Waiahole Stream Monitoring Project
Makawai Stream Restoration Alliance

The Makawai Stream Alliance is monitoring stream algae in support of its efforts to restore ecological health to Waiahole Stream. Monitoring of algae was deemed useful to the hihiwai restoration project. Further, because of substantial flows in Waiahole Stream resulting from diversions out of the Waiahole Ditch (see "Waiahole Ditch Case"), comparison of various water quality and aquatic biota measurements in this system with reduced flow streams in Ko`olaupoko, is valuable to understanding windward stream ecosystem health. Other than the mauka diversion, Waiahole Stream is little modified over its entire course. Some of the water in the stream is diverted into lo`i kalo (taro fields) through various auwai (irrigation channels).

Samples were collected approximately once a month from three stations. Samples were taken from several, randomly selected, large boulders located in the swifter (run or riffle) parts of the stream at each station. A pocket knife was scraped across the surface of each boulder several times, with the face of the blade pinched against the thumb at the end of each several-centimeter-long scrape to prevent the current from sweeping away the material on the blade. A scraping was then dropped into a vial of stream water. A sample consisted of approximately ten such scrapings.

Samples were returned to the laboratory where wet mounts were made of the material for scanning under a compound microscope. Results were reported as follows. Specimens of algae present on the scanned slides were identified to species (or unidentified entities, such as "detritus") or assigned to groups (such as "pennate diatoms"). A subjective assessment was then made to divide all of the entities or species present into one of two categories: major or minor. The major category was defined as entities comprising the bulk of the mass of the sample, or dominating the sample, or at least the most abundant one or two species. Entities listed as minor were seen, but in much lesser numbers or bulk, in many cases, observed on the sample slides in only one or a few instances. Within both categories, entites were listed in very approximate order of abundance in the reported results.

    Stream Project Leader: Kaipo Faris
    Algae Sampling & ID: Eric Guinther
Station 1 -- Waiahole Stream auwai just above mauka lo`i kalo intake

Sampling algae at Station 1 Eric Guinther collecting algae sample from off the boulders at Station 1 [photo credit: Rodger Douglas]

Algae collection Station 1 corresponded with water quality Station 001. Water samples were generally collected from the "pool" shown here. Algae were scraped off boulders comprising a small dam on this auwai located above the lo`i kalo. The loose boulder dam diverts some flow into two smaller na auwai that serve the mauka lo`i kalo. This station is riffle habitat, moderately shaded by hau. The large auwai shown here receives more than half of the flow in Waiahole Stream.

Station 2 -- Waiahole Stream opposite the mauka lo`i


This station is mostly riffle habitat, moderately shaded by riparian trees. The auwai shown as Station 1 above parallels this part of Waiahole Stream about 10-15 m away, and the auwai carries more flow. Thus, the volume of water at Station 2 is less than half the total flow in Waiahole Stream.

 

Station 3 -- Waiahole Stream 10 m above confluence with Waianu Stream


Algae collection Station 3 was located on Waiahole Stream a short distance upstream from the confluence with Waianu Stream. This station corresponded roughly with water quality Station 002. This station is mostly a run and riffle habitat that is heavily shaded by large riparian trees. The large auwai at Station 1 rejoins the main stream above Station 3.

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