Invasive species fight has become state priority

By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer

Before: The invasive weed Salvinia molesta left Lake Wilson in Wahiawa looking like this last year, creating havoc for fish and fishing enthusiasts alike. Advertiser library photo • March 17, 2003

After: But after a $1 million cleanup project and the volunteer efforts of many, Lake Wilson is nearly free of the salvinia and the plant is under control. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

Today the fish and the fishing enthusiasts are back and the lake is almost entirely free of the salvinia, thanks to a massive $1 million state cleanup project that combined the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and dozens of groups, including government and military.

Salvinia molesta is a popular aquarium plant, but grows so fast and is so invasive that its sale has been banned in many states. Widespread alarm was heard over the invasion of the alien weed when the plant was suddenly found at several sites around the state last year, including Kawainui Marsh, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden, Ka'elepulu Pond in Enchanted Lake and the Waiakea pond in Hilo on the Big Island.

The discoveries set off a serious fight against the invader and raised questions about whether the state was equipped to deal with it.

Peter Young, director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, said even though the battle at Lake Wilson was expensive, the plant is now under control and some good did come out of the experience.

"In part, the salvinia response is one of the reasons fighting invasive species is a priority for the DLNR right now," Young said. "We learned from it. If you don't control it and do aggressive, immediate early response, it can get out of hand."

Young said the department, with Gov. Linda Lingle's approval, is asking for $5 million in 2004 to battle all types of invasive species in the state.

"Part of our legislative package is calling for funding for a significant increase, of unprecedented scope and scale, in addressing invasive species in Hawai'i," Young said. "It is not just salvinia in Lake Wilson, it is trying to prevent the brown tree snake from coming into Hawai'i, it is trying to address miconia in the forests and algae in the ocean."

Young said a requirement for the $5 million request is it would have to be matched by either other government or private funds or in-kind services so $10 million would be used in 2004 to fight the problem.

"The best dollar spent on invasive species is the one spent to prevent something coming in," Young said. "Once it gets here it is harder, more expensive and time consuming to do an effective response. So we address it in a very broad sense."

The program is expected to continue for several years and will include prevention, control, research, education and outreach to stop people from bringing invasive species into the state.

People intentionally bring in plants and animals but don't realize the problems it can cause, Young said. The money would be used partially to add more agricultural inspectors at ports and airports.

Heidi Bornhorst, a consultant on sustainable landscaping, said environmentalists have been fighting the battle against invasive species for years and could use the state's help.

"There are so many weeds of concern, but salvinia was so in your face and you can see exactly what you need to get rid of it. It was very straightforward," she said. "They brought in the big excavator. Unlike the Christmas berry up in the forest, that is so bad, but we are 200 years too late. It is everywhere.

"We have apple snails in taro, our prime food crop and nutrition for the world. Some dummy brought in apple snails and it has devastated the taro."

Young said that when one invasive species is allowed in the state, it affects many other things.

He said miconia creates a canopy in the forest that blocks sunlight, killing the undergrowth. That accelerates erosion and undermines the watershed, washing dirt into the streams and down to the ocean. The silt in turn covers and kills the reef and when the reef dies, fish are driven away.

"Miconia is not just about trees or a forestry issue," Young said. "It is about the forest, the natural ecosystem, our groundwater resources, the quality of our land, our streams and our reefs.

"Because of salvinia and the cooperation of working together, then seeing the impact of what invasive species can do to our quality of life here, fighting invasive species is clearly our No. 1 priority at DLNR and one of the governor's priority for the state."

Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-2431.