Bill Text: HI SCR146 | 2018 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Urging Actions To Restore And Preserve The Kawainui-hamakua Marsh Complex And Preparation Of A Comprehensive Wetlands Ecosystem Restoration Plan, A Detailed Waterbird Habitat Restoration Plan, And A Comprehensive Wetlands Management Plan To Protect Hawaii's Four Endangered Waterbirds And Visiting Migratory Waterbirds In The Kawainui-hamakua Marsh Complex.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-04-05 - Recommitted to WAM. [SCR146 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2018-SCR146-Introduced.html

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THE SENATE	S.C.R. NO.	146
TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE, 2018
STATE OF HAWAII

SENATE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

 

 

urging actions to restore and reserve the Kawainui-HĀmĀkua marsh complex and preparation of a comprehensive wetlands ecosystem restoration plan, a detailed waterbird habitat restoration plan, and a comprehensive wetlands management plan to protect Hawaii's four endangered waterbirds and visiting migratory waterbirds in the Kawainui-HĀmĀkua marsh complex.

 

 

     WHEREAS, Kawainui Marsh and Hāmākua Marsh share international recognition as biosphere reserve sites under the auspices of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and as Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention; and

 

     WHEREAS, only a fully restored and functioning Kawainui Marsh, which:

 

     (1)  Provides an abundance of habitat and protection for the State's endangered waterbirds and migratory birds;

 

     (2)  Has water quality that is as clean and pure as possible, has an adequate water supply to provide a sufficient waterbird habitat and facilitate native goby migration;

 

     (3)  Actively protects known archaeological sites and seeks to discover as yet unearthed historical and archaeological sites; and

 

     (4)  Provides a secure and safe place to visit,

 

can host a limited number of people to experience its wonders; and

 

     WHEREAS, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service prohibits visitors into the wetlands of Campbell National Wildlife Refuge on Oahu's North Shore during Hawai‘i's endangered waterbirds' nesting seasons; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' draft management plan for the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex allows almost 10,000 visitors a month into the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex during all twelve months of the year; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Department of Land and Natural Resources' draft management plan for the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex recommends that the Board of Land and Natural Resources grant long-term leases of state land to private organizations to allow these organizations to construct several buildings and restrooms with septic leach fields costing a total of $16,380,000 within a few yards of the wetlands that will be closed to the public; and

 

     WHEREAS, the estimated total cost of the Department of Land and Natural Resources' draft management plan for the Kawainui- Hāmākua Marsh Complex is $66,720,000; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Twenty-ninth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2018, the House of Representatives concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to prepare a comprehensive wetlands ecosystem restoration plan, a detailed waterbird habitat restoration plan, and a comprehensive wetlands management plan to protect Hawai‘i's four endangered waterbirds and visiting migratory waterbirds in the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources and the City and County of Honolulu are urged to work together to restore the natural water flow and volume through the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex and prioritize the removal of the central peat mat in Kawainui Marsh to prevent future flooding of the downstream Coconut Grove residential area in Kailua; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to close the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex to all visitors during the endangered Hawaiian wetland birds' and migratory wetland birds' nesting season; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is urged to terminate the granting of month-to-month permits or long-term leases for use of state land within two thousand feet of the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is urged to prohibit commercial activity on state land in or within two thousand feet of the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Land and Natural Resources is urged to prohibit all restrooms within two thousand feet of the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex and on adjacent state land mauka of the wetlands that are not connected to a City and County of Honolulu wastewater treatment facility; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and City and County of Honolulu are urged to work together to relocate the Kapa‘a Industrial Park out of the Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex watershed and to clean up the contaminated soil in Kapa‘a Valley so that the Class One waters in the Kawainui-Hāmākua wetlands are no longer polluted from this source; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Governor, Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Director of Health, and Mayor of the City and County of Honolulu.

 

 

 

	OFFERED BY:	_____________________________

Report Title: 

Kawainui-Hāmākua Marsh Complex; Restoration Plans; Department of Land and Natural Resources