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review and comment on plan revisions when they are advertised, and volunteering as well as simply <br />communicating with field staff. <br />Additionally, we are currently working with the hunting community (including the GMAC) on a legislative <br />bill to create an advisory commission with island -based committees to assure input and ideas are discussed <br />on all islands. <br />WRF Question 4: How does managing water units, fences and checking stations, purchasing equipment and <br />supplies, maintaining motor vehicle fleets, and nene habitat renewal and enhancement benefit game <br />resources and hunting opportunities? <br />Water units provide water to game birds and, where appropriate and legal, game mammals. Fences provide <br />clear boundaries separating some hunting lands from private and public lands with different management <br />goals. Fences also protect endangered species, sensitive habitats, watersheds, other private and public <br />resources from degradation and predation. Protecting those resources opens the door for the presents and <br />management (including enhancement) of game mammals outside of the fences and greatly reduces wildlife - <br />human conflict as well as avoiding conflicts between management goals. <br />Equipment, supplies and motor vehicles are needed to maintain infrastructure and habitat for game and non - <br />game species, without which the habitat would be unsuitable for many game species and make much of the <br />hunting areas difficult or inaccessible to the hunting community. One wildfire can severely impact both <br />native and game species alike, thus access and fire prevention and rapid response are key priorities essential <br />for the maintenance of a good hunting program. <br />Nene habitat renewal reduces vegetation and predators which is a benefit to game birds and allows easier <br />ungulate control where needed (added hunting opportunity such as the cattle hunts in upper Hilo watershed). <br />WRF Question 5: What measurement is used to determine individual project benefit to enhanced hunting <br />opportunities? <br />There are a variety of ways that DOFAW measures the impacts of our projects. DOFAW tracks the hours <br />spent relative to the work achieved; they track their achievements and compare them to targets set in the <br />annual plans; DOFAW conducts game surveys; monitors hunter use and success through check -stations and <br />surveys; monitors hunting license/tag sales and lottery participation statewide as well as per island; <br />DOFAW staff communicates with local hunting groups and individual hunters to get their opinions and <br />ideas. Then DOFAW combine all this data and feedback to produce better 5 -year plans. <br />HAWAII ISLAND GAME MANAGEMENT PLAN <br />GMP Question 1: It was stated in June that a DLNR-revised Hawaii Island Game Management Plan would <br />be available for review in mid-July. Please give us an update on that document. <br />The plan has been edited by our field staff and is currently being put back together by the Wildlife Program <br />Manager. A draft plan is expected to be submitted to the original working group for review by January <br />2016. <br />GMP Question 2: The 12 -year-old draft North Kona Habitat Conservation Plan indicates three phases of <br />implementation: avoidance and minimization during years 0-5; mitigation during years 6-15; and <br />maintenance during years 16-25. Please discuss what each level means, and when animals will be <br />translocated and managed in Puuwaawaa or Puuanahulu in accordance with Chapter 1830. Will animals be <br />3 <br />