Aloha Chair Sinenci and Members of the Agriculture and Public Trust Committee,

My name is Jade Chihara and I would like to submit comments on the Water Use Development Plan. Thank you very much for your hard work to develop this plan and dedication to uphold the public trust.

First, I would like to highly encourage the committee to support the designation of the entire Launiupoko aquifer as a groundwater and surface water Water Management Area by the State Commission on Water Resource Management.

Second, In section #59 “Surface Water efficiency programs and improvements to diversions”. I would like to comment that this will adversely affect kuleana and cultural users such as water shut off for multiple consecutive days, causing loss of water delivery to kuleana farmers and cultural use that receive water offstream dependent on the complex water delivery systems located at the areas of the stream diversions. While the main focus may be on repairs to stream diversions, work done in these areas trigger downstream/offstream users of potential impacts and should be added to this section of the plan.

Third, In Conventional Water Source section #39/74 “Protect and prioritize public trust uses in regions of conflicting needs”. Lahaina is an area of extreme conflict between kuleana users, Launiupoko Irrigation Co, and other offstream users. I ask that the committee and the Water Development Plan monitor with extreme scrutiny the groundwater recharge in our streambeds with the approved planned use of expanding well capacity and new well users. Approval of well use is contradictory to the pursuit of sustainable water use that includes mauka to makai streamflow as it does not allow for the water table in the aquifer to rise due to the continued extraction of groundwater. What good is the IIFS of surface water to the ecological functions and health of the aquifer if it is not given a fair and equitable chance to recharge itself if we shift the extraction methods from diverting surface stream water to pumping more groundwater?

Finally, I would like to comment on Conventional Water Source section #43 “Develop a water availability rule to provide certainty in land use planning and ensure that reliable source and infrastructure capacity is provided within reasonable time for planned growth.” This section could potentially provide an unfair and false sense of security to development projects and infrastructure that is contradictory to the protection and prioritization of the public trust.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration of my comments on the Water Use Development Plan.

Sincerely,
Jade Chihara