Watersheds - LaoLao Bay Presentation - 27th PIEC

LaoLao Bay Road & Coastal Management Improvement Plan Pacific Islands Environment Conference Hagatna, Guam June 26, 2013

Why Laolao Bay? •Coral reefs valued at ~$34K •Rich marine ecosystem •Popular dive site •Recreation site •Turtle nesting habitat •Historical Sites •Pristine limestone forest

Restoration Goals • Reduce Runoff – Road and Drainage Improvement – Stream Crossing Repairs – Revegetation of Upper Watershed

• Increase Awareness – Community Outreach (e.g., social marketing campaign, signs, press releases, radio talk shows, commercials, print materials)

The Decline Coral size class distributions across Laolao based upon 1991 – 2012 comparison

Houk, et al., (2012)

Laolao Bay Timeline 1991 One acre in the Laolao Bay Watershed cleared under an Earthmoving and Erosion Control permit, for the purposes of constructing an access road – source of sedimentation 1991 Extensive dataset developed as part of the Laolao Bay golf course construction to evaluate the magnitude of negative change in Laolao Bay 1992 Historical surveys conducted in Laolao Bay that provided a robust set of baseline data on ecological assemblages 1997

Birth of the Marine Monitoring Team (MMT)

1998 Laolao Bay Watershed listed as a Category 1 watershed in the Unified Watershed Assessment though the full assessment was not completed.

1998 The DEQ Non Point Source Pollution Program along with the CNMI Watershed Group decide to collaborate in the effort to control NPS pollution the Laolao Bay Watershed area 2000 The Laolao Bay Sea Cucumber Sanctuary established by the DFW NonCommercial Fishing and Hunting Regulations

in

Laolao Bay Timeline 2003 Listed as a priority site for CNMI’s Coral Reef Protection Local Action Strategies 2005 A “Know Your Watershed” survey is carried out for the purpose of gathering a baseline assessment of the awareness of local residents in the Laolao Bay watershed 2006 Coral Economic Valuation Study 2006 Laolao was listed as a priority site for the Micronesia Challenge 2008 A socioeconomic study of Laolao users is completed as part of a SEM-Pasifika project to understand more about threats to the area and solutions from the users’ perspective 2009 Laolao Bay Conservation Action Plan (CAP) completed 2009 A $2.6 million grant is awarded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to reduce erosion and sediment transfer from the Dandan/San Vicente side of Laolao Bay Drive through road and drainage improvements 2010 Laolao Bay listed as a Priority Watershed in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Coral Reef Management Priorities document

Laolao Bay Timeline 2011

Integrated Coral Observing Network (ICON) – NOAA and PacIOOS

2011

Laolao Bay Road and Coastal Management Improvement Project: Ecological and Water Quality Assessment

2011

ARRA Road Improvement Project in Laolao Bay

2012

Laolao Bay Conservation Action Plan Addendum and Workplan updated

2012

The Mariana Islands Nature Alliance (MINA) launches Tasi Watch Program

2012

Our Laolao campaign launched. A collaborative effort between DEQ, CRM, DFW, MINA, NOAA, and SeaWeb. The campaign strives to capture why people value Laolao Bay, and in turn, inspire community users to help keep Laolao Bay litter free for everyone.

2013 Laolao Bay Watershed Pride Campaign (Rare) to promote the Micronesia Challenge through behavioral change by encouraging landowners to adopt good landscaping and erosion control practices in their surroundings

Grant Summary

LAOLAO WATERSHED

Original Grant - $641,273 (awarded 6/26/09) • Revegetate 14-acre upland area • Marine Monitoring - Ecological & Water Quality • Public Awareness Campaign - Beach Signs - Public Service Announcements - Informational Brochures & Posters Supplemental Funding - $492,118 (awarded 8/10/10) • Enhanced Water Quality Monitoring - Additional sampling of streams - Sampling of reef flat - Profiling beyond reef • Low-volume Roads Engineering Training Workshops • Design & Construction of Stream Crossings • Re-grading of LaoLao Bay Drive • LaoLao Bay Drive Minor Improvements NOAA-Funded/Managed Works - $1,470,773 • .4 mile Road Paving & Drainage LauLau Bay Dr. • Construction Management • A/E Design for GapGap Rd. Paving & Drainage

