10-28-2007, 09:51 AM
Did a field survey project there this summer...Surprisingly, the water does not have overly high enterro. bacteria mid afternoon, but some areas were slightly above health standards.
Dr. S. Malloy, at UHH has started doing field research in this area. The tour companies do surprise me, as none seemed to have any facilities for their guests (ucko-tourism vs eco-tourism??)
there are human 'dump site' that even have white coral markers & arrows! Some of the 'dump sites' are even visible from areial photos of the area! Mind you, some are by the fishers who are fishing just off shore of these 'dump site'.
This is state land, but so far there has been a hands off approach. The 4WD trails were put in w/o permits or permission (these would definately have needed EIS work, and so will any changes to this area, including toileting facilities...)
The other interesting thing, permits are needed for backcountry state land tourism & camping....When we did our study, there were no permitts applied for, but lots of people using the area for camping, fishing & the tour vans of people.... There are many who do not want this burden of permits, but the situation that is happening at the ponds area is why there is the permit system....
Dr. S. Malloy, at UHH has started doing field research in this area. The tour companies do surprise me, as none seemed to have any facilities for their guests (ucko-tourism vs eco-tourism??)
there are human 'dump site' that even have white coral markers & arrows! Some of the 'dump sites' are even visible from areial photos of the area! Mind you, some are by the fishers who are fishing just off shore of these 'dump site'.
This is state land, but so far there has been a hands off approach. The 4WD trails were put in w/o permits or permission (these would definately have needed EIS work, and so will any changes to this area, including toileting facilities...)
The other interesting thing, permits are needed for backcountry state land tourism & camping....When we did our study, there were no permitts applied for, but lots of people using the area for camping, fishing & the tour vans of people.... There are many who do not want this burden of permits, but the situation that is happening at the ponds area is why there is the permit system....