The establishment of critical habitats for the threatened Newcomb’s snail on Kaua’i will have little economic impact on properties where the protective designations are proposed, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pronouncement challenges contentions by some Kauaians that
The establishment of critical habitats for the threatened Newcomb’s snail on Kaua’i will have little economic impact on properties where the protective designations are proposed, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The pronouncement challenges contentions by some Kauaians that the proposal, if implemented, could reduce access to public lands or affect private landowners.
“Identified impacts would be limited to new projects with a federal government connection in critical habitat areas,” said Paul Henson, a field supervisor for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Office on O’ahu.
To explain the intent of the designations, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has scheduled an information meeting at the Radisson Kaua’i Beach Resort at Nukoli’i from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on April 17.
A public hearing to collect public comment on the proposal will be held at the hotel from 6 to 8 p.m. the same day.
The proposed critical habitat designations are intended to help the snail recover. The snails have been decimated by predators, including fish, frogs and toads. About 6,000 to 7,000 snails exist on the island.
In place of a shell spire, the snail has a smooth, black shell formed by a single, oval whorl measuring a quarter inch.
The snail is found within Kalalau, Lumaha’i, Hanalei, Makaleha and North Wailua stream systems on Kaua’i.
The proposed snail habitats are on Kalalau Stream, Hanakoa Stream, Hanakapia’i Stream, Wainiha Stream, Lumaha’i Stream, Hanalei River, Waipahe’e Stream, Makaleha Stream and the north folk of the Wailua River.
The report developed by Decision Analysis Hawaii, Inc., a Hawai’i-based economic consulting firm, shows that the lands within the proposed critical habitats are largely unsuitable for development.
The report said that the habits would be located in the mountainous interior of Kaua’i where existing land use controls already limit many activities.
The study also notes that existing man-made developments within the proposed protective areas would be excluded from designation as a critical habitat.
Most of the future projects in those areas have no federal involvement, hence they would not be affected by the Endangered Species Act, which sets up the process for the habitats, the federal agency said.
The federal law requires federal agencies to consult with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service if developments they plan to fund or implement are likely to destroy or adversely modify critical habitats.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said that most of the land proposed for protection are owned by the state or by large landowners.
The habitats also are proposed for private lands Alexander & Baldwin owns in
Wainiha Valley, Kamehameha Schools owns in Lumahai Valley and Cornerstone Hawaii Holdings L.C.C. owns in the mountainous areas of Kealia.
The habitat designation also has no impact on landowners proposing developments on their properties that do not involve federal funding or permits, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said.
The study and analysis can be read at http//pacific.fws.gov/news/2002/pdf/snail_draft_ea.pdf. Copies of the study can be requested by calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Honolulu office at 1-808-541-3441.
Comments on the proposal can be sent to Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pacific Islands Office, 300 Ala Moana Blvd, Room 3-122, Box 50088, Honolulu, Hi, 96850 or by email to Newscombs_comments@r1.fws.gov
Staff Writer Lester Chang can be reached at mailto:lchang@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 225).FWS sets meeting on “critical habitat” for Newcomb’s snail
