2015-06-22 Game Management Advisory Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Game Management Advisory Commission Meeting Minutes—June 22, 2015 having talked to hydrologists, right, the folks from USGS and Kaeo Duarte who works for Kamehameha Schools, they say that's not true. It's not true. So I need — I think we all deserve to understand what data the State has regarding erecting a fence, removing ungulates is gonna generate more water for the people of this State. SC: The Rainfall —thank you for your question — I appreciate that and I know that's been a question among some people. So The Rain Follows the Forest is a statewide plan —generally speaking native forests in Hawaii is —the remaining good native forest, high quality, very special forest that contains our species, our complex ecosystem, captures rainwater. It captures moisture from the clouds and soaks it into the ground. In, in — that is one reason to protect the forest— production of— current production of water is one reason to protect [unclear— sounds like "best"] forests. Future protection of water sources is another reason. Another, you know, there are a variety of reasons we have, we have destroyed, you know, a good half of our forests in Hawaii and compromised another quarter of it— so what we're trying to do is protect what we can of the highest quality forest. You know, there's some new data from wells on Hawaii Island that shows that there is in some places an aquifer that is a pretty incredible fresh water source. And, you know, you just don't know what's coming down in the future with climate change, you know, the stresses that the forest that, you know, you're in when you go out—those forests are gonna get drier. They're gonna change from the bottom, they're gonna change from top. The layer that can absorb moisture and keep the forest healthy and soak in water that comes up —wherever it comes up: rivers, aquifers, wells. You know, we don't want to wreck the future, we don't want to wreck it now and we don't want to wreck the future, so I think the answer to your question is that there is a connection with water in all locations in Hawaii. It's more obvious in other places but it's there here on Hawaii Island as well. MB: So and I'll just and I'm done after this one. I'm gonna make a statement, it's not a question. I think you personally need to review the data. You need to go talk to the experts about this. My sense of this is this is an environmental plan housed around the idea that we're protecting water. And when the scientists tell us that's not true. It's just not true, right? So, um, I think if we want to protect the forest, we should protect the forest and we should call it what it is. If we want to make this a NARS area, let's have a discussion around NARS, but to suggest that removing ungulates from these forests for the purpose of collecting water— Ph.D., M.I.T. hydrologists say, "Not true." So, um, we just need to be honest with the people, Susan. That's what I'm suggesting, right? Is if it's about saving native forest then call it saving native forest. Don't house it under we're going to generate more water because I believe that is intellectually dishonest. Thank you. 13