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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0386.010 2010-2012MISC MAUI INVASIVE SPECIES COMMITTEE October 3, 2011 Hawai`i County Council Environmental Management Committee 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Subject: Proposed Ordinance on Transport of Axis Deer; Bill No. 112 Honorable Council Members: About a year ago, I became involved in an effort initiated by key members of Maui's agricultural community to work on the axis deer problem on Maui. The creation of this group, made up of ranchers, farmers, hunters, tourism officials, and state and county agency representatives, was driven by the severe impacts that ranchers and farmers are experiencing from axis deer overgrazing pastures and damaging crops. This informal group has met seven times, during which I have heard firsthand how deer are affecting our island. Damages to farmers' crops have become increasingly devastating. From cane to zucchini and every item in between, all sizes of farms have been affected. Herds are overgrazing pastureland. Property damage to golf courses, private lands, Haleakala National Park and other natural areas is increasing. Vehicle collisions with deer are becoming more frequent and serious. Deer have damaged cultural and archeological sites and materials. Poaching has encroached into residential areas raising concern about potential shooting injuries. No formal estimate exists for costs incurred, but just one vineyard experienced losses of $150,000 last year. The cost of a fatal accident cannot be measured. Representatives from the group recently met with Mayor Alan Arakawa and Council Member Mike White. The County of Maui is considering an emergency appropriation to help bring the numbers of deer down, with costs estimated just for the first year at approximately $200,000. The Maui County Council unanimously passed a Resolution recognizing the damage caused by deer and calling on state and federal agencies to support a long -term management plan. A copy of the Resolution is attached. The solution for Maui will be complex and expensive because axis deer have spread into residential areas making control extremely difficult. Hawai`i County has the opportunity to avoid those costs by taking action now. Sincerely, Teya M. Penniman Manager P.O. Box 983, Makawao, HI 96768 Phone: (808) 573 -MISC (6472) • Fax: (808) 573 -6475 Email: misc @hawaii.edu • Website: http: / /www.mauiisc.org corrm,. NO. 3 i6 . /0 Ref. To: P/ L Ref. Date OC 4 2011 Council Chair Danny A. Mateo Vice -Chair Joseph Pontanilla Council Members Gladys C. Baisa Robert Carroll Elle Cochran Donald G. Couch, Jr. G. Riki Hokama Michael P. Victorino Mike White COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY OF MAUI 200 S. HIGH STREET WAILUKU, MAUI, HAWAII 96793 www.mauicounty.gov /council September 9, 2011 The Honorable Danny A. Mateo, Chair and Members of the Council County of Maui Wailuku, Hawaii 96793 Dear Chair Mateo and Members: Director of Council Services Ken Fukuoka SUBJECT: RESOLUTION URGING THE STATE AND RELEVANT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO JOIN WITH THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO DEVELOP A LONG -TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE THE AXIS DEER POPULATION (PAF 11 -185) Please find attached a proposed resolution entitled "URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII AND RELEVANT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO JOIN WITH THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO DEVELOP A LONG -TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE THE AXIS DEER POPULATION ". The purpose of the proposed resolution is to urge the State of Hawaii and relevant Federal agencies to join with the County of Maui to develop a long- term management plan to reduce the axis deer population. This matter is urgent, and immediate action is required to support forthcoming initiatives from the Administration in this effort. Because this resolution has no force and effect of law, referral to Committee for report and recommendation is not required under the Rules of the Council. Accordingly, at the Council Meeting of September 16, 2011, I intend to make the following motions: • A motion that the attached proposed resolution entitled "URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII AND RELEVANT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO JOIN WITH THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO DEVELOP A LONG -TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE THE AXIS DEER POPULATION" be ADOPTED; and • A motion that this communication be FILED. Honorable Members of the Council September 9, 2011 Page 2 Thank you for your consideration. Should you have any questions or require clarification, please contact me. Sincerely, MIKE WHITE Council Member paf:scj:11 -185a Attachment cc: Mayor Alan M. Arakawa Resolution No. URGING THE STATE OF HAWAII AND RELEVANT FEDERAL AGENCIES TO JOIN WITH THE COUNTY OF MAUI TO DEVELOP A LONG -TERM MANAGEMENT PLAN TO REDUCE THE AXIS DEER POPULATION WHEREAS, the axis deer (Axis axis) is native to India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal and was intentionally introduced to Maui in 1959 as a game resource, which has become a part of the local culture and a food resource for some Maui families; and WHEREAS, since its introduction, the axis deer population on Maui has grown exponentially and is now found on private, county, state, and federal lands, including ranches, wild lands, commercial properties, urban and residential areas, golf courses, hotels, roads, and highways; and WHEREAS, large herds of axis deer have overgrazed local pastures causing damage that has increased ranch costs for supplemental feed and led to the shipment of cattle off -island for lack of adequate pasture; and WHEREAS, axis deer are devastating Maui farms by decreasing production of vegetables, cane, pineapple, grapes, and other crops, and causing losses of hundreds of thousands of dollars annually; and WHEREAS, the presence of axis deer on Maui farms threatens the food safety of locally grown produce and drinking water supply as they have been known to carry diseases, such as bovine tuberculosis, which could decimate Maui's cattle industry, as well as common parasites such as leptospirosis, cryptosporidiosis, and strains of E. coli; and WHEREAS, farmers, ranchers, and other private landowners including golf courses in South and Central Maui are experiencing increased incidents of property damage to fences and illegal hunting on their properties, creating a serious safety hazard from unauthorized gunfire in close proximity to dwellings; and WHEREAS, vehicle -deer collisions are occurring at an increasing pace across the island; and WHEREAS, axis deer are known to have damaged culturally and archaeologically significant sites, including Hawaiian heiau and old stone walls; and Resolution No. WHEREAS, axis deer have invaded both East and West Maui Watersheds, Haleakala National Park, and other natural areas, where impacts include direct damage to native plants from browsing and trampling, debarking from antler rubbing, and erosion from deer trails; and WHEREAS, problems associated with the increasing axis deer population have developed over many decades, and the management of axis deer by hunting alone has proven inadequate; and WHEREAS, the recent discovery of axis deer on the island of Hawaii has inspired an effort by the State of Hawaii to eradicate axis deer from that island; and WHEREAS, in the absence of effective management involving the county, state, and federal jurisdictions axis deer will continue to threaten Maui's tourist -based economy, life - giving watersheds, and the viability of Maui's farms and ranches; now, therefore BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the County of Maui: 1. That it hereby urges the State of Hawaii and relevant federal agencies to join with the County of Maui to develop a long -term management plan that will immediately and humanely reduce the axis deer population; and 2. That decreasing the axis deer population will reduce the negative impacts to Maui's farms, ranches, forests, and communities and ensure Maui's long -term food sustainability and the protection of watersheds and native forests while recognizing the islands' long - standing game hunting traditions; and 3. That certified copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council; State Department of Land and Natural Resources; State Department of Agriculture; United States Fish and Wildlife Service; United States Department of Agriculture, Animal Plant Health Inspection Service; United States Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services; Maui County Farm Bureau; Maui Cattlemen's Association; Maui Cattle Company; Maui Coffee Association; Maui Conservation Alliance;. , Maui Invasive Species Committee; Maui Hotel and Lodging Association; East Maui Watershed Partnership; West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership; Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership; Maui Flower Growers' Association; Hawaiian Islands Land Trust; The Nature Conservancy; Wailea Community Association; Makena Community Association; Maui Farmers' Union; Upcountry Sustainability; South Maui Sustainability; and the Honorable Alan M. Arakawa, Mayor of the County of Maui. paf:scj:11 -185b Resolution No.