Neil Abercrombie: “thank you for considering S. 1165 on the floor today. By authorizing the expansion of the James Campbell National…”

“thank you for considering S. 1165 on the floor today. By authorizing the expansion of the James Campbell National Wildlife Refuge, NWR, we are protecting endangered and migratory birds from the effects of an increasingly urban island. Located on the northern end of the island of Oahu, the Campbell NWR is the premier recovery area on the island for all four endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. The refuge consists of approximately 241 acres of naturally occurring, spring-fed marsh and manmade ponds in two separate parcels. Although the refuge was established specifically to benefit the endangered Hawaiian stilt (ae`o), coot (`alae ke`oke`o), moorhen (`alae `ula), and duck (koloa maoli), it also provides essential habitat for at least 25 species of wintering migratory birds coming from as far away as Alaska, New Zealand, and Asia. The expansion proposed by S. 1165 would connect these two parcels, providing a protected flyway and essential habitat. The expansion would also incorporate significant coastal property and preserve the last remaining large scale sand dune ecosystem. This boundary enlargement will preserve native strand species as well as coastal wildlife such as threatened green sea turtles, seabirds, migratory shorebirds and possibly the threatened Hawaiian monk seal. As a dual benefit, this expansion would also help protect the neighboring town of Kahuku from devastating floods.…”