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22–849 2017

S. HRG. 114–478 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL 

PARTNERSHIPS IN INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER 

SECURITY IN HAWAII 

FIELD HEARING 

BEFORE THE 

COMMITTEE ON 

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

OCTOBER 18, 2016 

( 

Printed for the use of the 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.fdsys.gov 
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska, Chairman 

JOHN BARRASSO, Wyoming 

JAMES E. RISCH, Idaho 

MIKE LEE, Utah 

JEFF FLAKE, Arizona 

STEVE DAINES, Montana 

BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana 

CORY GARDNER, Colorado 

ROB PORTMAN, Ohio 

JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota 

LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia 

MARIA CANTWELL, Washington 

RON WYDEN, Oregon 

BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont 

DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan 

AL FRANKEN, Minnesota 

JOE MANCHIN III, West Virginia 

MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico 

MAZIE K. HIRONO, Hawaii 

ANGUS S. KING, JR, Maine 

ELIZABETH WARREN, Massachusetts 

COLIN HAYES, Staff Director 

PATRICK J. MCCORMICK III, Chief Counsel 

KELLIE DONNELLY, Deputy Chief Counsel 

LUCY MURFITT, Senior Counsel and Public Lands and Natural Resources Director 

ANGELA BECKER-DIPPMAN, Democratic Staff Director 

SAM E. FOWLER, Democratic Chief Counsel 

MELANIE STANSBURY, Democratic Senior Professional Staff Member 
(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

OPENING STATEMENTS 

Page 

Hirono, Hon. Mazie K., a U.S. Senator from Hawaii ............................................ 1 

WITNESS 

Ige, Hon. David, Governor, State of Hawaii .......................................................... 4 

Gabbard, Hon. Mike, State Senate, State of Hawaii ............................................ 9 

Yamane, Hon. Ryan, State House of Representatives, State of Hawaii ............. 13 

Anthony, Stephen, Director, Pacific Islands Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey ....................................................................................................... 17 

Moore, Randy, Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Service, 

U.S. Department of Agriculture .......................................................................... 22 

Smith, David, Administrator, Division of Forestry and Wildlife, Department 

of Land and Natural Resources, State of Hawaii .............................................. 34 

Gonser, Matthew, Extension Agent, Community Planning and Design, University of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program ................................................... 47 

Menard, Trae, Chair, Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships, and 

The Nature Conservancy ..................................................................................... 54 

Gon, Dr. Sam, Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor, The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii .................................................................................................... 58 

ALPHABETICAL LISTING AND APPENDIX MATERIAL SUBMITTED 

Anthony, Stephen: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 17 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 19 

Gabbard, Hon. Mike: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 9 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 11 

Gon, Dr. Sam: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 58 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 60 

Gonser, Matthew: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 47 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 49 

Hirono, Hon. Mazie K.: 

Opening Statement ........................................................................................... 1 

Ige, Hon. David: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 4 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 6 

Menard, Trae: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 54 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 56 

Moore, Randy: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 22 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 24 

Smith, David: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 34 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 36 

Yamane, Hon. Ryan: 

Statement for the Record ................................................................................. 13 

Written Statement ............................................................................................ 15 

(1) 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL AND NONFEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS IN INTEGRATED 

WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER SECURITY IN HAWAII 

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2016 

U.S. SENATE, 

COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:01 a.m. HST at the 

Hawaii State Capitol, Honolulu, Hawaii, Hon. Mazie K. Hirono, 

presiding. 

OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MAZIE K. HIRONO, 

U.S. SENATOR FROM HAWAII 

Senator HIRONO [presiding]: Good morning, everyone. 

It is nice to see so many of you. Aloha. 

[Group respond: Aloha.] 

Senator HIRONO. Good. We have to start with that, you know, to 

get the mood going. 

Welcome to this important field hearing of the Senate Energy 

and Natural Resources Committee. 

I would like to start by thanking the Committee Chair, Senator 

Lisa Murkowski, and Ranking Member, Senator Maria Cantwell, 

for recognizing the importance of this issue for Hawaii and scheduling this field hearing. 

I would like to also thank their staff who have worked with my 

staff to prepare for this field hearing, and I welcome the two Committee staff who traveled here from Washington, DC, hard job, to 

join us. [Laughter.] 

Could you raise your hands, our two staff members from the 

Committee? 

Today we have an opportunity to explore how organizations and 

Federal, State, and local governments can work together to protect 

Hawaii’s native forested watersheds. A watershed is quite simply 

an area of land, such as a mountain or valley, which collects rainwater into a common outlet. In Hawaii the most common outlet is 

the ocean, but some of our rainwater is absorbed by plants, some 

percolates into underground aquifers and some flows into surface 

rivers and streams. Native forests are a critical component of how 

a watershed can collect rainwater. 

Fog condensing on trees up high in the mountain regions can increase the collection and absorption in our watersheds by up to 30 

percent annually. This is particularly important in Hawaii where 
2 

we depend on ground water for 94 percent of our public water supply, the highest rate in the country. We need water to survive and 

in Hawaii the health of our watersheds is deeply connected to our 

way of life. 

Although there are 72 watersheds on Oahu, the Ko’olau Mountain Range provides nearly half of our drinking water and generates up to $14 billion to our economy every year. 

The stakes are clear. We need a holistic approach to water security and to protect our forested watersheds. Forested watersheds 

supply hundreds of billions of gallons of fresh water every year. 

Without healthy forests most rainfall would simply run off into the 

ocean. 

As Hawaii’s population has grown over the past century, our 

aquifers have shrunk at an alarming rate. The Pearl Harbor aquifer, which supplies over 60 percent of Oahu’s municipal drinking 

water, has shrunk by 50 percent compared to levels monitored in 

1910. A number of issues have contributed to where we are today. 

Hawaii has been seeing decreased rainfall over the past 30 years. 

The proliferation of invasive flora and fauna also poses a growing 

danger to our forested watersheds. Feral ungulates, such as pigs 

and goats, increase deforestation, spread invasive plant species, 

and decrease native flora. Invasive plants also decrease ground 

water recharge and increase the risk and severity of wildfire. 

In East Hawaii strawberry guava forests reduce ground water recharge by 85 million gallons per day, enough to fill 128 Olympicsized swimming pools every single day. Native Hawaiian forests, by 

comparison, are 30 to 50 percent more efficient at recharging 

aquifers than strawberry guava forests. Meanwhile, an expanding 

population combined with Hawaii’s tourism industry, places increased stress on Hawaii’s ground water reserves. 

Climate change will accelerate these issues and create new ones. 

As temperatures continue to rise we face the prospect of salt water 

intrusion into ground water as well as increased evaporation and 

drought. Fortunately, Hawaii has also proven to be an incubator 

for innovative strategies to protect our forested watersheds. 

The East Maui Watershed Partnership, established in 1991, connects private landowners with Federal and state resources for conservation. Over the past two decades we have exported the East 

Maui model to encompass ten partnerships across the state. 

The Hawaii Community Foundation is also doing excellent work 

to promote water security in Hawaii. Recently, in 2013, they organized the Hawaii Fresh Water Initiative which brought together a 

range of stakeholders to identify a goal of generating an additional 

100 million gallons of fresh water per day by 2030. In 2015 they 

published a blueprint for action that lays out a number of steps we 

can take over the coming years to help achieve this goal. I am certainly looking forward to working with them to accomplish our 

shared goals. 

Another recent example of what can happen through conservation partnerships is Hawaii’s Island Forests at Risk Collaborative 

Landscape Proposal. I worked hard with the National Park Service, 

the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service and the Interior 

Department to ensure that this proposal was included in the President’s budget. This proposal, which has received Federal funding in 
3 

the President’s budget now for two years from the Land and Water 

Conservation Fund, includes 13 Federal, state and local partners 

and seeks to expand protected habitat here in Hawaii. 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund is a very important 

fund, and it is authorized by the Committee that is holding this 

hearing. Earlier this year we successfully passed permanent funding authorization for the Land and Conservation Fund, both 

through this Committee and in the Senate bipartisan energy bill. 

I will continue to work closely with my Senate colleagues to ensure 

that permanent authorization becomes law. This Land and Water 

Conservation Fund, as a lot of you know, is a very popular fund, 

but it is not permanent. It is huge progress for us to make this a 

permanent fund. 

