Report Title:

Lana`i's Watershed; Fencing; Appropriation

Description:

Appropriates funds to complete the fencing of Lana`i's critical and sole watershed area for preservation of indigenous ecosystems and the island's drinking water source.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

208

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2003

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

making an appropriation for completing fence enclosures around Lana`i's watershed.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Lana`ihale is the sole watershed for the island of Lana`i and is the location of the highest concentrations of remaining native mesic and wet forest species on the island. The area also is slated to be part of the United States Fish & Wildlife proposed critical habitat designation for Lana`i.

Loss of vegetation on Lana`i has been progressive, resulting in severely eroded landscapes, tremendous sediment deposits in nearshore waters, high fire hazard conditions, loss of biodiversity, and loss of drinking water. Fresh water is directly threatened by the loss of forest cover, and Lana`i already has the smallest sustainable water yield of any of the six major Hawaiian islands. Adding to the high rate of vegetation loss are the many feral animals on Lana`i, including goats, sheep, and axis deer.

The legislature finds that fencing the watershed area of Lana`ihale at the two thousand-foot elevation for protection from feral ungulates is a priority measure in protection of Lana`i's sole watershed. The fenced area would enclose approximately three thousand six hundred acres of the critical fresh water recharge area of Lana`ihale. Because the fenced area is so large, the project has been broken into three adjoining sections, which will contain more manageable areas for feral ungulate removal and control. The alignment of these fences will protect and preserve the majority of the remaining endangered species on the island of Lana`i as well as protect the areas for future reforestation.

The legislature further finds that protecting Lana`i's valuable water resource and the emergency, drought state of the watershed require immediate response. Castle & Cooke Resorts has already committed generous amounts to this project, but the immense size and difficult terrain of the area have made the project more costly than originally estimated. Although enough funding has been provided for fence unit I, more money is needed to complete fence units II and III.

The purpose of this Act is to appropriate funds that would compliment private grants and Castle & Cooke Resorts contributions for completion of the fencing of the Lana`ihale watershed.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,500,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2003-2004, for funding the completion of the fencing of the Lana`ihale watershed in Lana`i.

The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2003.

INTRODUCED BY:

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