City Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz yesterday said he will introduce a resolution to seek federal aid to minimize erosion on 6,000 acres left charred and barren by the recent weeklong wildfire in Waialua.

The resolution would set in motion an assessment of the damage caused by the fire.

Although most of the land affected is privately owned, the request for federal aid must come from the government. It is the first step to be eligible for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Emergency Watershed Protection Program, which is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

The NRCS has plans for other Hawai'i stream restoration or remediation work, including a $1.34 million project for Makaua Stream in Ka'a'awa and a $5.34 million project to clear debris and sediment removal from Wailapa and Kilauea streams on Kaua'i. The three streams suffered major damage during last year's 40-day downpour, and conditions there continue to threaten life and property.

"We'll take it one step at a time," said Dela Cruz, 2nd District (Wahiawa, North Shore, 'Ahuimanu). "Obviously there are other issues than dealing with exposed soil."

Dela Cruz held a meeting yesterday with farmers, land-owners and government officials to decide how to protect the land from erosion. But people wanted to discuss long-term solutions, and one farmer voiced concern that he would not be compensated for his losses, which he estimated at $200,000.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service provided aid after a similar Waialua fire in 2003.

Michael Hayama with NRCS said there is no money available at this time. However, an evaluation can proceed and NRCS can make a request for funding, Hayama said. He estimated that based on the cost for the 2003 project, which reseeded about 1,000 acres of land, this project would cost about $150,000 for a similar task.

Dan Nellis, operations director for Dole Foods Hawaii, which owns large areas of land that were burned, said his company will do what it can now to prevent erosion but will look to the NRCS for long-term help.

"I think we can do a substantial improvement to retain the soil right now," Nellis said. "We don't want to have open scorched acres when the winter comes. I just want to reassure you that we're going to try something."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.