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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0476.008 2004-2006 Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group Bringing the community together to understand and protect the eco[ogy~ of Hilo Bay and its ahiipua ~a. November 9, 2005 Mary James Hilo Bay Watershed Advisgry Group 15 Ikawa Place Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Chair Higa and County Council Members County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Chair l liga and County Council Members, Subject: Resolution 186-OS Regarding Disposal of Lands (Comm. 476) Resolution 186-OS was recently brought to the attention of the Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group (HBWAG) since the property lies within the Hilo Bay watershed. 'Fhc HBWAG requests that the decision to sell the subject property be delayed for the reasons noted below. The HBWAG was established in July 2003 under an EPA grant program to represent the local community in addressing issues specific to Hilo Bay area water quality. Because Hilo Bay and its tributaries do not comply with all State water quality standards, the HBWAG was formed and has been working with the University ofHawaii-Manna (UHM) through EPA grant money to bring Hilo Bay and its tributaries into compliance. Over the last 27 months, the HBWAG has become more aware of community concerns and local watershed-related issues such as pollutants of concern, flooding, wetland preservation. and maintaining the ecological integrity of HB watershed. During this time, UHM and the HBWAG together have been able to complete a Public Input Report and proposed Watershed-Based Restoration Plan (WRP) for the Hilo Bay watershed. The WRP was submitted to the Department of I tealth on October 31, 2005 for review and approval. The WRP recommends implementation of several Best Management Practices and three demonstration projects. One of the recommended demonstration projects proposes the removal of Albiria tress ;n the subject area (see Exhibit A). Albezia is an invasive species and nitrogen fixer. Research has indicated that Albizia trees contribute nutrients (nitrogen) to local waters. The Hilo Bay watershed is non compliant with the State water quality nutrient standard, thus removal of the trees may help comply with that standard. This particular project is brought to your attention since the County may also have concerns about the Albiria trees on the subject property. f' Comm. No.- -~f 7~~~~~ Ref. To: ~l~~w! eAlAA14' k~~. :>ore NOV 9 7.OAS. Chair Higa and County Council Members November 9, 2005 In conclusion. the I {B WnG has an interest in the subject property and would appreciate a one-month delay in this decision so that we have time to gather relevant information and prepare comments on the proposed sale. Thank you for the opportunity to comment on this decision. Your consideration of our request is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact me by email at mar~j~werizon.nct or by phone at 933-2698. Sincerely, Mary James HBWAG Steering Committee Cc: 1 IBWAG Steering Committee Members (via emaill 2 Chair Higa and County Council Members November 9, 2005 Exhibit A (from UH Manoa Draft I Lilo Bay Watershed-Based Restoration Plan) RECOMMENDED BES"1' MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS DE~IONSTRATION PROJEC"fS 1. Removal of Falcatarin mo/ucca ("Albizia"), an invasive, Nitrogen-fixing tree, from the watershed Background and Rationale There is now abundant e~~idence that several species of invasive, Nitrogen-fixing tree species in Hawaii increase the nitrogen content of the litter, the soil and of other plants relative to nearby or similar sites supporting predominantly native forests (Vitousek and Walder 1989, Binkley and Ryan 1998, Kay et al. 2000, Hughes and Denslow in press). Current work in the Hilo Bay Watershed and nearby shows that these increased N levels and rates of N cycling by stands of Falcataria moluca translate to higher N levels in streams moving through these stands (K. Bishaw and R. F. Ilughes, unpublished data). For example, in Kolelole stream, the nitrate concentration in the water just below an Albizia stand (at about 50 m above sea level) showed a 30 % increase over the concentrations in the stream just above the stand (100 m asl) and in the stream at 1700 m asl. [n Ainako stream, well within the Hilo Bay watershed, the increase was 40 In this second case, it is important to note that N levels measured after the stream level passed a residential area were not higher than before the residential area, and the 40 % increase can be attributed to collection of nutrients primarily from the Albizia stand. In the Kolekole area, there is no concentrated residential development, indicating that the nitrates cannot be coming from urban runoff. Location Ainako stream, Albizia stand at about 340 m asl. Estimated pollutant reduction Removal of the trees and associated litter should reduce nitrate inputs to the stream by about 30 The reduction factor of this nitrogen as it is used by the biological community before the water reaches the bay is not known, and so the reduction in levels of N entering the buy cannot be estimated at this time. Monitoring of N levels after tree removal at several points blow the 'implementation point and at the nearest estimated point of entry into the bay will provide us with this information. Potential Implementation Partners Dr. Flint Hughes, Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry, USDA Forest Service, 23 East Kawili Street, Hilo, Hl, 96720; fliughes(a~fs.fed.us Estimated costs Labor to cut and remove trees: 100 person-days 3 Chair Higa and County Council Members November 9, 2005 Truck rental and fuel for removal of plant matter from site Implementation of Best Management Practices during clear cutting to prevent erosion and both soil and plant matter input into the stream Destruction of vegetative and reproductive Albizia parts to prevent spread of the plat at the disposal site Monitoring ofN levels and flow rates at 5 points associated with removal site Potential impacts Erosion, N inputs at tree disposal site, Relevant literature Hughes, R. F. and J. S. Denslow. [n press. Invasion by a N2-fixing tree alters function and structure in wet lowland forests of Hawaii. Ecological Applications Vitousek, P. M. and L. R. Walker. 1989. Biological invasion by Myrica Jaya in Hawaii: plant demography, nitrogen fixation, ecosystem effects. Ecological Monographs 59: 247- 265. Kaye, J. P., S. C Resh, M. W. Kaye, and R. A. Chimmer. 2000. Nutrient and carbon dynamics in a replacement series of Eucalyptus and Albizia trees. Ecology 8 ] :3267-3273 Hinkley. D., C. and M. Ryan. 1998. Net primary productivity and nutrient cycling in replicated stands of Eucalyptus salvigna and Albizia falcataria. Forest Ecology and Management 110: I01-112 4