The Southwest Maui Watershed Plan grew out of concerns by Mā‘alaea residents about pollution of Mā‘alaea Bay and reef damage.

According to water expert Robin Knox, “The goal of the plan is to protect water quality and reduce land-based pollution. The planning process seeks to bring together all the users of a watershed to help make decisions, including government, residents, landowners and community groups. It looks at solutions for the goals the stakeholders agree upon that are based upon community knowledge and sound science.”

Knox is encouraging public involvement in the plan’s development. Interested members of the public are invited to the meetings of the Watershed Advisory Group.

The next two meetings of the group will be on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary on South Kīhei Road in Kīhei, and on Sept. 8 at the Kīhei Community Center. Both meetings are from 3 to 5 p.m.

For more information on the Southwest Maui Watershed Project, contact Knox at coordinator@mauiwatershed.org or call (808) 281-6416.