Eyes on Our Streams: Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring in East Maui
By Tara Apo-Priest | Reading time: 3.5 minutes
Stream diversions in East Maui began over a century ago to provide domestic and agricultural water to other parts of the island. The problem is that in many cases, no water was left for the people who live along the East Maui streams, or the native species that rely on mauka to makai stream connectivity and healthy flows. Over twenty years of litigation led to a historic 2018 ruling to fully restore water to 9 East Maui streams, with 13 streams receiving updated interim flow standards. However, while this was a landmark victory, there is still much work to be done. Most of the streams in the traditional East Maui farming communities of Huelo were “forgotten” and did not receive any attention, and questions remain about whether restoration and flow mandates for the “fully restored” streams are being honored and enforced.
Volunteers measure “fully restored” Hanehoi stream, where old diversion structures still remain and narrow flow area, leaving stagnant water to breed mosquitos that harm native wildlife.
Huelo is the very first area in Maui from which water was diverted for sugar in the 1870s, and Huelo streams are diverted at four different elevations — far more than any other streams on Maui. The communities of Huelo do not have access to a public water supply, and many local residents need to turn to the Huelo-area streams for water for their homes and farms. Meanwhile, Alexander & Baldwin has been pursuing a move from 1-year water permits to 30-year water leases. Before long term decisions are made about our water resources, we need a better understanding of the impacts diversions have to stream ecosystems and communities.
There is currently very limited data available about the streams in this area to guide effective management, so community members are taking matters into their own hands. Thanks to a generous donation from local resident and farmer, Lori Grace, Sierra Club Maui is facilitating a citizen science monitoring program to learn more about the forgotten streams. This new “Eyes on Our Streams” project empowers residents to help get the information needed to protect these vital resources.
Throughout the month of October 2021, community members have attended training sessions to learn how to operate water quality equipment and utilize proper data collection technique. Every two weeks, volunteers will head out to monitor streams in their area, starting with Hanehoi and Hoʻolawa (also known as Twin Falls).
The project uses the ʻĀina Mapping App, developed by Hāʻiku resident Sam Aruch, owner of Natural Resource Data Solutions (affectionately known as NRDS). The GIS interface allows users to log and store data on the spot using a smartphone, even when offline, and offers powerful GPS and data visualization tools.
Eyes on Our Streams volunteers learn to operate water quality equipment
Using the water quality instruments purchased (YSI Proquatro Multiparameter meter and Hach Turbidometer), community members can measure temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and turbidity (water clarity). These fundamental water quality parameters affect not only native streamlife but also farming efforts, and they help us begin to better understand the health of each local stream. Through this new project, we aim to create a water quality and stream- health database that will ultimately help influence effective resource management. It also provides the opportunity for residents to strengthen their ties to the ʻāina by fostering a relationship of stewardship and reciprocity.
Eyes on Our Streams is the beginning of what will hopefully become a robust, long term stream monitoring effort. Over time, more streams will be included, and more parameters will be measured. In the next few months, participants are hoping to learn about taking stream flow measurements as well as performing species surveys. The more parameters included, the more complete the story being told. Who knows what kind of insight will be gained!
Lyn Scott, a lineal descendent of Honopou and a local kalo farmer, is one of the program participants. Regarding our new program, she said, “I am very grateful we now have the ability and know how to monitor our streams this way, and that more and more people are becoming aware that our streams are being depleted. This deprives us of the opportunity to grow our kalo, and for native species like ʻOʻopu and Hīhīwai to thrive. Without [water] it’s almost like cultural genocide - future generations will not be able to sustain a connection to the past, and traditional cultural knowledge will be lost.”
In September 2021, the Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi petitioned for interim flow standards to be set for the “12 forgotten streams” in Huelo. As expected annual precipitation decreases, population expands, and the impacts of climate change unfold, it is more important than ever that we manage our water resources wisely. Ultimately, the better we understand our streams, the better we will be able to take care of them.