Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture, to which was referred S.B. No. 2693 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to require the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) to provide for certain flood mitigation measures.

Testimony in support of this measure was received from forty-six individuals. Testimony in opposition was received from the DLNR.

This measure requires the DLNR, in relation to the Haleiwa and Waialua area on Oahu, to:

This measure further requires the DLNR to sponsor one university graduate assistantship and to report to the Legislature before the 2005 legislative session. An unspecified appropriation is made to the DLNR for purposes of this measure.

Your Committee finds that it is in the public's interest to develop sustainable flood project sponsorships. Often flooding results from, or is intensified by, changes in the vegetative cover and infiltration rates of soils on properties above and adjacent to watercourses. Public and private entities bear responsibility for operating and maintaining lands adjacent to, within, and under floodways. Federal funding is available to address flood needs; however, local and state sponsorship of flood projects is limited due to their recurrent operational and maintenance costs and health, safety, and legal liabilities. Landlords and lessees often do not have a clear understanding of the need for to maintain their portions of regional drainage systems when an agency or group agrees to sponsor a regional watershed project.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, and Agriculture that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 2693 and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.