SBCT Final EIS - Govsupport.us

Chapter 3 ⎯ Affected EnvironmentThe natural history of marine mammals, as well as specific documented locations either in or near theDMR ROI (if known), are described in Appendix I–1 of USAG-HI 2004. As marine mammals aremobile and rapid movers, if they have been documented near the DMR ROI (within 2 to 5 nauticalmiles), they are assumed to occur in the ROI. Most marine mammals are not expected to occur in theDMR ROI, with the exception of the humpback whale and several dolphin species.Threatened and Endangered Species/Sensitive HabitatsSensitive Plant Species. The rare plants found on DMR outside of the ROI include federal species ofconcern, candidates for federal listing, and state-ranked rare plants. Ahakea (Bobea sandwicensis),mao hau hele (Hibiscus brackenridgei ssp. mokuleianus), Kokio ula (H. kokio spp. kokio), andMaolioli (Schiedea kealiae) are all sensitive species with the potential to occur within the ROI. Theremaining native ecosystems near or adjacent to the ROI have low densities of native species and arefragmented and disturbed. A 1977 survey found unique populations of Lonomea and ‘ohe makai(Reynoldsia sandwicensis) near the base of the cliffs. Though not endangered, these species are rareand represent the only example of closed-canopy Sapindus oahuensis forest known in the world(USARHAW and 25th ID [L] 2004).Sensitive Wildlife Species. The following discussion includes a profile of sensitive wildlife speciesconsidered likely to be found in the project area. The first extensive zoological surveys of DMR wereconducted in 1976 and 1977 (Shallenberger and Vaughn 1978). More recent studies were conductedin 1995 by HINHP, in search of rare and sensitive species on DMR, and by Army Natural ResourceStaff in 2000 and 2001. The latest USFWS and HINHP survey information on species and habitat inthe SBCT ROI has been incorporated into this evaluation of biological resources.3.1.9.3 Kahuku Training Area and Kawailoa Training AreaVegetation Community DescriptionsKTA, which encompasses 8,528 acres, is at the end of the Koolau Mountains, on the northern tip ofOahu. Private, agricultural, and additional Army training lands border it. Botanical surveys to identifyrare plants, communities, and potential threats to these resources have been conducted intermittentlysince 1977. HINHP surveys in 1989, 1993, and 1994 provided the foundation for much of the botanicalinformation used in this EIS.KLOA is north of SBER and south of KTA in the Koolau Mountains. It consists of 23,348 acres.KLOA was surveyed in 1976 and 1977 by the Environmental Impact Study Corporation and later byHINHP (1989 to 1993). Additional botanical and zoological information was collected on KLOA andadjacent land. Kawailoa is an area of incredible biological richness, with areas of significance for protectingand managing these resources.Native natural community types within the KTA/KLOA ROI fall into six general categories: montanewet, lowland wet, lowland forest, lowland moist, lowland dry, and intermittent aquatic natural communities(USARHAW and 25 th ID [L] 2001a).There are three community types within the montane wet communities. The mixed fern/shrub communityis a fairly restricted community in the topmost reaches of the Koolau Mountains (USARHAWand 25th ID [L] 2001a). Common shrub species include Hedyotis spp., ohia (Metrosideros polymorpha),ohelo (Vaccinium spp.), and kopiko (Psychotria spp.). The ohia mixed bog community is alsorestricted to the upper elevations (above 2,800 feet) of the Koolau Mountains. Ohia is the dominantspecies, whether in its dwarf form in open shrubland or as dense shrub thicket. This community isFebruary 2008 3–68 2/25th SBCT Final EIS