Talakhaya Integrated Watershed Management Plan — 2020 ROTA, CNMI Prepared for the CNMI Division of Coastal Resources Management under the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality with support from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. 0 | P a g e Approved by: The 2020 – 2025 Talakhaya Watershed Management Plan was Approved by: ii | P a g e About this Document This document presents the updated Talakhaya Watershed Management Plan (TWMP) on the island of Rota in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The TWMP and associated planning process was conducted in response to changes in Coral Management Priorities as both the state (CNMI) and federal (NOAA) levels. Additionally, the TWMP aims to address growing community concerns with the future of Talakhaya based on the continued threats of erosion, potential development challenges, the existing political/enforcement concerns, and the ongoing risk of climate change. The following pages detail a characterization of the watershed, an explanation of the TWMP process/objectives, and recommendations for strategic actions to respond to the threats identified in this document following community input. The planning process was conducted throughout 2018 and 2019, in coordination between multiple agencies and community groups. This plan will serve as the continuation of a process initiated with the first discussion of revegetation of Talakhaya back in 2007. This document offers actions to respond to threats, it is up to the community and local agencies to work together in order to ensure a sustainable future for all inhabitants of Talakhaya, including the farmers, streams, and wildlife. The TWMP was conducted by the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) Division of Coastal Resource Management (DCRM) in partnership with the collaborating agencies and organizations of the Talakhaya Watershed Stakeholder Group and the residents of Rota. Information for the assessment was derived from a wide range of federal and CNMI government agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, and community members. Suggested Citation: CNMI Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality (BECQ) – Division of Coastal Resources Management (DCRM). 2020. Talakhaya Integrated Watershed Management Plan (TWMP). Prepared for the CNMI Division of Coastal Resources Management, CNMI Office of the Governor. Contact: The TWMP and associated spatial data were originally authored and compiled by the CNMI National Coral Reef Management Fellow, Malcolm Johnson, in cooperation with DCRM. For more information contact: Zachary Williams, DCRM Watershed Coordinator, at [email protected]. Access and Limitations This is an open-access document, and is available online at https://dcrm.gov.mp/current-projects/talakaya- watershed-restoration/. The document may be distributed freely. Hard copies of the report are available at the DCRM Office on Saipan, and spatial data related to watershed features in Talakhaya can be viewed, queried, and downloaded online at https://becq-dcrm.opendata.arcgis.com/ and https://dcrm.gov.mp/our- programs/water-quality-and-watershed-management/talakhaya/ The TWMP is intended for broad planning and policy purposes, and serves as a scoping document to inform future watershed planning, as well as future research directions for the Talakhaya watershed. This document may also be used for educational endeavors, should any educational institution or pedagogue be adventurous enough to use it for such purposes. The TWMP is not intended for site-specific engineering or parcel-scale design purposes, nor should it be used in relation to litigation. Refer to identified agencies for relevant engineering recommendations. iii | P a g e Acknowledgments The TWMP would not have been possible without the time, resources, and contributions of many individuals and organizations. The plan was prepared by Malcolm Johnson, National Coral Reef Management Fellow for the CNMI (2017-2019), following the implementation of a multi-year process. Pictures of the watershed were taken by Malcolm, unless otherwise indicated. The staff of the BECQ Division of Coastal Resources Management and NOAA CNMI Field Office were gracious with their time and generous with their knowledge. Participating agencies provided integral information for the formation for the plan, including DLNR, Rota Forestry, DFW, CUC, DPW, and local community groups. The participants of the Rota workshops cannot be thanked enough for their knowledge and fascinating stories related to the Talakhaya watershed. One of the main goals of any was to highlight local ecological knowledge and culture, allowing for community input and subsequent ownership. The residents of Rota provided the means of accomplishing this goal, and have guaranteed their voices are reflecting in both the characterization and strategic actions of the plan. iv | P a g e Table of Contents Signature Page ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……………….…… i About this Document ........................................................................................................................................ ii Acknowledgments ............................................................................................................................................ iii Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………….……………………………………….……….…….… iv Tables & Figures .............................................................................................................................................. vii Appendixes ..................................................................................................................................................... viii Acronyms & Abbreviations .............................................................................................................................. ix Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................................... x How to Use This Plan ....................................................................................................................................... xii 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 History of Rota ......................................................................................................................................... 3 1.2 Values-led Management .......................................................................................................................... 4 2. Watershed Characterization ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Location and Geography .......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Land Management & Ownership ............................................................................................................. 7 2.3 Project Scope ........................................................................................................................................... 8 2.4 Terrestrial ............................................................................................................................................... 10 2.5 Biological ................................................................................................................................................ 12 2.6 Benthic ................................................................................................................................................... 14 2.7 Riparian .................................................................................................................................................. 16 2.8 Cultural & Socioeconomic ...................................................................................................................... 18 2.9 Conservation Status ............................................................................................................................... 18 3. The Integrated Watershed Management Approach .................................................................................. 22 3.1 Principles of Integrated Watershed Management ................................................................................. 23 3.2 Evolution from CAP ................................................................................................................................ 23 3.3 Stakeholders & Partnerships .................................................................................................................. 24 4. Mission/Vision ............................................................................................................................................ 28 4.1 Conceptual Model .................................................................................................................................. 28 5. Key Threats/Issues ...................................................................................................................................... 33 v | P a g e 5.1 Terrestrial ..............................................................................................................................................