HCR 199: URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRIORITIZE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF ADDITIONAL WETLANDS AND ANCHIALINE POOLS.

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES TO PRIORITIZE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF ADDITIONAL WETLANDS AND ANCHIALINE POOLS.

     WHEREAS, wetlands are a vital part of Hawaii's environment and ecosystem, and the State has an obligation to protect them; and

     WHEREAS, the State's water quality standards and other legal protections that apply to stream systems and state waters also apply to Hawaii's wetlands; and

     WHEREAS, the County of Maui requires wetlands to be restored and protected beyond what is minimally required by the Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, or other federal laws, and requires all discretionary permits issued by the County to comply with this policy; and

     WHEREAS, the protection and restoration of wetlands help enhance wildfire and drought resistance; reduce the magnitude of floods; and provide valuable habitats for flora, fauna, and endangered species; and

     WHEREAS, wetlands also act as filters for stream, storm, and urban runoff, preventing high levels of sediment from reaching the ocean; and

     WHEREAS, without the natural filters offered by wetlands, coral reefs, aquatic life, and recreational ocean activities would be threatened; and

     WHEREAS, it is financially prudent for the State to prevent the degradation of wetlands because, once degraded, wetlands can be cost-prohibitive to restore and maintain; and

     WHEREAS, without further protections, the State's anchialine pools are also at risk of degradation, threating the pools' rare ecosystems and species; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is also urged to apply the protective policies afforded to wetlands to the State's anchialine pools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County of Maui is requested to ensure that the protection of wetlands, especially wetlands in Kihei on the Island of Maui, is prioritized over development concerns, where feasible; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of Aquatic Resources of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and Mayor of the County of Maui.

Report Title:

DLNR; Wetlands; Anchialine Pools; Protections

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE TO PRIORITIZE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF ADDITIONAL WETLANDS AND ANCHIALINE POOLS.

     WHEREAS, wetlands are a vital part of Hawaii's environment and ecosystem, and the State has an obligation to protect them; and

     WHEREAS, the State's water quality standards and other legal protections that apply to stream systems and "waters of the State" also apply to Hawaii's wetlands; and

     WHEREAS, the County of Maui requires wetlands to be restored and protected beyond what is minimally required by the Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, or other federal laws, and requires all discretionary permits issued by the County to comply with this policy; and

     WHEREAS, the protection and restoration of wetlands helps enhance wildfire and drought resistance; reduces the magnitude of floods; and provides valuable habitats for flora, fauna, and endangered species; and

     WHEREAS, wetlands also act as filters for stream, storm, and urban runoff, preventing high levels of sediment from reaching the ocean; and

     WHEREAS, without the natural filters offered by wetlands, coral reefs, aquatic life, and recreational ocean activities would be threatened; and

     WHEREAS, it is financially prudent for the State to prevent the degradation of wetlands, because, once degraded, wetlands can be cost-prohibitive to restore and maintain; and

     WHEREAS, without further protections, the State's anchialine pools are also at risk of degradation, threating the pools' rare ecosystems and species; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife is urged to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands in the State; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division of Agricultural Resources is also urged to apply the protective policies afforded to wetlands to the State's anchialine pools; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Division is requested to ensure that the protection of wetlands, especially wetlands in Kihei on the Island of Maui, is prioritized over development concerns, where feasible; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Statewide Program Manager, and Division of Forestry and Wildlife Statewide Program Manager for Native Ecosystem Protection and Management.

Report Title:

DLNR; Wetlands; Anchialine Pools; Protections

STAND. COM. REP. NO.  1882

Honolulu, Hawaii

                , 2025

RE:   H.C.R. No. 199

      H.D. 1

Honorable Nadine K. Nakamura

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Madame:

     Your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 199 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIVISION OF FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE TO PRIORITIZE THE RESTORATION AND PROTECTION OF ADDITIONAL WETLANDS AND ANCHIALINE POOLS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this measure is to urge the Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands and anchialine pools.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources; Kihei Community Association; Environmental Caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaiʻi; and numerous individuals.

     Your Committee finds that wetlands are a vital part of Hawaii's environment and ecosystem, serving as natural filters for stream, storm, and urban runoff and providing natural habitats for flora, fauna, and endangered species.  Your Committee further finds that anchialine pools are aquatic ecosystems that are home to rare, endangered species and support coral reef and ocean health.  This measure encourages the protection and environmental health of wetlands and anchialine pools in the State.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Clarifying that the Department of Land and Natural Resources, not its Division of Forestry and Wildlife, is urged to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands;

     (2)  Clarifying that the Division of Aquatic Resources, rather than the Division of Agricultural Resources, of the Department of Land and Natural Resources is urged to apply protective policies afforded to wetlands to the State's anchialine pools;

     (3)  Clarifying that the County of Maui is requested to ensure that the protection of wetlands, especially wetlands in Kihei, Maui, is prioritized over development concerns;

     (4)  Amending the list of recipients of certified copies of this measure;

     (5)  Amending its title in accordance with its amended purpose; and

     (6)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity, consistency, and style.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 199, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 199, H.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Energy & Environmental Protection,