Sierra Tobiason, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program extension agent and South Kohala Coastal Partnership coordinator, is leading an effort to help improve water quality at five specific sites identified as hot spots of pollution, erosion and storm water
Sierra Tobiason, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program extension agent and South Kohala Coastal Partnership coordinator, is leading an effort to help improve water quality at five specific sites identified as hot spots of pollution, erosion and storm water runoff.
Sierra Tobiason, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program extension agent and South Kohala Coastal Partnership coordinator, is leading an effort to help improve water quality at five specific sites identified as hot spots of pollution, erosion and storm water runoff.
The two-year Wai 2 Kai project will take place at five sites along the Waikoloa Stream and within the Wai‘ula‘ula Watershed. Volunteers will be recruited for these sites to install and maintain rain gardens, participate in stream and beach cleanups, remove invasive plant species and help the project reach its goal of planting 20,000 native plants.
These native plant restoration and Wai 2 Kai volunteer activities were designed to not only restore and improve water quality, but to encourage long-lasting stewardship and understanding of the importance of healthy watersheds.
“The organizations, agencies, and community groups of the South Kohala Coastal Partnership have been instrumental in helping to develop collaborative stewardship opportunities to improve the water quality from wai to kai — the stream to the ocean,” Tobiason said. “It is very exciting to have so much community involvement and partnership support in this project as we work together to improve water quality and reduce impacts to coral reef ecosystems.”
Community workdays will be from 9 a.m.-noon on the fourth Saturday of each month and the location of the workdays will rotate among the five sites.
For additional information about the project or to volunteer, contact Tobiason at tobiason@hawaii.edu, Maria Derval “Didi” Diaz-Lyke at mddiaz@hawaii.edu, or visit www.Wai2Kai.com.
The project was funded by the U.S. Environmental Protec-tion Agency under the Clean Water Act, and the Hawaii State Department of Health, Clean Water Branch.
The University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program is part of the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. It supports an innovative program of research, education and extension services directed to the improved understanding and stewardship of coastal and marine resources of the state, region and nation.
