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Southwest Maui Watershed Plan

Public Meeting April 29, 2010, 6:00 p.m - 8:00 p.m.


HIHWNMS (Humpback Whale Sanctuary) Education Building
726 S. Kihei Rd., Kihei, Maui

Summary
This was the first of four public meetings in the two-year Southwest Maui Watershed
Planning project. Watershed Coordinator Robin Knox gave an overview of the project; a
20 minute video was shown explaining the connection between coastal environmental
problems and water management systems and offering solutions; breakout groups were
formed to address a set of questions; and, an issues and information log was completed.
There were 20 people present.

Upcoming meetings
The next Steering Committee meeting will be May 13, location TBD.
The next WAG meeting will be June 10 at the Whale Sanctuary, 3-5 pm (preceded by a
Steering Committee meeting).
A Steering Committee meeting will be held July 8, location TBD.

Attendees
Michael Brady, Athline Clark, Joyclynn Costa, Jacob Freeman, Grace Fung, Char Griffen, Netra
Halprin, Daniel Kanahele, Pamela Kantarova, Ke`eaumoku Kapu, Uilani Kapu, Maury King,
Robin Knox, Teri Leonard, Julia Staley, Larry Stevens, Richard Sylva, Roxie Sylva, Forrest
Taylor, Bill Watts

Welcome, Pule, and Introductions – Robin Knox


Robin Knox, the Project Watershed Coordinator, welcomed the group and introduced Richard
Sylva, the Project Manager.

Film: The Cycle of Insanity: The Real Story of Water


http://www.knowyourh2o.org/

A 20 minute video, created by Surfrider, was shown. “Using the model of the water cycle as a
template, the film explains the current style of water management and explores what the ideal
water management system would look like, with localized water treatment plants and
neighborhoods and cities that incorporate native plant life and filtration systems. It shows how
smart water management can eliminate unnecessary run-off, encourage reuse, provide a buffer
against storms and other so-called "natural" disasters, and improve the aesthetics and livability of
our communities.” (from Know Your H20).

Presentation - Introduction to the Project -- Robin Knox


(see April 8, 2010, WAG Meeting Notes or go to website: )

Breakout Group Discussion Results:


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Question: Answer:
1. Are there any known or perceived • Algae blooms - N15 isotope markers
impairments and water quality problems in the found in algae blooms near county
watershed. treatment areas.
• Ocean/Aquifer Connection - We need
to identify our aquifer - where does
our water come from? How much
water is available to our watershed?
What are the historical levels of water
in our watershed? What does the
data show?
• Impaired waters according to
government standards
• MRSA
• Disrupted vegetation patterns (i.e. no
sandalwood forests, etc…)
• Some obvious problems but others
are invisible / hidden. Extreme
events are apparent (i.e. muddy
nearshore waters after floods), but
there are difficult to see, subtle
changes over time and invisible
events (i.e. chemicals and other
pollutants & nutrients)
• Dry wetlands & changing patterns.
We need local/historical knowledge in
order to understand. No. Kihei sand is
“sticky” (related to decaying excess
algae found in that area?)
• Ignoring the problem makes it worse
2. If so, do we know the sources. • Overpopulation
• Ditches/diversion
• Impervious surfaces
• Pesticides
• Excess Nutrients: fertilizers &
effluent; animal waste from feral cats,
pets, livestock
• Plastic
• Wind (natural process)
• Development & Construction
practices/products
• Run off - agriculture, pasture lands,
ponds, gardens, lawns, nurseries,
junk yards, gas stations, auto oil,
chemicals, paint
• Lack of convenient chemical/paint
recycling and disposal sites
• Waste Water Problems: injection
wells; treatment plants; aging
infrastructure & cracked pipes;
prescription drugs flushed; septic
tanks; cesspools; lack of sterilization
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Question: Answer:
• Contaminated ground water (ground
seeps)
• Sedimentation: including that
created from upslope “eco”/ATV tours
& dirt bikers
• Boat effluent/waste
3. Are there any known sensitive ecosystems • Wetlands: Kealia, Laie
in the watershed? • Coral reefs and their inhabitants /
related creatures
• Native vegetation and forest
• Ahihi
• National park (threatened by feral
goats/pigs & invasive species)
• Beaches/dunes
• Native bird habitat
• Stream beds
• Invasive species (flora & fauna)
impacting many areas
• Human inhabitants of the watershed
4. What info and resources are available and • Clean Water Act
where are the gaps? • Zoning changes
• Coastal land management
• Seagrant/UH
• Political will needed
• Funding & enforcement needed
• Government Agencies: DLNR; DAR;
NARS
• Community Work Group (injection
well issue)
• Leeward Haleakala watershed
• Need to develop community
enforcement & peer pressure to do
the right thing. Engage kupuna and
others in each area to foster care for
the community
• Aha Moku councils

Water Quality Issues and Information Log Summary (16 responses):

