Assessment of watershed management practices using stream sedimentation and streamflow metrics

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2022-05

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In Hawaiʻi and elsewhere, multiple watershed management activities address environmental issues related to invasive species removal, native species restoration, erosion control, flood resilience, and habitat conservation. However, most activities go unassessed due to staff and organizational budget constraints and lack of support from the funding agencies. To inform past, present, and future management activities, organizations need a format to assess the success of their efforts in accomplishing their goals. Organizations working in the Koʻolau Mountain Watershed on Oahu, managed by Koʻolau Mountain Watershed Partnership (KMWP) and the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW), have documented management efforts for various projects throughout the state. The overarching objective of this proposed project is to gather existing documentation on watershed management efforts and combine with historical stream data to assess the effectiveness of management efforts through two critical stream characteristics, streamflow, and sedimentation. The objective will be achieved by taking the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) stream gage data, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather data, and stakeholder management histories to summarize statistics to evaluate the effectiveness. In addition, recent management efforts will be documented from inquiries and communication with stakeholder partners for the latest management activities. The summary table will highlight relationships between sedimentation and streamflow changes over time due to changes in watershed management practices. Establishing the connections will come from a statistical evaluation of the data using multiple linear regression models. The majority of the data compilation and analysis finished at the end of October 2022, with the overall timeline not exceeding ~15 months. Weather, stream gage, and management information will be needed from NOAA, USGS, KMWP, and DOFAW, respectively. This proposed project's outputs will consist of a metric table, a handbook about Hawaiʻis streams, and a capstone presentation that will inform stakeholders of potential downstream improvements associated with their management activities. All outputs will be shared with project stakeholders for their use and referral. Therefore, this project will also inform decision-making processes of adaptation strategies and improve stream health.

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dissertation or thesis

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Watershed management--Evaluation, Gage--streams, Water quality, Koolau Mountains--Management

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11 pages

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Hawaii--Oahu
Koolau Mountains

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Table of Contents

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Wagenman, Isaiah

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