The entire property sold recently to Cindy Turner and her husband, Hugo de Vries, for $175,000. They are developing plans to maintain the site and build a four-bedroom home next to the habitat.

The project planner Bills Engineering Inc. released a final environmental assessment for the project this month.

The owners want to build a one-story dwelling with a small two-story area for wetland observation, along with attached garage, swimming pool and driveway. The project would take up 4,959 square feet.

In purchasing the property in September, Turner and de Vries also accepted responsibility for the upkeep of the wetland and the trust fund. Few people were interested in purchasing the property when they learned about the requirement to maintain the wetland, Turner said.

"We're very comfortable with the idea of managing the wetland," said Turner, adding that she has hired a maintenance person who comes in weekly, clearing 5,000 pounds of mangrove and removing invasive species.

Maintenance of the wetland has come under community criticism for years, and is a project that few were willing and able to undertake until Turner and de Vries came along.

The wetland at the southwest end of Ka'elepulu Pond was a source of foul odor more than a decade ago before a huge grove of mangrove was removed and the reconstructed wetland was built. In 1999, a noxious weed covered a good portion of the wetland. Two years ago neighbors complained again of the smell, as weeds and domestic geese and ducks took over the site.

At the time, the agent for the owner, LECI Properties, spent $10,000 to improve the conditions but neighbors believed more should have been done.

The agent had tried to find a nonprofit group to give the land to but organizations, including Ducks Unlimited didn't want to accept the responsibility.

Several neighbors now want the new owners to put in writing a schedule for clearing the wetland, including the waters in front of their homes. Arlene Green, who has lived on the pond for six years said she also wants the new house moved further back to give the birds more room and so it won't be "right in my face."

"They are saying they know it's their responsibility and yes they will (maintain it) but we'd like it put in an agreement because of the past experience," Green said. "These people care but what's the next person going to do."

Turner said she and any future owner are mandated through the Army Corps permit to maintain the wetland and her home will be 100 feet from the water, creating a buffer zone between the birds and the house.

Other neighbors have praised the work the new owners have done, including Ron Walker, retired state and federal wildlife biologist who has long had aninterest in the wetland and tried to find a state, federal or non-profit group to adopt it.

Walker said he has consulted with the couple and now spends half a day a week helping to maintain the wetland.

"They seem more dedicated, not only to maintaining the terms of the permit but to go beyond that and try to improve it for wetland and water birds," he said.