The health of Kaneohe Bay was on
our minds during our December meeting. Details are below. Click on the
highlighted links for more information.
Research Funding Encouraged: During the meeting, our Board Chairman, Mo Radke, urged the
Governor’s Office to seek state funding for the proposed He‘eia
National Estuarine Research Reserve. The
reserve would encompass approximately 1,385 acres of Kaneohe Bay around He’eia
State Park, as well as Moku o Lo’e (Coconut Island). It would join 28 other
estuarine research reserves nationwide and would be the only one in Hawaii.
The
federal government has proposed funding the majority of the project, but the
state must match at least 30 percent of the federal dollars. Funds would pay to
assess environmental conditions and possible conservation steps in the research
area.
Rod
Becker, director of the state Department of Accounting and
General Services under Governor
David Ige, said he would relay the request to the governor.
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| He'eia Fishpond and He'eia State Park fill the foreground in this photo. |
A Diverse
Environment: The management
plan for the reserve describes a diverse environment. In addition to the
state park and Coconut Island, it includes He‘eia Fishpond, He‘eia wetlands and
“a large expanse of marine waters with patch and fringing reefs.” Also included
are taro patches and gardens, and He‘eia Stream.
The area is actively used for traditional agriculture, fishing,
tourism, recreational boating and education.
A Top Priority
– Gathering Information: The
management plan says the project will focus on gathering information about past
sustainable practices in the area, as well as current conditions such as water
quality, coral habitats, and plants and animals living in the bay.
The plan envisions using the information to assess human impacts
on the area and improve management strategies there.
Learn More: Besides the management plan, the final
environmental impact statement for the project is available online.
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