10-29-2007, 07:26 AM
Does having portable toilets a couple of miles from the swimming area work for most of the tourists? Does the tour company ferry all of the tourists who need a potty break while they are at the ponds?
The water quality is more of a visual than a qualitative problems, for both Hilo Bay (although it has high particulate matter, it tests out fairly safe), and the ponds (that do have higher bateria markers than Hilo Bay, but are still within standards....)that have the visual factor of over 75 'toileting facilites' currently in use in the area.
To those that want, or do not want, increased traffic handling at the ponds: There was never permission for the roads that were carved into the lava flows, these were done by one or more cat drivers, in order bring people in vehicles to the ponds, bay & fishing shores. The state never has permitted this. There were no Environmental studies (EIS would have been required if this was legally done) on these 4WD roads. Wether this area remains open is more to do with our policy makers & those that made the trails....and those that are now making money on the trails...
If you do have options, one way or the other, it is best to make them known, as Rob has suggested, to the public officials.
I have submitted my proposal to spend next semester studying the options at the ponds for my senior project...
Edited by - carey on 10/29/2007 11:29:32
Edited by - carey on 10/29/2007 11:32:31
The water quality is more of a visual than a qualitative problems, for both Hilo Bay (although it has high particulate matter, it tests out fairly safe), and the ponds (that do have higher bateria markers than Hilo Bay, but are still within standards....)that have the visual factor of over 75 'toileting facilites' currently in use in the area.
To those that want, or do not want, increased traffic handling at the ponds: There was never permission for the roads that were carved into the lava flows, these were done by one or more cat drivers, in order bring people in vehicles to the ponds, bay & fishing shores. The state never has permitted this. There were no Environmental studies (EIS would have been required if this was legally done) on these 4WD roads. Wether this area remains open is more to do with our policy makers & those that made the trails....and those that are now making money on the trails...
If you do have options, one way or the other, it is best to make them known, as Rob has suggested, to the public officials.
I have submitted my proposal to spend next semester studying the options at the ponds for my senior project...
Edited by - carey on 10/29/2007 11:29:32
Edited by - carey on 10/29/2007 11:32:31