Report Title:

Sustainable Flood Project; Appropriation

Description:

Requires DLNR to research the development of a sustainable flood project sponsorship prior to Helemano-Paukauila-Kaukonahua watershed management project. Appropriates funds for a university graduate assistantship to develop and transfer watershed stewardship information and technologies. (SD1)

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

2693

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

S.D. 1

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to floods.

 

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

SECTION 1. The legislature 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 to maintain their portions of regional drainage systems when an agency or group agrees to sponsor a regional watershed project.

The purpose of this Act is to direct the department of land and natural resources to investigate various types of community-based sponsorship options prior to commencement of the Army Corps of Engineers planned Helemano-Paukauila-Kaukonahua watershed management project scheduled on or after October 1, 2004.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of land and natural resources shall:

(1) Conduct a community-based information campaign in the flood-affected Oahu communities of Haleiwa and Waialua regarding upcoming federal project activities and sponsorship options;

(2) Identify concerns of residents and businesses in regard to flooding, damages due to past flooding, and opportunities to mitigate floods in the future in Haleiwa and Waialua;

(3) Gather information, data, and area maps to be used for research and analysis for a Haleiwa and Waialua flood study; and

(4) Sponsor one university graduate assistantship to develop and transfer watershed stewardship information and technologies.

(b) The department of land and natural resources shall submit a report to the legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the regular session of 2005, which shall include the following:

(1) Description of the study area;

(2) Findings and outcomes from developing and delivering activities set forth in subsection (a); and

(3) A financial plan illustrating costs and benefits of work to be used to create a functioning agency-business-community partnership focused on serving local community needs and on developing a process to be replicated elsewhere throughout Hawaii.

SECTION 2. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $          , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for a university graduate assistantship to develop and transfer watershed stewardship information and technologies for the department of land and natural resources.

SECTION 3. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of land and natural resources for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004.