HCRI Project Final Report Format I. Report Title: Characterizing Hawaii’s Integrated Marine-Associated Inland Waters and Coastal Aquatic Ecosystems by Acquiring Baseline Data for Estuaries, Salt Marshes and Tidal Flats and Adjacent Coral Reefs and Seagrass Beds to Improve Management Practices Across Diverse Aquatic Habitats Author: KA Peyton; PI: CM Smith Organization: University of Hawaii – Manoa; Botany Department Grant Number: NOA06NOS4260200 Date: 28 November 2007 II. III. Abstract Executive Summary Estuaries, coastal salt marshes and tidal flats are considered to be among the most degraded aquatic habitats in Hawaii. Wetland area in the State is around 6190 ha with estimates of wetland aerial loss ranging from 12-31% during the past 150 years. Moreover, 75% of extant wetlands and associated habitats are regarded as degraded. Several factors are widely acknowledged to contribute, solely or synergically, to the poor conditions in these areas: 1) excessive sedimentation attributed to land use practices within an ahupuaa; 2) displacement of native vegetation and fauna by invasive plants, algae and fishes; 3) non-point source pollution; 4) ill-fated mitigation projects; 5) loss of habitat due to encroachment by landfills; 6) alterations in hydrodynamic processes due to overgrowth of channels by invasive mangroves; 7) reductions in the water table by extraction/diversion of surface and groundwaters; and 8) impoundment, canalization and/or drainage for flood control, agriculture, civil works projects and housing. As there has been no detailed analysis or recent characterization of wetlands in general for Hawaii neither the extent nor the condition of estuaries and the brackish wetlands they support is not known. There are a few recent site-specific research efforts in brackish water wetlands, such as a restoration and monitoring program in Hamakua Marsh in Kailua, Oahu. This study is a characterization of coastal wetlands and present connection to adjacent estuaries, intertidal areas and subtidal habitats. IV. Purpose A. HCRI research priority addressed: This research project focuses on the Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative Research Program Priorities - (1) Native biotic and closely related aquatic habitats: a. Profile native biotic reef habitats and those adjacent to existing protected areas. B. Objectives of the project. The objective of this research to characterize coral reefs and seagrass beds adjacent to protected areas that are refugees for endangered waterbirds - primarily focusing on estuaries with coastal wetlands that serve as bird sanctuaries in the Main Hawaiian Islands. Analogous characterization of the understudied estuarine areas with coastal wetlands is included. The intention is to document these diverse aquatic habitats, to physically describe the sites, to summarize present conditions, to report linkages observed between the inland marine-influenced waters and the adjacent inter-tidal and sub-tidal habitats. V. Approach A. Detailed description of the work that was performed. As of November 2007, a total of 41 sites in coastal wetlands/estuaries in the Main Hawaiian Islands have been visited and assessed. The breakdown of sites surveyed by island is: 12 sites Oahu; 6 sites Molokai; 10 sites Kauai; 6 sites Maui; and 7 sites Hawaii Island. Permission/permits have been applied for 6 additional sites; owners/managers requested that we wait until December because wetlands will likely be flooded and the Hawaiian stilts are not breeding. Whenever possible, the biologists/managers that work at each site were questioned by this project’s biologist about the sites they manage either before the site was visited or during the visit. The information recorded for each site included the type of flow regime, general site description; pond/estuary description; substrate types; any stream inputs; type of exchange/circulation with the marine environment; geomorphology; function and value; history; and threats. Latitude and longitude were recorded using a hand held GPS. Digital photographs were taken. Macroalgae, seagrasses and some invertebrates were collected for identification. An experiment to test the impacts of the invasive fish tilapia on the seagrass Ruppia was implemented in Kawaiele waterbird sanctuary on Kauai. The objectives: Determine whether Ruppia can grow in Kawaiele in the absence of tilapia Determine whether there is a seed bank of Ruppia in Kawaiele The experimental design: Fish Excluded Outplant Ruppia Fish Not Excluded Control Outplant Ruppia Control The sample size is six. The experiment will run until the end of this funding cycle and possibility beyond that time. An outreach project was started with Kapa`a High School, Kauai aquaculture class. The students were given Ruppia to culture in their aquaculture system. We are working with Mr. Wade Ishikawa of Kauai DAR on this project. The purpose is to learn seagrass culture techniques for restoration of the seagrass in areas were the fish have been removed and to raise awareness of Hawaii’s coastal wetland resources in the community. B. Project management: List individuals and/or organizations actually performing the work and how it was done. Kim Peyton performed all work at the 41 sites that were surveyed. Individuals that helped install the fish enclosures or provided other support for this project: Adonia Henry – Ducks Unlimited (provided resources and helped with installation) Wade Ishikawa – Kauai DAR (helped with installation and community outreach) Thomas Kaiakapu – Kauai DOFAW (provided staff support and resources) Alvin Kyono – Kauai DOFAW (provided staff support and access to site) Jeff Herod - USFWS (helped with installation and fish identification) Kim Peyton – UH at Manoa (designed experiment and helped with installation) VI. Findings A. Actual accomplishments and findings. This is among the first comprehensive surveys of Hawaiian coastal wetlands with ponds/estuaries. To date the accomplishment is that 41 sites were surveyed. We are working with multiple agencies to raise the awareness of invasive species impacts in the State of Hawaii’s coastal wetland aquatic resources; previous research has focused primarily on waterbird and terrestrial aspects of the habitats. B. Site specific results. Results have not been assessed, as surveys are ongoing. The seagrass-fish experiment will be accessed in December 2007 by Kim Peyton, eight weeks after their installation. 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? The goals of this project are on track. The surveys were done in conjunction with a group of scientists from University of Hawaii – Manoa; US Forestry Service; DOFAW; and US Fish and Wildlife Service that has received funding from the EPA to record water and soil quality in Hawaiian wetlands. These EPA funded data will be shared with this project. As such water quality and soil types will be included in the final data set. This collaboration enhances this NOAA funded work; ultimately managers will be provided with additional information. In the spirit of co-operation and collaboration the data collected by this project will be shared with the EPA funded project. 2. Were modifications made to the goals and objectives? Additional data will be provided as explained above. The negative impacts of invasive fish on seagrass in the State of Hawaii’s coastal wetlands was not previously understood prior to this project. Previously we had data from Oahu only and one fish species only. We took the opportunity to work with partners on Kauai to experimentally demonstrate the extent of this invasive species impact across the State. Additionally, we are working with different fish species on Kauai. 3. If significant problems developed which resulted in less than satisfactory or negative results, they should be discussed. 4. Description of need, if any, for additional work. B. Indicators of success (What performance measures were used to evaluate how well the project met its stated goals and objectives?) VIII. Recommendations to managers Through recommendations we have made to managers the following actions are underway: Wade Ishikawa, the education specialist of DAR Kauai office, is experimenting with culture methods to grow out the seagrass Ruppia for restoration in Kauai’s coastal wetland ponds. Jeff Herod, the aquatic invasive species biologist of USFWS, is using the information he gained by working with us on Kauai to refine the aquatic invasive species priorities at the Federal level within the State of Hawaii. Based on the results of the fish enclosure experiment additional recommendations will be made to the restoration efforts planned for in Kawaiele waterbird sanctuary on Kauai. IX. Dissemination of Project results: A. Explain, in detail, how the projects results have been, and will be, disseminated. B. List of publications and presentations A 15-minute presentation with a question answer session was made at the Pacific Joint Venture Meeting, Lyon Arboretum, Oahu on 5 February 2007 to explain the goals and objectives of this project to wetland managers from across the State of Hawaii. A 15-minute presentation at the HCRI meeting on 29 August 2007. A 75-minute lecture on seagrasses and Hawaiian coastal wetlands for Greg Bruland’s Coastal and Wetland Ecology and Management (NREM 665) at University of Hawaii at Manoa on 23 October 2007. A 15-minute presentation at the Estuarine Research Federation, an international meeting of aquatic biologists, geologists and natural resource managers, in Providence, RI on 5 November 2007.