As part of USGS Coral Reef Project studies, the USGS has been heavily involved in efforts to improve the health and resilience of Maui's coral reef system, bringing expertise in mapping, circulation and sediment studies, and seismic surveys.
Overview
Maui is located 15 km (9 mi) east of Molokaʻi and 15 km northwest of Lānaʻi. Known as the Valley Isle, it encompasses 1883 sq km (727 sq mi), making it the second largest of the main eight Hawaiian Islands. A fringing reef surrounds much of the island. However much of the live coral growth can only be found on the leeward west coast where the reef is protected from waves by the surrounding islands. Reef growth is limited on the windward northeast coast due to wave impacts.
Motivation
Over the past two decades, there has been a notable change in seafloor-bottom type along west-central Maui, Hawaiʻi. Once dominated by abundant coral coverage, the area is now characterized by an increased abundance of turf algae and macroalgae. In an effort to improve the health and resilience of the coral reef system, the State of Hawaiʻi established the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area. In addition, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Watershed Partnership Initiative selected the Kaʻanapali region of west-central Maui as the site of the second national priority study area on which to focus its research and restoration efforts. The USGS has been involved heavily in these studies, bringing expertise in mapping, circulation and sediment studies, and seismic surveys. Other collaborators include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NOAA, University of Hawaiʻi, University of Washington, University of California, Santa Cruz, and The Nature Conservancy.
The Hawaiian island of Maui is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
Maui data sets produced by the Coral Reef Project
Publications on Maui, produced by the Coral Reef Project
Seafloor video footage and still-frame grabs from U.S. Geological Survey cruises in Hawaiian nearshore waters
Nearshore morphology, benthic structure, hydrodynamics, and coastal groundwater discharge near Kahekili Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
From ridge to reef—linking erosion and changing watersheds to impacts on the coral reef ecosystems of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Ocean
The use (and misuse) of sediment traps in coral reef environments: Theory, observations, and suggested protocols
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Winds, Waves, Tides, and the Resulting Flow Patterns and Fluxes of Water, Sediment, and Coral Larvae off West Maui, Hawaii
The relative contribution of processes driving variability in flow, shear, and turbidity over a fringing coral reef: West Maui, Hawaii
Growth and mortality of coral transplants (Pocillopora damicornis) along a range of sediment influence in Maui, Hawai'i
Model scenarios of shoreline change at Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Seasonal and extreme events
Effects of two sediment types on the fluorescence yield of two Hawaiian scleractinian corals
The application of acoustic Doppler current profilers to measure the timing and patterns of coral larval dispersal
Cross-shore velocity shear, eddies and heterogeneity in water column properties over fringing coral reefs: West Maui, Hawaii
Below are news stories about our work in Maui
Below are partners associated with this project.
As part of USGS Coral Reef Project studies, the USGS has been heavily involved in efforts to improve the health and resilience of Maui's coral reef system, bringing expertise in mapping, circulation and sediment studies, and seismic surveys.
Overview
Maui is located 15 km (9 mi) east of Molokaʻi and 15 km northwest of Lānaʻi. Known as the Valley Isle, it encompasses 1883 sq km (727 sq mi), making it the second largest of the main eight Hawaiian Islands. A fringing reef surrounds much of the island. However much of the live coral growth can only be found on the leeward west coast where the reef is protected from waves by the surrounding islands. Reef growth is limited on the windward northeast coast due to wave impacts.
Motivation
Over the past two decades, there has been a notable change in seafloor-bottom type along west-central Maui, Hawaiʻi. Once dominated by abundant coral coverage, the area is now characterized by an increased abundance of turf algae and macroalgae. In an effort to improve the health and resilience of the coral reef system, the State of Hawaiʻi established the Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area. In addition, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) Watershed Partnership Initiative selected the Kaʻanapali region of west-central Maui as the site of the second national priority study area on which to focus its research and restoration efforts. The USGS has been involved heavily in these studies, bringing expertise in mapping, circulation and sediment studies, and seismic surveys. Other collaborators include the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), NOAA, University of Hawaiʻi, University of Washington, University of California, Santa Cruz, and The Nature Conservancy.
The Hawaiian island of Maui is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
Maui data sets produced by the Coral Reef Project
Publications on Maui, produced by the Coral Reef Project
Seafloor video footage and still-frame grabs from U.S. Geological Survey cruises in Hawaiian nearshore waters
Nearshore morphology, benthic structure, hydrodynamics, and coastal groundwater discharge near Kahekili Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
From ridge to reef—linking erosion and changing watersheds to impacts on the coral reef ecosystems of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Ocean
The use (and misuse) of sediment traps in coral reef environments: Theory, observations, and suggested protocols
Science-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Winds, Waves, Tides, and the Resulting Flow Patterns and Fluxes of Water, Sediment, and Coral Larvae off West Maui, Hawaii
The relative contribution of processes driving variability in flow, shear, and turbidity over a fringing coral reef: West Maui, Hawaii
Growth and mortality of coral transplants (Pocillopora damicornis) along a range of sediment influence in Maui, Hawai'i
Model scenarios of shoreline change at Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Seasonal and extreme events
Effects of two sediment types on the fluorescence yield of two Hawaiian scleractinian corals
The application of acoustic Doppler current profilers to measure the timing and patterns of coral larval dispersal
Cross-shore velocity shear, eddies and heterogeneity in water column properties over fringing coral reefs: West Maui, Hawaii
Below are news stories about our work in Maui
Below are partners associated with this project.