2011-09-12 NICDP Minutes Final - Laserfiche WebLink

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NORTH KOHALA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN ACTION COMMITTEE MINUTES MEETING DATE September 12, 2011 TIME 4:35 p.m. PLACE North Kohala Senior Center (the old courthouse) 54-3900 Akoni Pule Highway, Kohala, HI 96755 ATTENDANCE Members Present: Joe Carvalho, Marlene Ching, Hermann Fernandez, Susan Fischer, Ron Friman, Giovanna Gherardi, Collin Kaholo, Richard Liebmann, Bob Martin Planning Department: none Guest Speaker: Melora Purell, Coordinator for the Kawaihae/Pelekane Bay watershed restoration project Public Attendance: Megan Solis, Liz Purtell, Sarah Pule-Fujii, Lena Kapeliela, Frank Cipriani, Judith Fisher ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS APPROVAL OF MINUTES The May 9 minutes were unanimously approved after a motion by Richard and a second by Giovanna. Changes were made to the draft August minutes including clarifications to the Affordable Housing and Agriculture Subcommittee reports, and corrections to the Department of Water Supply presentation. The August 8 minutes were unanimously approved after a motion by Richard and a second by Hermann. REVIEW OF TERMS FOR NKCDP ACTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS Giovanna's position started on September 1. The Planning Department has received three applications. Project Manager Rosalind Newlon of the Planning Department, Giovanna, and Joe will interview applicants. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC: none PRESENTATION: 1) PELEKANE WATERSHED Coordinator Melora Purell shared her experience with erosion prevention techniques used at the Kawaihae/Pelekane Watershed, methods which could be used at Upolu Point to keep soil out of the ocean. In August of 2009, Kohala Watershed Partnership (KWP) was the recipient of a $2.69M competitive grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for coastal restoration through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). This funded the Pelekane Bay Watershed Restoration Project to address the sources and impacts of land-based se The project area encompassed 6600 acres owned by Queen Emma Land Company and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, and leased to Parker Ranch. Fencing protected existing native shrubs and trees within an enclosure free of pigs, cattle and goats. Native ground covers and woody plants of 30 species were planted, each with an irrigation drip line receiving a gallon a month. A restoration plan to reduce sediment inputs into coastal waters follows three objectives: (I) Maintain existing ground cover to prevent actively eroding areas from expanding. (II) Restore native vegetation to critically eroding areas. Native plants are more adapted to site conditions, resistant to drought and fire, collect mist, and will rehabilitate the land by cleaning the runoff, and providing habitat for native fauna. (III) Reduce sediment transport and storage in drainage ways and gullies. A combination of structural and biological erosion control measures can be