Gov. Neil Abercrombie is proposing to spend $11 million a year through the next decade to create 150 jobs and stop destruction of watershed areas by invasive species.

In a speech Thursday before the 2011 convention of Society of American Foresters at the Hawai’i Convention Center, Abercrombie said his administration’s goal is to double the amount of protected watersheds in the state over the next 10 years and halt the shrinking of freshwater supplies.

The administration presented data that shows that since 1910, ground-water levels around Pearl Harbor, a source that supplies 60 percent of Oahu’s water, has decreased by half. Maui’s Iao aquifer has declined dramatically since the 1990s.

Hawaii has also seen a century-long trend of declining rainfall, with a 12 percent decrease in the last 20 years alone, the data shows.

"The reason why I’m putting this out today is I think this is a very, very high priority," the governor said.

"This is going to be our focus. We’re not going to stop until this is done."

Responding to a questions from reporters, Abercrombie said he has discussed his proposals and funding for them with legislators.

He said he is planning partnerships with foundations and groups, including the military on Hawaii island, to help with his plan. The governor also said he is optimistic about the state making a comeback financially.

Some of the priorities include protecting watersheds on Kauai and West Maui, in Kohala on Hawaii island and Waianae on Oahu.

Right now about 10 percent of priority watersheds are protected, and Abercrombie says he hopes to boost that to 20 percent in 10 years.

He said part of the plan would include identifying the most important watersheds, fencing them to keep out invasive animals and replanting native species.

He said another part of the plan was to step up the removal of invasive plants such as miconia, which has destroyed much of Tahiti’s rain forests and is threatening native forests on Maui and Hawaii island.

The administration said the 150 jobs will include positions for scientists and laborers, some of whom might be a part of an expanded Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps.

Hawaii island environmentalist Malia Messick, who has been a volunteer trying to remove invasive species, said she was happy to hear about Abercrombie’s proposal.

"I think that’s great. We can use all the money we can get to restore our watershed," said Messick, a board member of the nonprofit environmental group Malama o Puna. "Until now there has been some cutbacks at a time when we just need more people, more strategies to contain invasive species."