Watershed Partnerships
Watershed Partnerships are voluntary alliances of both public and private landowners committed to the common value of protecting forested watersheds for water recharge, conservation, and other ecosystem services through collaborative management. Building on the past when over 100 years ago the territorial government of Hawai‘i established partnerships with private landowners to restore degraded forests, the first Watershed Partnership began in East Maui in 1991. Today, there are nine statewide on six major islands -Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Lāna‘i, Moloka‘i, Maui (3), and Hawai‘i (2). Together, these partnerships involve over 45 private landowners and 24 public agencies that cover over 1.6 million acres of land in the state. There is no model like it in the state with respect to watershed management breadth, scope, and efficacy.
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Forested watersheds are vital recharge regions for Hawaii’s underground aquifers and a dependable source of clean water for its streams and people (click here to see a short video on why watersheds matter). They are also home to the last remaining native ecosystems in Hawai‘i and house thousands of native species of animals and plants found no where else on earth. Habitats found in Watershed Partnerships range from mesic koa-‘ōhi‘a forests to cliffs, from subalpine shrublands to grasslands, from dry forests to young lava flows and tubes, and from wetland bogs to coastal systems (click here to see native habitats/species video).
Most management actions are habitat based and revolve around combating the main threats of feral ungulates (hoofed animals such as goats, deer, sheep, pigs, etc.) and invasive species (click here for threats video). Actions include fencing and ungulate removal, invasive species control, rare plant outplanting and native habitat restoration, and outreach and education (click here for management video). These management actions make a critical difference by benefitting native forests, watersheds, coastal and coral reef areas by reducing erosion and sedimentation run-off into streams. |
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The Kaua‘i Watershed Alliance (KWA) was formed in 2003 for the long-term protection of Kauai 's uppermost watershed areas. KWA consists of 11 partners which encompass 144,004 acres.
Formed in 1999 and covering 111,407 acres, Ko‘olau Mountains Watershed Partnership (KMWP) consists of 16 partners as well as 8 associate partners. The goal of KMWP is to protect forested watershed areas within the Ko olau Range
With 16 partners, the East Moloka‘i Watershed Partnership covers approximately 19,000 acres and was formed in 1999 to maintain a healthy watershed that would sustain the future quality and quantity of Molokai's water supply as well as benefit Hawaii
The Forest
The West Maui Mountains Watershed Partnership was created in 1998 and has 10 partners. It covers 48,000 and was formed for the long-term protection and preservation of the West Maui Mountains Watershed.
The first Watershed Partnership, East Maui Watershed Partnership was created in 1991, involves 7 partners and 4 associate partners, and encompasses 100,000 acres. The landowners of the forested watershed area of East Maui participate together to protect East Maui ’s native rainforest and primary water source in perpetuity. They do this to ensure the goods and services of the watershed are provided to the island’s communities and for the continued health of East Maui ’s unique native plants and animals.
Leeward Haleakalā Watershed Restoration Partnership (LHWRP) includes 12 partners as well as 10 associate partners. Formed in 2003 and covering 43,000 acres, the goal of LHWRP is to restore koa forests on Haleakalā from Makawao through ‘Ulupalakua to Kaupō between 3,500 and 6,500 feet elevation.
Created in 2003, Kohala Watershed Partnership was formed to protect the water resources and watershed functions of the forested watershed on Kohala Mountain
Three Mountain AllianceThe largest Watershed Partnership, the Three Mountain Alliance (originally known as the ‘Ōla‘a