HomeMy WebLinkAboutINDIVIDUAL COMMENT EMAIL - 128243Mori, Ashley
From: rw. o
Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2019 8:43 PM 0
To: General Plan
Subject: Comments on Natural Resources& Infrastructure Planning
Aloha,co
First off,many thanks for this chance to comment/contribute to our County's long-term planning&cunt! In
summary, I am very impressed by the organization and breadth ofthe document. If I had to be shorTland sweet, I
would say that I am in full SUPPORT of it, and only hope these additions can help to make it even stronger.
Briefly and FYI, I am a marine biologist with over 15 yrs experience researching coral reef ecosystems and
tropical ecology, with most of my"underwater efforts" focused along the West Hawai'i coastline. Since moving
to Hawai'i Island in 2005 I have worked and volunteered with several community nonprofit organizations to
conduct coastal restoration activities,
mostly focused on the remote Ka'u shoreline.
With that short intro about me, I will launch right into the specifics.
Overall:
In a couple places the GP mentions endangered species (but only once or twice hits on threatened and
endemic species). I would always include both T&E species and add in endemic wherever appropriate
and their ecosystems!) - these are species that can ONLY be found in a limited range, including
Hawai'i Island so its critical we give them special protections.
First mention of"anchialine"you use ponds and then subsequently launch into using pools. In the
scientific community we use pools,but I know many old timers and community members. It may be
best to use ALL names upon first mention and then agree to use just pools moving fwd. Others names
include wai `opae, loko `opae and kaheka.
Section 1: NRs
Policy 1. In conservation efforts it is always more efficient to protect habitats that are pristine and native
dominated. I support prioritizing restoration for habitats that will have the greatest benefit but think the
mostamountof time/money/resources should go to conservation efforts to protect habitats that remain
native dominated.
2. Include PONC legislation here too?
3. Add wetlands (not just pools)
4. Freshwater wetlands? Why just fresh. All wetlands should be protected from development, and buffer
zones be mandatory arnd them. Also,used ponds in#3 and pools in#4. See above comment and be
consistent :)
6e. Add endemic species here.
9. Add bat and sea turtle and monk seal to list.
13. Add partner with local nonprofit agencies, including Hawaii Island Seed Bank. Add endemic.
14. Awesome!! Yes on conservation buffer;)
16. Add in landscaping with native species too.
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18. Add in local nonprofits.
Action 1.2., add replacement by native species outplants (once you remove invasive species).
P25. Change this and all future references of"marine turtles"to "sea turtles". Add other marine
mammals (including but not limited to monk seals and whales).
27. Maintain and strengthen (increase?) shoreline setback policies. See the one in Ka'u CDP as a great
example!
28. See comments above for 27 &include to protect coastal wetland ecosystems.
31. Add nonprofit organizations working in conservation and coastal/nearshore monitoring, e.g., the
nature conservancy, conservation int'l, CORAL reef alliance, Hawai'i wildlife fund, etc. add in DLNR
division ofaquatic resources. Add in coordination and collaboration with statewide marine 30x30 plan.
33. Add in PONC legislation info.
Action 1.10. See comment from policy 25 above.
37. Add up to 100' buffer for those wetlands determined through quantitative-wetland assessment(see
35) to be ranked as "priority"wetlands. Otherwise I SUPER support a minimum 50' buffer for all
wetlands, including anchialine pools.
Action 1.11. Yes please! And coordinate with state(DLNR DAR) for this endeavor.
Action 1.13... add in a funding mechanism for purchase(PONC?) and restoration activities (fund an
environmental grant writer to work for the COH to bring in revenue for such acquisitions and to support
County, state, ngos conduct conservation activities).
41. Add establish development buffers around such features.
44. Add mitigate or reduce after document.
49. Add DLNR.
50. Add: and establish a 500' buffer for herbicide use near any coastline, wetland, or stream.
53. Add wetlands.
57. Awesome! Yes, thank you for continuing to support this "dark sky"policy.
75. Great to include HWMO by name!
77. Love this!!
Action 1.38. Fabulous idea. J
94. Yesss!
Section 2: Infrastructure
106. Yes, and furthermore increase capacity to provide/deliver quality reused water(R1) for
agricultural and landscape purposes.
112.... and to meet the needs of coastal wetland ecosystems, including brackish anchialine pools.
Action 2.4. Yes!
2.11a. Needs a period at the end of the sentence.
2.12. Ditto, needs a period.
130s. Such an important step to protecting coastal and nearshore ecosystems.
132a. Needs a comma.
132d. Needs a period.
135. Fabulous idea!
136. Finally!!
Action items 2.27-31. Yes, please proceed with all of these asap.
137. Thank you! But how will you ensure this? If the county doesn't plan to monitor marine resources or
conduct WQ tests, then they must partner with agencies or ngos that do, including DLNR DAR, DOH,
TNC, CORAL, and Surfrider Fdn.
146. Please do! Please do not let this new 2019 integrated resources and solid waste management and
zero waste implementation plans sit and collect dust like the last one did (it was fabulous but not well
implemented IMO).
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147. Add and by increasing the sorting process (only clean,well-sorted waste can drive a market for
reuse/recycling).
153. DELETE this!! Voters have turned down W2E (incineration)proposals several times over multiple
administrations. It is NOT the pono path to zero waste and negates your previous commitment towards
reducing GHGEs and reducing waste. Please nix this policy!!
154. Great, and support locally-produced and sold products to reduce packaging waste and extra GHGEs
produced in shipping.
Action 2.48g. Yes! And hopefully we can have an act to support the single-use plastics reduction effort
in the near future. Love that this is included. Great job!
PS sorry for my brevity(and perhaps typos) with some of these comments, but I am off island at the moment
and scripting this entirely from my small iphone!
Me ka.mahalo,
Sent with aloha from cyber space.
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