Laserfiche WebLink
%-4 OF <br />William P. Kenoi <br />M(gor <br />�4 of H! e <br />Couutp of 7r-awai'i <br />DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECREATION <br />101 Pauahi Street, Suite 6 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />(808) 961-8311 9 Fax (808) 961-8411 <br />NEWS RELEASE <br />July 7, 2014 <br />FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE <br />Clayton S. Houma <br />Director <br />Hawaii County Awarded $375,000 to Control <br />Little Fire Ants <br />The Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation has partnered <br />with County Councilman Dennis "Fresh" Onishi to obtain $375,000 to <br />control little fire ant infestations island -wide. <br />The State Department of Agriculture is providing $200,000, and the Hawaii <br />Invasive Species Council has awarded a grant of $175,000 that will allow <br />the Department of Parks and Recreation to establish a little fire ant (LFA) <br />control program at County parks and facilities. <br />Funding will be used to hire up to three full-time employees who will work <br />exclusively fighting LFA infestations island -wide, purchase bait and <br />equipment, and finance transportation needs. <br />Once an infested park or facility has been identified, the LFA team will <br />apply bait on a six-week cycle, rotate the bait type based on <br />recommendations from the Hawaii Ant Lab, and then continually monitor <br />the treated area to ensure a reduction in ant infestations. <br />Similar treatments conducted at Richardson Ocean Park in Hilo have <br />reduced LFA populations in the affected areas by up to 40 percent, <br />according to data collected during a recently completed pilot project <br />involving the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Hawaii Ant Lab. <br />County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />