Understanding change: The effect of invasive algae removal on water circulation in a Native Hawaiian Fishpond

Diana Lopera, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Oceanography, Honolulu, HI, United States, Yoshimi M Rii, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Oceanography, Honolulu, United States, Margaret Anne McManus, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Oceanography, Honolulu, HI, United States, Keli'iahonui Kotubetey, Paepae o He'eia, Kaneohe, United States, Paulo Maurin, NOAA, Office for Coastal Management, Honolulu, HI, United States and Rosie Alegado, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, United States
Abstract:
He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) was established as the 29th NERR in the national system in 2017, providing a living laboratory to better understand the complex relations in areas where freshwater streams meet the sea. One of He‘eia NERR’s missions include removing invasive species to restore the watershed to a system that reflects traditional knowledge and practices, resulting in major changes in benthic cover; Thus, this project aimed to understand habitat change by measuring water circulation and flow related to invasive algae removal efforts at He‘eia Fishpond. He‘eia Fishpond is a traditional Native Hawaiian fishpond with the aim to produce native food fish species for community sustenance. Currently, a large-scale removal of invasive algae is underway to improve circulation and water quality in the fishpond. Water flux was measured at each of the six sluice gates (mākāhā) and within the fishpond using water current profilers and clod cards before and after algae removal. As estuarine environments are highly dynamic in nature, understanding how the removal of invasive algae affects water circulation throughout the fishpond may aid in addressing future coastal management issues and restoration actions for resource managers within the He‘eia NERR.
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