Pa'auilo Final Enviromental Assessment

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PA`AUILO LANDS FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT Honokaa Silty Clay Loam, Low Elevation, 10-20% slopes (HsD) constitutes approximately 48 percent of the Pa`auilo Lands. This soil is similar to Honokaa silty clay loam 10 to 20 percent slopes, except that it occurs at a lower elevation where the soil temperature is warmer. This soil is used principally for sugarcane. Small areas are used for pasture and macadamia nuts. These soils are in Capability Class IV. Honokaa Silty Clay Loam, slopes Low Elevation, 20-35% (HsE) constitutes approximately 20 percent of the Pa`auilo Lands. This soil is similar to Honokaa silty clay loam 10 to 20 percent slopes, except that it is steep and occurs at a lower elevation where the soil temperature is warmer. Runoff is medium, and the erosion hazard is moderate. This soil is used mostly for sugarcane. Small areas are used for pasture and macadamia nuts. These soils are in Capability Class VI. Maile Silt Loam, 6-20% slopes (MLD) constitutes approximately 4 percent of the Pa`auilo Lands. This soil is at intermediate elevations on the windward side of Mauna Kea. It has a dominant slope of approximately 15 percent. A representative profile has a surface layer of dark reddish-brown to very dark brown silt loam approximately 14 inches thick. The subsoil is approximately 46 inches thick. It consists of dark yellowish-brown and very dark brown silty clay loam. The subsoil dehydrates irreversibly into fine sand-size aggregates. The profile grades from medium acid in the surface layer to slightly acid and neutral in the subsoil. Included in this mapping are small, steep drainageways and gullies. Permeability is moderately rapid, runoff is slow, and the erosion hazard is slight. Roots can penetrate to a depth of 5 feet or more. This soil is used for pasture and woodland. These soils are in Capability Class IV. Rough broken land, (RB) constitutes approximately 7 percent of the Pa`auilo Lands. Rough broken land is a miscellaneous land type that consists of very steep, precipitous land broken by many intermittent drainage channels. It occurs primarily in gulches, and the slope is dominantly 35 to 70 percent. The soil material ranges from very shallow to deep. Stones and rock outcrops are common in some areas. Elevation ranges from near sea level to 3,000 feet, and the annual rainfall ranges from 50 inches to more than 150 inches. Vegetation varies with rainfall. Kukui trees are common in the gulches. There are a few, scattered waterfalls. Rough broken land is used for pasture, woodland, wildlife habitat, and recreation areas. Adapted pasture plants and yields are similar to those for soils associated with this land type. These soils are in Capability Class Vii. Soil capability grouping shows, in a general way, the suitability of soils for most kinds of field crops. Soils are classed from I to VIII, with Capability Class I being the best suited for agriculture and Class VIII being the least suited. The Pa`auilo Lands comprise soils in Classes ITT, TV,VT, and Vii. • Class III soils have severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require special conservation practices, or both. • Class IV soils have very severe limitations that reduce the choice of plants, require very careful management, or both. • Class VI soils have severe limitations that make them generally unsuited to cultivation and limit their use largely to pasture or range, woodland, or wildlife. 19