Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group Activities

04/10/23 HBWAG March 2008 Presentation

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THE HILO BAY WATERSHED ADVISORY GROUP


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INTRODUCTION

• Comprised of a partnership of concerned citizens and organizations in Hilo

• Organized with a steering committee, general membership, and advisors

• Steering committee and general membership (show and tell) meeting are held monthly

• Monthly presentations keep the interest alive


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Hilo Bay Watershed Map


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Water Quality Issues

Point SourcePoint Source and Non-point Source and Non-point Source

Comes from manydiffuse sources

End-of-pipe dischargesfrom sewage treatmentplants


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HBWAG

MISSIONThe purpose/mission of the Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group shall be tobring the community together to understand and protect the ecology of theHilo Bay Watershed.

VISIONFuture generations will enjoy a cleaner Hilo Bay, cleaner streams, and a watershedthat supports both human activities and the natural ecosystem. Stewardship of theHilo Bay Watershed will be embraced by all members of the community. Our community will better understand, protect, nurture, utilize, and enhance the HiloBay Watershed through a cooperative effort based on ecosystem processes andthe community’s needs and cultural values.

CUSTOMERSThe HBWAG’s ‘customers’ include the Hilo Bay Watershed, community, property owners, governmental and non-governmental agencies…essentially, all the stakeholders who affect and are affected by the watershed.


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HBWAG Beginnings

from Hilo Bay Watershed Project Public Input Final Report, May 2004

Gather Public Issues and Solutions

Public Input

Report

Restoration Plan

Development

Projects

Water Quality

Meets Standards

Background File

DOH Identifies Waters Not

Meeting Water Quality Standards


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HBWAG Beginnings

Human Activities/ Impact

Priority 2 Human Activities

Problems

Priority 3 Natural Factors

Solutions

Hilo Bay Watershed Health

Priority 1 Watershed

Management

Source: Hilo Bay Watershed Project Public Input - Final Report - May 2004

NotIdentifiable

In 2004


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HBWAG Beginnings

• Public meetings generated public input report

• HBWAG Supported draft of Watershed Restoration Plan

• Public awareness = public participation


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HBWAG Operations

• Steering committee meets monthly to plan direction and activities

• By-laws govern organization– Decisions are by consensus

• Many steering committee members also participate on sub-committees– Activities are resource limited– Prioritize issues/activities via strategic plan


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• To seek Partnerships

• To engage in collaborative problem identification and solutions

OVERARCHING STRATEGY


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• To promote comprehensive watershed management principles

• To identify and resolve watershed and water quality problems

• To propose solutions based on scientifically based information and research



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• To strive to increase group membership

• To foster community participation in learning about and improving conditions in the watershed

• Develop working relationship with local SWCD groups



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OUR VISION


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OUR PROCESS


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OUR PROCESS

• Keep community informed

• Prevent problems through education


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ACCOMPLISHMENTS


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WHAT HBWAG is Doing

• Organized and partnered with Envision Downtown Hilo 2025 to restore and maintain storm drain stencils


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WHAT HBWAG is Doing

• Cleaning up beaches and ocean


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WORK in PROGRESS

• Developing website www.hilobaywatershed.orgwww.hilobaywatershed.org

• One stop shop for sharing on-going research and activities with community plus helpful links


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WHAT HBWAG is Doing

• Collecting and analyzing water samples from local streams

• Goal: 720 Data points from ephemeral and year-round streams


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• Have streams deemed “impaired” and listed in 303(d)/305(b) report by DOH to USEPA

Why do stream monitoring

Stream Monitoring Benefits

• To provide data points that can substantiate if impairment exists

• To obtain base line data for future comparison


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• Recording bank erosion

• Sharing findings with community

• Gathering evidence to provide link between erosion and turbidity

WHAT HBWAG is Doing


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Erosion Issues• Heavy episodic rainfall create hazards• Maintenance of flood controlchannels need to be addressed• Potential property damage and Pollution is the result of neglect


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Erosion Issues• Natural occurrences are not addressed in the TMDL formula

• In stream, stream bank, and shoreline erosion are major contributors towards high levels of turbidity in the receiving waters


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Shoreline Erosion• Continue

to monitor

and report


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Environmental Stressors

• Stream Bank and Shore Line Erosion are the largest visible contributing factors

• During Large Rainfall Events it is reported that a flush of wastewater pollution has been evident for a short time and generally clears up in a couple of days(DOH Testing)

• Hilo’s Wastewater system has critical areas that need expansion and coverage.

• Lack of maintenance in stream and flood control channels


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LESSONS LEARNED

• Organization must be dynamic and flexible

• There are never enough volunteers

• Partnerships are essential

• Money may limit activities

• Success is achievable


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HBWAG Volunteers

THANK

YOU!


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HBWAG Partners

THANK YOU!

• Big Island Resource Conservation and Development Council• Hawaii County Department of Planning• Department of Water Supply• Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center• NOAA and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center• Envision Downtown Hilo 2025• Hilo and Waikea High School Teachers and Students•Hamakua SWCD•Hilo DOH Clean Water Branch•UH Hilo Marine science Lab


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Our Vision – Healthy Beaches

Hilo Bay frontBeach Park as it is and not as it is perceived


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IN CONCLUSION

• Continue developing partnerships• Promote community activities• Increase awareness and knowledge• Add capacity• Promote SWCD participation in water quality monitoring

DEPT of PLANNING

ISSUE orPROBLEM

HBWAG

BIRC&D

U of H @ HILO

SWCDDOH

Expertise

Facilitation

Research

SupportSponsor

Monitoring


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Hilo Bay Watershed Advisory Group Activities

Economy & Finance

hilo bay watershed map

cleaner hilo bay

public input report

downtown hilo

hbwag mission

hbwag volunteers

hbwag partners

public participation