STAND. COM. REP. NO. 2174

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE:    S.B. No. 3026

       S.D. 1

Honorable Donna Mercado Kim

President of the Senate

Twenty-Seventh State Legislature

Regular Session of 2014

State of Hawaii

Madam:

     Your Committee on Water and Land, to which was referred S.B. No. 3026 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS FOR THE WAIMEA-PAAUILO WATERSHED PROJECT,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to authorize the issuance of general obligation bonds and appropriates funds for design, plans, and construction of the Waimea-Paauilo watershed project.

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Department of Agriculture, Hawaii Sportsmen Alliance, Hawaii Cattlemen's Council, Maui Cattle Company, Mauna Kea Soil and Water Conservation District, Hawaii Agriculture Research Center, Hawaii Agricultural Partnerships, Ulupono Initiative, and seven individuals.

     The Waimea-Paauilo watershed is approximately 143,000 acres and is located in the northeast part of the island of Hawaii.  Your Committee finds that the major problem with the Waimea-Paauilo watershed is inadequate water supply due to insufficient agricultural water storage reservoirs and a water collection system with high seepage losses.  The distribution systems are inadequate for the agricultural enterprises in the watershed area.  The Waimea-Paauilo watershed project would improve agricultural water management through more efficient irrigation and livestock water distribution systems and protect the soil resources base by facilitating improved pasture management.  The production of crops would be improved since the project would help alleviate the drought conditions on the island of Hawaii.

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

     (1)  Changing the expending agency from the Department of Land and Natural Resources to the Department of Agriculture, as the Waimea irrigation system is owned, operated, and maintained by the Department of Agriculture; and

     (2)  Making a technical, nonsubstantive amendment 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 is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 3026, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 3026, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

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

____________________________

MALAMA SOLOMON, Chair