Protecting Hawaii’s water at the source is critical to safeguarding 

Hawaii’s water security. I am interested in hearing from all of our 

witnesses today about the many programs underway at the Federal, state and local levels to protect Hawaii’s forested watershed. 

I hope our discussion will provide some new and creative ideas 

about how the Federal Government can partner and support these 

initiatives, and I am committed to continuing my work on this 

Committee to support those initiatives. 

We have some very knowledgeable witnesses and leaders joining 

us this morning. It is organized into three panels, comprised in the 

first panel of the Governor and members of our state legislature. 

The second panel comprises Federal and state agency officials, and 

the third panel is comprised of local stakeholders. 

Governor Ige, you have made watershed protection a priority for 

the state, as was made clear with your announcement at the IUCN 

World Conservation Congress held in Hawaii recently, to protect 30 

percent of Hawaii’s priority watersheds by 2030. I know that you 

cannot stay for the full hearing, but I do appreciate you changing 

your schedule to join us today to share your views. 

I also want to welcome Senator Mike Gabbard, Chair of the Senate Committee on Water, Land and Agriculture. Senator, I know 

you have recently had some bills come through your committee 

that are relevant to today’s hearing, including one that sets ambitious standards for water reuse and reclamation and another that 

establishes the Water Security Advisory Group that will support 

water innovation. 

I also want to welcome Representative Yamane, Chair of the 

State House Water and Land Committee. Your committee has also 

been very hard at work on various water bills during this past legislature, and you note in your testimony that the number and diversity of water bills that recently passed are really at the forefront 

of what we need to do to address our water security needs. 

So I commend all of you for your leadership. 

Here is how this works. You see the light in front of you? Okay. 

You will each have five minutes for your opening statement, and 

the lights will signal how much time you have remaining. When 

you see the yellow light that means you have two minutes to go, 

and of course, when the red light goes on, that is it. [Laughter.] 

Of course, your full written statements will be included in the 

Committee record. 
4 

We will start with you, Governor Ige. Thank you so much for 

joining us. 

STATEMENT OF HON. DAVID IGE, GOVERNOR, STATE 

OF HAWAII 

Governor IGE. Well, thank you, Senator Hirono. 

I just wanted to start off of my prepared remarks and thank you 

for bringing the Committee here and giving all of us, here in Hawaii, an opportunity to really talk about this most important subject. 

And you were quite accurate that Senator Gabbard and Representative Yamane had a tremendous session this past session, 

really focused on water, water security and the general issue of ensuring that we will have clean, fresh water for our citizens forever. 

And so, I just wanted to start by commending them. You definitely 

have included two of the best people, the most inspiring advocates 

for water. 

As an island state, Hawaii is completely dependent on internal 

sources for our supply of fresh, clean water. There are no nearby 

states from which we can draw to meet our fresh water needs for 

drinking and agriculture. 

Our rainforests play a critical role in the capture and storage of 

water. Our forests, particularly the Hawaiian Koa-Ohia rainforests, 

capture moisture from the trade winds and allow it to soak slowly 

through the layers of trees and ferns and mosses, into our streams 

and aquifers. When the forests are healthy, our water source is secure and clean. When damaged by invasive species or fire or disease or loss of species, the forest loses its integrity and water-capturing capability. That’s why a major component of my administration’s Sustainable Hawaii Initiative focuses on watershed protection. 

During the World Conservation Congress held in Honolulu last 

month, I made an ambitious commitment to the global community 

to protect 30 percent of Hawaii’s priority watershed forests by 

2030. Currently, about 15 percent of these priority watershed forests are protected. 

We can only reach this goal, and go beyond it, through public/ 

private partnerships of landowners and managers who recognize 

that the best way to protect our forested watersheds and the source 

of our fresh water is through collaborative management across 

landscapes. Watershed partnerships are voluntary public/private 

alliances that allow us to steward native forested watersheds without regard to boundaries. Hawaii has ten active watershed partnerships covering 2.2 million acres, roughly half the land of the entire 

state. They are helping to plan, identify funding and carry out the 

dedicated, hard, on-the-ground work that is necessary to combat 

threats to our forests. 

In addition to working with the watershed partnerships, Hawaii 

has adopted specific policies to protect our water at its source. This 

year the legislature passed, and I signed, Act 172, establishing a 

two-year pilot program for a water security advisory group to establish public-private partnerships that increase water security, including increasing ground water recharge. 
5 

Federal funding for on-the-ground forest protection by or through 

the Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, Natural Resources 

Conservation Service and the National Park Service, along with research conducted by the United States Geological Survey, is absolutely critical to these efforts. We sincerely appreciate the support 

of the Federal agencies that allow us to stay on track to fund and 

accomplish watershed protection. 

Effective forest management means we have the basic infrastructure and stewardship in place to control the core threats to Hawaii 

forests. Currently, our greatest threat is a fungal disease called 

Rapid Ohia Death on Hawaii Island. 

The Ohia is the most abundant native tree in the state of Hawaii. It is the core structure of our native forested watersheds. The 

Ohia provides habitat for many native species and the spiritual 

and cultural importance of this tree in and to the Hawaiian culture 

is beyond compare. This fungal disease is currently killing thousands of Ohia trees on Hawaii Island, so far engulfing over 50,000 

acres. We have established a Rapid Ohia Death Working Group, 

made up of numerous public and private partners, including our 

Federal partners. This group’s work is key to advancing research 

into the cause and extent of the disease and a pilot field project to 

seek ways to contain the spread of the disease. 

This is not the only threat to our forests, which are comprised 

of native and endangered species. Hawaii is home to one-third of 

the endangered species listed in the nation. Forty-nine new species 

were added to Hawaii’s list of endangered species this year alone, 

some of which may have been avoided if adequate funding had 

been available in the past. 

Increased Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species funds, in 

addition to the proposed ‘‘Recovering America’s Wildlife Act,’’ can 

provide urgently needed support for our endangered plants and 

wildlife and their habitats. 

In addition, reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation 

Fund will be critical to protecting high priority lands, including watershed lands, from changes in use that would destroy their natural function. 

I thank the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for this 

opportunity to focus on the threats to and potential support of our 

native forested watersheds, the source of life here in the Hawaiian 

Islands. 

Thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Governor Ige follows:] 
6 

Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

Field Hearing to examine opportunities for federal and non-federal partnerships in 

integrated water management and efforts to improve water security in Hawai'i 

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 

Submitted by David Y. lge, Governor, State of Hawai'i 

As an island state, Hawai'i is completely dependent on internal sources for our supply of 

fresh, clean water. There are no nearby states from which we can draw to meet our 

fresh water needs for drinking and agriculture. 

Our rainforests play a critical role in the capture and storage of water. Our forests, 

particularly the Hawaiian koa-'5hi'a rainforests, capture moisture from the trade winds 

and allow it to soak slowly through layers of trees and ferns and mosses, into our 

streams and aquifers. When the forests are healthy, our water source is secure and 

clean. When damaged by invasive species or fire or disease or loss of species, the 

forest loses its integrity and water-capturing capability. That's why a major component 

of my administration's Sustainable Hawai'i Initiative focuses on watershed protection. 

During the World Conservation Congress held in Honolulu last month, I made an 

ambitious commitment to the global community to protect 30% of Hawai'i's priority 

watershed forests by 2030. Currently, 15% of these priority watershed forests are 

protected. 
7 

Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

October 18, 2016 

Page2 

We can only reach this goal - and go beyond it -through public-private partnerships of 

landowners and managers who recognize that the best way to protect our forested 

watersheds and the source of our fresh water is through collaborative management 

across landscapes. Watershed Partnerships are voluntary public-private alliances that 

allow us to steward native forested watersheds without regard to boundaries. Hawai'i 

has 10 active Watershed Partnerships covering 2.2 million acres- roughly half the land 

in the entire state. They are helping to plan, identify funding, and carry out the 

dedicated, hard, on-the-ground work that is necessary to combat threats to our forests. 

In addition to working with the Watershed Partnerships, Hawai'i has adopted specific 

policies to protect our water at its source. This year the Legislature passed and I signed 

Act 172 establishing a two-year pilot program for a water security advisory group to 

establish public-private partnerships that increase water security, including increasing 

groundwater recharge. 

