Abstract:
The southern windward side of Hawaii, known as the Ko`olaupoko Moku,
is comprised of twenty-one watersheds and three bays. Changes in agricultural
practices and recent rapid urbanization have had a significant impact on Hawaii’s
water quality, and the Ko`olaupoko Moku is no exception. Eleven of the streams
in the Ko`olaupoko Moku and portions of all three of its bays are considered
impaired waters by the Hawaii Department of Health (HDOH) and the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In order to protect the unique marine and fresh water ecosystems of this
region, riparian restoration is an imperative step in improving water quality. The
purposes of this project are threefold. First, to describe the challenges facing
water quality in the Ko`olaupoko Moku. Second, to develop a Geographic
Information System (GIS) model which maps precision riparian buffers using the
Riparian Buffer Delineation Equation (RBDE). Finally, to identify sites
appropriate for implementing riparian restoration.
