The SEIS Lands are generally characterized as containing three distinct areas of vegetation:
- Coastal vegetation;
- Marsh vegetation; and
- Landscaped resort vegetation.
The undeveloped coastal areas fronting the shoreline consist of a series of vegetated sand dune structures and thick groves of ironwood trees and haole koa. The Punaho‘olapa Marsh includes scrub thickets, marshlands, mudflats, and open water areas with associated vegetation. The remainder of the SEIS Lands has been entirely replanted with exotic vegetation resulting from the development of the existing Turtle Bay Hotel and condominiums on adjacent lands along with two 18-hole golf courses, and the stables.
A survey of the vegetation types present in the SEIS Lands, including endangered and threatened species, will be conducted and the results will be included in the Draft SEIS. No significant adverse impacts upon the general character of flora within the SEIS Lands are anticipated. Some vegetation will be disturbed during new construction within the SEIS Lands. It is anticipated that new landscaping within the SEIS Lands will help to offset the loss of existing flora. The loss of existing vegetation when permanently replaced by manmade structures is not considered to be significant because it is not anticipated that any endangered, threatened or endemic species will be impacted. Nevertheless, the possibility of such impacts will be studied and addressed in the Draft SEIS. It is believed that terrestrial fauna in the SEIS Lands are limited to introduced feral mammal species such as rodents and feral cats that reside in relatively undisturbed areas of thick vegetation. Terrestrial avifauna are much more diversified due to the presence of the Punaho‘olapa Marsh.
Our plan includes further enhancements to the Punaho‘olapa Marsh that are anticipated to have a favorable impact. It also includes rerouting Kawela Stream to the West Main Drain, effectively returning Kawela Stream to the approximate location of its historical channel. This change is anticipated to have an impact on stream fauna. Replacement of the East Main Drain culvert outfall with an open channel design may impact the salinity of waters in the East Main Drain. A survey of terrestrial fauna and avifauna, including endangered and threatened species will be conducted in the near future and its results will be included in the Draft SEIS. The biological survey that will be conducted for inclusion in the Draft SEIS will include a discussion of the fauna associated with Kawela Steam, O‘io Stream, and Punaho‘olapa Marsh.