NOAA Public Meeting on Reefs

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its hired consultants will conduct the meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday Oct 2 at the Kaunoa Senior Services center for West Maui at 788 Pauoa St. It’s the second – and final – draft of the plan “to identify sources of land-based pollutants and develop actions to remediate them to reduce stress on coral reefs,” according to the organization’s website, www.kaanapaliwmp.com.

The meeting will focus on the plan, “which contains strategies for management of pollutants, implementation priorities, monitoring recommendations and an education and outreach approach,” according to a news release.

Sediment and other damaging material often run into the ocean’s nearshore waters after storms.

The program is one of a few in the state to look at helping coral reefs from a ridge-to-shore approach, said West Maui Watershed and Coastal Management coordinator Tova Callender.

The plan’s participants include NOAA, Sustainable Resources Group International Inc., U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as the state Land and Natural Resources and Health departments, along with some local organizations, according to the website.

For more information or to get involved, contact Callender via email at tovacallender@gmail.com or call 214-4239.

Comment(1)

  1. Tina Wildberger says:

    Is this a good opportunity to call attention to cane burn affects on our reefs?