By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer
LIHU‘E, Kaua‘i — The entire Koloa-Po‘ipu resort area would be designated critical habitat for two endangered cave creatures under a proposal by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The creatures are known to exist in dark lava tubes and cracks, and in caves in fossilized reef only in the Koloa area of Kaua‘i. They are known as the Kaua‘i cave wolf spider and the Kaua‘i cave amphipod.
The Fish and Wildlife Service is under a federal court order to make a critical habitat determination for the two animals, both of which are endangered species.
The agency already has received strong criticism from local hunting interests and property owners for its proposals to establish more than 60,000 acres of Kaua‘i and Ni‘ihau as critical habitat for dozens of endangered plants.
Most of the plant habitat is in isolated back-country areas, many already state parks, forest areas and reserves.
The roughly 4,000 acres of proposed insect habitat is smack in the middle of one of the most active regions for Kaua‘i’s economy.
It includes a wide triangle of low terrain running along the coast from Kukui‘ula east to Maha‘ulepu and inland to Waita Reservoir, including both Koloa town and the Koloa Mill, plus the entire Kukui‘ula-to-Po‘ipu resort area. Additionally there are two smaller areas on the rocky hillsides between Maha‘ulepu and Kipu Kai.
Both the spider and the amphipod are related to surface creatures, but have evolved into unique species that survive in the perpetual darkness of caves. Both are eyeless.
The spider is a hunting rather than a web-weaving animal, and it has a leg span of about 1.5 inches. Among its prey are the cave amphipods.
The amphipod, a relative of sand fleas and crabs, is about a quarter-inch long and eats the woody remains of roots that have pushed down into the caves from the surface.
The Fish and Wildlife Service designation of critical habitat means any federal action on the affected properties must be managed to minimize or avoid harming the creatures’ habitat. The Koloa region is entirely privately owned. Private landowners are affected if they seek any sort of federal permit, license or federal money. For instance, federal money for a highway would qualify.
Despite the lack of critical habitat designation, the county already responded to the issue last year when it realigned its Koloa Bypass Road, which is under construction, to avoid two caves at the outskirts of Koloa town that could be spider and amphipod habitat.
The Fish and Wildlife Service was sued by conservation interests for failing to establish critical habitat for hundreds of endangered and threatened Hawai‘i plants and animals, and the U.S. District Court in Honolulu ordered the agency to make habitat determinations under strict deadlines. The determinations for the spider and amphipod must be made by Feb. 1, 2002.
The service is asking for public comment on its proposed habitat designation by March 31.
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