East Kaua‘i SWCD Outstanding Water Conservationist of the Year 2007
Bob Farias Jr. of Farias Cattle Company Ranch
Each year, the East Kaua‘i Soil & Water Conservation District recognizes a farmer or rancher who is committed to installing conservation practices aimed at improving the watershed to insure quality drinking water for future generations. This year’s selection is Bob Farias Jr. for his work on the Farias Cattle Company Ranch.
2007 Outstanding Water Conservationist of the Year Bob Farias Jr. of Farias Cattle Company Ranch.
Pictured here (L-R): Alan Muraoka, Peter Tausend, Lex Riggle, Greg Williams, Bob Farias Jr., Boyd Gayagas,
Ted Inouye, Wynne Ushigome & Faith Shiramizu
Bob is dedicated to converting idle cane lands into well managed productive pastures. Applying rotational grazing strategies using small fenced paddocks with individual watering facilities and managing forage for optimal growth are conservation practices that increases ground cover and rainfall percolation into the watershed. When asked about the ranch, he always replies that he is a “grass farmer” trying to raise some cattle. His proactive approach to grass management and grazing strategies saved his herd during recent drought conditions experienced throughout the State. Currently he manages about 400 cow-calf pairs grazing on 700 acres. When calves reach 400 pounds, he sends them to California to be finished at a feedlot and sold throughout the country.
An excellent demonstration of Bob’s commitment to water conservation is his elimination of potable water for his holding and working paddocks. During startup of the ranch, water was transported and stored on the property for the working corals. Bob has since installed a pipeline from the upper Konohiki ditch system replacing potable water with surface irrigation water.
Bob is also responsible for managing the portion of the East Kaua‘i Water User’s Coop irrigation system that runs through the ranch. There are plans to siphon water from a reservoir and install a small hydroelectric unit that will generate electricity for the ranch and send surplus power to the KIUC power grid. A water storage tank and pipeline located after the hydroelectric unit will supply cattle with drinking water and eliminate the need to access much of the irrigation ditches. Additionally, plans are in place to limit livestock access to other portions of the waterways located on the property by fencing off ditches and natural riparian areas and establishing drinking points along the stream corridors. Protecting these areas will minimize sedimentation caused by hoof damage to the ditch system while grass buffers will filter and trap soil erosion from surface runoff entering the waterways.
Application of these conservations practices reduces sedimentation and increases water quality to all down stream users. This will allow the ranch to diversify itself into future taro lo`i development and row crop field production along with its cattle operations.
For his endeavor in planning and implementing conservation practices to reduce non point source pollution to the watershed and to improve overall soil and water quality, East Kaua‘i Soil & Water Conservation District is honored to present Bob Farias Jr. as the Water Conservationist of the year for 2007.