Welcome.
My name is Erin Socha and I’m a freelance journalist based in Lawrence, Kansas.
Below, you can find some examples of my recent work. Clicking on an image will take you to the original publication.
The Cowboys of Conservation is a series of articles I produced independently and published in the Kansas Reflector. The idea stems from my research into what is presently the greatest environmental threat our native grasslands are facing: woody encroachment. My interest in prairie conservation led me to cattle ranching, and its surprising role in keeping our native ecosystems thriving. It was a joy to report this story, and an honor to tell the story of these modern day cowboys.
Cowboys of Conservation Part I: “The single greatest conservation threat” of our lifetime Woody encroachment threatens Kansas’ grasslands, but cattle ranchers are fighting back (Kansas Reflector)
Cowboys of Conservation Part II: Bill Sproul, the Flint Hills, and community-based conservation Flint Hills rancher works to restore biodiversity of imperiled Kansas tallgrass prairie ecosystems (Kansas Reflector)
Cowboys of Conservation Part III: Bill Barby, developing a culture of fire in the Red Hills Red Hills rancher sets Kansas prairie ablaze to save it (Kansas Reflector)
Cowboys of Conservation Part IV: Out west, an exportable conservation model in Smoky Valley Ranch Smoky Valley Ranch provides exportable conservation model for Kansas cattle ranchers (Kansas Reflector)
Lawsuit delays $12B data center in Kansas City as community, environmental group voice concerns (Kansas Reflector)
Rare wildflowers show resilience in Lawrence park where city carelessly applied herbicide (Kansas Reflector)
Osawatomie Pound may revert to killing animals if city declines aid (Kansas Reflector)
Keeping the prairie alive: Douglas County landowner has restored land over decades (Kansas Reflector)
Kansas restoration ecologists work to improve Kansas River ecosystems (University Daily Kansan)
Lawrence ecologist’s mission rooted in Kansas prairie restoration efforts (Kansas Reflector)
The 15 Best Restaurants in Lawrence, Home of the University of Kansas (Eater Magazine)
U.S. Army provides update on cleanup efforts at site of Panasonic plant in Kansas (Kansas Reflector)
Exploring the environmental cost of AI: AI's impact on water and energy (University Daily Kansan)