Words: Kandie Erickson | Photos: Brad Austin
The world is a place full of natural beauty. However, many forget that it is a huge responsibility caring for nature. Thankfully, there are those working behind the scenes to ensure that the world around us remains viable for years to come.
One such individual is Frank Austenfeld. He’s an attorney with many accolades associated with his name. Most notably, he is the executive director of the Watershed Institute, a nonprofit corporation and the Watershed Land Trust, a public charity whose team has a variety of expertise that is used to help solve environmental issues. Examples include stream enhancement, habitat assessments and wetland design and construction, and permanent land protection through the use of conservation easement.
Austenfeld’s love of nature began when he was a child, growing up in the Flint Hills of Kansas. This unique environment is protected, and as a result is still largely made up of native prairie grassland. “While in high school, a few of the students participated in a birding program,” Austenfeld remembered. “We accompanied the science teacher on a weekly bird count at the Flint Hills National Wildlife Refuge. Every bird we saw we would record …one cardinal, five sparrows, 20,000 snow geese. It was fascinating navigating around on a refuge; wildlife was abundant.” After experiencing what the world is like when it is allowed to be in its natural state, he developed a sense of responsibility and has turned it into a profession as well as a passion.
As a young man in the early 1970s, Austenfeld would spend a week or two on his family farm in Smithville. He explored, fished and helped with the daily chores. The farm has many interesting areas. One of these features, Rattlesnake Ridge, was appropriately named for the timber rattlesnakes that live in colonies on the ridge. These snakes can get up to six feet long and as thick as a man’s arm. Dick’s Creek is another attribute of the farm.
A creek’s diversity can define its health and Dick’s Creek has bountiful amount of wildlife. Some examples of the fish include largemouth bass, carp, bullhead, blue gill and channel catfish. There is also a trail so steep and treacherous that it has to be driven either in a four-wheel drive vehicle or a Jeep. As a result it has become known as the Jeep Trail.
Austenfeld has recently purchased the farm that has been in his family since 1913, originally bought by his great-grandfather, Jesse J. Edwards, who purchased 58.8 acres of land for $5,840. In 1957, Frank’s grandfather, Jesse Clifford Edwards and his grandmother Linnie B. Edwards, inherited the farm, consisting of about 88 acres. Frank himself purchased the farm from his mother last summer. The land is full of family history. Currently he has five cousins that live on or adjacent to the farm and he is there frequently with his own immediate family.
Austenfeld has many reasons for wanting to own this piece of land that has so much importance, both to him personally as well as the environment. His children represent the primary reason. He wants them to have the same experiences that he himself had. I was lucky enough to spend an afternoon with Austenfeld and his son, Luke. During the car ride from their home to the farm in Smithville, »»Luke shared his knowledge of the environment and his love for nature. This 12-year-old shares a love for the environment with his father. Austenfeld has exposed his son to his passions and knowledge of the field he has chosen to dedicate a large portion of his life and career.
Luke said he’s lucky to have a father teach him about the environment. However, he is also proud of the fact that he does his own research on topics. He also enjoys being able to challenge his father every once in awhile. Austenfeld and Luke are avid hunters and fishermen and they share many adventures.
Another reason for purchasing the land was to benefit the environment. After purchasing the land, Austenfeld used his expertise in the field of conservation and land preservation to »»have the land tested for the viability of creating the Smithville Wetlands Project on his own family farm. “Wetlands are areas that are inundated or saturated by surface or groundwater at a frequency and duration sufficient to support, and that under normal circumstances do support, a prevalence of vegetation typically adapted for life in saturated soil conditions,” he said.
After a soil survey conducted by Platte County, the results indicated that, “on a scale of 1-4, 4 being the best, the Nodaway soil type of the land would rate as a 4 as it relates to potential for habitat elements and wetland plants. It would rate a 3 for shallow water areas, and a 3 for wetland wildlife. In sum, it would be an excellent location for a wetland.” Therefore, Dick’s Creek, located along the southern edge, is the location of the first wetlands project. The majority of this wetland would be lower wooded areas and cornfield with a depth of 2 to 4 feet, Austenfeld said.
The second proposed wetland is in the northwest corner of the property. “The size of this wetland will be about two acres at full pool. The majority of the area would consist of flooded timber. Already a flyaway forCanadian geese, Mallard ducks and additional waterfowl from Squaw Creek NationalWildlife Refuge, these wetlands will be beneficial to lots of waterfowl and migratory shorebirds. The wooded creek is frequented by Wood Ducks,” he said.
The need for preserving nature for future generations accompanies an appreciation for those who work tirelessly to make sure there is knowledge as a civilization. From something as simple as a community garden or a rain garden in the family backyard to something as large as recreating a natural wetland or a nature preserve, all of these small parts create a bigger picture. Perhaps Albert Einstein said it best, “Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.”
