Today we’d like to introduce you to Dawn Buehler.
Hi Dawn, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Friends of the Kaw (FOK) serves the Kansas River, known locally as the Kaw. The Kansas River is the largest prairie-based river system in the world. The river originates at the junction of the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers and runs 173 miles to meet the Missouri River at Kaw Point in Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas River is also a drinking water source for over 950,000 Kansans.
For over thirty five years, our water-focused friends group has been the only grassroots conservation group dedicated to protecting the Kansas River. Our members come from rural, urban, and suburban areas and represent canoers, kayakers, anglers, hunters, birdwatchers, and locals who love the river.
Our Mission:
To protect and preserve the Kansas River for future generations.
To advocate for the rehabilitation of the Kansas River’s environs, including its water quality and wildlife habitat.
To discover and promote compatible public recreational uses of the Kansas River and encourage the development of public access.
To educate the public about the importance, benefits, and beauty of the Kansas River.
To cooperate with other people, organizations, and public agencies in support of a healthy Kansas River ecosystem.
FOK is the only grassroots citizens’ group committed to protecting the Kansas River. When we formed in 1991, the river was almost completely inaccessible to the public. We changed all that by increasing the number of boat ramps from six to nineteen, and leading paddle trips to educate about the river. Our first victory came in 1995 when we led a successful campaign to convince the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) to deny a permit on the basis of the Kansas River’s recreational value. Since 2001 Friends of the Kaw has been a member of the Waterkeeper Alliance, and we support the Kansas Riverkeeper®, a non-governmental public advocate who holds the community accountable for the health of the Kansas River. The Kansas Riverkeeper is the eyes, ears and voice of the Kansas River acting in the capacity of leader, educator, investigator, media spokesperson and a scientist.
Some of our other programs include:
• Advocacy
• River Cleanups
• Educational Paddle Trips
• Adopt-A-Boat Ramp
• Water Quality Education in Grades 6-12
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Protecting the Kansas River is increasingly difficult as the river is asked to do more with less. It must supply drinking water, support agriculture and industry, sustain wildlife, and provide recreation, all while facing declining flows, water quality threats, and the growing impacts of drought, floods, and extreme weather. These challenges are intensified by aging infrastructure, limited funding, and fragmented decision-making across multiple jurisdictions. Without sustained coordination, investment, and public awareness, the burden on the river continues to grow, placing both the ecosystem and the communities that rely on it at risk.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My name is Dawn Buehler and I am the Kansas Riverkeeper and Executive Director with Friends of the Kaw. In my role as the Kansas Riverkeeper, I am a non-governmental public advocate that works to protect and preserve the Kansas River. This is accomplished through holding the community accountable for the health of the river, working to resolve pollution concerns about the river, advocating for the Kansas River and its environs, educating the students and the public, and providing outreach activities to get people involved in the river. I also manage the daily activites and direction of Friends of the Kaw. I hold a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources, Fish and Wildlife Conservation from Oregon State University and a Bachelor in Business Administration from Baker University. I was also appointed by Governor Laura Kelly as the Chair of the Kansas Water Authority and also as the Governor’s Appointee for the Oil & Gas Advisory Committee.
My dedication and commitment in water resources is watershed management. I enjoy working with partners to find ways we can all work together to improve our watershed and the quality of the Kansas River.
In the 11 years that I have been at Friends of the Kaw, some of my greatest accomplishments have included create deep and meaningful partnerships along the 173-mile-long Kansas River to steward the river for future generations. We are the only non-profit that cleans up the Kansas River and to date, we have removed over 4,000 tires, 35 tons of battery cases, mounds of trash and plastic bottles, and steel left from old bridges. We are making sure that our generation leaves the river cleaner for the next generation and that is work that I am most proud of.
I have also worked over this time to increase the visibility of Friends of the Kaw and I care deeply about the work that we do. Our profile has been heightened and we are known for our collaborative, scientific, teamwork approach to solving some of our biggest challenges for the Kansas River.
What sets Friends of the Kaw apart from other nonprofits is our place-based, hands-on commitment to the Kansas River and the communities that depend on it. We focus not only on protecting the river’s ecological health, but also on fostering meaningful public connection through education, recreation, and stewardship. By working directly on the river and alongside local partners, landowners, and river users, Friends of the Kaw bridges conservation and access—recognizing that people are more likely to care for the Kansas River when they are invited to experience it, understand it, and take shared responsibility for its future.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Caring for the Kansas River requires us to rethink how we view risk—not as something to avoid entirely, but as something to manage wisely in service of long-term protection. Responsible river stewardship means taking measured, informed risks: investing in access, recreation, and conservation while ensuring safety, sustainability, and respect for the river as a shared public resource. Avoiding all risk can lead to over-restriction and loss of public connection, while ignoring risk can cause harm. The better path is one of thoughtful decision-making that balances use and protection, encourages public engagement, and builds a collective sense of responsibility for the Kansas River’s health now and into the future.
Pricing:
- Membership: $45/year
- Donations gladly accepted.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kansasriver.org
- Instagram: @friendsofthekawriverkeeper
- Facebook: @kansasriver
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/99274632
- Youtube: @friendsofthekaw9774
