THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

126

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


SENATE RESOLUTION

 

Requesting the Department of Land and Natural Resources to research and develop a comprehensive flood abatement management plan to prevent the heeia stream from overflowing and causing damage to the surrounding area.

 

WHEREAS, the recent deluge of winter rains caused the Heeia Stream to overflow on numerous occasions, causing significant flood damage, which included rockslides, road closures, and crop as well as equipment loss by farmers in the Heeia area; and

WHEREAS, the threat of the Heeia Stream overflowing and causing damage to the surrounding area exists even during times of normal rainfall because of an overgrowth of vegetation along the banks of the Heeia stream which significantly impedes the flow of water along this important outlet; and

WHEREAS, the communities surrounding the Heeia stream are susceptible to flooding caused by an overflow of the Heeia stream because this area lacks proper drainage systems and flood control measures to effectively direct and divert any excess water; and

WHEREAS, numerous flood abatement and control measures are currently being discussed and proposed by federal, state, and county officials for the Windward area of Oahu, however none of these measures have focused specifically on addressing the problem of flooding that results whenever the Heeia Stream overflows; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-Second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to investigate and formulate a comprehensive flood abatement management plan for the Heeia area, with special emphasis on the Heeia Stream and its tendency to overflow and flood the surrounding areas during normal and heavy rainfall; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in formulating this comprehensive flood abatement management plan for the Heeia area, the Department of Land and Natural Resources is encouraged to:

(1) Conduct community-based informational sessions in the flood-affected community of Heeia regarding upcoming federal, state, and county flood related projects as well as informing the residents in the Heeia area of potential sponsorship options, including applications to the National Resources Conservation Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for flood abatement-related assistance;

(2) Identify flood concerns, drainage, and opportunities in the Heeia area, with special attention to the Heeia Stream; and

(3) Gather information, data, and area maps to be used for research and analysis for a Heeia flood abatement management plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit to the Legislature its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, relating to flood mitigation and abatement measures for the Heeia area as well as a timetable regarding the planning, design, and construction of the recommended flood abatement measures no later than twenty days before the convening of the Regular Session of 2005; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

Report Title:

Heeia Stream Flood Abatement Management Strategy by DNLR