3.0 natural and physical environment · wind speeds are normally within the 13 to 24 miles per hour...

Chapter 3 Keālia Mauka Homesites NATURAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT Draft Environmental Impact Statement

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3.0 NATURAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

3.1 CLIMATE

3.1.1 ExistingConditions

3.1.1.1Climate

TheclimateontheislandofKaua‘i,aswellaswithintheStateofHawai‘i,ischaracterizedashavinglowday‐to‐dayandmonth‐to‐monthvariability.Differencesintheclimateofvariousareasaregenerallyattributabletotheisland’sgeologicformationandtopography,resultinginminiatureecosystemsrangingfromtropicalrainforeststodryerplains,alongwithcorrespondingdifferencesintemperature,humidity,wind,andrainfallovershortdistances(Dept.ofGeography,1998).

Long‐termclimatedataforLīhu‘e,locatedontheisland’ssoutheastcoast,showstheaveragedailytemperaturerangingfrom71and80degreesFahrenheitintheyear2000withanaverageannualtemperatureof76.2degrees.Therangeinnormaltemperaturesfromthecoolestmonth,February,tothewarmestmonth,August,islessthan8degrees.Thedailyrangeintemperatureisalsosmall,lessthan15degrees.Normalannualrainfallisover40inches,withthree‐fourthsofthistotal,onaverage,fallingduringthesevenmonthwetseasonwhichextendsfromOctoberthroughApril(NOAA,2017).

Tradewindsfromthenortheastblowacrosstheislandduringmostoftheyear,andtypicallydominateweatherpatternsfromApriltoNovember.Windsfromthesouthareinfrequent,occurringonlyafewdaysayearandmostlyinthewinterassociatedwith“Kona”storms.Windspeedsarenormallywithinthe13to24milesperhourrange(UHDepartmentofGeography,1983).AirqualitythroughoutKaua‘iisgood,meetingallstateandfederalairqualitycriteria.

3.1.1.2ClimateChange

Climatechangeisalong‐termshiftinpatternsoftemperature,precipitation,humidity,windandseasons.Scientificdatashowthatearth’sclimatehasbeenwarmingandmostlyattributabletorisinglevelsofcarbondioxideandother“greenhousegases”generatedbyhumanactivity.ThesechangesarealreadyimpactingHawai‘iandthePacificIslandsthroughrisingsealevels,increasingoceanacidity,changingrainfallpatterns,decreasingstreamflows,andchangingwindandwavepatterns.

In2014,theUniversityofHawai‘iatMānoaSeaGrantCollegeProgram(UHSeaGrant)preparedaKaua‘iClimateChangeandCoastalHazardsAssessment(KC3HA)aspartoftheCounty’sKaua‘iGeneralPlanupdate.ThestudynotesthattheIslandofKaua‘iissubjecttoavarietyofcoastalhazards,includingcoastalstorms,highwaveevents,flooding,coastalerosionandtsunamis.Eachofthesemaybeimpactedbyclimatechange‐relatedsealevelrise(SLR).

TheKC3HAstatedthatarangeofsealevelriseofonefootbyyear2050andthreefeetbyyear2100isareasonable,possiblyevenconservativeplanningtargetforKaua‘iandtheotherHawaiianIslands(UHSeaGrant,2014).Recently,theHawai‘iClimateChangeMitigationandAdaptationCommissionreleasedareportstatingthatthismagnitudeofSLRcouldoccurasearlyas2060,basedonrecentobservationsandpredictions.Moreover,SLRislikelytocontinueforcenturies(Hawai‘iClimateChangeCommission,2017).SLRisexpectedtoincreasethefrequencyandseverity


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ofwaveinundation,erosion,andflooding.ThesehazardsinturncanimpactKaua‘i’scriticalinfrastructure,economy,coastalhabitats,publicaccess,andresidentialcommunities.

AccordingtotheKC3HA,thekeycoastalhazardimpactstoconsiderforKaua‘iare1)coastalfloodingandwaveinundation;2)erosion;3)inlandflooding;and4)wind.

Coastalfloodingandwaveinundationisthefloodingofnormallydry,low‐lyingcoastalland.Itcanbecausedbyelevatedseasurfacesfromstaticlevelriseorlargetidalfluctuations,seasonalhighwavesthatpushwaterinland,andstormsurgeassociatedwithlowpressuresystems,tropicalstorms,andhurricanesthatcauseanabnormalriseinthewaterlevel(UHSeaGrant,2014).ThePetitionAreaisnotwithinafloodzoneorthedesignatedtsunamievacuationzone.

HistoricstudiesofcoastalerosionindicatethatbeacherosionisthedominanttrendofshorelinechangeonKaua‘i.TheNationalAssessmentofShorelineChange:HistoricalShorelineChangeintheHawaiianIslands(Fletcheretal,2012)reportsthat71%ofbeachesonKaua‘iareerodingwithnearlyfourmilesofbeachcompletelylosttoerosionoverthepastcentury.Onaverage,shorelinesonKaua‘iretreatedover36feetoverthepastcentury.BeachesonthenorthandeastcoastsofKaua‘iareundergoingthemosterosion(76%and78%ofbeaches,respectively)(ibid).ClimatechangeinducedSLRisexpectedtoresultinincreasetohistoricalerosionrates.ThePetitionAreaislocatedapproximately1,000feetinlandfromthecoast,andwillnotdirectlyimpactorbeimpactedbycoastalerosion.

Inland(stream)floodingonKaua‘imaybecharacterizedbyflashfloodsaswellasprolongedfloodingassociatedwithslowlypassingrainstormsthatsaturatethesoils.Climatechangeisexpectedtocausemoreextremerainevents,whichcouldleadtoimpactsfrominlandflooding.ThePetitionAreaisnotlocatedinafloodproneareaoradjacenttostreams,andisatlowriskofinlandflooding.

WindrelatedeventsincludeKonastormstropicalstorms,andhurricanes.AsdiscussedinSection3.5,NaturalHazards,Kaua‘ihasahistoryofdamaginghurricaneevents,includingHurricanesDotinAugust1959,IwainNovember1982,andInikiinSeptember1992.SomestudiesindicatethatclimatechangemayresultinanincreaseintropicalcyclonefrequencyaroundtheHawaiianIslandsinthefuture.

3.1.2 PotentialImpactsandMitigation

Theproposeddevelopmentwillhavenoeffectonclimaticconditionsandnomitigationmeasuresareneeded.ThePetitionAreaislocatedonthemaukasideofKūhiōHighwayabout1,000feetfromtheshoreline,atanelevationofabout100feet.Itisnotvulnerabletocoastalerosionorstreamfloodingthatmayoccurasaresultoflong‐termclimatechange.Thetwoon‐sitedetentionareasaredesignedtoprovideareasforstormwaterdrainagetopercolateintotheground.

LikemostoftheislandofKaua‘i,thePetitionAreaisvulnerabletowindrelatedeventssuchashurricanes,whichmaybecomemorefrequentasaresultofclimatechange.Whilethelikelihoodofstormandhurricanedamageisdifficulttoassess,thefutureresidentialunitswillcomplywithallapplicableCountybuildingcodes.


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3.2 GEOLOGYANDTOPOGRAPHY


TheIslandofKaua‘iconsistsofasingledeeplyerodedshieldvolcano,andthePetitionAreainKeāliaislocatedontheeasternflankoftheshield.ThegeologyoftheprojectsiteincludeslavaflowsfromtheKoloaVolcanicSeriesdepositedduringthePleistoceneeraandrecentdepositsofalluviumbeachanddunesandandlagoonalclaysandmarls(looseorcrumblingearthydepositshighincalciumcarbonate).

ThePetitionAreaislocatedonthemaukaslopesaboveKūhiōHighway,andthetopographyisgenerallygentlyslopingfrommaukatoKūhiōHighway.NearKūhiōHighway,theelevationisabout100feetabovemeansealevel(msl),andgraduallyrisestonearly130feetatthemauka‐mostareasofKeāliaRoad.Theaverageslopefromtoptobottomisapproximatelythreepercent.Thesurroundinglandsarelargelyundeveloped,withtheflatlandsbeingutilizedaspasture.Valleysinthesurroundingareaareoccupiedbytrees,bushes,andothergreenery.


Nosignificantmodificationstositetopographyareplanned.ThePreliminaryEngineeringReport(PER)preparedbyKodani&AssociatesEngineers(2017)(AppendixG)includesapreliminarygradinglayoutforthePetitionArea.Thepreliminarygradingplanshowsthelocationofexistingsurfacecontoursandproposedfinishedcontours.Theestimatedearthworkquantityofexcavationis350,000cubicyards(YD3)andthetotalofestimatedembankmentis347,000YD3.Thisresultsinanetexcavationof3,000YD3.

Bestmanagementpractices(BMP)willbeutilizedduringsubdivisionconstructiontopreventviolationsofStateandCountywaterqualitystandardsduetostormwaterrunoff.BMPswillalsobeimplementedforlongtermdevelopmentandoperationofactivitiesoccurringonthesiteaspartofpollutionpreventionmeasures.

3.3 SOILS


TheU.S.DepartmentofAgricultureNaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)soilclassificationforthePetitionAreaisshownonFigure3‐1.

3.3.1.1SoilTypes

IoleauSeries.ThePetitionAreaincludesthreesoiltypeswithintheIoleausoilseries:

Ioleausiltyclayloam,2to6%slope(IoB)inthenorthernhalfofthePetitionArea

Ioleausiltyclayloam,6to12%slope(IoC)inthenortheasternportion

Ioleausiltyclayloam,12to20%slope(IoD2)atthenortheastcorner.

PetitionArea

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Soils MapKeālia Mauka Homesites Dra Environmental Impact StatementKealia Proper es, LLC

Figure 3-1

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FeetMeters

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TheIoleauseriesconsistsofwell‐drainedsoilsonuplandsontheislandofKaua‘i.Thesesoilsdevelopedinmaterialweatheredfrombasicigneousrock,probablymixedwithvolcanicash.Theyaregentlyslopingtosteep.Elevationsrangefrom100to750feet.Theannualrainfallamountsto40to70inches.Themeanannualsoiltemperatureis72°F.IoleausoilsaregeographicallyassociatedwithLīhu‘eandPuhisoils.

Thesesoilsareusedforirrigatedsugarcane,pasture,pineapple,irrigatedorchards,irrigatedtruckcrops,wildlifehabitat,andwoodland.Thenaturalvegetationconsistsoflantana,Koahaole,guava,andassociatedshrubsandgrasses.[Footeetal.1972:47]

Līhu‘eSeries.ThemajorityofthePetitionAreacontainsLīhu‘esiltyclay,0to8%slope(LhB).TheLīhu‘eseriesofsoilsconsistsofwell‐drainedsoilsonuplandsonKaua‘i.Thesesoilsdevelopedinmaterialweatheredfrombasicigneousrock.Theyaregentlyslopingtosteep.Elevationsrangefromnearlysealevelto800feet.Theannualrainfallamountto40to60inches.Themeanannualsoiltemperatureis73°F.Līhu‘esoilsaregeographicallyassociatedwithIoleauandPuhisoils.

Thesesoilsareusedforirrigatedsugarcane,pineapple,pasture,truckcrops,orchards,wildlifehabitat,woodland,andhomesites.Thenaturalvegetationconsistsoflantana,guava,Koahaole,joee,Kikuyugrass,Molassesgrass,Guineagrass,Bermudagrass,andJavaplum.[Footeetal.1972:82]


Appropriateerosionandsedimentcontrolswillbeimplementedduringconstructionofthesubdivision,andwillcomplywithCountyofKaua‘igradingordinanceandtheStateDepartmentofHealthNationalPollutantDischargeEliminationSystem(NPDES)permitprogram.Soilerosionwillincreasedramaticallyduringgradingandotherconstructionactivities.Whenerosionoccurs,sedimentcanbetransportedbywindorstormwaterrunoff,andhasthepotentialtoaffectdownstreamwaterquality.Erosioncontrolmeasuresduringconstructionmayincludephasingworktominimizebareareas,useofmulch,erosionblankets,andseedingbareareastokeepthemvegetated.Sedimentcontrolisthecaptureoferodingsedimentstokeepthemonsiteandawayfromsurfacewaters.ExamplesofsedimentcontrolBMPsincludesiltfences,settlingbasinsandsedimenttraps,andfiberrolls.BMPswillremaininworkingconditionthroughouttheconstructionperiod.WiththeimplementationoferosionandsedimentcontrolBMPs,nosignificantimpactstosoilsareanticipated.

Individuallotpurchaserswillberequiredtokeeptheirlotsvegetateduntiltheyarereadytobuildtominimizesoilerosion.Duringconstruction,homeownerswillberequiredtocomplywiththeCountygradingordinanceandtherequirementsoftheStateDepartmentofHealth,includingtheNPDESpermitprogram.

3.4 WATERRESOURCESANDHYDROLOGY


3.4.1.1Watershed

Awatershedunitiscomprisedofadrainagebasin(orbasins)whichincludebothstreamandoverlandflow,whoserunoffeitherenterstheoceanalonganidentifiedsegmentofcoastline(coastalsegment)orentersaninternallandlockeddrainagebasin(CWRM,2005).AccordingtotheAtlasofHawaiianWatershedsandtheirAquaticResources(Hawai‘iDAR,2008),theislandofKaua‘i


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isdividedintofivewatershedregions,withEastKaua‘ipartoftheLīhu‘eRegion.WithintheLīhu‘eregion,thereare12identifiedwatersheds.TheKeāliaMaukaProjectAreaappearstostraddletwowatershedsintheLīhu‘eregion‐‐theKapa‘aWatershed(DARWatershedCode22004)andtheKumukumuWatershed(DARWatershedCode22002).

TheKapa‘aWatershed,whichisthedrainageareaforKapa‘aStream,encompassesapproximately16.5squaremileswithamaximumelevationof3,251feet.AccordingtotheHawai‘iWatershedAtlas,theKapa‘aWatershed’sDARclustercodeis5,meaningthatthewatershedismediumsize,steepintheupperwatershedandwithlittleembayment.Approximately53.3%ofthewatershedisinconservationand43.1%inagriculturaluse.TheStatehasmanagementcontrolof52.3%andprivateentitiescontrol47.7%.

TheKumukumuWatershed,whichincludesthedrainagebasinforKumukumuStream,islocatedtothenorthoftheKapa‘aWatershed.Thiswatershedencompasses1.2squaremileswithamaximumelevationof404feet.Approximately97%isinagriculturaluse,with100%ofthewatershedunderprivatecontrol.

Kaua‘i’swatershedsarecollectivelyoverseenbytheKaua‘iWatershedAlliance(KWA),acollaborationof11publicandprivatepartners.TheKWAwasformedin2003andoversees144,004acresofforestedwetland.Ongoingmanagementactivitiesincludecontrollinginvasiveweedsandungulatessuchasferalpigsandgoats.Invasiveplantsandanimalshavebeenidentifiedasthetwomostimportantthreatstothewatershed.(Kaua‘iWatershedAlliance,2012).TheKWApartnerssharethecommongoalofthelong‐termprotectionoftheisland’supperwatershedinordertomaintaingroundandsurfacewaterandhealthynativeecosystems.

3.4.1.2SurfaceWater

TherearenowetlandsorstreamslocatedwithinthePetitionArea,althoughtherearestreamsoutsidethePetitionAreatothenorthandsouth.Kapa‘aStream(HSACode2‐2‐04),alsoreferredtoasKeāliaRiver,isaperennialstreamlocatedtothesouth.Intheprojectvicinity,Kapa‘aStreamcrossesunderKūhiōHighway,andenterstheoceanatthesouthernendofKeāliaBeach.

AsiscommonthroughoutHawai‘i,theupperelevationsofKapa‘aStreamweredivertedinthe1920’saspartoftheirrigationsystemdevelopedbythesugarplantations.Theirrigationsystem,consistingoftunnels,ditchesandflumes,isreferredtoasa“ditch”system.Initsmaukareaches,Kapa‘aStreamwasdivertedtotheMakalehaDitch(4MGD)andKapahiDitch(5MGD)systems(CWRM,1990).ThePetitionAreaandsurroundingareaswereatonetimeirrigatedbywaterflowingthroughtheextensiveditchsystem.Withtheclosureofthesugarplantation,muchoftheditchsysteminurbanizedareasofEastKaua‘ihasbeenabandoned,butisintactandflowingelsewhere.

LocatednorthandoutsideofthePetitionArea,KumukumuStream(HSACode2‐2‐02)isaperennialstream,flowingmaukatomakaiandpassingthroughtheKeāliaKaisubdivisionbeforeenteringtheocean.TheHawai‘iStreamAssessment(HSA)notesthatstreamflowsinKumukumuStreamareyear‐roundintheupperportionsbutareintermittentatlowerelevations.Formuchoftheyear,KumukumuStreamintheprojectvicinityisadrygulchleadingtoanestuarinepool,moreorlessopentotheocean.Runoffflowsthroughthisgulchonlyduringstormevents(CountyofKauai,2003).


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3.4.1.4IrrigationDitchSystem

Theexistingnon‐potableditchsystemintheareaismanagedbytheKeāliaIrrigationCompany.Therearetworeservoirs,KanehaandHalaula,associatedwiththesystem.TheHalaulaReservoirislocatedmaukaofthePetitionArea,abouthalf‐waytotheSpaldingMonument.TheKanehaReservoirislocatedfurthermauka,justoutsidetheMoloaaForestReserve.ThetworeservoirsareregulatedbytheStateofHawai‘iDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources(DLNR).TheditchtransmissionsystemisnotState‐regulated.

TheKeāliaIrrigationCompanyhasaneasementthroughthePetitionAreathatfeedstheKeāliaKaisubdivisionlocatedmakaiofKūhiōHighway.Transmissionisallunderground.TherearenoactiveirrigationditchesinthePetitionAreaorwithinthelargerTMKparcel.

3.4.1.3Groundwater

InHawai‘i,groundwaterprovidesabout99%ofdomesticwaterandabout50%ofallfreshwaterusedintheState.TheEastKaua‘iareaiswithintheStateofHawai‘iDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources(DLNR)CommissiononWaterResourceManagement(CWRM)’sLīhu‘eAquiferSector,whichhasatotalsustainableyieldof131milliongallonsperday(mgd)(CWRM,2015)TheStateWaterCodedefinessustainableyieldas“themaximumrateatwhichwatermaybewithdrawnfromawatersourcewithoutimpairingtheutilityorqualityofthewatersource…”

TheKeāliaMaukaPetitionAreaiswithintheLīhu‘eAquiferSector’sAnaholaHydrologicunit(AquiferCode20104),whichhasasustainableyieldof17mgd(CWRM,2015).WaterusersincludetheprivateKeāliaWaterSystem,theCountyofKaua‘i’sWaterDepartmentandagriculturalusers.In2015,pumpagefromtheAnaholaHydrologicUnitwas2.48mgd,about14.5%ofitssustainableyield(CountyofKaua‘iandFukunaga&Associates,2015).

WaterservicefortheexistingKa‘aoRoadsubdivisionandfortheKeāliaKaidevelopmentonthemakaisideofKūhiōHighwayisprovidedbyaprivatedomesticwatersystemcalledtheKeāliaWaterSystem,ownedbytheKeāliaWaterCompanyHoldings,LLC.Currently,theKeāliaWaterSystemprovideswatertoapproximately60homesonKa‘aoRoadandHopoeRoad,andhas35serviceconnectionsatKeāliaKai.WaterfortheKeāliaWaterSystemisfromagroundwatersource,viatwowells(Keālia1Aand2a)onthewestsideofKeāliaRoad(Kodani&Associates,2017).

KeāliaWells1Aand2AarelocatedwithintheareaofabatteryofsevenwellsdevelopedandformerlyusedbyLīhu‘ePlantation.Allnineofthesewellsweredrilledthroughalluvialmaterialcomprisedofvariousclayswithsomelandandcoraltoaccessthesemi‐confinedgroundwaterwhichresidesintheunweatheredKoloavolcanicsatdepthbelowthealluvium.Allninewellsaresolidcasedtodepthsbetween80to130feetbelowsealevel.Theydrawwaterfromtheopenholesbelowthesolidcasings.Theopenholedepthsspanfrom80to235feetbelowsealevel.Piezometricheadofthesemi‐confinedgroundwatertappedbythesewellsvariesbetweeneightandtenfeetabovesealevel.Whenoriginallyconstructed,atleastthreeofthesevenplantationwellswerefreeflowingunderartesianpressure(TomNanceWaterResourceEngineering,2018).

AccordingtotheCWRM,certificatesofwellconstructionandpumpinstallationforKeāliaWells1Aand2Awereissuedon9/19/2008.Theapprovalpumpcapacityis650gpm(936gpd)forKeāliaWell1A(StateWellNo.3‐0618‐009)and540gpm(777,600gpd)forKeāliaWell2A(StateWellNo.3‐0618‐010)(personalcommunicationwithQueenieKomori,3/12/2018).


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3.4.1.4WaterQuality

Statewatersareclassifiedaseitherinlandwatersormarinewaters.Inlandwatersincludestreamsandwetlands,andmarinewatersareeitherembayments,opencoastal,oroceanicwaters.Inlandandmarinewatersareclassifiedforthepurposeofapplyingappropriatewaterqualitystandards.BothKapa‘aandKumukumuStreamsflowintothenearshorecoastalwaters,whichareratedClassAbytheDOHWaterQualityStandards.

ThefederalCleanWaterAct(CWA)§305(b)and§303(d)requiresstatestodescribetheoverallstatusofwaterqualitystatewideandextenttowhichwaterqualityprovidesfortheprotectionandpropagationofabalancedpopulationofshellfish,fishandwildlifeandallowsrecreationalactivitiesinandonthewater.TheCWA§303(d)requiresstatestosubmitalistofWaterQualityLimitedSegmentsreportingpollutants,withapriorityrankingoflistedwaters.

TheDOH’s2006303(d)listcontainedatotalof93streamsegments.The2006listofimpairedwaters(StateofHawai‘iWaterQualityMonitoringandAssessmentReport,DOH2006)includedKapa‘aStream(StreamCode2‐2‐04)andindicateditwasimpairedduetoturbidity.TheKeāliasegmentoftheKapa‘asystem(StreamCode2‐2‐04.01)wasnotconsideredimpaired.In2016,aDraft2016WaterQualityMonitoringandAssessmentReport(DOH,2016)wasreleased.The2016reportevaluatedwatershed“decisionunits,”manyofthemcoastalwatersheds.Basedonnewdata,boththeKapa‘aWatershed(WaterBodyIDTBD)andthemarinebodyatKeālia(Kapa‘aWatershed)(WaterBodyIDH1402035)donotmeetapplicablewaterqualitystandards,withturbiditythepollutantofconcern.


3.4.2.1ConstructionPeriod

ConstructionactivitywithinthePetitionAreahasthepotentialtoimpactthewaterqualityofnearbystreamsandnearshoreareasduetostormwaterrunoffanderosion.DuringconstructionoftheKeāliaMaukasubdivision,thecontractorwillimplementandmaintainstormandsurfacewaterrunoffBestManagementpractices(BMPs),subjecttoanyapplicablereviewandapprovaloftheStateDepartmentofHealth.TheBMPswillbedesignedtominimizesoilerosionandsedimentationduringactivitiessuchasgrading,grubbing,andstockpiling.TheBMPswillavoidviolationsofStatewaterqualitystandards.

Constructionofhomesontheindividuallotswillbetheresponsibilityoffuturelotowners.MeasurestominimizeconstructionperiodimpactswouldalsobeimplementedasrequiredbytheCovenants,ConditionsandRestrictions(CC&Rs)forthesubdivision,whichwillrequirelotownerstocomplywithallStateandCountyregulatoryrequirements.

3.4.2.2.OperationalPeriod

ThePetitionerhasawaterserviceagreementwithKeāliaWaterCompanywhichallowsadailyaggregateof300,000gallonsperday(gpd)ofpotablewatertobereservedfortheproposedproject.Themaximumdailywaterdemandforthe235singlefamilyhomeshasbeenestimatedat177,250gpd,basedonanaveragedailydemandof500gallonsperunitperday.Thismaximumdailydemandiswithinthe300,000gpdallocationfromtheKeāliaWaterCompany.TheestimatedmaximumdailywaterdemandisalsowithintheCWRM’s‐authorizedpumpcapacityofthetwo


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sourcewells(Keālia1Aand2A).Nonewwellsareproposedorrequired.Anadditionalwaterstoragetankwillbeconstructedtomeetfireflowandstoragerequirements.

Atfullbuildoutof235homes,totalpumpagefromtheAnaholaHydrologicUnitisestimatedtobe2.98mgd,representinglessthan20%oftheaquifer’ssustainableyieldof17mgd.Theadditionofupto235newsinglefamilyresidenceswillincreasedemandongroundwaterresources,butthisiswithinthecapacityofthewellsandwithintheaquifer’ssustainableyield.

FindingsofHydrogeologicalLetterReport

DuringaLandUseCommission(LUC)meetingandinaCulturalImpactAssessment(CIA)interview(seeChapter4,Section4.5),oneindividualraisedconcernsabouttheimpactofgroundwateruseonupgradientwaterusers,specificallyonaspring‐fedlo‘ilocatedapproximately1.1milesinlandofthewells.AhydrogeologicalinvestigationwasconductedbyTomNanceWaterResourceEngineering(TNWRE)toevaluatethepotentialimpactofadditionalwaterusefromthetwowells;theletterreportisincludedasAppendixI.

TheTNWREreportindicatedthattheKoloavolcanics,fromwhichKeāliaWells1Aand2Adrawwater,aregenerallymoderatetopoorlypermeable,highlyvariableovershortverticalandhorizontaldistances,andareofteninterbeddedwithnearlyimpermeableweatheredsoillayers.Thisresultsinverydifferentwaterlevelsandhydrauliccapacitiesinwellsonlyshortdistancesapart.Asanexample,thereportcomparedtwootherwellsonHauaalaRoad.Well0619‐001,whichwasfinishedtoadepthof60feetbelowsealevel,hasawaterlevelat66feetabovesealevel.Insharpcontrast,nearbyWell0619‐003hasawelldepthat90feetabovesealevel,andhasawaterlevelat220feetabovesealevel.ThereportnotedthatintheKoloavolcanics,suchdifferencesovershortdistancesaremorethenormthantheexception.

UsingGoogleEarthandtheestimatedlocationofthelo‘i,thehydrogeologistestimatedthatthegroundelevationatthelo‘iisapproximately20to25feetabovesealevel.Thelo‘i’swatersourceisnotonthissite,butabout200yardsawayontheothersideofaprivatedirtroad,andontheorderoftensoffeethigherinelevation.Thehydrogeologistwasnotabletovisitthewatersource,whichwasonprivateproperty,buthetalkedtoanindividualfamiliarwithit.Itiseitheraspringsource(aswasrepresentedbytheindividualintheCIAinterview)orthedischargefromthestillactiveplantationirrigationsystemonthelandimmediatelyabove.

Thereportstatedthatifitisanactualspringsourceatthatelevation,itwouldbeadischargeofperchedgroundwaterwithnohydrologicalconnectiontothesemi‐confinedbasalgroundwaterpumpedbyKeāliaWells1Aand2A.Thepotentialincreaseinpumpageofthesewellswouldhavenoimpactonthedischargerateofsuchaspring.Ifthesupplyisfromtheactivelyusedsurfacewaterirrigationsystemonthelandabove,eitherasadirectconnectionorasatailwaterdischarge,increasingpumpingofthebasalgroundwaterwouldhavenoimpactonitsflowrate(TNWRE,2018).

Inconclusion,noadverseimpactstosurfaceorgroundwaterresourcesareexpectedasaresultoftheproposedresidentialuse.TheProposedActiondoesnotincludeanystreamorsurfacewaterdiversions,andwillnotmodifyanystreamchannelsorirrigationditches.TheproposedgroundwaterusewillnothaveanadverseimpactonstreamflowinKapa‘aStream,withinirrigationditches,andwillnotimpactthewatersourceforthetarolo‘imentionedduringtheLUCmeetingandCIAinterview.


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3.5 NATURALHAZARDS


Naturalhazardsincludeavarietyofphenomenaincludingseismicactivity,hurricanes,tsunamiinundation,andflood.

3.5.1.1SeismicActivity

SeismicactivityorearthquakesintheHawaiianIslandsareprimarilyassociatedwithvolcaniceruptionsfromtheexpansionorshrinkageofmagmareservoirs,ratherthanshiftsintheearth’scrust.TheislandofKaua‘iisperiodicallysubjecttoepisodesofseismicactivityofvaryingintensity,butavailablehistoricaldataindicatesthatthenumberofmajorearthquakesoccurringonKaua‘ihavegenerallybeenfewerandoflowerintensitycomparedwithotherislands,suchasHawai‘iIsland.

Earthquakescannotbeavoidedorpredictedwithanydegreeofcertainty,andanearthquakeofsufficientmagnitude(greaterthan5.0ontheRichterscale)couldcausedamagetoroadwaysandstructures.TheUniformBuildingCode(UBC)providesminimumdesigncriteriatoaddresspotentialfordamagesduetoseismicdisturbances.TheUBCscaleisratedfromSeismicZone1throughZone4,with1thelowestlevelforpotentialseismicinducedgroundmovement.Kaua‘iisdesignatedSeismicZone1.

3.5.1.2Hurricanes

Hurricanesareonesubclassofacategoryofphenomenaknowntometeorologistsastropicalcyclones.Hurricanesarecharacterizedbythefollowinglife‐threateningeffects:highwindsinexcessof74mph;highstormsurges;andheavyrainsthatwillexceedflashfloodconditions.ThehurricaneseasoninHawai‘iofficiallybeginsonJune1eachyearandendssixmonthslateronDecember1.

AmongthesixmostcriticalcyclonesthatapproachedtheHawaiianIslandsbetween1832and1949,threeofthestormswenttowardKaua‘iandNi‘ihau.In1959,HurricaneDotcaused$6millionindamagetoKaua‘iandwasthemostdevastatingstormuptothatdateinHawai‘i’shistory.In1982,HurricaneIwastruckKaua‘iandOahuandcaused$234millioninpropertydamagetobothIslands.OnSeptember11,1992,HurricaneIniki,aCategory4hurricanewithwindsupto150mph(240km/hr),resultedinanestimated$1.8billionindamagetoKaua‘i.

TheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration(NOAA)reportedthatthe2016seasonincludedtwohurricanes(MadelineandLester),threetropicalstorms(Celia,Darby,andUlika),andonetropicaldepression(Ivette).Inadditiontothesixtropicalcyclones,oneout‐of‐seasonhurricane(Pali)occurredinJanuary2016(NOAA,2016).

3.5.1.3Tsunami

TheCountyofKaua’i’stsunamievacuationzonemapforKeāliatoAlakukuiPointshowsthedesignatedtsunamievacuationareaencompassingtheentirecoastalareauptoKūhi‘oHighwayinKapa‘aTown.IntheKeāliaarea,therearealsosomeareasinlandofKūhiōHighwaythatrequireevacuation,butthesearemostlysouthofKeāliaRoad.ThePetitionAreaislocatednorthofKeāliaRoad,andisnotwithinthedesignedtsunamievacuationarea.


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3.5.1.4FloodZones

ThePetitionAreaisintheFederalEmergencyManagementAgency(FEMA)’sfloodZoneX,areasofminimalfloodhazard,determinedtobeoutsidethe500‐yearflood(FIRMCommunity‐PanelNo.1500020210F).NeithertheKeāliaMaukasitenortheadjacentKa‘aosubdivisionarelocatedwithinthedesignatedFIRMfloodzone(Figure3‐2).FloodproneareasareassociatedwithKapa‘aStream,andmostlylocatedtothesouthofKeāliaRoad.However,thelowersectionofKeāliaRoadclosertoKūhiōHighwayissusceptibletoflooding,withinZoneAEandXS.ThislowersectionofKeāliaRoadincludesKeāliaFarm,theoldpostofficebuilding,andanabandonedschoolbuilding.

TherearenoFEMAfloodzonesassociatedwithKumukumuStreamorHomaikewaaStream,bothlocatedoutsidethePetitionAreatothenorth.

3.5.1.5Dam‐RelatedFlooding

ThemaukalandsthroughoutEastKaua‘iincludeanumberofman‐madereservoirs,dams,ditchesandflumesthatweredevelopedintheearlytwentiethcenturyaspartofthesugarplantationirrigationsystem.Manyofthesestructuresarestillinuse.TheHawai‘iDepartmentofLandandNaturalResources(DLNR)DamSafetyProgrammaintainsadatabaseoftheState’sreservoirsanddams,theircharacteristicsandphysicalconditions.IntheareasmaukaofthePetitionArea,therearetwoState‐regulatedreservoirs/damsthatareownedbythePetitioner,KeāliaProperties,LLC:HalaulaReservoir(StateDamID#KA‐0146)locatedaboutahalfmilemaukaofthePetitionArea,offKeāliaRoad;andthelargerKanehaReservoir(StateDamID#KA‐0015)locatedfurthermauka,aboutfourmilesfromthePetitionArea.

Dam“evacuationzones”representareaswherethepublicwouldbeevacuatedintheeventofapotentialoractualdamfailure.TheevacuationzonesaredesignatedbytheKaua‘iEmergencyManagementAgency(formerlyCivilDefense)inthecaseofapotentialdambreak,andaremuchlargerthanthepotential“inundation”area.Theevacuationareaincludesmajorroadsandintersectionswhereroadblockscouldbesetupfortrafficcontrol.

ThePetitionAreaisnotwithinthedamevacuationzone.Theclosestdamevacuationzone,forHalaulaReservoir,islimitedtolandssouthofKeāliaRoad.TheevacuationareacomesuptoKeāliaRoadinthevicinityofthePetitionArea,andincludessomeofthemakaisectionsofKeāliaRoadnearKūhiōHighway(EvacuationMap,U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersandPacificDisasterCenter,revisedOctober25,2017).

Asrequiredbylaw,KeāliaProperties,LLC,asthedam/reservoirowner,haspreparedanEmergencyActionPlanfortheDLNR’sDamSafetyProgramandStateandCountyemergencymanagementagencies.TheEmergencyActionPlanisanemergencyresponseplanandidentifiesproposedevacuationroutes.

PetitionArea

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Flood MapKeālia Mauka Homesites Dra Environmental Impact StatementKealia Proper es, LLC

Figure 3-2

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Source: County of Kaua‘i

FeetMeters

0

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VE: Coastal Areas with a 1% or Greater Chance of Flooding

A: 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard

AE: 1% Annual Chance Flood Hazard

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Theproposedsubdivisionwillnotaffecttheoccurrenceofnaturalhazardsorincreasethepublic’svulnerabilitytonaturalhazards.Twoon‐sitedetentionbasinswillaccommodatestormwaterrunofffromwithinthePetitionAreaandfromsurroundingareas.CompliancewithexistingCountybuildingrequirementsandstandardsduringconstructionwillavoidsignificantimpactsassociatedwithpotentialnaturalhazards.ThePetitionAreaisnotwithinafloodpronearea,orwithinthetsunamievacuationarea.

AlthoughthePetitionAreaisnotwithintheCounty’sdesignateddamevacuationzoneforHalaulaReservoir,thelowerportionofKeāliaRoadis.Asaresult,accesstoKeāliaMaukasubdivisioncouldbedisruptedorcurtailedintheeventofsuchanemergency.CompliancewithKaua‘iEmergencyManagementAgencyinstructionsandprocedureswillmitigateadverseimpactstoresidents.

3.6 BOTANICALRESOURCES


ABotanicalResourcesAssessment(LeGrande,2016)wascompletedfortheKeāliaMaukaPetitionArea,andisincludedasAppendixB.Thestudyincludedfieldstudiesintendedto:

inventoryflora; provideageneraldescriptionofthevegetationontheprojectsite; searchforthreatenedandendangeredspeciesaswellasspeciesofconcern;and providerecommendationsregardingpotentialimpactstotheplantresourcesoftheareain

regardstotheproposedproject.

ThePetitionAreahashistoricallybeenutilizedforvariousagriculturalactivities,includingsugarcaneproductionandlivestockgrazing.AswithmanyareasintheHawaiianIslands,thenaturalhabitathasbeenhighlymodifiedandischaracterizedbyintroducedplantspecies.ThestudycharacterizesthePetitionAreaasanopen,alien‐dominatedGuineagrasslandwithinfrequentlyscatteredshrubsandtreespecies.

Thefieldsurveynotedatotalof63observedplantspecies.Ofthese,62arealien(introduced)andonespeciesisindigenous(nativetotheHawaiianIslandsandelsewhere).Nothreatenedorendangeredspecieswereobservedduringthesurvey.Aninventoryofalltheplantsobservedwithinthesurveyareaisincludedinthebotanicalresourcesassessmentreport(AppendixB).

3.6.1.1DominantVegetationTypes

ThefollowingisadescriptionofthedominantvegetationdividedintotwomainareaswithinthePetitionArea:

GuineaGrassland

ThemajorityofthePetitionAreaisdominatedbyaGuineagrassland(Panicummaximum)withscatteredshrubandtreespeciesaswellasareaswheresmallerweedyspeciesdominate,suchasindirtroadwaysandalongfencelines.Besidestheguineagrassthattheresidentcattlearegrazingon,smallerweedyspeciesgrowingmixedinwiththegrassclumpsinclude,falseragweed(Partheniumhysterophorus),castorbean(Ricinuscommunis),spinyamaranth(Amaranthusspinosus),owi


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(Stachytarphetaaustralis),lantana(Lantanacamara),Mexicanpoppy(Argemonemexicana),andslendermimosa(Desmanthuspernambucanus),TreespeciesobservedincludedKoahaole(Leucaenaleucocephala),Africantulip(Spathodeacampanulata),andChristmasberry(Schinusterebinthifolius).Dirtroadwaysweredominatedbyweedygrassspeciesandsmallerweedssuchasowi,falseragweed,andSidaspp.

Themainwatertroughforthecattlewasfullandoverflowing,causingarivuletofwaterrunningfromahigherpointofelevationatthewesternendnearthemiddleofthepropertydownslopeeastward.Plantspeciesadaptedtoawetterhabitatwereobservedgrowinginandattheedgesofthewaterincluding,primrosewillow(Ludwigiaoctovalvis),mosquitofern(Azollafilliculoides),andsedgessuchaskaluha(Kyllingabrevifolia),Fimbristylislittoralis,andCyperusdifformis.

Bothareasplannedfordrainagebasins(1&2)aredominatedbyGuineagrassandKoahaole.AlongtheboundaryinthesoutheasterncorneralongKūhiōHighway,largerstandsofKoahaolewereobservedwiththenon‐nativemaunaloavine(Canavaliacathartica)growinginthebranches.

JavaPlum/ChristmasBerryStands

Thisvegetationtypewasonlyobservedinsmallstandsoftreesalongfencelines.Javaplum(Syzygiumcuminii)treesweremixedwithsmallerspeciessuchasAfricantulip,ChristmasberryandKoahaolewithafewcoconut(Cocosnucifera)palmsinsomelocations.Understoryincludedweedygrassspeciessuchasfimbriatepaspalum(Paspalumfimbriatum)andradiatefingergrass(Chlorisradiata).

Discussion

Althoughthefieldsurveysrepresentaone‐timesnapshotoftheplantsinthesurveyarea,whenconsideredtogetherwiththeresultsofhistoricalsurveys,areasonablyaccuratedescriptionoftheenvironmentandvegetationcanbeassembled.ThebotanicalsurveyconfirmedthatnativeplanthabitatwithinthePetitionAreahasbeenhighlymodifiedbyhumanactivitiesoverthelastseveralhundredyears.Agriculturalactivities,roadbuilding,residentialconstruction,andtheintentionalandaccidentalintroductionofalienspecieshasresultedinanoverwhelmingabundanceandprevalenceofnon‐nativeplantspeciesonthesite.


Thenatureofthelandanditspresentandhistoricaldisturbancebyagriculturalactivitylimitthenaturalbotanicalresourcesthatcouldoccuronthesite.Therarefrequencyofnativeplantspeciesappearstoconfirmthatonlythosespeciesadaptedtoconstantdisturbances(e.g.,geological,vehicular,invasiveplantspecies,feralungulates),cansurvive.Uhaloa(Waltheriaindica),wastheonlyindigenous(nativetotheHawaiianIslandsandelsewhere)plantspeciesobserved,anditwasfoundveryinfrequently.ThereisnofederallydelineatedcriticalhabitatforanyplantspeciesonoradjacenttothePetitionArea.Insummary,theconstructionandoperationoftheproposedsubdivisionwillnothaveanadverseimpactonthreatenedorendangeredplantspeciesorcriticalhabitat.Nomitigationisrequired.


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3.7 BIOLOGICALRESOURCES


Avianandterrestrialmammaliansurveyswereconductedforthesubjectpropertyaspartoftheenvironmentaldisclosureprocess.ThefieldworkwasconductedonApril1,2017.TheresultingFaunaSurvey(RanaBiologicalConsulting,2017)isincludedasAppendixC.Theprimarypurposeofthesurveyswastodetermineifthereareanyavianorterrestrialmammalianspeciescurrentlylisted,orproposedforlistingunderthefederalorStateofHawai‘iendangeredspeciesstatuteswithinoradjacenttothestudyarea.Thestudyevaluatedthepotentialimpactsoftheproposeddevelopmentonanysensitiveorprotectednativespecies,andidentifiedappropriatemitigationmeasures.

3.7.1.1AvianSurvey

TheaviansurveysweretakenfromfiveavianpointcountstationssitedapproximatelyequidistancefromeachotherwithinthePetitionArea.Atotalof250individualbirdsof15species,representing12separatefamilies,wererecordedduringstationcounts.AlistingofallspeciesidentifiedonsiteisincludedinTable1ofAppendixC.All15avianspeciesrecordedonthepropertyarealientotheHawaiianIslands,andnonearecurrentlyproposedforlisted,orlistedasendangeredorthreatenedundereitherfederalorstateofHawai‘iendangeredspeciesstatutes.

Aviandiversitywasinkeepingwiththepropertylocationandwhatwasdescribedastheheavilydegradedhabitatonthesite(i.e.,existingsiteisdominatedbyalienGuineagrass(Megathyrsusmaximus)pasturewithdenserwoodyvegetationabuttingtwosides).Threespecies,CattleEgret(Bubulcus ibis),RedJunglefowl(Gallus gallus)andWesternMeadowlark(Sturnella neglecta),accountedfor54%ofallbirdsrecordedduringstationcounts.ThemostcommonlyrecordedspecieswastheCattleEgret,whichaccountedfor28%ofthetotalnumberofindividualbirdsrecorded.

3.7.1.2MammalianSurvey

Thesurveyforterrestrialmammalianspecieswaslimitedtovisualandauditorydetection,coupledwithvisualobservationofscat,tracks,andotheranimalsign.ArunningtallywaskeptofallterrestrialvertebratemammalianspeciesdetectedwithinthePetitionAreaduringtimespentwithinthePetitionArea.

Threespeciesofterrestrialmammalswererecordedonthesite.Therewasaherdofcattle(Bos taurus)onthesiteincludingonelargeBlackAngusbull.Tracksandscatofpigs(Sus scrofa)wereencounteredalongdirtroadswithinandadjacenttothePetitionArea.Dogs(Canis familiaris)wereheardbarkingfromsitestothewestandsouthofthesite,andtracksofthisspecieswerealsoencounteredalongdirtroadswithinthesite.

Nomammalianspeciesproposedforlisting,orlistedasendangeredorthreatenedundereitherfederalorstateofHawai‘iendangeredspeciesstatuteswasrecordedduringthesurvey.Thesefindingsareconsistentwiththelocationofthepropertyandthedisturbedhabitatpresentonthesite(RanaBiologicalConsulting,2017).


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NoendangeredHawaiianhoarybatswereobservedoverflyingthesite.However,Hawaiianhoarybatsarewidelydistributedinthelowtomid‐elevationareasontheIslandofKaua‘i,andhavebeendocumentedinandaroundareasthatstillhavedensevegetation.

Althoughnorodentspeciesweredetectedduringthesurvey,itisprobablethatoneormoreoffourestablishedalienmuridaefoundonKaua‘i‐‐Europeanhousemice(Mus musculus domesticus),roofrat(Rattus rattus),brownrat(Rattus norvegicus),andpossiblyPolynesianrats(Rattus exulans hawaiiensis)‐‐usevariousresourcesfoundwithinthegeneralPetitionArea.Alloftheseintroducedrodentsaredeleterioustonativeecosystemsandthenativefaunalspeciesdependentonthem.

3.7.1.3ProtectedSpecies

InanEISPNcommentletterdatedDecember27,2017(seeChapter9),theUnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInterior,FishandWildlifeService(USFWS)indicatesthatthefollowinglistedspeciesmayoccurortransitthroughthevicinityoftheproposedPetitionArea:theendangeredHawaiianstilt(Himantopusmexicanusknudseni),endangeredHawaiiancoot(Fulicaalai),endangeredHawaiiangallinule(Gallinulagaleatasandvicensis)andendangeredHawaiianduck(Anaswyvilliana)(collectivelyreferredtoasHawaiianwaterbirds);theendangeredHawaiiangoose(Brantasandvicensis);theendangeredHawaiianpetrel(Pterodromasandwichensis),threatenedNewell’sshearwater(Puffinusauricularisnewelli),andendangeredband‐rumpedstorm‐petrel(Oceanodromacastro)(collectivelyreferredtoasHawaiianseabirds);andtheendangeredHawaiianhoarybat(Lasiuruscinereussemotus).

Noneoftheselistedspecieswereobservedduringthe2017Ranasurvey.Althoughnotobservedduringtheaviansurvey,theRanastudynotesthatboththeendangeredHawaiianPetrelandthethreatenedendemicNewell’sShearwater(Puffinus newelli)havebeenrecordedover‐flyingthegeneralprojectvicinitybetweenAprilandtheendofNovembereachyear.

