Hawaii House Bill HCR39

Hawaii 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/8/22
• Refer: 3/10/22
• Report Pass: 3/28/22
• Refer: 3/28/22

Caption

Requesting The State And City And County Of Honolulu To Convene A Working Group To Collaborate On Multi-jurisdictional Stream Maintenance.

Impact

HCR39 seeks to address the challenges posed by divided jurisdictional duties in stream management, which can lead to inadequate maintenance and increased risks during extreme weather events. By forming a multi-jurisdictional working group, the bill aims to streamline these efforts and provide clearer ownership and responsibility over streams. The anticipated outcomes include identifying the streams on Oahu, determining ownership, and proposing solutions for more effective maintenance strategies moving forward.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 39 (HCR39) calls for the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu to convene a working group aimed at improving the coordination of stream maintenance across jurisdictions. Given that maintenance responsibilities for streams are currently divided among several entities, including state agencies, local government, and private landowners, the resolution highlights the complications that arise when coordinating efforts to ensure the proper function of streams. This is particularly critical as periods of heavy rainfall can lead to significant flooding, threatening properties and public safety.

Contention

The bill acknowledges the advantages and disadvantages of private ownership of streams and suggests an evaluation regarding whether such ownership serves the best interests of the community. If deemed problematic, the working group would also explore options for transferring ownership to state or local authorities. Critically, the resolution also emphasizes the need for better communication between private stream owners and governmental bodies to define and enhance responsibilities related to maintenance. This could foster collaborative approaches to managing Oahu's waterways effectively, potentially influencing both environmental policy and community safety.