Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 3. Terrestrial Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
Di Piazza and Pearthree (2004) presented water quality data on various terrestrial water
sources on Enderbury, Abariringa (Kanton), Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra, and Orona (see Table
III-3.1).
BIRNIE
Table III-3.1. Salinity and water chemistry of various water sources on
Enderbury, Abariringa (Kanton), Rawaki (Phoenix), Manra, and Orona.
(source: Di Piazza and Pearthree 2004).
Bryan (1934) reported that there was no fresh water on Birnie.
Maude (1937) reported that no test wells were dug on Birnie since there were little prospects
for finding freshwater and the island was so small that it was unsuitable for settlement.
Garnett (1983) indicated that there was no evidence of a freshwater lens on Birnie.
ENDERBURY
According to Hydrographic Office (1916), there was no fresh water on Enderbury. There
was no standing surface freshwater on Enderbury (Garnett 1983).
There was a small water hole just north of the southern coconut grove (Bryan 1934). The
water was brackish, but no worse than that natives use for drinking in other Pacific islands.
Maude (1937) reported that seven wells were dug. All wells yielded salty water. Maude
(1937) noted that even the brackish water drunk by Gilbertese may not be found on
Enderbury.
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