Pelekane Bay WatershedRestoration Project

Pelekane Bay WatershedRestoration Project

August 2009 - February 2011

Funding - $2.9 millionFunding - $2.9 million

A competitive grant for coastal restoration projects nationwide. 800+ projects submitted; 50 projects funded, two in Hawaii.

A competitive grant for coastal restoration projects nationwide. 800+ projects submitted; 50 projects funded, two in Hawaii.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act = need to be “shovel ready” and have a focus on hiring people to get them to work doing conservation activities.

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act = need to be “shovel ready” and have a focus on hiring people to get them to work doing conservation activities.

Storm flow - November 2010

Sediments

How did this happen?How did this happen?

FireFire

GoatsGoats

Bare GroundBare Ground Exotic GrassesExotic Grasses

eat everything except

consume native vegetation

fire-grass cyclechanges soil texture = no infiltration

ErosionErosionSediments smother coralSediments smother coral

FireFire

GoatsGoats

Bare GroundBare Ground Exotic GrassesExotic Grasses

eat everything except

consume native vegetation

fire-grass cyclechanges soil texture = no infiltration

ErosionErosionSediments smother coralSediments smother coral

Completed 18 miles of goat-proof fencing, and controlled feral goats inside fence.

FireFire

GoatsGoats

Bare GroundBare Ground Exotic Grasses

eat everything except

consume native vegetation

fire-grass cyclechanges soil texture = no infiltration

ErosionErosionSediments smother coralSediments smother coral

Created a 400 acre protected stream corridor for native plant restoration.

FireFire

GoatsGoats

Bare GroundBare Ground Exotic GrassesExotic Grasses

eat everything except

consume native vegetation

fire-grass cyclechanges soil texture = no infiltration

ErosionErosionSediments smother coralSediments smother coral

Treated about 13 acres of bare ground with erosion control fabric embedded with native seed

Build 60 sediment check dams in barren areas.

Many hands make light(er) work.

Keep it local.

What did we accomplish?

Constructed 18 miles of fence to make 6600 acre goat-free

area

Created a 400 acre restoration area free of cattle, pigs and

goats

Protected 50,000 existing native plants from animal

damage

Planted more than 30,000 native trees, shrubs and ground

covers

Laid more than 10 miles of irrigation line

Built 60 sediment check dams; each can hold 10 tons of

sediment

Treated 13 acres of bare soil with fabric seeded with native

plants

Grew more than 30 species of native plants from seed we

collected

Employed and trained 35 local people over the course of

the project

Mahalo!Mahalo!