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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-01-14 Ltr. Case to Lodge re: Pittman-Robertson, WRF, HI Island GM PlanDAVID Y. IGE GOVERNOR OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES POST OFFICE BOX 621 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96809 January 14, 2016 Tom Lodge, Chairman Game Management Advisory Commission 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy. Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 Aloha Mr. Lodge: SUZANNE D. CASE CHAIRPERSON BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT KEKOA KALUHIWA FIRST DEPUTY W. ROY HARDY ACTING DEPUTY DIRECTOR - WATER AQUATIC RESOURCES BOATING AND OCEAN RECREATION BUREAU OF CONVEYANCES COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT CONSERVATION AND COASTAL LANDS CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT ENGINEERING FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE HISTORIC PRESERVATION KAHOOLAWE ISLAND RESERVE COMMISSION LAND STATE PARKS In reply to your letter dated October 8, I would like to thank you again for the invitation to your November meeting and apologize for being unable to attend. In your letter, you had several questions that you wanted answered as well. I have copied your questions below and responded to them individually. PITTMAN-ROBERTSON Hawaii is apportioned $4.75 million annually in Pittman -Robertson Wildlife Conservation funding; $3.25 million to Wildlife Conservation Projects, and $1.5 million to Hunter Education and Shooting Range Development. P -R funds are derived from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition and archery equipment. U.S. Code, Title 16, Chapter 5B, Section 669 specifies public participation in the development and implementation of P -R funded projects. P -R Question 1: What procedures are used to determine that P -R funded projects benefit game resources? Surveys and monitoring efforts to document results of management actions are carried out and are identified in the Pittman -Robertson (PR) 5 -year plan, available online. DOFAW employs educated and experienced Wildlife Biologists on every branch who work in the field daily monitoring hunter check stations, communicating with hunters, maintaining infrastructure and managing habitats, conducting ground and aerial surveys. Any data collected is analyzed and combined with their daily observations to inform the Biologist about the state of the resource, which in turn allows them to adapt their management strategies as needed. Additionally, specific and measurable parameters are identified in the P -R Game plan, which are tracked as they are implemented. These statistics and accomplishments are then compiled and reported in the annual P -R Grant Report, which is submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). P -R Question 2: There is an institutionalized process for public involvement in state P -R funded projects. If not, how does the state comply with Title 16? Yes, DOFAW maintains a list of interested parties from whom it solicits comments for the development of the PR 5 -year plan. The last 5 -year plan is in its final year, so, we are just beginning to put together our next 5 - year plan. DOFAW staff on each district is reaching out to their constituents, listening and communicating with the community through direct conversations and addressing committees and organizations, such as the Kauai Aquatic Life and Wildlife Advisory Committee (KALAWAC) and the county -level Game Management Advisory Committee (GMAC) on Hawaii Island. Based on these conversations and their experience working with their partners implementing the present 5 -year P -R plan, each district will develop/modify their own island -specific P -R plans and objectives. These plans will be brought together on the statewide level and form a draft 5 -year plan. This draft will then be sent out to key partners, community members, committees and organizations as well as posted on our website for comments. We will also publish a press release asking of comments as we work towards preparing the compliance forms and getting federal approval for the proposed activities within the plan. Once the plan is accepted by the FWS, the DOFAW staff work with the community, partners and volunteers to implement the activities described within the plan. WILDLIFE REVOLVING FUND Most of revenue in the state Wildlife Revolving Fund (WRF) comes from hunters via sales of hunting licenses, tags, fines and stamps. The 2014 WRF report to the legislature states the purpose of WRF funds is to manage and enhance public hunting opportunities in Hawaii. WRF Question 1: How can suitable public hunting opportunities be managed without first appropriately managing game animal resources upon which hunting depends? Public hunting opportunities are provided by enabling access to areas in which hunting is available and through informed management of game mammal populations. Where appropriate, game species are managed through predator control, invasive vegetation control, wildfire prevention measures, access and infrastructure maintenance, as well as the establishment of game guzzlers and food plots. The impact of these management activities is evaluated through aerial surveys, ground surveys, monitoring hunter check stations - hunting pressure, hunting success and hunter feedback. Based on this, seasons, bag limits, special hunts and other mechanisms are established as needed, based on the management objectives of that specific area. Furthermore, most islands have a stocking program for some gamebirds to help assure a quality hunting experience. WRF Question 2: The WRF is obligated to match P -R expenditures. How do these expenditures benefit game mammal resources when these expenditures are considered "enhancement" and a threat to any threatened or endangered plant or animal anywhere in proximity, and subsequently denied? Simply put, all WRF funds benefit game resources and promote hunting, thus, where possible and with careful planning and monitoring, we can and do use WRF funds for game mammal resources. Given the large numbers of threatened and endangered species in Hawaii, compliance with Endangered Species Act laws in relation to game mammal management can be challenging. The Department strives to conduct game management where conflicts with threatened and endangered species do not occur, and to secure compliance with laws where they do occur together. WRF Question 3: How is the hunting public, the beneficiary of these funded projects, involved in their development? First, the P -R 5 -year Game Management Plan is available to the public through the DLNR website, and is freely provided to anyone requesting it through our offices. Secondly, the hunting public is involved in the development of the projects by participating in community meetings, through communication and participation in community groups, like GMAC and ALAWAC, who then communicate their group needs and suggestions to DLNR/DOFAW, participating in organized hunting events, filling out hunting check -station information thoroughly, participating in surveys, taking time to 2 review and comment on plan revisions when they are advertised, and volunteering as well as simply communicating with field staff. Additionally, we are currently working with the hunting community (including the GMAC) on a legislative bill to create an advisory commission with island -based committees to assure input and ideas are discussed on all islands. WRF Question 4: How does managing water units, fences and checking stations, purchasing equipment and supplies, maintaining motor vehicle fleets, and nene habitat renewal and enhancement benefit game resources and hunting opportunities? Water units provide water to game birds and, where appropriate and legal, game mammals. Fences provide clear boundaries separating some hunting lands from private and public lands with different management goals. Fences also protect endangered species, sensitive habitats, watersheds, other private and public resources from degradation and predation. Protecting those resources opens the door for the presents and management (including enhancement) of game mammals outside of the fences and greatly reduces wildlife - human conflict as well as avoiding conflicts between management goals. Equipment, supplies and motor vehicles are needed to maintain infrastructure and habitat for game and non - game species, without which the habitat would be unsuitable for many game species and make much of the hunting areas difficult or inaccessible to the hunting community. One wildfire can severely impact both native and game species alike, thus access and fire prevention and rapid response are key priorities essential for the maintenance of a good hunting program. Nene habitat renewal reduces vegetation and predators which is a benefit to game birds and allows easier ungulate control where needed (added hunting opportunity such as the cattle hunts in upper Hilo watershed). WRF Question 5: What measurement is used to determine individual project benefit to enhanced hunting opportunities? There are a variety of ways that DOFAW measures the impacts of our projects. DOFAW tracks the hours spent relative to the work achieved; they track their achievements and compare them to targets set in the annual plans; DOFAW conducts game surveys; monitors hunter use and success through check -stations and surveys; monitors hunting license/tag sales and lottery participation statewide as well as per island; DOFAW staff communicates with local hunting groups and individual hunters to get their opinions and ideas. Then DOFAW combine all this data and feedback to produce better 5 -year plans. HAWAII ISLAND GAME MANAGEMENT PLAN GMP Question 1: It was stated in June that a DLNR-revised Hawaii Island Game Management Plan would be available for review in mid-July. Please give us an update on that document. The plan has been edited by our field staff and is currently being put back together by the Wildlife Program Manager. A draft plan is expected to be submitted to the original working group for review by January 2016. GMP Question 2: The 12 -year-old draft North Kona Habitat Conservation Plan indicates three phases of implementation: avoidance and minimization during years 0-5; mitigation during years 6-15; and maintenance during years 16-25. Please discuss what each level means, and when animals will be translocated and managed in Puuwaawaa or Puuanahulu in accordance with Chapter 1830. Will animals be 3 treated as bona fide game by the use of food plots, water, planting of cover and other applicable game management strategies? The phases were set to allow for a measured rollout of the plan, assuring that avoidance and mitigation measures can be put in place to protect what needs protecting before game is increased in that area. Once the HCP is accepted by the Board of Land and Natural Resources, activities benefitting and increasing game will be implemented in a fashion that will assure compliance with the Incidental Take Permit and will allow necessary avoidance and minimization measures to be installed prior to significant impacts from the increasing game populations. Animals will be translocated as appropriate in accordance with the accompanying game management plan for the Puuwaawaa / Puuanahulu GMA and based on current populations, habitat quality, estimated carrying capacity, hunter used/success, the installation of avoidance and minimization measures, etc. Please let us know if we can provide any further information. Sincerely, Suza4 d 6e nne Case, Chairperson Board of Land and Natural Resources 1151 Punchbowl Street Honolulu, HI 96809 cc: SheriMann, Acting Administrator Jim Cogswell, Wildlife Program Manager 4 • 'euox-EnTT-ex w 0 1 5 5 Ln CD 0 GQ •P'• Pa CIA CrQ P?. tri tD fD n rb n) a) 1-1 o rP rt '-00 o'N fl) -4 C •D- i• - o 0 cn 1-, 0 M 60896 IIVAAVH 'ninioNoH LZ9 X08011 m 0 z >z 4 11 o .r4 3. c:03 Cc (t3 33 3 >r m (r) 0c 7:3 0 m Cl)