The Nature Conservancy of Kansas plans to use a $2 million gift to improve stream conservation in the state.

The gift from the David T. Beals III Charitable Trust is the largest gift the organization has ever received. Nature Conservancy officials said Wednesday the money will be used to establish a statewide stream conservation program.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/1QgRSTt) the Nature Conservancy owns 46,000 acres in Kansas. It also leads conservation efforts in the Flint Hills, Red Hills and Cheyenne Bottoms.

The organization plans to work with private landowners on techniques that limit livestock and crop runoff into streams. That work will start occur mostly in rural areas once the agency finds a stream that needs rehabilitation. A program manager is expected to be hired by this spring.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com.