Final Comprehensive Conservation Plan - U.S. Fish and Wildlife ...

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Research would not be allowed on Refuge lands if one or more of the following criteria apply to a
project proposal:
� Research that conflicts with other ongoing research, monitoring, or management programs will
not be granted;
� Highly intrusive or manipulative research is generally not permitted in order to protect native
birds and other wildlife populations and wilderness values;
� Research projects that can be accomplished off the Refuge are less likely to be approved;
� Research which causes undue disturbance or is more than minimally intrusive is not likely to be
granted;
� The level and type of disturbance will be carefully evaluated when considering a request.
Strategies to minimize disturbance through study design, including location, timing, scope,
number of permittees, study methods, number of study sites, etc., will be required;
� If staffing or logistics make it impossible for Refuge staff to monitor the researcher, the permit is
likely to be denied; and
� If the activity is in a sensitive area, the research request may be denied, depending on the specific
circumstances.
Availability of Resources:
Normally, minimal Refuge staff resources are required to provide coordination and oversight for
activities conducted on the Refuge and supported by the operation of the field station:
Category and Itemization One-time ($) Annual ($/yr)
Administration and Management No fees charged $9,300
The above annual cost reflects the cost to provide oversight for the UH field station facility and
prevent impacts to natural resources. The cost was conservatively estimated as requiring 2 percent of
the base cost of a GS-12 Deputy Refuge Manager, 3 percent of the GS-13 Refuge Manager, 2 percent
of the GS-12 Wildlife Biologist, 1 percent of the GS-9 Administrative, and 1 percent of the
Maintenance Supervisor’s staff time, based on the assumption that this activity would use that
portion of the year to administer and coordinate activities conducted on the Refuge and supported by
the operation of the field station.
The estimated administration and management cost reflects the portion of each year necessary to
work with UH faculty to assure appropriate, compatible use of the field station in accordance with
the MOA. Depending upon the amount of activity planned for the field station in a given year, the
actual amount of time and funding required to administer the operation could vary significantly.
Anticipated Impacts of the Use(s):
The field station is situated within the 15-acre Hakalau Forest NWR Administrative Site situated at
the upper (western) boundary of the Refuge. Much of the vicinity understory and ground cover has
been disturbed by more than 100 years of cattle grazing and pig rooting, primarily preceding the
establishment of the Refuge. This resulted in conversion of native forest habitats to open rangeland
carpeted with nonnative grasses. Since construction of the field station, the immediate vicinity
surrounding the Administrative Site has been restored with planted koa. The area surrounding the
Appendix B: Appropriate Uses and Compatibility Determinations B-73