Hanalei Bay Sediment Stabilization and Revegetation
Hanalei
,
HI
Funding Recipient:
Hanalei Watershed Hui
Total Project Cost: $137,805
Hanalei Bay, which is part of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, attracts over half a million visitors annually for its scenic beauty, beaches, coral reefs, and hiking trails. Unfortunately, many of the trails are experiencing severe erosion, which sends sediment into Hanalei River and out into the Bay. The sediment has harmful impacts on the feeding, spawning and breeding habitat of native gobiid and eleotid fish species. Additionally, studies have shown declining coral cover in areas closest to river discharge, with sediments covering the reef throughout the summer. As the health of the bay and the coral reefs is essential to continued tourism, the problem of sedimentation is important to address. With assistance from NOAA Restoration Center, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hanalei Watershed Hui (HWH) is implementing a project to reduce sediment loading from an eroding forest trail. This project will restore several miles of the Okolehao Trail. The HWH will use a variety of restoration techniques to control erosion along the trail, including filling erosion gullies, building runoff diversion features, covering exposed slopes with erosion control matting, and re-seeding areas with grasses and sedges. The overall health of coral reefs in Hanalei Bay will then be monitored by measuring sediment loads, coral larval recruitment, and abundance of native fish species.
NOAA
funding through: |
Funding Amount |
Year |
NOAA Restoration Center |
$87,805 |
2006 |
For more information
contact: |
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Project Partners:
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NOAA Restoration Center |
Hanalei Watershed Hui |
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US Environmental Protection Agency |
Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge |
Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources |
Hanalei Watershed Hui |
Hawaii Tourism Authority |
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Gully erosion along Okolehao Trail |
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Bank erosion along Okolehao trail |
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Installing waterbar along Okolehao Trail |
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Last updated: 08-18-2008
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