Communication No. 2018-08- KCDP Amendments Subcommittee Report

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recognizes the ecosystem service value of our watershed and open space in our community to protect values such as aesthetics and scenic vistas; water catchment and infiltration; carbon sequestration; oxygen production; habitat enhancement and preservation; fire suppression and fuel load management; soil conservation; preservation of cultural values; and, potential for additional public access and recreational opportunities. The action plan shall be prepared by the Kona Mauka Watershed Partnership, whose membership shall include at a minimum the affected public agencies and private landowners, a community representative(s), and the County. The action plan shall be approved by the Kona CDP ImplementationAction Committee (see Chapter 5). The action plan shall at a minimum address:  Existing Conditions—physical characteristics, hydrology and water use, biological resources, land ownership, existing land use and zoning;  Ahupua‘a Watershed Values—water resources, native habitat, cultural resources, public access and outdoor recreation;  Threats—invasive species, feral ungulates, human activities, aquatic pollutants, wildfire, climate change;  Management Program—cooperative private initiatives, government programs, designation of suitable sending and receiving areas for density transfer, models of appropriate development, certification system to determine eligible ecosystem services incentives, grant administration. Policy ENV-1.3: Publicly-Owned Mauka Lands. All public lands mauka of Māmalahoa Highway should be managed with a holistic, multi-purpose approach for habitat preservation, groundwater source protection, and stormwater management, as coordinated by a Kona Mauka Watershed Partnership, based on a Kona Mauka Watershed Management Program. The objective is to reevaluate the need to broaden and integrate the management of those lands currently under a more focused management program (referred to as the “Managed Public Lands”) and to initiate management program for those public lands not currently managed for environmental integrity (referred to as “Institutional Public Lands”). Policy ENV-1.4: Privately-Owned Mauka Lands. All private lands mauka of Māmalahoa Highway are eligible for ecosystem services incentives as set forth in the Kona Mauka Watershed Management Program, provided the landowner actively participates in the Kona Mauka Watershed Partnership. Ecosystem services incentives include, without limitation: 1. Government funding. Payments from Federal, State, or County sources for a conservation easements;