Federal funding for on-the-ground forest protection by or through the Fish and Wildlife 

Service, Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the National 

Park Service, along with research conducted by the United States Geological Service, is 

absolutely critical to these efforts. We sincerely appreciate the support of the federal 

agencies that allows us to stay on track to fund and accomplish watershed forest 

protection. 

Effective forest management means we have the basic infrastructure and stewardship 

in place to control the core threats to Hawai'i's forests. Currently, our greatest threat is a 

fungal disease called Rapid 'Ohi'a Death on Hawai'i Island. The 'ohi'a is the most 

abundant native tree in the state of Hawai'i. It is the core structure of our native forested 

watersheds. The 'ohi'a provides habitat for many native species, and the spiritual and 

cultural importance of this tree in and to the Hawaiian culture is beyond compare. This 

fungal disease is currently killing thousands of 'ohi'a trees on Hawai'i Island, so far 

engulfing over 50,000 acres. 

We have established a Rapid 'Ohi'a Death Working Group made up of numerous public 

and private partners including our federal partners. This group's work is key to 

advancing research into the causes and extent of the disease, and pilot field projects to 

seek ways to contain the spread of the disease. 
8 

Testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

October 18, 2016 

Page 3 

This is not the only threat to our forests, which are comprised of native and endangered 

species. Hawai'i is home to one-third of the endangered species listed in the 

nation. Forty-nine new species were added to Hawai'i's list of endangered species this 

year alone, some of which may have been avoided if adequate funding had been 

available in the past. 

Increased Fish and Wildlife Service endangered species funds, in addition to the 

proposed "Recovering America's Wildlife Act", can provide urgently needed support 

for our endangered plants and wildlife and their habitats. 

In addition, reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund will be critical to 

protecting high priority lands, including watershed lands, from changes in use that would 

destroy their natural function. 

I thank the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for this opportunity to focus on 

the threats to and potential support for our native forested watersheds, the source of life 

here in the Hawaiian Islands. 

When the Polynesian people arrived in these islands, they maintained a close 

connection to the land and sea. They practiced a form of natural resource management 

that was based on the interrelationship of elements and human beings, including their 

spiritual beliefs. By exercising careful stewardship, they were able to support a robust 

population. 

Today, our State's Constitution says that "All public natural resources are held in trust 

by the State for the benefit of the people." The Constitution requires us to conserve and 

protect Hawai'i's natural beauty and all natural resources for the benefit of present and 

future generations. 

We appreciate your support as we continue to work with our federal and private-sector 

partners to ensure that we meet our public-trust obligations. 
9 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you very much, Governor. 

If your schedule means that you need to leave us, I know our 

Senator and Representative and our guests will understand. 

Thank you very much. 

Senator Gabbard. 

STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE GABBARD, STATE SENATE, STATE 

OF HAWAII 

Mr. GABBARD. Aloha, Senator Hirono, and mahalo nui for the opportunity to provide testimony at this field hearing regarding opportunities for Federal and non-Federal partnerships in integrated 

water management and efforts to improve water security in Hawaii. I commend the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources for seeking this input and for looking for ways to 

collaborate to help our state improve its stewardship of this precious natural resource. As the Chair of the State Senate’s Water, 

Land and Agriculture Committee, I can assure you that this topic 

will continue to be a top priority in my policymaking efforts. 

And as you mentioned in your remarks, Senator, our state had 

an incredible privilege last month to host the World Conservation 

Congress for the first time in our nation’s history. At that event, 

which included over 10,000 delegates from 192 countries from 

around the world, it proved to be a perfect opportunity to showcase 

our leadership in sustainability through our Aloha and Challenge 

targets and to forge partnerships for future efforts. 

During his opening address at the Congress, Governor Ige announced our state’s commitment to protecting 30 percent of our watersheds by 2030. And as you mentioned, the Hawaii Fresh Water 

Initiative has become a cornerstone of our state’s efforts to improve 

integrated water management and water security in the state. 

Through this collaborative effort, led by the Hawaii Community 

Foundation, three aggressive water strategy areas have been identified: conservation, recharge and reuse. The principal goal of the 

initiative is to create 100 million gallons per day in additional reliable fresh water capacity for our islands by 2030, including recharging our aquifers through rainwater capture with a goal of 30 

million gallons a day. Achieving these ambitious goals is directly 

tied to the successful stewardship of our watershed areas. 

On June 30th I participated in a bill signing ceremony for seven 

water supply-related bills. This is the most water-related bills in 

memory and the direct result of a close partnership between the 

Water and Land Committee in the House and our Committee in 

the Senate. I assure you that this issue will remain at the forefront 

in coming sessions. 

A few of the highlights include: 

Act 169, of Senate Bill 2645 provides funding for and requires 

the adoption of a five-year statewide water loss audit program to 

encourage our water utilities to track leaks and prevent water 

waste. 

Act 170, which was House Bill 1749, amends the Hawaii State 

Water Plan to include the utilization of reclaimed water at all state 

and county facilities for all uses other than potable/drinking water 

needs. The new law sets an ambitious goal for the water sector just 
10 

as Hawaii has adopted a nation leading standard around 100 percent renewable energy. 

Act 172, House Bill 2040, establishes a two-year Natural Capital 

Investment Partnership under the State Department of Land and 

Natural Resources to spur water innovation and public/private 

partnerships in the water sector. 

So as we look to our future priorities, it’s important that the 

State and Federal Governments provide sufficient financial resources to enable our Watershed Partnerships and the state DLNR 

to protect more of our watershed forests. We should also continue 

to encourage the EPA and the State Department of Health to work 

together to find good uses for the funding available through the 

Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. 

Going beyond state and county buildings, we need to update our 

plumbing and building codes to include the latest efficiency and 

reuse potential and conserve our water resources. The State Legislature will also revisit legislation to create a program that offers 

incentives to local residents who invest in water conservation systems. 

This field hearing is a welcome addition to the dialog about how 

Hawaii can begin to lead in creating holistic, integrated solutions 

to our water challenges. With the impacts of climate change already altering our reality in the Islands, the Legislature will continue to take water seriously and to the best of our ability, push 

aggressively to ensure that every drop of water that hits our islands is efficiently captured, distributed and reused where possible. 

I am grateful that the Federal Government continues to be a key 

partner in this effort. 

Mahalo, once again, for taking the time and effort to receive this 

input. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Gabbard follows:] 
11 

SENATOR MIKE GABBARD 

KAPOLEI, MAKAKILO, 

AND PORTIONS OF EWA, KALAELOA 

&WAIPAHU STATE CAPITOL 

HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 

CHAIRMAN 

WATER, LAND & AGRICULTURE 

VlCECHAJR 

TRANSPORTATION & ENERGY 

MEMBER 

JUDICIARY & LABOR 

HIGHER EDUCATION & THE ARTS 

Written Tastimconv for U.S. Senate Committee on Energy 

Resources Field Hearing 

October 11!, 2016 

Aloha and mahalo for the opportunity to provide testimony on opportunities for 

federal and non-federal partnerships in integrated water management and efforts 

to improve water security in Hawai'L I commend the U.S. Senate Committee on 

Energy and Natural Resources for seeking this input and looking for ways to 

collaborate to help our state improve its stewardship of this precious natural 

resource. As !he Chair of the State Senate's Water, Land, and Agriculture 

Committee, I can assure you that this topic will continue to be a top priority in my 

policymaking efforts. 

Our state had an incredible privilege last month to host the World Conservation 

Congress for the first time in our nation's history. This event, which included over 

10,100 delegates from 192 counties from around the world, proved to be a perfect 

opportunity to showcase our leadership in sustainability through our Aloha + 

Challenge targets and to forge partnerships for future efforts. During his Opening 

Address at the Congress, Governor lge announced our state's commitment to 

protecting 30% of our watersheds by 2030. 

The Hawai'i Fresh Water Initiative has become a cornerstone of our state's efforts 

to improve integrated water management and water security in the state. Through 

this collaborative effort led by the Hawai'i Community Foundation, three 

aggressive water strategy areas have been identified: conservation, recharge, and 

reuse. The principal goal of the Initiative is to create 100 million gallons per day in 

additional, reliable fresh water capacity for our islands by 2030, including 

recharging our aquifers through rainwater capture with a goal of 30 million gallons 

a day. Achieving these ambitious goals is directly tied to the successful 

stewardship of our watershed areas. 

