HW Tropical Services

Bird & Mangrove Habitat Restoration, U.S. Virgin Islands

HW is leading a team of biologists, managers, and artists under a project with the USVI Division of Fish & Wildlife looking at several facets of island bird and mangrove habitats. The St. Croix Environmental Association, Geographic Consulting, and Birds Caribbean are heading up bird monitoring efforts, science teacher birder trainings, traditional hunting workshops, and mangrove restoration planning. Look for new murals at the airport next time you are in Charlotte Amalie or flying into St. Croix.

Green Stormwater Infrastructure, Maui, HI

Ka'opala has a sediment problem. It doesn't rain that often, but when it does, look out! Shoreline erosion threatens the coastal access road and utilities, causes residential flooding, and creates highly turbid plumes. In direct response to this problem, the Maui County DPW initiated a coastal infrastructure protection project to relocate the road and vulnerable utilities. Concurrently, the  West Maui Ridge to Reef Initiative  and HW have championed an effort through a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) Coastal Resiliency Grant to coordinate with property owners and residents on a “green” flood mitigation option that will deliver both water quality improvements and habitat restoration benefits.

Beach Road Shoreline Resiliency Saipan, CNMI

HW is currently working with Pacific Research & Planning under a NFWF project to develop a master plan for the Beach Rd. Pathway to improve shoreline stability, water quality, and recreational amenities for a section of the path. This master plan is an attempt to offer alternatives and integrate objectives from DPW road improvements, Army Corps shoreline projects, and the National Park Service's outdoor recreational priorities.

Diary of a Talakhaya Stream Monitor, Rota, CNMI

These diary entries reflect the methodology, challenges, and results of multi-year stream monitoring to quantify reductions in soil loss achieved from badland revegetation in the 1,00-acre Talakhaya watershed.  A 2012-2017 stream monitoring study conducted by the University of Guam, NOAA, and territorial agencies involved measuring flow, suspended sediment, and turbidity in five streams. We had hoped that linking watershed monitoring with coastal water quality sampling would show a direct relationship between watershed restoration and nearshore health.

Day 1:  Restarting the sampling protocol after a 15-month hiatus seemed reasonable, until we discovered that the control subwatershed (barren) had been replanted. We added a new control to the study, which required the installation of pressure transducers at two new, questionably-accessible stations. 

Day 30: Upon further investigation, it turns out that those anomalies in the precipitation data were caused by shotgun pellets, ants in the tipping bucket, and rain gauge abduction by aliens. On another note, Cape Air successfully delivered water quality samples to Saipan for analysis.

Day 60: Contrary to popular belief, it doesn’t have to rain during the rainy season. We are only observing baseflow at a few stations. Sediment concentrations are curiously high in the forested subwatershed, possibly due to a Japanese diversion structure and some cows.

Day 120: Good news, we found the flow meter.  Bad news, I’m not sure we have enough measurements to confidently establish stage-discharge relationships. P.S. We have no flow information for the new control subwatershed.

Day 160:  Despite all the blood, sweat, and tears contributed to this effort, results are inconclusive.  It’s clear we need more data.  Perhaps an alternative monitoring approach is warranted.

Watershed and Shoreline Resiliency, Tortola, BVI

When do you get to plant giant orange bromeliads in a stormwater practice? When you are installing a rain garden at an elementary school with the  Association of Reef Keepers  and Quito's restaurant! The school was one of several locations identified for drainage improvements under a coastal resiliency project we worked on with Smith Warner, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour in Cane Garden, and Brewer's Bay. Hurricane Irma did its best to take out that rain garden - it survived the initial flood surge but the first floor of the school was inundated.

Smith Bay Watershed Strategy St. Thomas, USVI

Through an EPA non-point source program grant, we worked with the Virgin Islands Conservation Society, Smith Bay Community Foundation, and Coral World to develop a  Watershed Restoration Strategy . The goal was to improve water quality, address community flooding, and provide watershed educational materials. One of the priority projects identified during this effort is being implemented under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Outdoor Recreation Planning CNMI

HW teamed up with KOA Consulting and the Office of Grants Management to develop the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI's) Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. This National Park Service program provides a valuable source of financial support for protecting resources and providing facilities for public recreational use. We inventoried over 120 sites, conducted four public workshops, met with the Advisory Committee twice, plus spoke with dozens of residents on Saipan, Rota, and Tinian. The plan identified what is working well, what could be improved, and what is needed for recreation opportunities moving forward.

Remote Sensing of Hurricane-Impacted Water Quality, PR

HW worked with NOAA and Dr. William Hernandez to use remote satellite imagery to quantify benthic habitat impacts from Hurricanes Irma and Maria. We looked at the duration and magnitude of turbidity (kd90) and chlorophyll-a in the nearshore waters off of Puerto Rico in relation to mapped seagrass and coral reefs. You can read the report  here .

Nutrient Management in Inlet Contributing Areas, FL

HW worked with NOAA, Southeast Florida Coral Reef Initiative (SEFCRI), and other partners to tackle the problems associated with non-point source pollution in southeastern Florida. We analyzed natural and managed canal flows across the study area and delineated the contributing areas to the nine coastal inlet contributing areas (ICAs). The nutrient contribution from each ICA was estimated and water quality data compiled from many federal, state, county, and university sources. The compiled database was used to assess data adequacy and potential gaps related to watershed planning. Working with a local steering committee, the 100+ sq mile Boynton Inlet Contributing Area was selected as a pilot for detailed watershed restoration planning. The  Watershed Plan  included identification of potential green infrastructure improvements applicable to representative land uses and estimated pollutant loading reductions that could be achieved with watershed-wide implementation. The final report provided a watershed-planning roadmap for SEFCRI partners and MS4 programs.

Erosion & Sediment Control Training, Pacific Islands

HW has conducted erosion control trainings for construction contractors and agency staff in CNMI, Palau, American Samoa, and Guam. On Guam, we worked with the Contractors Association Trades Academy and NOAA to develop a curriculum and course materials for an industry-sponsored education program. This included instructional materials, field trip guidance, testing materials, and a course notebook. Check out information on our  latest training class  held in American Samoa and the updated American Samoa  ESC Field Guide .

Emergency Preparedness for Island Drinking Water Systems, HI

HW worked with the Hawaii Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch, to provide trainings for the Hawaii Water Agency Response Network (HIWARN) and Hawaii Small Water Systems Water Agency Response Network. Our work supports and promotes statewide emergency preparedness, effective disaster response, and mutual aid assistance.

Reducing Sedimentation from Island Quarries, Tutuila, AS

As part of watershed restoration efforts in Faga'alu, we had the fortune of working with local agencies, village leaders, and Samoa Maritime to address sediment loads coming from the quarry during dry and wet weather. We provided engineering designs for groundwater diversions, baffled sediment basins and stabilized haul roads. Once implemented, reductions in sedimentation were not only visible but were quantified by researchers conducting stream and nearshore turbidity monitoring.

Sustainable Hotel Guidance CNMI

HW worked with CNMI's Division of Coastal Resource Management, Brian Rippy, and Wes Crile, to develop a  Best Practices Manual  for hotels and resorts to become more sustainable. We addressed topics including energy efficiency, rainwater management, closed loop food systems, solid waste disposal streams, cultural sensitivities and human resources. The team developed an excel-based sustainability scoring dashboard so individual hotels and resorts can track their level of sustainability overtime.