LIHU‘E — When you lose 50 percent of your water supply, things could get pretty disastrous, said Wayne Katayama of the Kaua‘i Coffee Co. Kaua‘i Coffee Co. and McBryde Resources were named recipients of the Water Conservationists for West Kaua‘i
LIHU‘E — When you lose 50 percent of your water supply, things could get pretty disastrous, said Wayne Katayama of the Kaua‘i Coffee Co.
Kaua‘i Coffee Co. and McBryde Resources were named recipients of the Water Conservationists for West Kaua‘i on Thursday, the West Kaua‘i winners being joined by Griffin Shepard of Aloha Organics as the Water Conservationists for East Kaua‘i.
The annual announcement was made jointly by the East and West Kaua‘i Soil and Water Conservation Districts, the county’s Department of Water and the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
“Working as a one-man team, Griffin Shepard manages 26.5 acres, growing coconuts, mangoes and avocados on his farm in Moloa‘a,” said Ed Kawamura Jr. in presenting the East Kaua‘i conservationist award. “These products are sold at farmers markets as well as to restaurants throughout the North and Eastside of Kaua‘i.”
Over the years, Shepard has made improvements to his farm, a primary focus being the upgrading of his irrigation system, states a EK Soil and Water Conservation release.
Shepard installed his own irrigation system consisting of poly lining tubing with adjustable spray jets to irrigate the orchards, but over time, faced a few problems with the system, including inadequate water distribution and pressure regulation.
Those issues sent him to the NRCS for assistance.
Working with Soil Conservationist Daniel Cahil and NRCS Civil Engineer Susan Kubo, the system in place was insufficient for watering the mature trees.
Within eight months, Shepard implemented the conservation practices in his plan, switching from adjustable spray jets to fixed rate micro sprinklers, initiating pressure regulation to ensure required flow rates and irrigation uniformity, re-plumbing the system to provide sufficient pressure for system operation and dividing the fields into section to enable crop specific irrigation scheduling.
Additionally, he trimmed and pruned the ironwood tree windbreaks resulting in increased tree health and more light coming through.
He also addressed his irrigation water management by controlling the correct volume, frequency and application rate of water to his crops, ultimately resulting in a healthier growing environment.
The presentation of being the East Kaua‘i Water Conservationist acknowledges his hard work and dedication to improving his irrigation system to better utilize the island’s water resources.
Kaua‘i Coffee Co., while traditionally striving to maximize its water conservation and efficiency, was thrust into “thinking outside the box” during a recent incident when its Pump 3 in Hanapepe Valley burnt down in May.
Depending on the season, Pump 3 provides up to two-thirds of the plantation’s water needs by volume with a significant portion of the plantation’s acreage dependent on Pump 3 as a source, states a release from the West Kaua‘i Soil and Water Conservation District.
Utilizing a change in its water management plans, new piping configurations and pruning back trees, Kaua‘i Coffee was able to meet the challenge.
Additionally, Don Sargent of McBryde Resources, operating irrigation infrastructure on behalf of agricultural users on Kaua‘i’s South Shore, helped to replace the 35 to 40-year old pump with three new pumps with new technology, Katayama said.
“I have watched how the plantation moved water for a long time and was amazed at how efficient it was,” Sargent said. “With the new 3-pump system, the needs of the plantation can be met without firing up 15 million gallons at a time. Instead, each pump can be used as needed, moving just five million gallons.”
Following a fire that destroyed a pump in May, Greg Williams, Kaua‘i Coffee Orchard Manager, used a strategy of increasing the number of fields being pruned because a pruned coffee tree uses less water than a fully-grown one, the reduction of foliage allowing trees to utilize available water longer by losing less to transpiration.
“Credit for getting everything done should go to the workers,” said Jon Ching, Kaua‘i Coffee irrigation manager. “Instead of working five days a week, they were on every day to turn the different fields off and on (the irrigation system).”
As visitors and residents drive past the Kaua‘i Coffee fields, they still see the green and lush coffee plants, said Katayama.
“There was a lesson to be learned in what could have been a disastrous situation,” Katayama said. “That lesson is that we can be more efficient and we are going to use our precious resources even smarter than before. It’s an investment into the future.”
Peter Tausend serves as the chairperson for the West Kaua‘i Soil and Water Conservation District, Thomas Oi is the chairperson for the East Kaua‘i Soil and Water Conservation District and Marj Stanphill is the East and West SWCD District Assistant.
