State Water Commission Takes Action on West Maui Water Management
The State Commission on Water Resource Management held a marathon 12-hour meeting on Tuesday to address questions surrounding the State Water Code, the status of deputy Kaleo Manuel, and management of water resources in West Maui.
Dawn Chang, Chair of CWRM, explained that Governor Green recently lifted the suspension of the State Water Code in Emergency Proclamation #7. Now that the Water Code has been reinstituted, the permitting process for both ground water and surface water applications continues.
During the meeting, Chang emphasized the importance of reviewing all received applications for existing and new water permits, assessing the water needs in light of the impact to West Maui, and coordinating with Maui County’s Department of Water Supply.
The meeting also highlighted the overwhelming support received for water deputy Kaleo Manuel, whose employment status was called into question. Senator Lorraine Inouye, Chair of the Senate Committee on Water and Land, co-authored a letter urging the CWRM to address Manuel’s employment status and consider his reinstatement as CWRM First Deputy.
After the recent fires, CWRM tasked its leadership team to identify alternative sources of water that could be immediately available to Lahaina. Officers from the DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement assessed the integrity of water wells in the impact zone and found that two out of twelve wells sustained damage.
Dr. Ayron Strauch, a hydrologist for CWRM, provided an update on the availability of surface water in the sector and the impacts of off-stream demands on limited water resources. He emphasized the need for ongoing assessment and potential changes to Interim In-stream Flow Standards (Interim IFS) in response to changing climate and hydrological conditions.
Dean Uyeno, acting CWRM Deputy, assured that current Interim IFS would be enforced to ensure equitable access to limited fresh water supplies in West Maui.
The meeting also explored potential water resource alternatives for Maui County, including repurposing existing infrastructure to bring reclaimed water beyond Kāʻanapali to Lahaina and beyond. Reclaimed water can be utilized for irrigation purposes, reducing the reliance on available surface flows. Another option discussed was repurposing development tunnels that have fresh groundwater discharging into streams.
As the State Water Commission takes action on West Maui water management, these alternatives will be further explored and assessed for their feasibility and impact.
Stay tuned for more updates on the State Water Commission’s efforts to ensure sustainable water management in West Maui.
