Objective: Ensure viable water yields by protecting and enhancing the condition of Hawaii's forested watersheds to retard rapid run-off of storm flows, prevent and reduce soil erosion, and improve infiltration rates.

Action:Prevent and suppress forest and range fires on key watersheds to include forest reserves, public hunting areas, and natural area reserves. Cooperate with established fire control agencies for the protection of other wildlands not within departmental protection areas to the extent needed to provide for public benefits and environmental protection.

• Fought 38 fires state-wide totaling over 48,000 acres.
• Maintained 57 miles of firebreak roads.
• Constructed a firebreak road in the Kuaokala forest reserve, Oahu.
• Conducted control burns (850 acres) on ranch land adjacent to the Kapapala Forest Reserve to reduce the fire threat, Hawaii Island.
• Participated in the suppression of five major forest fires in California.
• Conducted a state-wide series of basic and specialized training for department and county fire department personnel (Fire Operations in the Urban Interface, Advanced Wildland Fire Investigation, Command & General Staff, Dozer Wildland Fire Workshop, Wildfire Powersaw, Basic Incident Command System)
• Participated in fire prevention education venues with Smokey Bear including classroom visits, county fairs, the Makawao Rodeo, Honolulu City Lights, and the Kailua 4^th of July parade.
• Conducted in-house inspections of federal excess personal property equipment (total value of $329,958 worth of fire equipment acquired)
• Provided assistance to the Kahoolawe Island Reserve Commission in formulating a fuels reduction plan with prescribed fire.
• Designed the DOFAW Fire Management Web Site ( www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/fmp)

Action: Control livestock trespass and non-native animals in priority watersheds.

• Removed 16 feral cattle from the Puu Ka Pele Forest Reeserve, Kauai. .
• Participated in the eradication of cattle in the Koolau, West Maui, and Kula Forest Reserves on Maui.
• Conducted aerial eradication of cattle on private land as part of the West Maui Watershed Partnership.
• Conducted aerial surveys for cattle trespass in state forest reserves on Hawaii

Action: Survey and control noxious plants, forest insects and diseases that can damage watershed integrity and native ecosystems.

• Monitored the spread of Septoria passiflora fungus on Banana Poka statewide.
• Introduced the fungus, Septoria passiflora to other areas that were infested with Banana Poka.
• Controlled noxious weeds and plants on 136 acres at various locations on Kauai.
• Introduced the bacteria Ralstonia for the control of Kahili ginger and monitored the efficacy and spread.
• Surveyed and removed Clidemia plants in the Honolulu Watershed forest reserve.
• Surveyed areas on Maui for parrots, carribean coqui frogs, and other alien vertebrates.
• Conducted forest pest surveys in the Koolau, West Maui, and Hana forest reserves on Maui.
• Eradicated 836 acres of Miconia calvescens on lands in and adjacent to the Hana forest reserve.

Action: Plan for and implement the reforestation and management of deteriorating and/or disturbed state watersheds as may be appropriate for watershed value enhancement.

• Replanted 1/4 acre of Norfolk Island pine tree seedlings in Kalihi Valley and Waiahole, Oahu.
• Planted 2 acres of seedlings in the Kuaokala forest reserve for erosion control.

Action: Promote, encourage, and advocate for incentives to encourage the maintenance and enhancement of key watersheds on private lands.

• Participated within the Koolau Mountains, East Maui, and West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership programs.
• Helped establish new watershed partnership programs on Lanai and Molokai.

Action: Review and commented on Environmental Assessments, Environmental Impact Statements, Conservation District Use Application Permits and other Land Use applications.

• Waahila Ridge 138kv Transmission Line by Hawaiian Electric Company, Inc, Island of Oahu.
• Saddle Road Reconstruction and Realignment Project by Federal Highways Administration.
• 115 Land Use request for comments to DOFAW.
• Diamond Head State Monument Master Plan, DLNR.
• Kahului Flood Control Project, Kanaha Pond, Maui.
• University of Hawaii, Mauna Kea Science Facilities, Master Plan, Big Island, Hawaii.
• Oahu Forest National Wildlife Refuge by Castle and Cook, Inc.
  
  

HOME