Posted on: Friday, October 26, 2001

Agencies agree to protect Lana'i watershed

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Science Writer

LANA'I CITY, Lana'i — Eleven federal, state and private organizations have signed an agreement to protect watershed and native resources on Lana'i.

The multiparty agreement is similar to ones in place on O'ahu, Moloka'i, Maui and Hawai'i, which bring together parties with ownership or other interests to protect watersheds.

One of the key issues is the preservation of the upland forested area, which helps recharge Lana'i's groundwater supplies.

"Ensuring the future supply of water for the island of Lana'i is the primary motivation for the partnership, but not the only one," said David Craddick, director of the Maui County Board of Water Supply. "The health of our nearshore oceans and fisheries as well as our beaches are directly related to the health of our forests."

A key feature of the protection of the Lana'i watershed is the control of axis deer and mouflon sheep in the upland areas, said Bob Hobdy, the state's Maui District forester. Their trampling and browsing degrades the watershed, he said.

Signatories to the Lana'i Forest and Watershed Partnership Agreement are Castle & Cooke Resorts LLC, Hui Malama Pono O Lana'i, Maui County Board of Water Supply, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state Division of Forestry and Wildlife, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, Moloka'i-Lana'i Soil and Water Conservation Service, Lana'i Water Advisory Committee, state Commission on Water Resource Management and Maui County.