{"id":204323,"date":"2024-09-27T09:42:06","date_gmt":"2024-09-27T19:42:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=204323"},"modified":"2024-09-27T09:45:19","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T19:45:19","slug":"map-showing-near-collapse-of-reef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2024\/09\/27\/map-showing-near-collapse-of-reef\/","title":{"rendered":"Hilo alum creates map showing near collapse of reef"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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An aerial view of the Puak\u014d coastline. (Credit: Via Blue Water GIS<\/abbr>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at Hilo<\/a> alumna is shedding light on the critical decline of reef and water quality on the Kohala coast with an innovative interactive “story map.” Katie Gaut, who founded Blue Water GIS<\/abbr><\/a>, a geographic information system firm, inputted data collected by UH<\/abbr> Hilo marine scientists to create the Puakō Reef StoryMap, Wahi Pana<\/a> which documents alarming sewage pollution issues impacting one of Â鶹´«Ã½\u2019s<\/span> most important coral reefs.<\/p>\n

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Katie Gaut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once boasting 53% coral cover, Puakō\u2019s reef has plummeted to less than 5% and according to experts is on the verge of collapse. The story map documents sewage pollution issues at Puakō, backed by scientific research conducted through the years by UH<\/abbr> Hilo marine science faculty and students. Lead researchers on the Puakō project are marine science<\/a> professors Tracy Wiegner, Steve Colbert and Jim Beets, an emeritus professor who mentored Gaut during her graduate studies.<\/p>\n