

Natural Resource Planner
Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool
Wind Power and Wildlife Issues in Kansas
Bat Specimen Procurement Statement
Kansas Fish Passage Guide