Total ARRA Funding: $2,604,164 Additional Funding: $65,926 EPA 319 grant

(for stream crossings construction)

Sedimentation at LaoLao Bay stream outfalls prior to grant activities (2004)

Contributing Agencies 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19)

Office of the Governor Office of the Lt. Governor Office of the Attorney General Office of the Public Auditor Dept. of Finance Treasury Procurement & Supply Office of Personnel Management Dept. of Public Works Coastal Resources Management Office Historic Preservation Office DLNR Forestry DLNR Division of Fish & Wildlife Dept. of Public Lands National Oceanic & Atmospheric Admin.

(NOAA) US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) US Forest Service US Fish & Wildlife Service US Army Corps of Engineers

Contractors/Vendors 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13) 14) 15) 16) 17) 18) 19) 20) 21) 22) 23) 24)

TRL Consulting Pacific Marine Resources Institute MEGAbyte Computer Service & Sales Treetrans Systems GPPC Black & Veatch/Duenas Camacho Joeten Motor Company, Inc. National Office Supply Modern Stationary & Trading Co. ACE Hardware All Parts, Inc./Carquest Aqua Connections, Inc. Jin Yong Americana, Inc. Representa Company Shell Marianas/IP&E Motion Automotive Repair Center Pacific Quick Print & Post R&M Enterprises Tropical Gardens, Inc. L&F, Inc. Star Marianas, Inc. CMS, Inc. Younis Art Studio, Inc. Saipan Tribune

25) 26) 27) 26) 27) 28) 29) 30) 31) 32) 33) 34) 35) 36) 37) 38) 39) 40) 41) 42) 43) 44) 45)

White Coconut Computer Services Safety 1st Systems CNMI, Inc. Hollywood Theaters Saipan WERI* (7800+910 CTSI Logistics DHL Express* (500) 670 Rock Steady Shop Ideal Signs Schobwuut Premier Consulting Pacific Islands Club Saipan Hyatt Regency Saipan Seafix, Inc. Sorensen Pacific Broadcasting, Inc. KWAW 100.3 FM Saipan Blue Continent Communications, Inc. Hawaiian Rock Products Swift & Harper Archaeological IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. North Central Laboratories Hydroscape Products, Inc. YSI Incorporated Modern Laboratory Service DKSH Australia Pty. Ltd.

Economic Impact ~$2.3 million to private sector ~$300,000 to government (4 DEQ jobs + indirect costs) 115 contracts & purchase orders processed

LaoLao Bay Drive Road Paving & Drainage • Length: 0.4 mile (2,100 ft.)

• Cost: $1.47 million (incl. CM) • Features: curb & catch basin system, subgrade drain pipe, concrete sediment chamber, gabion sediment chamber • Completed: April 2012 ISA DRIVE

TO PA

PA GO

View 1 View 1

View 2 View 2

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2

LauLau Bay Drive Road Paving & Drainage: Construction 36 in. diameter sub grade drain pipe

Gabion sediment chamber

Excavating for catchment & drain pipe

Sub grade drain pipe & catch basin system terminating at concrete sediment chamber

Asphalt paving

Rip-rap slope & channel protection

5

2

Additional Erosion Controls Low-Volume Roads Engineering Training Workshops • Conducted by US Forest Service engineers • 5-day workshops conducted in 2010 & 2011 • 50+ attendees, including DPW and Mayor’s Office personnel from Saipan, Tinian, and Rota; private sector engineers and contractors; agency staff from DEQ, CRM, HPO, DLNR, CUC and NRCS. Workshop participants discuss Stream Crossing #3

