american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa Botany Department

Project ManagerRepresentatives of any of the participating agencies would logically serve as individual projectmanagers. For example, if the primary thrust of a project is to enhance aquatic fish andinvertebrate habitat, the selection of a project manager from the ASG Department of Marineand Wildlife Resources would be ideal if qualified personnel were available to assume thisresponsibility.The project manager would direct the activities of a village project coordinator andrecommended Stream Team, coordinate with traditional village leaders and residents livingadjacent to the selected stream or wetland, and coordinate with representatives of other ASGagencies.Village CoordinatorThe approval and commitment of local villages to each enhancement and restoration project isessential. The commitment of a local village coordinators to this responsibility will, in largepart, depend upon their understanding of resource relationships and potential streamenhancement benefits.A village coordinator, e.g., pulenuu or matai, would be assigned to each project to:• organize and mobilize Stream Team cleanup and long-term stream maintenance activities;• observe and document stream and wetland conditions during and following future stormevents;• monitor the conditions of other resources, e.g., vegetation, fish and invertebrates; and,• keep the overall project manager abreast of work progress.Stream and Wetland TeamsAmerican Samoans are well known for their excellent ability to work collectively in groups.The use of small Stream or Wetland Teams can capitalize upon these capabilities.Where recommended, stream and wetland Teams of various sizes should be organized andemployed by ASEPA or ASCMP to initially clean up selected stream channels and wetlands, aswell as provide long-term monthly maintenance. These teams should only be establishedwhere stream or wetland cleanups are necessary to initiate other restoration and enhancementprojects. It is envisioned that their work would, in some cases, be supplemented by heavyequipment support from the American Samoa Power Authority or the ASG Department ofPublic Works.Stream and wetland teams would ideally be comprised of members of the village aumaga, orother village residents. Each team member could be supplied with attractive T-shirts, caps,pants, and/or boots that identify that they are part of a specific stream team, e.g., Papa StreamTeam. The use of some type of informal uniform should be considered to bring about somecamaraderie among these employees. Uniforms for these personnel would also help advertisethe project to local residents as these employees work in local streams and wetlands.American Samoa Wetland/Stream Restoration and Enhancement PlanFebruary 2001, Future Program Management, Page 12-2