The Kaua‘i Watershed Alliance Photo Gallery Kealia Forest Reserve |
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| The Kealia Forest Reserve lies on the eastern side of Kaua‘i, contains portions of the Anahola and Kealia River watersheds, and extends up onto the top of the Makaleha Mountains. The area once supplied water to sugar cane fields in the lowlands, but today those fields are fallow and much have been converted to pasture. The area is owned by Kealia Ranch, LLC. |
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| This hillside illustrates the effect to which feral goats have denuded vegetation on the slopes of Makaleha. |
| A deep canyon carved by the Makaleha Stream (located on adjacent state land). |
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| Left photos: Goats damage the top of the Makaleha Mountains. The goat population is concentrated along the outer rim and steep side slopes of this plateau-like mountain while the swampy interior is so wet that it rots hooves and horns. |
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| Despite this goat herbivory, good native forest remains in the center of the mountains where native ‘apapane honeycreapers can still be found. The area is also an important watershed for eastern Kauai, supplying the towns and farmlands of Anahola, Kealia, Kawaihau, and Kapahi. |