Kapulena Hamakua EA PBR Final TMK No. 4-7-005 and 006

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KAPULENA AGRICULTURAL PARK FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT special conservation interest or concern. A complete list of recorded plants is included with the Flora and Fauna Assessment (Appendix B). The Botanical Survey Report findings indicated that the entire site showed signs of pig rooting. The Report found that, "this was especially true in the gulches where every square foot appeared to be heavily rooted. This rooting had the twin effects of severely limiting the diversity of the more delicate native understory species, while at the same time aiding the spread of aggressive, shade - tolerant weeds such as the strawberry guava. " Potential Impacts and Mitigation Measures No plant species listed or proposed as Threatened or Endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Hawaii State Department of Land and Natural Resources were found. The property has been heavily altered by sugar cane cultivation, and in the last 15 years has been degraded by invasive plant species and feral pigs. The Botanical Survey Report recommends that any future uses in the area consider the protection and enhancement of the best examples of remnant strips of native forest in the property's gulches. 3.8 FAUNA A Fauna Survey was conducted in conjunction with the Botanical Survey. The Fauna Survey is found in Appendix B, Flora and Fauna Survey and Assessment. Nine site visits were conducted, including four during the evening to detect occurrence of the Hawaiian hoary bat (`6pe `ape `a, Lasiurus cinereus semotus). A single `6pe`ape`a was sighted near the site's rock quarry (approximately 1,600 foot ground elevation). The report indicates that the `6pe`ape`a is a common and highly mobile species and that it is likely that more of this species would be detected at a different time on the property. Feral pig (Sus Scrofa) was found to be abundant and a few mongoose were sighted. The report indicates that while not sighted, feral cats (felis catus), rats (Rattus spp.) and mice (Mus domesticus), are also likely present on site. In general, the report finds that due to the overwhelming colonization of Guinea grass and ironwood trees, bird life was relatively sparse in both diversity and number. Although native and endemic birds such as the Hawaiian Hawk (`io, Buteo solitarius) and Hawaiian owl (pueo, Asio flammeus sandwichensis) were specifically looked for, none were sighted. While not sighted, the `io and pueo are known to be found in the Hamdkua district and could be expected to occasionally use this site. Additionally, no native seabirds such as the threatened Newell's shearwater (Puffinus auricularis newellii) or the Endangered petrel (Pterodronma sandwichensis) were found, nor were any shearwater burrows found. A complete list of the ten, non - native bird species that were sighted is included with the Flora and Fauna Survey (Appendix B). The Fauna Survey also looked for insects which have been listed as Federally Endangered such as Blackburn's sphinx moth (Manduca blackburni) and three endemic picture -wing flies (Drosophila heteroneura), (D. mulli) and D. ochrobasis). None of these insects or their larvae were observed, nor were any of the host plant species normally associated with these insects found on site. 3 -16