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

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge
Comprehensive Conservation Plan
Rank Project Estimated
Cost
FHWA condition assessment for New Housing Parking (Rte. 902) based
upon inventory of 4/7/2004 found the parking area to be in fair condition.
Cost estimate to correct deficiencies in the 4,396 sq. ft of parking area.
$ 5,144
FHWA condition assessment for Housing Parking (Rte. 903) based upon
inventory of 4/7/2004 found the parking area to be in fair condition. Cost
estimate to correct deficiencies in the 9,002 sq. ft of parking area.
$ 10,531
FHWA condition assessment for Greenhouse Parking (Rte. 904) based upon
inventory of 4/7/2004 found the parking area to be in fair condition. Cost
estimate to correct deficiencies in the 4,134 square feet of parking area.
$ 4,134
D. Staffing
Necessary staffing as projected by the Service’s National Staffing Model generated 15 positions for
Hakalau Forest NWR (Big Island NWR Complex). The existing, core-funded staff is only 7;
therefore the Refuge is 8 additional positions under necessary conditions to effectively fulfill current
obligations and agreements based on anticipated workload with the existing land base of
38,030 acres. Dedicated staffing for the KFU was initially established after acquisition and later
eliminated years ago due to legal disputes over access to Refuge lands. Some previously established
positions were temporarily reassigned and not returned. Access issues have since been resolved and
work on the KFU, starting with boundary clearing, has resumed using staff stationed at Hilo.
However, given the long distance to KFU (it takes 2.5 hours one-way from Hilo), this further
stretches available Refuge staff resources as KFU activities come on line, compromising the success
of efforts to date such as greenhouse operation, ungulate control, and invasive species control efforts,
with less time spent at HFU. Restoring staffing levels to a “critical mass” to also manage the KFU is
a key aspect of our planning effort. The additional staffing would provide increased coordination
with other Federal, State, and local agencies, neighboring landowners, and local communities;
additional capacity to conduct biological inventory, monitoring, and research; improved maintenance
capability for visitor facilities and Refuge buildings; visitor safety and law enforcement to reduce
wildlife disturbance; environmental education and interpretation of Refuge resources; and invasive
species control.
The table below outlines permanent staffing needs considered core to implementing the CCP
(numbering does not indicate priority). The table outlines salary/benefits for each position. These
costs are considered recurring (annual) costs. For 2010, projected staffing costs for full-time and term
employees were expected to comprise 86 percent of the base budget although significant staff
turnover and resulting salary savings resulted in only 67 percent of the base being used for staffing
during the fiscal year.
Appendix C. Plan Implementation C-13