THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

1219

TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2011

S.D. 2

STATE OF HAWAII

H.D. 2

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

 

RELATING TO THE LANAI WATERSHED.

 

 

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

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the island of Lanai is one of the least forested of the main Hawaiian islands, has a relatively low amount of annual rainfall, and has a sustainable yield from its aquifers of six million gallons per day.  A 1995 study estimated that more than sixty-five per cent of Lanai's primary aquifer's recharge comes from fog drip and that the loss of fog drip from Lanaihale would lead to the loss of more than fifty per cent of the water levels in the island's central aquifer, which is the only viable water source for the island.  Studies indicate that fog-drip interception by mountain forests increases precipitation by as much as thirty per cent and recharge by ten to fifteen per cent.  It is undisputed that the forest contributes to fog drip and that the loss of forest cover will alter precipitation and recharge of the aquifer.

     The legislature finds that the execution of a watershed management plan that includes the removal of feral ungulates from Lanaihale, the control and removal of alien weeds, the protection of the native forest, and assessment and monitoring of the nearshore marine environment, should be among the priorities for the protection of this critical freshwater recharge area.

     The purpose of this Act is to require that funding for the watershed management plan for Lanaihale be provided from private sources and available federal sources and to require the department of land and natural resources to control and manage the implementation of the plan.

     SECTION 2.  Funding to implement the Lanaihale watershed management plan under natural area reserves and watershed management (LNR 407) shall be provided by $      in private contributions and available federal funds; provided that this Act shall not diminish, impair, or prohibit the encumbrance or expenditure of any state funds appropriated for the implementation of the Lanaihale watershed management plan prior to the effective date of this Act; provided further that state funds to natural area reserves and watershed management (LNR 407) for the Lanaihale watershed management plan shall have a one-to-three, state-to-private funds match.

     The department of land and natural resources shall control and manage implementation of the Lanaihale watershed management plan.

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2030.


 


 

Report Title:

Lanaihale Watershed Management Plan; Lanai

 

Description:

Requires private and available federal funding sources to implement the Lanaihale Watershed Management Plan.  Requires the Department of Land and Natural Resources to control and manage implementation of the Lanaihale Watershed Management Plan.  Effective July 1, 2030.  (SB1219 HD2)

 

 

 

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