The State Legislature has taken the need to focus on fresh water security to heart. 

On June 301

h, I participated in a bill signing ceremony for 7 water supply related 

bills. 

This is the most water-related bills in memory-and the direct result of a close 

partnership between the Water and Land Committee in the House and our 

committee in the Senate. The issue will remain at the forefront in coming sessions. 

A few of the highlights include: 

415 S. BERETAN!A STREET, ROOM 201 HONOLULU, HAWA!'I 96813 

PHONE: 586-6830 FAX: 586-6679 EMAIL: SENGABBARD@CAPITOL!!AWA!l.GOV 
12 

Testimonyfbr US. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources October 18,2016 Page 2 

• Act 169 (SB 2645) provides funding for and requires the adoption of a 5-

year statewide water loss audit program to encourage our water utilities to 

track leaks and prevent water waste. 

• Act 170 (HB 1749) amends the Hawai'i state water plan to include the 

utilization of reclaimed water at all state and county facilities for all uses 

other than potable/drinking water needs. The new law sets an ambitious 

goal for the water sector just as Hawai'i has adopted a nation-leading 

standard around 100% renewable energy. 

" Act 172 (HB 2040) establishes a 2-year Natural Capital Investment 

Partnership under the state Department of Land Natural Resources to spur 

water innovation and public-private partnerships in the water sector. 

As we look to our future priorities, it's important that the state and federal 

government provide sufficient financial resources to enable our Watershed 

Partnerships and the state Department of Land and Natural Resources to protect 

more of our watershed forests. We should also continue to encourage the EPA 

and state Department of Health to work together to find good uses for the funding 

available through the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Going beyond state 

and county buildings, we need to update our plumbing and building codes to 

include the latest efficiency and reuse potential and conserve our water resources. 

The State Legislature will also revisit legislation to create a program that offers 

incentives to local residents who invest in water conservation systems. 

This field hearing is a welcome addition to the dialogue about how Hawai'i can 

begin to lead in creating holistic, integrated solutions to our water challenges. With 

the impacts of climate change already altering our reality in the Islands, the 

Legislature will continue to take water seriously, and push aggressively to ensure 

that every drop of water that hits our islands is efficiently captured, distributed, and 

reused where possible. I'm grateful that the federal government continues to be a 

key partner in this effort. 
13 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you, Senator Gabbard. 

Representative Yamane. 

STATEMENT OF HON. RYAN YAMANE, STATE HOUSE OF 

REPRESENTATIVES, STATE OF HAWAII 

Mr. YAMANE. Senator, nice to see you again and thank you for 

bringing this Committee to Hawaii and welcome home. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Mr. YAMANE. Before I begin I would like to highlight that this 

legislative session, in collaboration with the Senate, took water 

very seriously. We came up with about 27 bills, and out of that 27 

bills we passed 14 into law. 

As part of the idea beyond the water essence, we looked at water 

as being the lifeblood of our island. And together with the Senator, 

we looked at the whole process, looking at water from the mountains to the sea. So we came up with a wide variety of bills, many 

of them noted by the previous speakers, which included looking at 

not only protecting our watershed but also looking at how our 

water is used on a daily basis. 

And I wanted to highlight, Senator, that I was able to go to 

Texas and California, seeing the extremes. In one area helping 

with disasters due to flooding and in another area helping in California due to drought with wildfires. 

So coming home, working with the Senator, we took water and 

water access and having clean, fresh water for our use as not only 

an economic issue, but a cultural and spiritual issue that we needed to address. 

So as we move forward knowing that with the concerns with the 

increase in climate change, with the reduction of rainfall by 19 percent over the last 20 years, we needed to do something now to be 

ahead of the game and potentially help continue that discussion on 

water reuse, water capture and water sustainability. 

So some of the bills previously highlighted were the issues of 

doing water audits, looking at water infrastructure loans, so that 

way we can build and support infrastructure that looks at water 

irrigation with the concept of using water wisely and actually, prevention and reduction in evaporation so water can reach its goal. 

Also we looked at water, not only as recharging our aquifers but 

also how we use it. And we did do something, I think, that’s led 

the nation in which we passed the first law that bans the discharge 

of sewage into the oceans within ten years. 

Senator, one of the things we wanted to do was make sure that 

we supported our dams and reservoirs as well as the staff and 

workers at the Department of Land and Natural Resources. So we 

also invested $16 million to upgrade and protect our dams and reservoirs so they can be used for local farmers and food production. 

Senator, you know, one of the things I would like to highlight is 

we have a very good relationship with the Federal Government in 

so many ways and we would like that to continue. We would like 

to continue the opportunity to work with the Federal Government 

in investing in water reclamation, water reuse, water metering, 

storm water recapture and ground water recharging projects. 
14 

We also would like to highlight that the Federal water conservation grant, like Water Smart funding, is important to Hawaii and 

if it can continue and expand it would be greatly appreciated. 

I wanted to throw out that we have been working with the Bureau of Reclamation, Army Corps of Engineers, EPA and USDA, 

National Fish and Wildlife and FEMA and other Federal Government entities and their ability to work in partnership with us is 

greatly appreciated. 

So, thank you. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Yamane follows:] 
15 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

STATE OF HAWAII 

STATE CAPITOL 

HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813 

TESTIMONY OF RYAN YAMANE 

CHAIR, HOUSE COMMITTEE ON WATER AND LAND 

HAWAII STATE LEGISLATURE 

BEFORE THE UNITED STATES SENATE COMMITTEE ON 

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

OCTOBER 18, 2016 

10:00AM. 

HAWAII STATE CAPITOL 

CONFEREENCE ROOM 325 

415 SOUTH BERETANIA STREET 

HONOLULU, HAWAII 

RELATING TO FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS IN INTEGRATED 

WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER SECURITY IN HAWAII 

Senator Hirano: 

I truly appreciate your efforts to bring this issue to the forefront and to allow Hawaii to 

have a voice in these proceedings. The time and effort that you and this committee have put 

into this issue, indicated to us that you share our concerns to protect our water, and the need 

to improve Hawaii's water security for our people and our environment. 

The Hawaii State Legislature finds that the future of our State's water security is vital 

for Hawaii's economy, natural resources, and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii's people. 

However, it must be noted that water is not only required to sustain life, but can also be a 

threat to life as we have witnessed from the extreme flooding of West Virginia, Texas, 

Louisiana, and North Carolina, the contamination of water in Flint, Michigan, as well as the 

severe drought in California. A recent United Nations report on water and disaster risk 

recounts that 90 percent of U.S. natural disasters over the past decade have been water 

related, including floods, droughts, and storm surges. Water-related disasters arise from too 

much water, too little water, or polluted water. The frequency of these water-related 

disasters is expected to increase with a changing climate, with the U.N. predicting that these 

disasters also will become more severe in the near future. 

As the Earth's temperature continues to rise, we can expect a significant impact on 

our fresh water supplies with the potential for devastating effects on these resources. If we 

continue to increase our water consumption, to allow sewage spills to pollute our streams 

and ocean and do not reclaim our water, we will face a serious water crisis in Hawaii's future 

The effects on our ahupua'a and natural systems will be widespread: from accelerated 

flooding, heavier rain and flash floods, to extreme droughts and saltwater intrusion in our 

aquifers. We in Hawaii have already found that our statewide rainfall has decreased by 19 

percent between 1978 and 2007. Similarly, our annual amount of "tradewind days" have 

decreased from 291 days in 1973, to 210 days in 2009, also resulting in less rain and 

recharge for our islands' aquifers. Hawaii has already experienced prolonged drought which 
16 

Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

October 18, 2016 

Page Two 

severely impacted our State's drinking supply, natural resources, and agricultural production 

in 2013, when 75 percent of Hawaii's land was found to be "abnormally dry." 

This year, my colleagues and I took direct action to improve our water protection 

policies through a comprehensive package of 14 water laws, which include improved water 

management policies, establishing a statewide "water audit" program, encouraging 

hydroelectric opportunities, creating public private partnerships and investment incentives 

in water security, improving local water infrastructure, and eliminating the discharge of 

untreated water into our streams and oceans. 