Question: Answer:
1. What geographic part of the watershed are • Honolua, Kahikinui, Kihei, Kula,
you interested in or have information on? Be Lahaina, Makena, Mo`oloa
as specific as possible: • South Maui
• All of Maui is important (x 3)
• Beach and coastline
• Ocean and Coral reefs
• Upland effects on the ocean
• Wetlands
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Question: Answer:
• Other: Cultural outlook; getting rid of
the injection wells ASAP! I hate
Staph!
2. Your area of expertise as it relates to water • “Born and raised” on Maui with an
quality or watershed issues (local resident, understanding of Maui that needs to
farmer, business government agency, be incorporated with the science.
researcher, landowner, etc.): Witnessed and became a victim of
this problem.”
• Coastal Environmental Law / County
Long Range Planner
• Candidate for State House - policy
maker
• Farmer / mahi`ai ( x3 including taro
cultivation)
• Landowner
• Local resident (x 5)
• Land Steward
• Water user (x 2)
• Other: marine science degree/asst.
marine coordinator for TNC; SCUBA
instructor, dive shop manager, chair
of So. Maui Sustainability Reef
Sustainability Committee; none
3. Water Quality Issues: Issue
Average
Respondents rated these issues based upon Coral Reef Health
their level of concern: Highly concerned (1); 1.0
Moderately concerned (2); Not concerned (3). Algae/Aquatic Plant Overgrowth*
1.14
Contamination of Groundwater
Results are averaged and listed from high to 1.14
low concern. Urban Runoff
1.14
They also were asked to indicate if they have or Erosion
know of a specific concern: 1.15
Stream/Native Species Habitat
Degradation 1.21
Excess Nutrients
1.27
Excess Sediments
1.29
Pesticide/Fertilizer Overuse
1.29
Excessive Agricultural Runoff
1.29
Improper use of storm drains
1.29
Debris/Garbage (instream, dumping)
1.33
Boat Waste
1.50
Cesspool failures

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Question: Answer:
1.53

*Qualified by 2: concerned only with


invasive algae

Concerns: injection wells; terrestrial


habitat degradation; algae blooms;
cesspools not the problem, but instead,
what is allowed in them; cruise ship
waste; fish diseases; fish abundance
4. Are you aware of any endangered / • Us / people (x 2)
threatened species in the area? • Kuleana Land Owners
• Grandchildren
• Marine life (x 2)
• Hawaiian Stilt
• Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle
• Hawaiian Monk Seal (x 2)
• Coral reefs (x 4 including Kahekili
area of Lahaina; different rates at
different sites)
• All species
5. Are there any key people, organizations, or • Key people: developers; HC&S; local
government agencies you think we should talk residents; original local residents;
to? fishing community; diving community;
Seagrant/UH Planner, Tara Miller-
Owens; wastewater contractors

• Organizations: Aha Moku Council -


per Act 39 (x 2); Native Hawaiian
Historic Preservation Council; The
Nature Conservancy; Maui Visitors
Bureau & other tourism groups; UH;
Maui Cultural Lands; all

• Government Agencies: County


Depts. (x 3); Natural Area Reserve
(NAR); DLNR/DAR (x 2); EPA; State
Legislators; County Council; all
6. Are you aware of any watershed projects • Southwest Maui Watershed (x 6)
taking place in your watershed? • West Maui Watershed Plan (x 2)
• USGS
• West Maui Watershed Partnership
• Mother Nature
• Leeward Haleakala Watershed Project
• Ahihi Kinau (reducing land and water
pollution)
• Hana/Mu`olea community efforts in
awareness of overharvesting and limit
effects upland
• Honolua
7. Are there any resources/documents/data sets • Traditional practices; Native
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Question: Answer:
we should be aware of? testimonies (Island Concept)
• MRSA data sheet
• Resources: local residents
• Aha Moku (Act 39 Leg. Bill)
• Our waters are considered impaired
but no TMDL’s established! Water
monitoring program through the
whale sanctuary needs to be funded.
• GIS info through County Long Range
Planning Office
• Army Corp. on Oahu - Cindy Barger
8. Can you suggest one or two actions that • Push for new Ahupua`a zoning
someone could take to improve the water managed in the traditional way
quality and/or health of your watershed? • Buy earth friendly projects; don’t use
or dump chemicals on the land; don’t
wear gel in the water
• Prioritize significant point source
causes, since they are under our
control
• Keep your gulch free from trash, etc…
• Reduce, recycle, reuse - Go Green!
• Use less water: Reuse shower/sink
water (greywater); homeowners
harvest rain water; take shorter
showers; sterilize effluent for reuse
and deal with injection wells
• Learn to monitor water quality - it’s
the first step in the clean water act
process
• Don’t build any more golf courses

9. Please identify • “The government agencies that were created to manage


additional concerns and enforce have failed. We need to start looking to the
you may have or past as to how we must implement traditional management
provide comments to change our colonized thinking to find that we are a part
regarding the creation of everything, only then can we realize we can’t eat
money.”
of a Southwest Maui
Watershed-Based • “I feel we address only the result of and symptom. The
Plan: bigger picture is to address the problem water is pure when
separated from the invasion of any and all additives.
Address the chemical companies, pharmaceuticals and
government.”

• “There are too many important groups not in the room that
will probably fight any improvement ideas if they aren’t

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part of the process. How do we get them here?”

• “I am with it. We need more government, local community


participation. The Southwest Maui Watershed-Based Plan
is important for our community. The problems need
solutions.”

• “It is very important to get the Hawaiian community


involved since they are natives of this land and their
marine resource management and practices worked.”

• “I think this is a good thing if you can get the community


together. I will try to help by contacting them and passing
on your number. If you keep me informed, I will help.”

• “Concerned about flooding.”

• “I’m very concerned about losing the water here on Maui.


We must conserve.”

• “Waters are becoming unsafe, unswimmable and


unfishable.”

• “Make it a game/contest with prizes; do it online.”

• “I would like to help at the legislative, policy - making


level.”

• “Government involvement - Federal and State - Whose


jurisdiction? Include private entities and shareholders.
Budget - who’s responsible? Ahupua`a system set up by
individual watershed (subdivision 116) to develop unique
solutions to each diverse area. Education”

Summary of Action Items


Action items
# Description Due date Person
1 Breakout group discussion and report out Completed Group
Attendees fill out and hand in before leaving “Water /Quality Issues and
2 Information Log” Completed Group

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Notes prepared by Rene Umberger.

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