hawaii wetland joint venture - Pacific Coast Joint Venture

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levels. Previous studies of the estuary and surrounding area indicate that native species, including birds listed as endangered or species of concern, are present in the area. Although the system shows signs of degradation, management actions can be employed to help enhance habitat for native flora and fauna and to restore sections that have been filled or irreversibly altered. Enhancement and restoration actions are expected to increase habitat and improve wetland function. A Wetland Habitat Restoration Plan for Honu‘apo Estuary (WHRP), prepared by Sustainable Resources Group International Inc., is nearing completion and will provide guidance for a wetland restoration project that will restore the aquatic functions of the estuary through removal of invasive non-native plants; excavation of fill and contouring the topography to enhance physical habitat; planting native and endemic plants; and controlling predation on avian species. These actions are expected to improve habitat for native waterbirds, fish, and turtles and enhance other wetland functions. The WHRP is part of a Resource Management Plan that has been developed/adopted for Honu‘apo Park that provides land use guidance to help protect and restore the important natural and cultural resources of the property while providing integrated and respectful recreation and education opportunities for the Ka‘ū community and visitors. Ka ‘Ohana’s mission is to restore, care for, and protect the cultural and natural resources within the Honu‘apo area, working in partnership with Hawaii County Division of Parks and Recreation. The area containing Honu‘apo Park has played an integral role in Ka‘ū’s community life for many generations. Historically the area was a fishing village called Honu‘apo Village. The large estuary at Honu‘apo was used as a fishpond. Freshwater springs discharging into the estuary provided water for the residents of the village. Part of this place was also said to have had a well-known pu‘uhonua, a place of refuge. Ka ‘Ohana secured funding from the State of Hawai‘i Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program (through County of Hawai‘i Department of Planning), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Pacific Coast Joint Venture (PCJV), and private sources to develop the WHRP. The next steps will be to seek financial assistance to implement the wetland restoration plan. 3. HWJV Coordinator’s Update by J. Rubey NEW Wetlands Brochure. DOFAW’s new Wetland Brochure and Poster, funded by the PCJV, were passed out. It is the first wetlands information material available for the general public of Hawaii. The brochure and poster can be accessed on the PCJV website at: www.pcjv.org/hawaii/wetlands Copies of the poster can be obtained directly from DOFAW’s Michelle Jones at Michelle.G.Jones@hawaii.gov PCJV Board Meeting & Discretionary Fund Projects. The PCJV Board just met in early April for their regular semi-annual meeting. A topic of discussion was the federal budget delays and making decisions regarding the PCJV discretionary fund projects. Since funding levels are unknown, the Board decided to designate potential funding level thresholds where projects within these levels are Hawaii Wetland Joint Venture Meeting 4/21/11 2
tentatively approved. It was explained that Hawaii’s discretionary fund projects this year were determined by the HWJV Executive Steering Team based on the national evaluation performance matrix for Joint Ventures and the Team’s interest in improving the capacity of our HWJV. Therefore projects submitted this year build on the biological planning capacity of our JV. Funding Reminders: a) North American Wetland Conservation Act Standard Grant round in early March and early August. The small grants ($75K max.) proposals are annual and due the end of October. c) National Coastal Wetlands Grant proposals are due the end of June, with drafts in May. Contact Norma Creps, DOFAW, with project proposals. We hope to propose Honu’apo for funding this year. 2011 Wetlands and Waterbird Workshop: A draft “Save the Date” notice was shared for the upcoming Wetland and Waterbird Workshop this fall. The event will take place October 4-6 th at the Koolau Golf Course conference rooms in Kaneohe, Oahu. The workshop will provide hands-on afternoon training sessions for managers along with conference format presentations in the morning. Workshop presenters will be Andy Engilis, Jr. on the koloa hybrid identification key, Mike Reed with new software for managing endangered species in Hawaii, and Leigh Frederickson on the new Hawaii Wetland Management Handbook. Adonia Henry, founder of Scaup & Willet LLC is coordinating the event. Funds are provided by the PCJV and the NRCS. The Hawaii Chapter of the Wildlife Society is the host. A formal announcement will be distributed shortly and posted to the PCJV website at www.pcjv.org/hawaii. 4. HWJV Partners’ Reports: • Mana Plain Wetlands: Adonia Henry shared that work is progressing successfully with the new hydrologist for the Mana Plain wetlands restoration water needs and site design. Also much work has been done at Kawaiele to reshape the ponds and remove invasive plants. • Hawaii Wildlife Fund: Bill Gilmartin has been working on the Wai’ ohinu Coastal Strand restoration on the southeast Kau coast. The area is Forest Reserve is a transfer to Division of Forestry and Wildlife from State Lands (still in process at the county level.) It is 1,350 acres and contains two anchialine ponds, one degraded with sediment and one with tilapia fish. The coastal strand is home to over three dozen indigenous and endemic plant species and is used by the Hawaiian monk seal and hawksbill turtle. Invasive plants are a major issue with Christmas berry a significant player. Restoration is being conducted over the next two years with Fish Habitat Partnership funding. • Office of Hawaiian Affairs: Ruby McDonald works on Section 106 compliance assistance here on Hawaii Island and provides finance assistance to Hawaiian natives. • USGS: Christine Cornett overviewed her continuing work with nene on Hawaii Island. She has been monitoring 7 nene with solar powered transmitters for one year now finding their roosting and summer locations. She says, “Nene really like water!” Making water a good predictor for finding them. So, high elevation stock ponds are being used. She says Hawaii Wetland Joint Venture Meeting 4/21/11 3
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