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<br /> Stacy Higa, Chairman <br /> <br /> and Members of the County Council <br /> <br /> Page 4 <br /> The 'Alala Recovery Plan dated October 28, 1982, prepared and approved by the <br /> U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with the'Alala Recovery Team, <br /> recommends that certain selected essential habitats be preserved and properly managed to <br /> provide for the continued existence and growth of the population of the'Alala, an <br /> endangered bird whose population has reached an extremely critical state. The Central <br /> Kona area along the north and west slopes of Hualalai is considered to be the center of <br /> concentration for breeding 'Alala. The Plan recommends that portion of the lands of <br /> Kaloko above approximately the 3,200 feet to 3,400 feet elevation, including all parcels <br /> in Blocks 8 through 13 of Kaloko Mauka Subdivision, be designated as an essential <br /> habitat for the'Alala. The subject property is located within Block 10 at approximately <br /> the 4,200-foot elevation. Once such a habitat is secured, a specific management plan for <br /> each habitat needs to be developed which would address the improvement of food <br /> supplies, protection from grazing, predators and wildfires, and other management and <br /> monitoring activities to provide for a stable and secure environment for the recovery of <br /> the 'Alala. The property is located at the elevation recommended for preservation as a <br /> habitat for the 'Alala. No comments were received from the Natural Resources <br /> Conservation Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. <br /> As pazt of the Office of State Planning's five-year State Land Use District <br /> Boundary Review, the Water Resources Reseazch Center recommends that the high <br /> rainfall and fog-drip area mauka of the 2,000-foot elevation be redesignated into the <br /> Conservation District for protection as a watershed recharge azea. The Kona Watershed, <br /> which provides for the rechazge of aquifers which supplies most of Kona's drinking <br /> water, includes those lands located within the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision and situated <br /> above the 1,900 foot elevation. The subject property, located at the 4,200-foot elevation, <br /> does not seriously compromise the recommendations of these studies beyond existing <br /> conditions. Although the property is located within the water rechazge azea, the condition <br /> will be included to retain 80% of the forest cover on the site to preserve the watershed <br /> qualities and watershed area. Approval of the requested change of zone will not alter the <br /> existing land use conditions within Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. Uses permitted within <br /> the Agricultural District will allow For a variety of agricultural activities to be conducted <br /> on the site. <br /> There have been several archaeological studies conducted in the area. An <br /> archaeological investigation of the Kaloko ahupua'a was conducted in 1970 and 1971 by <br /> Huehue Ranch, the developer of the Kaloko Mauka Subdivision. In addition, the <br /> National Park Service published a report in 1991 titled, "An Ahupuaa Study: The 1971 <br /> Archaeological Work at Kaloko Ahupuaa, North Kona." This study identified remains of <br /> an agricultural field system up to the 3,500-foot elevation at certain locations. According <br /> <br />