HCRI Final Report
I.
Report Title: US Fish and Wildlife Service Internship/ Experimental coral farming for research and
restoration
Author: Zac H. Forsman
Organization: Hawaiian Coral Reef Initiative
Grant Number: NOA06NOS4260200
Date: 11/29/2007
II.
Abstract
Dr. Forsman began work at the US Fish and Wildlife Service, on 2/2007 under the
supervision of Kevin Foster and Michael Molina. The nature of the work to date is as follows: 1)
Author primary and compensatory restoration proposals for the grounding of the M/V Cape
Flattery, and serve as a technical advisor/participant in meetings with DLNR, NOAA, and with
consultants and lawyers hired by the owners of M/V Cape Flattery. 2) Assist in conducting Habitat
Equivalency Analysis, which includes modeling recovery times for coral reef ecosystems, and
scaling restoration and mitigation projects to the injury. 3) Conduct field work and assist with the
technical reporting, Habitat Equivalency Analysis, and mitigation recommendations for a major Fish
and Wildlife Coordination Act case. 4) Review proposals for construction projects that may affect
costal resources in Hawaii, and provide recommendations for minimizing impact to those
resources. 5) Become familiar with state and federal procedures, rules and guidelines regarding
costal resources. 6) Conduct follow up work on previously funded HCRI projects in order to publish
and disseminate the findings in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.
III.
Executive Summary
See abstract
IV.
Purpose
A. Detailed description of the HCRI research priority addressed.
Ecosystem Management
B. Objectives of the project.
The objective of the internship is to provide expertise and personnel to support the Pacific
Islands US Fish and Wildlife Office, while providing valuable training and experience.
V.
Approach
A. Detailed description of the work that was performed.
The following work has been conducted to date:
1) Author a primary restoration proposal for the grounding of the M/V Cape Flattery,
and advise/participate in meetings with DLNR, NOAA, and consultants and lawyers
hired by the responsible party:
The grounding and subsequent removal of the M/V Cape Flattery resulted in injury to
habitat and resources across approximately 79,085 m2 (19.5 acres) of coral reef near Barber’s
Point Harbor, Oahu (Kolinski et al. 2007). Approximately one million coral colonies are
estimated to have been lost. A coral nursery could potentially provide coral of various sizes to
be out-planted to the injured site. This primary restoration option has a direct application to the
site of injury, and will result in a more rapid recovery by replacing lost species and providing
habitat. Corals that are imperiled from future incidents or development projects in the vicinity of
Barber’s Point Harbor would provide source material for the coral nursery. Experimental data
from previously funded HCRI work has provided information on growth and survival rates, and
culturabiltiy of several species of Hawaiian corals. A compensatory restoration project that
involves urchin culturing as a biocontrol agent to combat alien algae is also in the process of
review.
2) Assist in conducting Habitat Equivalency modeling and estimation of recovery times for
Cape Flattery and other projects.
Habitat Equivalency Analysis (HEA) forms the basis for determining the scale of
potential primary or compensatory restoration projects. HEA has been widely used for wetland
mitigation, but is only recently being applied to coral reefs (which fall under the same category
as wetlands under the US Clean Water Act). We are working with economists from NOAA and
the National Park Service to model coral reef recovery, and to scale restoration or mitigation
projects. We have provided inputs for HEA for several restoration and mitigation projects.
Nursery growth and survival rates from previously funded HCRI work has been very important,
and provided the basis for some of the analysis and estimates.
2) Conduct field work to characterize coral reef communities that will be affected by
planned projects on Oahu.
The Army Corps of Engineers is planning improvements to the entrance channel to
Barbers Point Harbor. We completed survey work to determine the potential impact of the
proposed work. Dr. Forsman, along with Dr. Evelyn Cox, and Dr. Dwayne Mitton, identified,
counted, and measured corals on representative transects at the site. Dr. Forsman prepared the
portion of the technical report that contained the description of the coral communities, and the
spatial patterns of coral species of various sizes. Dr. Forsman also prepared the impact
assessment, provided the inputs and assumptions for the Habitat Equivalency Analysis, and
assisted with recommendation of mitigation projects.
4) Review proposals for construction projects that may affect costal resources in
Hawaii, and provide recommendations for minimizing impact to those resources:
The following proposals were reviewed, and recommendations were made:
Draft Environmental Assessment; Reed’s Bay Beach Park Improvements.
The Hawai’i Department of Parks and Recreation has proposed improvements of Reed’s Bay
Beach Park. The project would consist of two phases; Phase I involves construction of sidewalks, tree
removal, and the construction of a 175ft pedestrian bridge. Phase II is dependant on funding, land
disposition and permits, and involves construction of a 51 stall parking lot, walkways, 7 pavilions, and
drinking fountains. A Finding of No Significant Impact or Negative Declaration for the proposed project was
supported.
Maintenance Dredging Kihei Boat Ramp
The Department of Land and Natural Resources proposed conducting maintenance dredging of
Kihei Boat Ramp in Maui. An environmental assessment was conducted to asses potential impacts of
removing approximately 4,500 cubic yards of sand from a medium sized semi enclosed boat ramp. Silt
curtains and standard USFW Best Management Practices were recommended to reduce potential impacts.
