KAILUA-KONA — The National Park Service didn’t provide a requested gallon figure for how much water it needs at Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park to sustain its ecosystems and the cultural practices that surround them. But the Park Service did bring the state Commission on Water Resource Management up to speed Thursday about the species it feels would be threatened by any changes in water salinity because of future pumping of the Keauhou aquifer, which drains to the sea beneath it.
Striped mullet, the damselfly — a candidate for listing under the endangered species act — and rare water birds could all lose habitat if salinity in ponds changes, hydrologist Paula Cutillo said.
The park is experiencing saltwater intrusion, declining rainfall and increased contaminants, Cutillo said.
“Preserving freshwater flows is a natural defense against these changes,” she said.
The National Park Service in 2013 petitioned to designate the aquifer a state water management area, saying that the county does not have adequate controls over pumping to assure that the supply is not overtaxed. The county, lawmakers up to the federal level and local businesses have strongly opposed the designation, saying the aquifer uses are well below its sustained yield, and that adding the extra layer of state red tape isn’t warranted.
Last year, CWRM asked the park to be more specific about its water needs. NPS hydrologists stated at the time that the fishponds and nearshore reefs simply needed all of the water they were currently getting.
CWRM Chairwoman Suzanne Case and Commissioner Kamana Beamer said they were glad to have more information about which species were at risk and what salinity levels they need, but two others were less impressed with the information.
“I was looking for something quantifiable,” Commissioner Milton Pavao said. “To say the existing level is the minimum needed is with no factual content.” Cutillo said the numbers are hard to pin down, partly because damage to an ecosystem can occur from water losses even when the drawdown is significantly less than the sustainable yield.
“All of the water has to come from somewhere,” Cutillo said. “The question is what level is acceptable.”
A major sticking point for petition opponents is the contested case process that would be opened up under a state management area, allowing individual permits to be challenged. Business interests worry that will make it harder to get water.
Nancy Burns said its plain the NPS will use the designation to tamp down on water uses.
“They have said they will contest every new use of water,” Burns said. “I don’t think that’s fair to the community.”
Additionally, there would be at least a year when no new water permits would be issued because CWRM would first have to issue permits for the existing users. Opponents worry that will hamstring new development.
“NPS has shown through their actions and inactions that sustaining cultural practices is not a priority,” said Riley Smith, CEO of Lanihau Properties. “It makes me wonder if some of their other assertions about their water needs are accurate. Do the right thing by listening to the science.”
But a half dozen people who testified spoke about the need to protect the park, its shoreline waters and the freshwater discharging through the park on its way to the ocean.
“I’m asking that you please listen to the kupuna from this area,” said Reggie Lee, who has lived near the Honokohau park all of his life. “You cannot live without water.”
Even if the petition is denied, Native Hawaiians will be back stronger and will resubmit, said Ruth Aloua, who identified herself as a cultural practitioner and guardian of the park fish ponds.
Email Bret Yager byager@westhawaiitoday.com.
