STAND. COM. REP. NO. 3068

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 1987

H.D. 1

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Twenty-Ninth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2018

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred H.B. No. 1987, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO STREAMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Require and appropriate funds for the Commission on Water Resource Management to contract with the United States Geological Survey to conduct a five-year study on streamflow in the State; and

(2) Require the Commission on Water Resource Management to submit to the Legislature a progress report of the streamflow study no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Sessions of 2019 through 2023.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Board of Water Supply of the City and County of Honolulu, Ulupono Initiative, O‘ahu County Committee on Legislative Priorities of the Democratic Party of Hawai‘i, and five individuals.

Your Committee finds that the Commission on Water Resource Management, in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey, has conducted a number of intensive low-flow stream characterization studies over the past twenty years. These studies have covered portions of Windward Oahu and most of Maui. Other studies in cooperation with the United States Geological Survey include a low-flow stream study in Southeast Kaua‘i to assess the streamflow characteristics from Wailua in the North to Hānāpepe in the South, and low-flow stream characterization studies for all streams on the islands of Kaua‘i, Oahu, Moloka‘i, Maui, and Hawai‘i. Despite previous and current efforts to assess streamflow statewide, there are other stream studies that could be conducted. This measure will assist in increasing the understanding of Hawai‘i streams and contribute to the data needed to develop measurable instream flow standards.

Your Committee notes that the written testimony submitted by the Department of Land and Natural Resources lists a number of studies and data monitoring needs that streamflow studies could cover and address.

Accordingly, your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Adding a purpose section to provide further clarity regarding streamflow studies conducted in the State and the importance of streamflow studies;

(2) Specifying the scope of the streamflow study for which the Commission on Water Resources Management is required to contract with the United States Geological Survey;

(3) Inserting an appropriation amount of $400,000 to the Commission of Water Resource Management and of that appropriation amount, dedicating specific amounts for:

(A) Conducting an intensive, site-specific low-flow stream study on streams in the East Maui area that are diverted by the East Maui irrigation system, which have not been previously studied; and

(B) Establishing three United States Geological Survey continuous record stream gaging stations, which will serve as index stations for a period of five years to aid in better long-term trend assessments; and

(4) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1987, H.D. 1, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1987, H.D. 1, S.D. 1, and be referred to your Committee on Ways and Means.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair