West Maui SWCD Field Trip
Maui County officials were invited to join the West Maui SWCD on a field trip to tour their completed and in-progress projects. The purpose of this tour was to raise awareness of what the West Maui SWCD does and explain the significance of their projects to conservation and the surrounding communities.
Participants included representatives from the Maui County Council, the Mayor’s Office, the County Department of Public Works, the Bureau of Land and Natural Resources, Tri-Isle RC&D, the West Maui Ridge 2 Reef Initiative, NRCS, and Maui SWCDs board members and staff. Past and current challenges with funding, construction, and maintenance were discussed while highlighting the benefits and significance of each project for the West Maui community.
The West Maui SWCD projects shown were:
Thank you to all who joined the West Maui SWCD on this field trip. A similar tour is planned for State of Hawaii officials to see West Maui’s projects, as it is important to share achievements, challenges, and goals with our governmental partners.
Lahaina Watershed Project
Lahaina Temporary Flood Control Project
Lahainaluna Diversion Project
Napili 4-5 Basin
Wahikuli– Honokowai Agricultural Road Project
Honolua Ditch
Site Visit at Napili 4-5 Basin
Group at mahinahina reservoir
Fundraiser announced for annual Conservation Awareness Program
December 12, 2014
state winners, the 4-H Dirt Devils: Corin Nishimoto, Kiarra Burkitt, Kaitlyn Yamada, and Brian Lavongtheung. Their advisor, Daryl Yamada, is not pictured.
The Maui Soil & Water Conservation Districts, Central Maui SWCD is currently seeking funds to support their annual Conservation Awareness Program.
The SWCDs of Hawaii in cooperation with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and UH-CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service sponsor the Annual Conservation Awareness Program to provide interested youths and organized groups an opportunity to learn about, appreciate, and understand soil and water resources.
An annual land judging competition is held to test the knowledge of the participants. The 4-H Dirt Devils won our 2014 county and state contests. As state winners, the 4-H Dirt Devils (Kiarra Burkitt, Brian Lavongtheung, Corin Nishimoto, Kaitlyn Yamada, and Advisor Daryl Yamada) have earned an invitation to represent Hawaii in the national competition, May 5-7, 2015, in Oklahoma City.
SWCD is hoping to raise $10,000 to help get the Maui team to the national competition. Funds raised will help to pay for the registration fee, air and ground transportation, hotel, and meals for a team of five members to travel to Oklahoma.
As part of SWCD's fundraising efforts, a benefit dinner and silent auction at Catering from Soup to Nuts, Inc. & Vineyard Food Company (located at 1951 E. Vineyard St., Wailuku) is scheduled for January 30th and 31st, 2015.
To make a monetary donation and/or to donate a silent auction item(s) for this fundraiser, please complete a Donation Form and mail form/donation to: Central Maui SWCD, c/o 77 Hookele Street, Suite 202, Kahului, HI 96732.
For more information, please contact us.
Wahikuli-Honokowai Agricultural Road Drainage Improvement Project completes Phase I
September 30, 2014
On September 2014, work was completed on Phase I of a West Maui Soil & Water Conservation District pilot project involving work on two stretches of agricultural roads in Wahikuli and Honokowai watersheds. These areas were identified as problem areas for sediment erosion leading to stress on coastal ecosystems.
Working with landowners and an engineer, specifications were created for where the construction contractors should put water bars, and reestablish terraces. Improvements were made to 3.2 miles of road and have resulted in more functional water diversion systems that will slow and divert run-off and sediment accumulated in rain fall events, preventing it from continuing into the gulches and down to coastal waters where it stresses reefs. The capacity of two local contractors has been increased, and this pilot scale project has facilitated an understanding of the steps that will be required for the larger-scale Phase II project to follow this fall.
For more information, click here.
Updated Guidelines for Livestock Nutrient Management Available at a Cooperative Extension Service Near You
December 2010
The Guidelines for Livestock Nutrient Management in Hawaii, dated January 19, 2010 supersedes the June 1996 Guidelines for Livestock Waste Management in its entirety.
Hawaii has many regulations that may affect the livestock industry. The Guidelines are intended to provide guidance to existing and new animal feeding operation (AFO) owners/operators on the existing federal and state regulations. The regulations have been promulgated to ensure a safe and clean environment. More specifically, the primary area of focus of the current regulations is to protect the state waters by minimizing the water pollution from animal feeding operations and the land application of manure.
On October 31, 2008, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) finalized revisions to the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting requirements and Effluent Limitation Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs). These revisions went into effect on December 22, 2008. Most animal feeding operations are not expected to be affected by the newly revised regulations.
For more information on this program and who to contact, download the Guidelines for Livestock Management in Hawaii brochure and/or click here.