Future of Pelekane Bay?

INVOLVING ARMY CORP OF ENGINEERS ‘MAY NOT BE BEST SOLUTION’

BY CAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK

WEST HAWAII TODAY

clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com

Some Kohala residents attempted to light a fire under the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to request funding and implement an action plan that solves the silt and sedimentation problems inside Pelekane Bay.

During the Kawaihae Local Resource Council Meeting Sunday, they questioned Derek Chow, Civil and Public Works Branch chief for the Corps Honolulu District, about the progress of restoring this ecosystem, as well as the fundamentals of such projects.

They reminded Chow that the Corps helped caused this problem. The reef at Kawaihae in 1949 was considered pristine. Roughly 10 years later, the Corps constructed Kawaihae Harbor, dredging the reef to 39 feet and stockpiling 3 million cubic yards of dredged material over an adjacent reef. About 213 acres of reef was lost by destruction or burial.

Chow explained the Corps built the harbor for the state in the early 1960s, when society “cared little” about the fish and marine ecosystem. Instead, he said the interest was mostly on navigation, the economy, and meeting West Hawaii’s growing needs. He also stressed erosion can be caused by multiple factors, including urbanization, grazing, agricultural activities, deforestation and natural processes.

Chow repeatedly warned that relying on the Corps “may not be the best solution” to fixing this problem immediately. Contrary to popular belief, he said “the Corps Civil Works Program is not a construction company,” “has no labor resources,” “can’t start something without authorization from Congress,” and “works on long-term projects — things that will help you in 20 years.”

Each project and project study, as well as construction, must be authorized by Congress, which also appropriates funds. Almost every project must have a qualified non-federal, local sponsor — such as the state, county or a nonprofit organization — who pays for a portion of the project’s costs, as well as proves it can meet the financial and maintenance obligations throughout the project’s perpetuity. The cost share is determined by a project’s purpose, but the federal government typically pays 40 to 65 percent of construction costs, Chow said.

About 10 years ago, Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District agreed to sponsor a Pelekane Bay ecosystem restoration project, as well as pay for 50 percent of the study costs and 25 percent of the construction costs. The Corps began a comprehensive study in 2003, assessing the feasibility of restoration features, including sediment retention facilities, erosion control measure and a circulation channel connecting the harbor to the bay. When MKSWCD said in 2008 that it had no ability to raise the necessary funds, the study was terminated. The completed sections can be viewed and emailed to those interested upon request, Chow said.

To start this project again, Chow said there needs to be a local sponsor, who can pay for half the costs of the approximately $500,000 study. He claimed the Corps has not received a request for funding for such a project or an official letter from an interested sponsor since 2008.

Asked if there’s a chance in the end that the project would be considered not worth doing by Congress, Chow responded, “It’s a possibility.” He explained this project would be competing with others nationwide for funding and support.

The state Department of Land and Natural Resources has begun to make land improvements on the south end of Kawaihae Harbor, but it has yet to fulfill environmental obligations and get a U.S. Department of Army permit required to do work in the ocean, Chow said.

Corps cannot issue the permit until DLNR provides a require Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certification for the state Department of Health. DLNR also still hasn’t answered several follow-up questions from federal agencies like the National Marine Fisheries Service about its mitigation plan. However, DLNR did respond this month that it received a reminder about the missing information on issues, such as transplanting coral and dealing with possible resuspension of silt, Chow said.

During Sunday’s meeting, attendees called the south small boat harbor unusable. Chow said the Corps will conduct a hydrographic survey this year to determine the water depth and bottom configuration of this area. If needed, the Corps will dredge the places it’s responsible for, such as the depth within the entrance and the depth within the harbor.

For more information, call Chow 438-7009 or email derek.j.chow@usace.army.mil.