Reef water-quality management

Names and classification

Record type

intervention

Kauaʻi occurrence and status

Recorded state

Available, active, proposed or context-dependent

Conservation interventions

Action definition

Reduce land-based pollution reaching coral reefs

Mechanism of action

Target sediment, nutrients, sewage and contaminants in contributing watersheds/groundwater

Prerequisites

Source attribution; watershed partnerships; monitoring; regulatory and landowner action

Implementation context

Priority reef watersheds and groundwater-connected coasts

Expected outcomes

Lower turbidity/nutrients/pathogens and improved coral resilience

Monitoring design

Turbidity; sedimentation; nutrients; fecal indicators; coral condition/recruitment

Unintended consequences

Benefits may lag due to groundwater/sediment residence times

Implementation limits

Implementation status, cost and efficacy must be tied to a dated place/program record.

Sources and further reading

• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-health-and-threats-pacific-islands
• https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/pacific-islands/ecosystems/coral-reefs-pacific

Connected Atlas records

• Watershed erosion & sedimentation · Threats & Conservation
• Wastewater & nutrient loading · Threats & Conservation
• Pesticide & chemical contamination · Threats & Conservation