Bill Text: HI SR70 | 2020 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Requesting The Department Of Land And Natural Resources To Conduct A Feasibility Study For The Establishment Of Watershed Councils.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-03-06 - Referred to WTL. [SR70 Detail]

Download: Hawaii-2020-SR70-Introduced.html

THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

70

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2020

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting the department of land and natural resources to conduct a feasibility study for the establishment of watershed councils.

 

 


     WHEREAS, a watershed is an area of land, generally designated by a valley or a mountain, where all water from rain or springs flow into a common body of water; and

 

     WHEREAS, watershed management involves the development of plans, programs and projects that work to restore, enhance and protect ecological, social and cultural well-being within a watershed boundary; and

 

     WHEREAS, there is concern that land owners or private entities are profiting off of the resale of watershed lands transferred or sold to them by the State with the State not being adequately compensated; and

 

     WHEREAS, establishing a watershed council may remedy the concern that the State is selling off a resource without compensation and help protect and restore the State's watersheds; and

 

     WHEREAS, it is recognized that many of the powers and duties of protecting state watershed lands and watershed management already rests with the Commission on Water Resource Management and it may be determined that a watershed council is unnecessary or would have overlapping duties; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2020, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to conduct a feasibility study on the establishment of a watershed council to be the decision-making body on the sale and transfer of water and develop plans for the preservation and restoration of watersheds; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is requested to submit a report on its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2021; and

 

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

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

_____________________________

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report Title: 

Department of Land and Natural Resources; Watershed Council, Feasibility Study

feedback