Category Archives: Watershed

Malama Maunalua

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Director

Malama Maunalua This O’ahu project was inherited from an organization that went defunct. TIRCD was asked to be the administrative agent for their multiple grants targeting Maunalua Bay restoration efforts.

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West Maui Watershed Restoration

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Director

Content coming soon.

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Southwest Maui Watershed Plan

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Director

Tri-Isle’s partner, the Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District is administering a granted project to develop a watershed plan above Kihei. TIRCD is working to assist when needed and seeks to complement efforts such as a recently submitted NOAA-BWETs educational grant application that would target 7/8th graders in a coastal marine sampling project complemented by a high school internship program. In this concept, Hihei Charter School’s students and faculty would be a central to the project.

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Molokai Soil and Water Conservation District Clerical Assistance

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Director

For over 10 years, Tri-Isle has served as administrator for county grants to the Molokai-Lanai Soil and Water Conservation District, which fund a clerical position to promote SWCD programs

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Watershed Restoration Parnerships

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Director
There are Watershed Partnerships on Maui and one on Lanai which include the Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership, East Maui Watershed Partnership, West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership and the Lanai Forest and Watershed Partnership received funding from the Maui County Office of Economic Development with administration by TIRCD. Their state organization is called the The Hawai`i Association of Watershed Partnerships.

  1. East Maui Watershed Partnership - is a voluntary collaboration between the County of Maui, East Maui Irrigation Company, Haleakala Ranch, Haleakala National Park, Hana Ranch, State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy to preserve and protect the 100,000-acre forested watershed on the windward slope of Haleakala. Formed in 1991, the partnership has had full-time staff since 2002, implementing a resource protection and environmental education program. Project staff spend their time in the remote rainforests of East Maui protecting native vegetation and rare species habitat by constructing fences that prevent feral animals (in particular pigs) from rooting, trampling, and browsing in these sensitive areas. Staff also hunt, remove invasive plant species, and collect data to monitor the project’s effectiveness.In the classroom, staff provide presentations and demonstrations on the importance of the East Maui watershed. Outdoor learning for students, community groups, and local businesses are offered through interpretive hikes lead by EMWP staff in Waikamoi Preserve.In 2006, the Partnership completed a fencing project, enclosing 12,000 acres of native forest. Future plans include additional fences to preserve and protect over 25,000 acres. To gain support for the project and increase community awareness on watershed protection, including the native plants and animals of the East Maui watershed, staff can be seen at community events and have also hosted two art exhibits, a watershed symposium and a poetry “slam”. More details on the EMWP project can be found at www.eastmauiwatershed.orgSince 2005, Tri-Isle RC&D has helped acquire and manage grants for EMWP. To date, Tri-Isle has fiscally administered over $350,000 in grants for EMWP from Maui County’s Office of Economic Development and Department of Water Supply, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, and US Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2006, Tri-Isle RC&D was recognized as EMWP Supporting Partner.
  2. Leeward Haleakala Watershed Restoration Partnership - LHWRP This unique partnership includes all large landowners in the watershed who have made a solid commitment to the long term goal of reestablishing native forests (particularly Acacia koa) on the south and southwest slopes of Haleakala mountain. This area is currently vegetated in rangeland and naturalized alien species but has good potential for massive reforestation with koa based forests because of low levels of invasive species. Grants have been obtained under several programs of the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife. Funding for project planning is coming from the NRCS Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. Other grants have been applied for from EPA. DWS and NRCS. Three DOFAW LIPS grants have been authorized; $87K and $26K have been contracted. The third amount from DOFAW ($210) needed to go out for RFP due to procedural changes at the state level. They are adding an additional $95K for fence line and have decided to issue an RFP for this project also. It normally would go to LHWRP as a sole source provider but the process must be followed. Grant from DWS for FY 10 ($50k) has been submitted and is awaiting processing by the department. The amount for the next fiscal year has yet to be determined. The increase to $50K has again been proposed by DWS for budget year. Contracting for the current DOFAW award has been signed and has been increased to $100K. An additional amount of $170K has been also awarded from ARRA funds for fence work. Both of these contracts are awaiting signatures and notice to proceed. The second grant of $25K has been requested from the USDA Forest Service and has been contracted. This is waiting to be spent down. An operational grant from US Fish & Wildlife for $83K was signed and given a notice to proceed. An initial payment has been received and work is progressing on this project. USGS awarded a grant for a pass through to fund the cost of office rent. It is anticipated that this will be renewed each year for an indefinite period of time. An award for $280,500 has been given to LHWRP for work in Auwahi III by DOFAW (PSGP). Funds are starting to be spent. $500K has been set aside for LHWR in partnership with Living Indigenous Forest System for a fence-line at Kahikinui on DHHL property. This grant was also changed to an RFP and LHWRP prepared the proposal and it was recently submitted.
  3. West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership WMWP currently is administered through TIRCD’s fiscal management of the Maui County combined watershed grants.
  4. Lanai Forest and Watershed Partnership Tri-Isle has also managed the County Combined Watershed Grant for this project. There are three pending, projects which include: extension of fencing for forest (4 mile stretch), tub grinder for composting and a bird reserve to be placed in trust for conservation of open space.Grants for the Lanai Hale from DOFAW have been contracted and signed. Additionally a grant application for bird restoration in the hale made to OHA was approved with match by the Forest service.
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