american samoa - University of Hawaii at Manoa Botany Department

California grass (Brachiaria mutica). Only fau (beach hibiscus) and Fimbristylis cymosa arenative plants.Between Unnamed Stream/Vaipito Stream Confluence and Route 1Between the unnamed stream/Vaipito Stream confluence and Route 1, the Vaipito Streamchannel became narrower. The stream bank typically was lined with a basaltic rock or concretewall. California grass was dominant immediately upland of the stream channel margin. Lesseramounts of Sorghum sudanense, fue saina (mile-a-minute vine), beggar’s tick, taamu (gianttaro), sanasana (Job’s tears), and bananas were also evident along this stream segment.Upstream of Route 1Upstream of Route 1, the Vaipito Stream becameincreasingly channelized. Stream banks representeda combination of basaltic rock walls, concrete walls,rock-filled gabion baskets, and exposed dirtembankments. These characteristics left a narrowzone for the growth of vegetation.Job’s tears, California grass, taamu (giant taro) andmile-a-minute vine were prevalent along streamsegments that were characterized by dirtembankments. Various trees were also scatteredalong the stream banks. These trees primarilyincluded ulu (breadfruit), vavae (kapok), beachhibiscus, falaga (Barringtonia samoensis), pulu(banyan), lau pata (Macaranga harveyana), mango,coconut, and banana.Vegetation TrendsLower Vaipito Stream was once characterized by a healthy mangrove swamp. However, theswamp was filled by the U.S Navy in the early 1960’s to support past naval activities.Subsequently, the use of the landfill area was converted to its present day recreational use withthe establishment of Pago Park.In 1996, significant restoration efforts were made by the American Samoa EnvironmentalProtection Agency and the American Samoa Community College, Land Grant Program alongselected portions of lower Vaipito Stream.Following initial coordination with the pulenuu and village council of Pago Pago Village,ASEPA and ASCC Land Grant program personnel planted 127 trees just upstream of theVaipito Stream mouth on September 28, 1996. These trees were planted along the east side ofthe stream.In mid-October and early November of 1996, an additional 1,000 feet of stream bank wasplanted upstream of Vaipito Stream’s unnamed lower confluence. Most of 238 trees plantedwere seedlings that were propagated at ASCC Land Grant facilities during the summer of 1995.One exception was fau trees that represented 2.5-foot long cuttings. All of the trees wereplanted and spaced at six-foot intervals. Falaga (Barringtonia samoensis) was planted alongAmerican Samoa Wetland/Stream Restoration and Enhancement PlanFebruary 2001, Vaipito Stream, Page 6-6