Coral Reef Project: Maui Active
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.
- Overview
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.
- Science
The Hawaiian island of Maui is just one of the USGS Coral Reef Project's study locations.
- Data
Maui data sets produced by the Coral Reef Project
- Publications
Publications on Maui, produced by the Coral Reef Project
Filter Total Items: 30Seafloor video footage and still-frame grabs from U.S. Geological Survey cruises in Hawaiian nearshore waters
Underwater video footage was collected in nearshore waters (AuthorsAnn E. Gibbs, Susan A. Cochran, Peter W. TierneyNearshore morphology, benthic structure, hydrodynamics, and coastal groundwater discharge near Kahekili Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii
This report presents a brief summary of recent fieldwork conducted off Kahekili Beach Park, Maui, Hawaii, the site of the newly established U.S. Coral Reef Task Force priority study area at Kaanapali and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatic Resources, Kahekili Herbivore Fisheries Management Area (HFMA). The goals of this fieldwork are to provide new baseline infAuthorsPeter W. Swarzenski, Curt D. Storlazzi, M. Katherine Presto, Ann E. Gibbs, Christopher G. Smith, Natasha T. Dimova, Meghan L. Dailer, Joshua B. LoganFrom ridge to reef—linking erosion and changing watersheds to impacts on the coral reef ecosystems of Hawai‘i and the Pacific Ocean
Coral reef ecosystems are threatened by unprecedented watershed changes in the United States and worldwide. These ecosystems sustain fishing and tourism industries essential to the economic survival of many communities. Sediment, nutrients, and pollutants from watersheds are increasingly transported to coastal waters, where these contaminants damage corals. Although pollution from watersheds is onAuthorsJonathan D. Stock, Susan A. Cochran, Michael E. Field, James D. Jacobi, Gordon TribbleThe use (and misuse) of sediment traps in coral reef environments: Theory, observations, and suggested protocols
Sediment traps are commonly used as standard tools for monitoring “sedimentation” in coral reef environments. In much of the literature where sediment traps were used to measure the effects of “sedimentation” on corals, it is clear from deployment descriptions and interpretations of the resulting data that information derived from sediment traps has frequently been misinterpreted or misapplied. DeAuthorsC. D. Storlazzi, M.E. Field, Michael H. BothnerScience-Based Strategies for Sustaining Coral Ecosystems
Coral ecosystems and their natural capital are at risk. Greenhouse gas emissions, overfishing, and harmful land-use practices are damaging our coral reefs. Overwhelming scientific evidence indicates that the threats are serious, and if they are left unchecked, the ecological and social consequences will be significant and widespread. Although the primary stressors to coral ecosystems are known, scAuthorsWinds, Waves, Tides, and the Resulting Flow Patterns and Fluxes of Water, Sediment, and Coral Larvae off West Maui, Hawaii
A series of recent studies has focused on the flow patterns and particle fluxes along the coast of West Maui, Hawaii, USA, from Honolua south to Puumana. From those studies a relatively good understanding has emerged of the physical processes that influence the relative amount of suspended sediment in nearshore waters and the circulation patterns that transport sediment and coral larvae along theAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, Michael E. FieldThe relative contribution of processes driving variability in flow, shear, and turbidity over a fringing coral reef: West Maui, Hawaii
High-frequency measurements of waves, currents and water column properties were made on a fringing coral reef off northwest Maui, Hawaii, for 15 months between 2001 and 2003 to aid in understanding the processes governing flow and turbidity over a range of time scales and their contributions to annual budgets. The summer months were characterized by consistent trade winds and small waves, and undeAuthorsC. D. Storlazzi, B. E. JaffeGrowth and mortality of coral transplants (Pocillopora damicornis) along a range of sediment influence in Maui, Hawai'i
Fragments of the lace coral Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) were transplanted to four sites on the south-central coast of Maui, Hawai'i, to examine coral growth over a range of expected sediment influence. Corals remained in situ for 11 months and were recovered seasonally for growth measurements using the buoyant weight technique. Average sediment trap accumulation rates ranged from 11 toAuthorsG.A. Piniak, E.K. BrownModel scenarios of shoreline change at Kaanapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii: Seasonal and extreme events
Kaanapali beach is a well-defined littoral cell of carbonate sand extending 2 km south from Black Rock (a basalt headland) to Hanakao'o Point. The beach experiences dynamic seasonal shoreline change forced by longshore transport from two dominant swell regimes. In summer, south swells (Hs = 1–2 m Tp = 14–25 s) drive sand to the north, while in winter, north swells (Hs = 5–8 m Tp = 14–20 s) drive sAuthorsSean Vitousek, Charles H. Fletcher, Mark A. Merrifield, Geno Pawlak, Curt D. StorlazziEffects of two sediment types on the fluorescence yield of two Hawaiian scleractinian corals
This study used non-invasive pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry to measure the maximum fluorescence yield (Fv/Fm) of two Hawaiian scleractinian coral species exposed to short-term sedimentation stress. Beach sand or harbor mud was applied to coral fragments in a flow-through aquarium system for 0-45 h, and changes in Fv/Fm were measured as a function of sediment type and length of exposurAuthorsG.A. PiniakThe application of acoustic Doppler current profilers to measure the timing and patterns of coral larval dispersal
An experiment was conducted along the reefs off west Maui, Hawaii, during the summer of 2003 to monitor the spawning of the reef-building coral Montipora capitata and to determine the role of ocean currents in dispersing the larvae from the natal reef. Instruments documented the environmental forcing during the coral spawning season; drifters were deployed on three successive nights following direAuthorsCurt D. Storlazzi, E.K. Brown, Michael E. FieldCross-shore velocity shear, eddies and heterogeneity in water column properties over fringing coral reefs: West Maui, Hawaii
A multi-day hydrographic survey cruise was conducted to acquire spatially extensive, but temporally limited, high-resolution, three-dimensional measurements of currents, temperature, salinity and turbidity off West Maui in the summer of 2003 to better understand coastal dynamics along a complex island shoreline with coral reefs. These data complement long-term, high-resolution tide, wave, current,AuthorsC. D. Storlazzi, M.A. McManus, J.B. Logan, B.E. McLaughlin - News
Below are news stories about our work in Maui
- Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.