Volunteers keeping maunalua bay clean have discovered that soil run-off can cause considerable damage.
With that in mind, several neighborhoods are creating a rain garden.
This barren plot of ground sits just above a drainage canal at Koko Head District Park. It’s also a camping spot for feral cats. Malama Maunalua with the city’s help plans to convert this area into a rain garden.
"Park and Recreation Services will maintain this area after the installation and we’ve also done some consultation with the storm water people from environmental services and a related piece is the drainage canal over on the other side which is the department of facility maintenance," says Terri Koike of the Division of Urban Forestry.
The park is some 500 acres in size – this small parcel may not seem so important. But when it comes to Maunalua Bay – everything to prevent run-off can help.
"We’re hoping to start installation in late January, early February. And that’s going to give us time to get squared away with the grant that Malama Maunalua has received, and our staff is a little busy right now with the end of the year," Koike says.
The Environmental Protection Agency grant she mentioned was garnered by Malama Maunalua which will also create an educational, environmental display near the parking lot at Koko Marina shopping center.
"That’s right. So people will be able to come here and they’ll be able to see what can be done in a very urban setting to prevent water from running off, keep pollution out of the water and we’ll hopefully have school groups and other elements and signage to help people understand what this is about," says Tegan Hammond of Malama Maunalua.
A-COM construction will work Malama Maunalua and the city and county to create a new space.
"This is a great example of what’s possible when you partners working toward the common goal of improving our water quality," Hammond says.
"If we all do our small part and everybody installs a similar rain garden in their yard, just imagine the impact we can have on the bay," Koike says.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
