THE SENATE

S.C.R. NO.

197

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

  

STATE OF HAWAII

  
   

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the CHAIRPERSON OF THE BOARD OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO conduct a study of all streams and drainage channels in the state of hawaii.

 

 

WHEREAS, recent heavy rains have caused millions of dollars in damage to private and public property throughout the State; and

WHEREAS, rain storms over the past six years have also caused millions of dollars in damage to private and public property; and

WHEREAS, much of the damage caused by these rain storms has been concentrated around streams and drainage channels, many of which are privately owned; and

WHEREAS, during the aftermath of these rain storms, private owners and governmental agencies have been reluctant to take responsibility for the cleanup and restoration of these streams and drainage channels; and

WHEREAS, because streams and drainage channels throughout the State have not been maintained, they have become a public health and safety issue during and after these rain storms; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a study of all streams and drainage channels in the State of Hawaii; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature requests that the study include, but not limited to, the following issues:

(1) A determination of ownership of all streams and drainage channels statewide;

(2) An assessment of the damage to private and public property caused by the overflow of these streams and drainage channels;

(3) Creation of strategic plans to address the maintenance of public and privately owned streams and drainage channels;

(4) Creation of action plans to address the cleanup and restoration of these public and privately owned streams and drainage channels in the aftermath of a storm; and

(5) A recommendation as to whether all privately owned streams and drainage channels should be owned, maintained, cleaned up, and restored by the State or the counties in the aftermath of a rain storm; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit findings and recommendations to the Legislature, including any necessary proposed legislation, not later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2007; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, and the Mayor and Chairperson of the Council of each county.

 

 
 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Streams and Waterways; DLNR