LauLau Bay Dr. & GapGap Rd. Regrading • DEQ – DPW partnership • Utilized techniques from workshop training • Length: 1.9 miles • Completed: November 2011 Stream Crossings • Engineering design & construction of reinforced concrete fords & rip-rap slope protection at 6 stream crossings • Completed: September 2012

A section of road grading work completed by DPW

8” THICK REINF. CONCRETE

6” THICK COMPACTED AGGREGATE

6” THICK COMPACTED AGGREGATE

MORTARED RIPRAP

CONCRETE SWALE

Stream Crossing #2 Construction Plan

Road Grading Stream Crossing Locations

Stream Crossings: Before & After Photos

Workshop participants discuss Stream Crossing #3 Low Water Crossing #RR1 - Before

Low Water Crossing #RR1 - After

Low Water Crossing #1.5 - Before

Low Water Crossing #1.5 - After

Low Water Crossing #2 - Before

Low Water Crossing #2 - After

Stream Crossings: Before & After Photos (cont’d.)

Workshop participants discuss Stream Crossing #3 Low LowWater WaterCrossing Crossing#RR1 #3 - -Before Before

Low Water Crossing #3 - After

Low Water Crossing #5 - Before

Low Water Crossing #5 - After

Low Water Crossing #6 - Before

Low Water Crossing #6 - After

Revegetation Revegetation Site

GapGap Rd. LaoLao Bay Drive

Divesite

• • • • • • • • •

DEQ partnership with DLNR, DFW, CRM & NRCS 14-acre deforested upland site Propagation & planting in 2010 & 2011 Results: 1,600+ plants representing 12 native species 5,000+ linear feet of Vetiver grass 68% overall survival rate Completed: September 2011 Present: Continued maintenance and revegetation

LaoLao Bay

GIS map of planting areas & plant locations

Plant propagation at DLNR Nursery

DLNR Forestry demonstrates planting techniques

Coral reef ecological monitoring – photo quadrant survey

Marine Monitoring • LaoLao Bay Coral Reef & Water Quality Monitoring Plan completed March 2010 • DEQ-CRM Marine Monitoring Team (MMT) trained in data collection methodologies • Baseline ecological survey of reef flat and reef slope completed January 2011 (benthic, coral population, fish, macroinvertebrate data) • Phase I report comparing current ecological data to 1992 study completed April 2011 (available online at www.pacmares.com/Laolao_Bay.html) • Water quality monitoring of streams and reef flat • Water quality profiling of outer reef • Summary report completed September 2012

Reef flat water quality monitoring

Water quality sampling and ecological survey sites, outer reef water quality profiling

Awareness Campaign • Stakeholder workshops • Revegetation training (55 community volunteers) • Beach signs for turtle protection & anti-littering installed at 2 locations • Theater slide PSAs (Hollywood Theaters – 6 months) • Radio PSAs (broadcast on 3 stations – 6 months) • Informational brochures & posters distributed to 32 schools

What does this mean for the Micronesia Challenge?

30%

NE Tinian coast Tachogna Tinian

Goal

LaoLao Bay Garapan watershed

Current

0% 2006

TIME

2020

Next Steps • Implement Pride Campaign • Construct BMPs in the dive site area • Identify funding for Gapgap road realignment • Continue revegetation and long-term monitoring

Acknowledgements Frank Rabauliman-DEQ Director, Tim Lang, Dr. Peter Houk, Eric Co, Dr. Ryan Okano, Steven Johnson, John Iguel, Jose Quan, Kaity Mattos, Jihan Buniag, Avra Heller, Olivia Tenorio, Carlos Ketebengang, DEQ Lab, DEQ Water Quality, PMRI, MINA, The Nature Conservancy Micronesia Program, NOAA and U.S. EPA Region 9 Pacific Islands Office

Photo credits: Sharisse Rivera, Jose Quan, Tim Lang, Peter Houk and Fran Castro