5) Become familiar with state and federal procedures, rules and guidelines regarding
costal resources.
Work at USFWS has required basic knowledge and familiarity with federal and state regulations
and procedures.
6) Conduct follow up work on previously funded HCRI projects in order to publish
and disseminate the findings in peer-reviewed journals and at scientific conferences.
–Due to the full-time and time sensitive nature of the work at USFW, work on publishing results
from previous HCRI work was postponed.
B. Project management: List individuals and/or organizations actually performing the work
and how it was done.
Zac H. Forsman, Ph.D. (Project intern and postdoctoral fellow)
Cynthia L. Hunter, Ph.D. (Administration and support)
Kevin Foster (Co-ordination of projects, dives and surveys)
Michael Molina (General supervision and assignment of proposals to be reviewed)
Naidera Sukradj (Dive and survey team coordinator, Fish and rugosity measurements)
VI.
Findings
A. Actual accomplishments and findings.
The grounding of the M/V Cape Flattery is the largest marine national resource damage
assessment case in Hawaiian history. A primary and compensatory restoration proposal were written as a
result of this internship. A technical report was written that characterizes the coral communities at Barbers
Point, recommending options that result in the least amount of impact, and compensatory mitigation
projects scaled by Habitat Equivalency Analysis.
B. Site specific results
Anuenue Fisheries Research Center is currently the targeted facility for future coral nursery work.
HIMB is where urchin culturing would commence. It is expected that if the projects are funded they will
have very positive environmental consequences. Recommendations have been made to reduce the
impacts of the Barber’s Point project, and for compensatory mitigation projects which would also have
positive environmental consequences.
VII.
Evaluation
A. Describe the extent to which the project goals and objectives were attained. This
description should address the following:
1. Were the goals and objectives attained? How? If not, why?
The original goal of the research proposal was to conduct research on coral cultivation, the goals
and objectives have been changed to an internship with USFW. The internship has been very productive.
2. Were modifications made to the goals and objectives? If so, explain. See above
3. If significant problems developed which resulted in less than satisfactory or negative
results, they should be discussed.
The internship at USFWS is important and productive, however it has demanded more than the
three days per week as originally agreed upon. It is important that work begun from previously funded
HCRI projects is carried through to publication; however the work at USFW has required at least five days
per week.
4. Description of need, if any, for additional work.
Publication of previous years year’s HCRI funded projects is still a top priority. Additional work on
pilot scale restoration project work is likely to continue through USFWS.
B. Indicators of success s (What performance measures were used to evaluate how well the
project met its stated goals and objectives?)
There are two indicators of success for an internship of this nature: 1) benefit of experience and
training to the intern, 2) benefit to the office of the intern’s efforts. In both respect, the internship has been
successful.
VIII.
Recommendations to managers
The internship produced several restoration proposals for primary and compensatory restoration of
the M/V Cape Flattery:
Primary restoration proposal for the grounding and removal of the M/V Cape Flattery: Coral nursery and
transplantation facility at Anuenue Fisheries Research Center (AFRC), (in review) ZH Forsman, DA
Gulko, KB Foster
Compensatory restoration proposal for the grounding and removal of the M/V Cape Flattery: Sea urchin
(Tripneustes gratilla) aquaculture for biocontrol of invasive algae and reef restoration in Hawaii (in
review). ZH Forsman, CL Hunter, et.al
The internship has also resulted in the following technical report with recommendations on compensatory
mitigation for a large scale project:
Foster KB, Forsman ZH, Sukhraj NC (2007) Barbers Point (Kalaeloa) Harbor Deep Draft Harbor Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act Investigation Marine Assessment and Impact Analysis. U.S. Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office. p. 82
IX.
Dissemination of Project results:
A. Explain, in detail, how the projects results have been, and will be, disseminated.
Previous HCRI funded work will be disseminated in peer reviewed journals, seminars and through
the internet. USFWS work will result in official reports and documents and made available to the public for
comment.
B. List of publications and presentations
Foster KB, Forsman ZH, Sukhraj NC (2007) Barbers Point (Kalaeloa) Harbor Deep Draft Harbor Fish and Wildlife
Coordination Act Investigation Marine Assessment and Impact Analysis. U.S. Department of the Interior
Fish and Wildlife Service Pacific Islands Fish and Wildlife Office. p. 82
Talks:
Z.H. Forsman, C.L.Hunter (May 29, 2007) The coral species problem in Porites, HIMB seminar
Z.H. Forsman, C.L. Hunter (June 7,2007) ITS is it; the use of the ITS region as a molecular marker in coral.
Kewalo Marine lab seminar
Z.H.Forsman, C.L. Hunter (June 20, 2007) Coral biodiversity is not as it appears, Evolution conference,
Christchurch New Zealand.
The following papers are in preparation:
Z.H.Forsman, C.L.Hunter (in prep) The relative importance of light, water motion, and ‘coral food’
on culturing reef building coral.
Z.H.Forsman, C.A. Baker, C.L. Hunter (in prep) Molecular tools for exploring geographic variation
and species boundaries in mounding Porites.
Z.H. Forsman, C.L. Hunter (in prep) ITS is it: the case for ITS as a phylogenetic marker in coral, a
case study in Porites.