Our
Projects
Working to improve the health of Maui's Watersheds.
Utilization of R-1 Wastewater to
Mitigate for Axis Deer Damage
The Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District (CMSWCD), in collaboration with Haleakala Ranch, Maui County, and other partners, conducted a pilot project to use R-1 recycled water to combat erosion, improve water quality, and restore vegetation on degraded landscapes in Southwest Maui. Specifically, the project seeks to show how we can mitigate for widespread axis deer damage by diverting R-1 water from injection wells onto 11-acres where it reestablished groundcover vegetation, helping to stabilize soil, reduce runoff, and support ecosystem recovery.
Over the course of the project, 11-acres of denuded land were revegetated. This was done by installing 2700 linear feet of deer fence, installing irrigation infrastructure, and placing approximately 20,692,000 gallons of R-1 on to the ground instead of having it be injected into the ground. Over 1300 pounds of Nitrogen and 480 pounds of Phosphorus were removed from injection wells and coastal waters. Fuel loads were managed using livestock provided by Haleakala Ranch.
Keokea Riparian Rehabilitation
To improve water quality within Keokea Gulch, 7.4 acres of its riparian corridor have been protected. The project area was fenced off with feral ungulate fencing, and 3,000 native plants were planted. This alone reduces sediment loads by 9.7 tons, nitrogen loads by 75.5 pounds, and phosphate loads by 15.3 pounds annually. As an added benefit, R-1 wastewater is being used as irrigation. More information can be found here.
These projects have been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under assistance agreement C9-96978722-0 to the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health, Clean Water Branch. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the EPA, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial projects mentioned in this document.