ThepetrelislistedasendangeredandtheshearwaterasthreatenedunderbothFederalandStateofHawai‘iendangeredspeciesstatutes.TheprimarycauseofmortalityinbothHawaiianPetrelsandNewell’sShearwatersisthoughttobepredationbyalienmammalianspeciesatthenestingcolonies.Collisionwithman‐madestructuresisconsideredtobethesecondmoresignificantcauseofmortalityoftheseseabirdspeciesinHawai‘i.Nocturnallyflyingseabirdscanbecomedisorientedbyexteriorlightingsuchasroadwaylights,andcollidewithman‐madestructures.Thisisespeciallyaconcernduringthefledgingperiod,whenyoungbirdsarefindingtheirwayouttoseaforthefirsttime.Ifnotkilledoutright,thedazedorinjuredbirdsareeasytargetsforferalmammals.TheSaveOurShearwatersProgramisamulti‐agencyeffortthatenliststhehelpofcitizenstoaidbirdswhohavebecomedisorientedorinjured.TheprogramhasrecoveredbirdsfrombothspeciesfromthegeneralKeāliaareaoverthepastthreedecades.

TheHawaiiangoose,orNēnē(Brantasandvicensis)areaspeciesofgooseendemictotheHawaiianIslands,andareknowntooccurinthenortheastportionofKaua‘i.Nēnēareobservedinavarietyofhabitats,butpreferopenareas,suchasnaturalgrasslandsandshrublands,pastures,wetlands,golfcourses,andlavaflows.NoNēnēwereobservedduringthesurvey.

3.7.1.4CriticalHabitat

CriticalhabitatisatermdefinedandusedinthefederalEndangeredSpeciesAct(ESA).Itisspecificgeographicareasthatcontainfeaturesessentialtotheconservationofanendangeredorthreatenedspeciesandthatmayrequirespecialmanagementandprotection.


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AccordingtotheUSFWS,thereisnofederallydesignatedcriticalhabitatwithintheimmediatevicinityoftheproposedproject(seeletterdatedDecember27,2017,Chapter9).Therefore,theconstructionandoperationoftheproposedsubdivisionwillnotimpactanyfederallydesignatedcriticalhabitat.ThereisnoequivalentstatuteunderStatelaw.


3.7.2.1Impacts

Seabirds

Theprincipalpotentialimpactthatconstructionoftheproposedsubdivisionposestoprotectedseabirdsistheincreasedthreatthatbirdswillbedownedafterbecomingdisorientedbylightsassociatedwiththeprojectduringthenestingseason.Thetwomainwaysthatoutdoorlightingcouldposeathreattothesenocturnallyflyingseabirdsisif,1)duringconstructionitisdeemedexpedient,ornecessarytoconductnighttimeconstructionactivities,and2)followingbuild‐out,thepotentialoperationofstreetlightsorothersecuritylighting.

HawaiianHoaryBats

ItislikelythatHawaiianhoarybatsoverflythePetitionAreaonaseasonalbasis.Theprincipalimpactthatproposeddevelopmentcanposetobatsisduringvegetationremovalduringtheclearingandgrubbingphasesofconstruction.Theremovalofvegetationhasthepotentialtotemporarilydisplaceindividualbats,whichmayusethevegetationasaroostinglocation.Becausebatsusemultipleroostswithintheirhometerritories,thepotentialdisturbanceresultingfromtheremovalofthevegetationislikelytobeminimal.Duringthepuppingseason,femalescarryingtheirpupsmaybelessabletorapidlyvacatearoostsiteasthevegetationiscleared.Additionally,adultfemalebatssometimesleavetheirpupsintheroosttreewhiletheyforage.Verysmallpupsmaybeunabletofleeatreethatisbeingfelled.

Potentialadverseeffectsfromsuchdisturbancecanbeavoidedorminimizedbynotclearingwoodyvegetationtallerthan4.6meters(15‐feet),betweenJune1andSeptember15,thebatpuppingseason.Withthatsaid,therearenosuitableroosttreeswithintheproposedPetitionArea.Therefore,vegetationclearingonthesiteisnotexpectedtohaveanyimpacttothislistedmammalianspecies.

Nēnē

AlthoughnoNēnēwererecordedduringtheaviansurveysontheproperty,thereisthepotentialthattheycoulduseresourcesonthesiteonaseasonalbasis,dependingonhowtallthegrassis.TheprimarypotentialimpacttoNēnēwouldbeduringclearingandgrubbingphasesoftheproject.ClearingvegetationhasthepotentialtodisturbNēnēnests,eggs,andyoung.Whendisturbedduringnesting,Nēnēmayabandontheirnest,eggs,andtoalesserdegree,thechicks.Increasedvehiculartrafficassociatedwithconstructionactivitiesalsoincreasestheriskofbirdsbeingrunoverorhitbyvehicleswithintheprojectsite.


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3.7.2.2RecommendedMitigation

ConstructionPeriod

Duringtheconstructionphaseoftheproject,thefollowingmitigationmeasuresandtrainingarerecommendedtoavoidadverseimpactstolistedfaunalspecies:

Ifnighttimeconstructionactivityorequipmentmaintenanceisproposedduringtheconstructionphasesoftheproject,allassociatedlightsshouldbeshielded,andwhenlargeflood/worklightsareused,theyshouldbeplacedonpolesthatarehighenoughtoallowthelightstobepointeddirectlyattheground.

IfHawaiiangoose(Nēnē)areobservedloafingorforagingwithinthePetitionAreaduringtheHawaiiangoosebreedingseason(SeptemberthroughApril),haveabiologistfamiliarwithnestingbehaviorsurveyfornestsinandaroundthePetitionAreapriortothestartofwork.Repeatsurveysafteranysubsequentdelayofworkthreeormoredays(duringwhichtimethebirdsmayattempttonest).

o CeaseallworkimmediatelyandcontacttheUSFWSforfurtherguidanceifanestisdiscoveredwithinaradiusof150feetofproposedwork,orapreviouslyundiscoverednestisfoundwithinsaidradiusafterworkbegins.

InareaswhereNēnēareknowntobepresent,postandimplementreducedspeedlimits,andinformprojectpersonnelandcontractorsaboutthepresenceofendangeredspeciesonsite.

OperationalPeriod

Oncethesubdivisioniscompletedandoccupied,thefollowingisrecommended:

Ifstreetlightsorexteriorfacilitylightingisinstalledinconjunctionwiththeproject,itisrecommendedthatthelightsbeshieldedtoreducethepotentialforinteractionsofnocturnallyflyingseabirdswithexternallightsandman‐madestructures(Reedetal.,1985;Telferetal.,1987).

3.0 natural and physical environment · wind speeds are normally within the 13 to 24 miles per hour...

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