SR 27: 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.

SENATE 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 Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, 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 Resolution be transmitted to the Chair of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, Administrator of the Division of Forestry and Wildlife, and Native Ecosystem Protection and Management Manager.

Report Title:

DLNR; Wetlands; Anchialine Pools; Protections

SENATE 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 Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2025, 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 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. 1397

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.R. No. 27

       S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Third State Legislature

Regular Session of 2025

State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.R. No. 27 entitled:

"SENATE 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 and intent of this measure is to urge the 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, Hawaiʻi Reef and Ocean Coalition, Maui Ocean Center, and one individual.

     Your Committee finds that 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.  Your Committee further finds that without protection, the State's wetlands and anchialine pools are at risk of degradation, threatening rare ecosystems and species.  This measure urges the Division of Forestry and Wildlife of the Department of Land and Natural Resources to expand protections for wetlands and anchialine pools to ensure that the State and its residents will continue to benefit from them.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water and Land that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.R. No. 27, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.R. No. 27, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water and Land,