To secure our water resources, the Hawaii State Legislature passed legislation to 

encourage the State's Commission on Water Resource Management to conduct "water 

audits" with the water utilities and the counties. This water audit will investigate water use, 

water loss, understand how our water is managed on a statewide scale, and allow the State 

to forecast our future water supply. The Hawaii State Legislature also initiated and financed 

a State Water Security Advisory Group as a two-year pilot program which will seek publicprivate partnerships to fund water security initiatives throughout the State. Similarly, the 

Hawaii State Legislature created a Green Bond investment program to provide water 

infrastructure loans to landowners and farmers who wish to improve their water infrastructure 

and irrigation systems. To encourage more use of reclaimed water, the Hawaii State 

Legislature amended the Hawaii State Water Plan to use clean, recycled water in all State 

and County facilities by 2045, excluding drinking water and potable water use. To reduce 

future pollution of Hawaii's oceans and streams, the Hawaii State Legislature also passed a 

law which will prohibit wastewater and raw sewage discharge within our ocean and state 

waters by 2026. To diversify energy opportunities to meet Hawaii's Clean Energy Goal, the 

Hawaii State Legislature expanded the use of water as a future clean energy resource for 

hydroelectric power. Finally, the Hawaii State Legislature invested over $16 Million to 

improve and upgrade dams, reservoirs, and irrigation systems throughout the State of 

Hawaii. 

This diverse legislative package of 14 water laws was a first of its kind in Hawaii. This 

comprehensive legislative water package is our first step toward ensuring Hawaii's water 

security and water safety through water reuse, conservation, and infrastructure 

advancements. However, more needs to be done to ensure to ensure that Hawaii's water is 

safe, clean, and secure for our future. I welcome the Federal Government to invest in water 

reclamation, water reuse, water metering, stormwater runoff capture and groundwater 

recharge projects for the State of Hawaii. Federal water conservation grant programs, like 

the WaterS MART funding initiative can assist the State of Hawaii to improve water 

conservation and secure our statewide water supply. I am hopeful that this Senate Field 

Hearing will generate increased involvement and funding opportunities from federal agencies 

including: the Bureau of Reclamation, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Environmental 

Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Fish and Wildlife 

Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. 

We are currently witnessing the severity of water risks and water disasters affecting 

the country and we must acknowledge that Hawaii's future will also be vulnerable to climate 

change. We must act to invest in federal, state, and county partnerships in integrated water 

management to improve Hawaii's future water security. 

Representative Ryan Yamane 

Chair, House Committee on Water and Land 

Dis·trict 3 7 ~ ,\Ii/ilani, f'Vaipio GenllJ', Waike!e 

State Capitol, Room 420- Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 

Phone: 586-6150 Fax: 586-6151 

E-Mail: rcpyamane@capitol.hawaii.gov 
17 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you very much. 

It is clear that your leadership is bearing results and I commend 

all of you and especially the legislature, the two of you, for leading 

your two very important committees and focusing on reuse, recharge, infrastructure, all really important, as our water infrastructure all across the country is in a bad state of repair. You are 

putting in the appropriations which the Governor has to sign into 

law. 

Thank you very much for your partnering, and I look forward to 

working with all of you to identify Federal resources. It would be 

great if we could bring more Federal resources, especially in the 

area of our fight against invasive species, because I recognize that 

we do not get as much of the pie that we probably should be getting. So we will work together to make that happen. 

Mahalo nui, to you all. 

Mr. GABBARD. Thank you. 

Mr. YAMANE. Thank you. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

So we will bring up the second panel. 

You are going to be testifying in the order that I will be identifying you. We have Steve Anthony, who is the Director of the Pacific Islands Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 

Randy Moore is a Regional Forester with the Pacific Southwest Region, Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. David Smith 

is the Administrator at the Division of Forestry and Wildlife with 

the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. 

The USGS is part of the Department of the Interior, and it is 

doing important research in Hawaii and across the Pacific Islands. 

The Regional Forester, Randy Moore, your division, or your service, 

is housed within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. So we have 

Department of the Interior, Department of Agriculture, and then 

David Smith is with the State Department of Land and Natural 

Resources (DLNR). 

I did have the opportunity last week to meet with DLNR Chair, 

Suzanne Case, and David to learn more about the Department’s responsibility to protect our watersheds. 

Welcome to all of you. Let’s get started, and we are going to start 

with you, Steve. 

STATEMENT OF STEPHEN ANTHONY, DIRECTOR, PACIFIC 

ISLANDS WATER SCIENCE CENTER, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

Mr. ANTHONY. Senator Hirono, thank you for inviting me to discuss the U.S. Department of the Interior’s (DOI) role in integrated 

water resource management and efforts to improve water security 

in Hawaii. 

In Hawaii, water resources help shape our culture, economy and 

environment. As climate variability and change continues to stress 

limited water resources, water security will continue to grow as a 

national concern. As a result, integrated water-resource management will be critical to support healthy, thriving environments and 

societies. 

The Department, through the U.S. Geological Survey, National 

Park Service, Pacific Islands Climate Science Center and the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, is working to bring peo-
18 

ple together to ensure a sustainable and secure water future. 

Through this process, the Department partners with cultural stewards to help scientists understand culturally sensitive water resources. The Department also works with academic researchers to 

forecast climate change as potential impacts on water and with watershed managers and state and local agencies to understand how 

management activities can impact water resources. 

As part of this effort, the USGS provides objective science for the 

nation’s water resources to support human well-being, healthy ecosystems, economic prosperity, and to anticipate and help resolve 

impending water-resource conflicts and emergencies. 

The USGS also serves society through water-resource monitoring 

and research to provide tools that managers and policymakers can 

use for preserving the quality and quantity of water resources. In 

Hawaii, the USGS is working in cooperation with the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource Management and other state and local 

agencies to expand and enhance monitoring of rainfall, ground 

water, stream flow and water quality, assess ground water recharge and availability, estimate low-flow conditions in our streams 

needed to establish instream flow standards, quantify the impacts 

of high-priority non-native and dominant native plant species on 

freshwater availability and to assess water quality related to landuse activities. 

USGS is also developing information tools to evaluate ground 

water availability on several of the main islands as part of the regional study of the nation’s principle aquifers. 

With respect to water use, USGS compiles and estimates water 

use information every five years in cooperation with State, Federal 

and local agencies. 

The USGS is providing a funding opportunity to the state to enhance the understandings of surface water use in Hawaii. 

Finally, the USGS is assessing the effects of droughts and other 

climate variability on water resources. 

As mentioned previously, the Hawaii Fresh Water Initiative was 

launched in 2013 to bring multiple, diverse parties together to develop a forward-thinking and consensus-based strategy to increase 

water security in Hawaii. Organized by the independent nonprofit 

Hawaii Community Foundation, the Initiative relied on a blue ribbon advisory panel of experts including farmers, landowners, scientists, conservationists and government officials. 

DOI will continue to partner with the public and private sectors 

in Hawaii to support the understanding of watershed-management 

activities that affect water security and to develop cost-shared activities for understanding how best to ensure a water-secure future. 

Given its mission, the USGS is ideally positioned to use and develop the best science and technology-based tools to evaluate water 

supply solutions and continue helping water managers to establish 

adaptive-management strategies that address water sustainability 

and to partner with cultural stewards to understand the importance of long-term water security needs. 

This concludes my statement, and I would be happy to answer 

any questions you have at the end of the panel. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Anthony follows:] 
19 

STATEMENT OF 

STEPHEN S ANTHONY 

DIRECTOR, PACIFIC ISLANDS WATER SCIENCE CENTER 

U S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR 

BEFORE THE 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

OCTOBER 18, 2016 

Senator Hirono and Members of the Committee, thank you for your invitation to appear here today to 

discuss the U.S. Department of the Interior's role in integrated water-resource management and efforts to 

improve water security in Hawaii. 

Water is essential to life and is the Nation's most widely used natural resource. In Hawaii, water 

resources help shape our culture, economy, and environment As climate variability and change continue 

to stress limited water resources, water security will grow as a national concern. Water needs arc diverse 

and increasingly in conflict Integrated water-resource management will be critical to support healthy, 

thriving environments and societies. 

Water availability is governed by an ever-evolving, complex system of natural and human-induced 

processes. Water is a critical commodity for human consumption, agriculture, energy, and industry: it is a 

fundamental requirement for ecosystem health, biodiversity, and resilience: and it has important cultural 

and aesthetic values. 

The Department, through the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Park Service, Pacific Islands 

Climate Science Center, and the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative, is actively working to bring 

people together and form partnerships to ensure a sustainable and secure water fhture. Through this 

process, the Department has formed partnerships with cultural stewards to help scientists understand the 

importance of culturally sensitive water resources; academic researchers to develop climate change 

projections needed to understand potential impacts to water resources in the fhture; and watershed 

managers and State and Local agencies to understand how management activities can impact water 

resources. 

As part of this effort, the USGS provides objective knowledge of the Nation's water resources to support 

human well-being, healthy ecosystems, economic prosperity, and anticipate and help resolve impending 

water-resource conflicts and emergencies. The bureau accomplishes fhis through integrated activities and 

partnerships with Federal, State, and local agencies and private organizations. 

The USGS also serves society through water-resource monitoring, assessment, modeling, and research to 

provide tools that managers and policymakers can use for preserving the quality and quantity of water 

resources: balancing competing uses of water: understanding, predicting, and mitigating water related 

hazards such as floods and droughts, as well as understanding the effects of climate variability on water 

resources; and quantifying the vulnerability of human populations and ecosystems to water shortages and 

surpluses and degradation of water quality. 

In Hawaii, the USGS is working in cooperation with the Hawaii Commission on Water Resource 

Management and other State and local agencies to expand and enhance monitoring of groundwater, 

streamflow, and water quality; assess groundwater recharge and availability; estimate low-flow conditions 

in streams needed to establish instream flow standards; quantify the impacts of high-priority non-native 

and dominant native plant species on freshwater availability and assess water quality related to land -usc 
20 

activities. Most of these programs include an assessment of impacts of climate variability and change. In 

Fiscal Year 2016, the USGS contributed about $1.1 million in cooperative matching funds to these 

programs. 

The SECURE Water Act (P.L. 111-11) authorizes the National Water Census to be implemented through 

DOl's WaterS MART initiative. Through the National Water Census, the USGS is taking an integrated 

approach to research water availability and use by bringing together diverse avenues of hydrologic and 

ecological research. 

Work conducted under the Water Census builds our national capacity to scientifically identify, assess, and 

analyze water availability. The Water Census is built around the concept of understanding and 

quantifying water budgets. Similar to financial budgets, water budgets give us the ability to look at each 

component of the water cycle and understand how water moves from one component to another. 

Knowing how much of a resource is flowing into or out of an account allows us to anticipate developing 

stresses and provide information needed to manage limited water resources. 

The Water Census includes new and improved methods of accounting for human factors, such as water 

use, and environmental and ecological criteria that can affect water management decisions. It is designed 

to build decision-support capacity for water-management agencies and other natural-resource managers. 

The National Water Census is publically available on USGS's website 

(http :1 /water. usgs. gov/waterccnsus/). 

In Hawaii, USGS is developing information and tools to evaluate groundwater availability on several of 

the main islands as part of a regional study of the Nation's principal aquifers. With respect to water use, 

USGS compiles and estimates water-use infonnation every 5 years in cooperation with State, Federal, and 

local agencies. The USGS also is providing a funding opportunity to the State to enhance the 

understanding of surface water use in Hawaii. Finally, the USGS maintains a network of wells to monitor 

the effects of droughts and other climate variability on groundwater levels. 

The Hawaii Fresh Water Initiative was launched in 2013 to bring multiple, diverse parties together to 

develop a forward-thinking and consensus-based strategy to increase water security in Hawaii. Organized 

by the independent nonprofit Hawaii Community Foundation, the Initiative relied on a blue ribbon 

advisory panel of experts including farmers, landmvners, scientists, conservationists, and government 

officials. 

The USGS served as a non-voting technical liaison on this panel, providing information and data in 

support of the Initiative. The panel developed a ''Blneprint for Action'' that provides policy and decisionmakers in Hmvaii with a set of solutions that have broad, multi-sector support that will put the State on a 

path toward greater water security. These solutions focus on improving efficiency in how water is 

transported and used; capturing more rainwater in our aquifers by expanding and actively protecting 

watershed areas while improving storm-water retention; and increasing the amount of reclaimed 

wastewater being reused to irrigate parks and local crops. This initiative demonstrates the benefits of 

government officials collaborating with and supporting communities as they address long-term water 

security needs. 

DOl will continue to partner with the public and private sectors in Hawaii to support the understanding of 

watershed-management activities that affect water security and to develop cost-shared activities for 

understanding how best to ensure a water-secure future. Given its mission, the USGS is ideally 

positioned to usc and develop the best science- and technology-based tools to evaluate water-supply 

solutions and continue helping water managers to establish adaptive-management strategies that address 
21 

water sustainability and to partner with cultural stewards to address the importm1ce of long-term watersecurity needs. 

This concludes my statement. lam happy to answer any questions you may have. 
22 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Mr. Moore. 

STATEMENT OF RANDY MOORE, REGIONAL FORESTER, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION, FOREST SERVICE, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Mr. MOORE. Senator Hirono, thank you and the Committee for 

holding this important hearing and inviting me to testify on behalf 

of the USDA and the Forest Service regarding our partnership efforts to maintain and improve watershed conditions and the security of our water supply in Hawaii and across the United States. 

My name is Randy Moore, and I am the Regional Forester for the 

Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service. 

The history of the Forest Service and the National Forest actually began with the specific mandate to protect forested lands and 

to secure favorable conditions for water flow. Today, we are furthering that tradition with employees working across research and 

development, state and private forestry and a National Forest System in support of a healthy forest and grasslands across ownership 

boundaries and jurisdictions. 

We recognize that our world is increasingly complex and constantly changing. We could not be successful today without the efforts of our many partners at the State, Federal and local levels 

working side-by-side with us. Our work is vital to securing clean, 

abundant supplies for water for human use, for recreation, for agriculture purposes and to support fish and wildlife populations and 

energy production. This is especially true in the context of a changing climate. 

My submitted testimony highlights several examples of our efforts in Hawaii and across the Western Pacific Islands. I would like 

to use this opportunity to describe just a few of the successful, national efforts on the way that are pieces of the whole effort of the 

Forest Service in securing our nation’s water future. 

Collaborative efforts such as our partnership with Coca-Cola are 

making a big difference on the ground. Since 2013 we have worked 

on 13 projects in six national forests across the country that have 

engaged hundreds of volunteers contributing nearly 5,000 hours 

while increasing the water capacity of thousands of acres of land. 

Coca-Cola, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and others have 

invested more than $2.1 million to date which has been matched 

by partners, including the National Forest Foundation, for a total 

investment of $4.5 million. 

Restoration work accomplished through this partnership return 

more than a billion liters of water to the National Forest System 

which is the source of drinking water for more than 60 million 

Americans. 

Working with the National Forest Foundation projects such as 

the Hayman post fire restoration work in Colorado brought together more than 20 partners to leverage more than $3.3 million 

to restore severely burned areas and watersheds that serve as municipal water supplies to Colorado and along the front range communities. Solutions were developed collaboratively and implemented using a mixture of volunteers, contractors and agency re-
23 

sources to restore streams, reduce sedimentation, control invasive 

species and improve vegetation. 

In Northern Arizona the Forest Service partnered with the National Forest Foundation, the Salt River Project and other stakeholders in the Northern Arizona Forest Fund which focuses on 

streams and wetland restoration, sediment and erosion management. 

In California, the Pacific Southwest Region signed the first massive stewardship agreement between the Forest Service and Joint 

Powers Watershed Authority comprised of six water agencies in 

three counties, the Upper Makelumne Watershed Authority. The 

goal of this partnership is to enhance water supplies and protect 

water quality and the environment both in the Upper Makelumne 

River Watershed as well as downstream. 

Another successful partnership has been forged between the U.S. 

Forest Service and the California Natural Resources Agency. In 

2015 we entered into a MOU to work in partnership to implement 

the Sierra Nevada Watershed Improvement Program which is 

called the WIP. The WIP is a coordinated, integrated, collaborative 

program to restore the health of California’s primary Sierra Nevada watersheds to increase investments and needed policy 

changes. The activities undertaken by WIP benefits wildfire management, mitigation investment, restoration efforts, water and air 

quality, carbon storage, fish and wildlife and community resilience. 

Beyond these specific projects the National Forest System has 

undertaken an evaluation of watersheds using a watershed condition framework. This provides a tool for each forest and district to 

assess threats and deteriorated conditions and to prioritize work to 

ensure a strategic, targeted approach to improving watershed 

health. 

Water is perhaps the most fundamental of natural resources, and 

engaging youth and conservation stewardship in promoting 

healthy, active lifestyles is critical to the future management and 

the health of our nation’s water supplies. The Forest Service, with 

other government agencies and partners at every level of the public 

and private sector, is dedicated to a continuing conservation legacy 

in an effort to secure our water future. 

Well Senator, that concludes my statement and I would be happy 

to answer any questions you might have at the end of the panel. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Moore follows:] 
24 

TESTIMONY OF 

RANDY MOORE 

REGIONAL FORESTER, PACIFIC SOUTHWEST REGION, USDA FOREST SERVICE 

Before 

SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Regarding 

OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL PARTNERSHIPS IN INTEGRATED 

WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFORTS TO IMPROVE WATER SECURITY IN HAW All 

October 18, 2016 

Thank you for hosting this important hearing to examine the critical nexus between partnerships, 

watershed management, and water security. It is my privilege to represent the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service in describing the efforts across our agency to address the health and 

sustainability of our critical natural resources in partnership with local, county, state, and tribal 

governments, and other federal agencies in Hawaii and across the nation. My testimony will focus on key 

activities in specific programs in Hawaii that address forest and watershed health which contribute to the 

security of our water supply, and will also touch on programs of national scope, including several 

important programs within the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) at USDA 

Background 

The Forest Service is organized into deputy areas, with cooperating roles in partnerships, water 

management and water security among other mission elements. Below is a brief overview of National 

Forest System, State and Private Forestry, and Research and Development deputy areas, as well as a note 

on the impact of the rising cost of wildfire on our mission. 

National Forest 5)ystem 

The national forests were originally created to secure favorable water flows and provide a sustainable 

supply of goods and services. The National Forest System comprises !54 national forests and 20 national 

grasslands located in 44 States, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, encompassing about 193 million 

acres. Forested watersheds reduce storm runoff, stabilize stream banks, shade surface water, cycle 

nutrients, and filter pollutants. National Forest operations include: administering and managing recreation 

and heritage areas; preserving wilderness; restoring, conserving and enhancing fish and wildlife habitats; 

managing and utilizing forest, rangeland, mineral, and water resources in a sustainable manner. 

1 
25 

State and Private Forestry 

State and Private Forestry programs provide technical and financial assistance to help landowners and 

resource managers sustain the Nation's urban and rural forests and to protect communities and the 

environment from wildland fires, insects, disease, and invasive plants. State and Private Forestry program 

areas include Fire and Aviation Management, Forest Health Protection, Cooperative Forestry, 

Conservation Education, and Tribal Government Relations. These programs work collaboratively with 

local, county, state, and tribal governments and other federal agencies to enhance and maintain forests 

across watersheds and ecosystems, both on private and public lands. 

Forest Service Research and Development 

Research and Development provides long term research, scientific knowledge, and tools that can be used 

to manage, restore, and conserve forests and rangelands. As the world's largest forestry research 

organization, we employ approximately 500 scientists and have a presence in every state in America. 

Forest Service Research and Development carries out programs in Forest Inventory & Analysis, the 

National Forest Products Laboratory, comprehensive regional assessments, national and international 

programs, and a fully integrated science, development, and implementation program. 

Continuing Frosion (if Budget Capacity Due to Fire 

The single most important step Congress can take to advance forest health and resilience is to enact a 

comprehensive fire budget solution-one that addresses both the growth of fire programs as a percent of 

the agency's budget and the compounding annual problem of transferring funds from non-fire programs to 

cover the cost of fire suppression. In 1995, fire made up 16 percent of the Forest Service's annual 

appropriated budget-this year, more than 50 percent of the Forest Service's annual budget will be 

dedicated to wildfire. Along with this shift in resources, there has also been a corresponding shift in staff, 

with a 39 percent reduction in all non-fire personnel since 1995. 

As more and more of the agency's resources are spent each year to provide the necessary resources for fire 

suppression, fewer and fewer funds and resources are available to support other agency work. The 

dependence on non-fire programs to pay for the ever-increasing costs of fire has real implications, not 

only for the Forest Service's restoration work that would help prevent catastrophic fires, but also for the 

protection of watersheds and cultural resources, upkeep of programs and infrastructure that support 

thousands of recreation jobs and billions of dollars of economic growth in rural communities, and support 

for the range of multiple uses, benefits and ecosystem services, as well as research, technical assistance, 

and other programs that deliver value to the American public. In fact, since 1995, appropriations for the 

National Forest System have been reduced from 58 percent of the hudget, to 29 percent in 2015. 

2 
26 

USDA appreciates the continued interest from members of the Committee to address the way fire 

suppression is ftmded, and looks forward to working with members to find a solution to this problem that 

is continuing to negatively impact the ability of the Forest Service to complete non-fire work. 

Introduction 

Water is vitally important for many reasons, including resource stewardship, domestic use, and public 

recreation. Today, water from national forests and s>rasslands contributes to the economic and ecological 

vitality of rural and urban communities across the nation, and those lands supply more than 60 million 

Americans with clean drinking water. 1 National forests in the arid continental West typically occupy the 

very top of critical watersheds, where water is stored in winter snow packs and underground aquifers and 

slowly released through the spring and into the summer. National forests in the east also occupy critical 

watersheds, preserving water quality for downstream users and moderating floods to protect downstream 

landowners. Communities, farmers and ranchers, Native American Tribes, and the general public depend 

on delivery of clean water from the national forests and grasslands. 

The contributions to and the benefits derived from forests do not end at the western edge of the continental 

United States. Rather, they span the Pacific and include over I. 7 million acres of forests in The State of 

Hawaii, the Territory of Guam, the Territory of American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern 

Mariana Islands, the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of 

Palau. These diverse native forest ecosystems support a 1ich array of flora and fauna found nowhere else 

in the world. Island forests replenish important fresh water aquifers and river systems, protect reefs, and 

shelter and protect shorelines and coastal communities from the impacts of hurricanes, storm surges, 

tsunamis and floods. Traditional cultures depend directly on ecosystem services provided by forests 

including food, fiber, and clean water for their subsistence lifestyles. In the Hawai'ian Islands and the 

Western Pacific Islands, forests capture rain that becomes drinking water for island inhabitants. For 

example a recent study found that deforestation of the Ko'olau Mountains there would result in a loss to 

aquifers of $4.6 to $8.5 billion. 2 

The Hawai'ian Islands and Western Pacific Islands have relatively small land masses subject to high land 

use and development pressure, and are highly susceptible to disturbances such as invasive species, humancaused fires, storms, and changing climate patterns. As population and development pressures continue to 

1 http:/1\vw,Y.fs.fcd.us/publications/policy-analysis/watcr.pdf. 

2 '·Environmental E,·aluation and the Hawaiian Economy". University ofHmvai'i Economic Research Organization, Jim 

Roumassct 
27 

grow, ecological restoration of tropical forests has clear and compelling environmental and public 

benefits. Sustainability of tropical forests is integral to maintaining resilient communities, diversifying 

local economies, and mediating the impacts of ever-increasing tourism industries. The economies of the 

Hawai 'ian Islands are directly tied to the health and status of their forests. 

The Forest Service supports a variety of collaborative work to restore, enhance and protect forest 

resources among the Pacific Islands. Congressionally appropriated funds are matched with Pacific Island 

partner funds to improve and maintain the health of urban and native forests, conserve native working 

forests through conservation easements, support development of tropical forestry management tools, and 

increase technical capacity of local forestry and natural resource personnel. The Forest Service continues 

to support local island professionals which is essential for fostering participation in collaborative efforts, 

increasing the number of restored acres, integrating cultural knowledge and agroforestry practices into 

conservation practices, and raising awareness at the community level about the increasing threats to island 

forests. 

Partnerships in Forest and Watershed Management and Environmental Education 

Partnerships are essential to carrying out this mission. They allow us to leverage our resources while 

providing wise management of our nation's water resources, engaging youth in conservation stewardship, 

and promoting healthy, active lifestyles. The U.S. Forest Service's partnership program is valued at nearly 

$1.3 billion- in FY 2015 the agency executed over 21,000 grants and partnership agreements. Examples 

of important partnerships in California and Hawai'i include: 

The U.S. Forest Service and the California Natural Resource Agency entered into a Memorandum of 

Understanding (MOU) in August 2015 to work in partnership to implement the Sierra Nevada Watershed 

Improvement Program (WIP). The WIP is a coordinated, integrated, collaborative program to restore the 

health of California's primary Sierra Nevada watershed through increased investment and needed policy 

changes. The activities undertaken by the WIP benefit wildfire management, mitigation investments, 

restoration efforts, water and air quality, carbon storage, fish and wildlife, and community resilience. 

The Forest Service Forest Stewardship Program (FSP) operates in partnership with Califomia, Hawaii, 

and six US-affiliated Pacific Island jurisdictions to promote sustainable management by private 

landowners (family forests) as well as state forested lands. A primary focus of the program, especially in 

California and Hawaii, is the development of individual FSP Plans that provide landowners with the 

information they need to manage their forests for a variety of products and services, including freshwater 

conservation. 

4 
28 

The Hawaii Forest Stewardship Program received over $155,000 from the Forest Service for FY 2015-

2016 with an equal state match to provide technical and financial assistance to non-industrial private 

landowners and to conduct conservation education activities. 

In FY 2014 through FY2016 funds of more than $148,000 (with an equal match) were provided to restore 

Hawaii state tree nurseries and create seed banks for restoration projects especially on watersheds affected 

by fire and disease. Over 85,400 tree seedlings have been produced as well as a comprehensive report and 

recommendations for state nursery programs is nearly complete. 

As healthy forests are critical for clean, abundant water, the Forest Service supports the Hawaii Division 

of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) Urban and Community Forestry through technical, financial, and 

educational assistance. In FY 2014 through FY2016 over $830,000 was granted with more than $850,000 

provided in matching funds. This assistance encourages cooperative efforts to plan urban forestry 

programs and to plant, protect, maintain, and utilize wood from trees in open spaces, greenbelts, roadside 

screens, parks, woodlands, curb areas, and residential developments in urban areas. By leveraging US 

Forest Service resources, DOFAW supports the development of community level forest management 

plans, the critical training of professional forestry staff, the adoption of ordinances or policies for urban 

forest management, and the growth of local tree boards and planting organizations. 

The nonprofit Friends of Hawaii's Urban Forest, in partnership with the Forest Service, is completing a 

project to improve water quality using a FY 2013 $100,000 grant with an equal match provided. They are 

also conducting an urban tree canopy assessment for the island of Oahu (FY2015 funds over $78,000) to 

inform city planning and larger climate change resiliency initiatives. 

The Forest Service also supports the Pacific Rim Resiliency Program through a Hawai'ian nonprofit 

called Kupu. In FY 2016$20,000 was granted with an equal match provided. This program places youth 

and young adults from the community into partner organizations to help build capacity for climate 

resiliency projects, covering environmental stewardship and education. 

Joint Chief's Project in Hawaii 

In FY 2015, NRCS and the U.S. Forest Service invested $37 million in 28 projects across 25 States 

through the Chiefs' Joint Landscape Restoration Partnership to help mitigate wildfire threats to 

communities and landowners, protect water quality, and supply and improve wildlife habitat for at-risk 

5 
29 

species, This multi-year partnership between NRCS and the U.S, Forest Service is working to improve the 

health and resiliency of forest ecosystems where public and private lands meet across the nation, 

In Hawaii, the USDA NRCS and Ko'olau Mountains Watershed Partnership have teamed up in the 

Ko'olau Mountains, Oahu, to remove invasive plants and animals from the Poamoho and Kaluanui areas 

of the Ko'olau Mountains that feed the Pearl Harbor aquifer This project will improve ground water 

recharge as well as improve habitat quality for at-risk native species, All activities funded with Forest 

Service funds are on state lands, In FY 2015 and FY 2016, the Forest Service granted $60,500, with a 

$60,500 match; NRCS made a $208,500 one-time grant to this project 

The Threat oflnvasive Species to Watershed Condition and Ecosystem Functionality 

Invasive species cause billions of dollars in damage each year in the United States, Aquatic and terrestrial 

invasive plants, pathogens, vertebrates, invertebrates, algae, and fungi are degrading watershed condition 

and ecosystem functionality, reducing forest and rangeland productivity, increasing the risk of wildfire 

and soil erosion, causing declines in recreational use and enjoyment, negatively impacting human health 

and safety, endangering livestock, and threatening native fish and wildlife populations and their associated 

habitats, causing declines in property values, and unde1111ining the economy at all levels, 

The Forest Service continues to play an important national and international leadership role in advancing 

the understanding of the invasive species problem, The wide ranging authorities of the Forest Service 

allow us to work with federal, state, county, Tribal, and private partners to combat invasive species across 

all lands, public and private, We also develop methods, tools, and approaches, through which these 

ha1111ful exotic species can be detected, prevented, controlled, and eradicated, 

The invasion of non-native organisms into the Hawai 'ian Islands over the past two and a half centuries has 

reached a magnitude that now threatens to devastate native ecosystems and depress sectors of the state's 

economy, The severity of the situation has become clearer over the past decade, Hawai'i is plagued with 

pest invasions to a greater extent than almost any other location in the world, In response to these 

invasions, a number of innovative partnerships have been developed to combat invasive species such as 

rapid 'ohi 'a death, coconut rhinoceros beetle, and several others, 

Rapill 'Olti'a Death (ROD) 

Stands ofHawai'i's keystone endemic tree, 'ohi'a lehua, are experiencing ala1111ing levels of mortality, 

more than 90 percent in some cases, across large areas ofHawai'i Island, 'Ohi'a accounts for 50 percent 

of all trees, native or non-native, and 50 percent of the total area of Hawai 'i Island, ' Obi 'a makes up 80 to 

90 percent of the trees across all of state's native forests, Rapid 'ohi'a Death (ROD) is a plant disease that 

6 
30 

has killed millions of mature 'ohi'a trees on Hawai'i Island during the last several years, and is a high 

priority issue for all natural resource and agricultural agencies working in the state of Hawaii. The top 

priority is to continue to provide research and technology development that effectively informs 

management actions. 

Multiple efforts are underway to address this high priority issue in Hawaii. For calendar year 2016 

$850,000 was dedicated for these efforts (40% private, 40% state, 20% federal). For FY 17, the State has 

appropriated $300,000 for ROD research conducted by USDA Agriculture Research Service; the Forest 

Service will also provide funds. 

Other Diseases, Invasive Plants, Invasive Insects 

USDA Forest Service Forest Health Protection (FHP) provides technical assistance, conducts surveys, and 

offers financial support to National Forests, other federal agencies, universities, Tribes, non-governmental 

organizations (NGOs) and state & private landholders to prevent or manage native and invasive insects, 

diseases, and plants. FHP responds to emerging pest issues, works across state borders and the Pacific 

islands, collaborates with regulatory and land management agencies, and works at national, regional, and 

local levels to restore forest ecosystems to prevent unacceptable levels of tree mortality caused by insects 

and diseases and to lower the negative impacts associated with invasive plants. 

The Forest Service provides funding to support invasive plant, insect and disease work in Hawaii through 

a grant with the Hawaii Department of Land & Natural Resources. The FY16 grant was $450,000 with an 

equal match; FYIS was $665,000 with an equal match. Funding is provided to support insect and disease 

pest detection and management; invasive plant survey and control; development of disease resistant koa; 

the Coordinating Group of Alien Pest Species; and conduct outreach and conservation education. USDA 

APHIS continues to support eradication of coconut rhinoceros beetle on the island of Oahu with Farm Bill 

funding, in cooperation with the Hawai 'i Department of Agriculture and other partners. 

Landscape Scale Restoration Projects 

The Forest Service Landscape Scale Restoration (LSR) program provides a means to focus on priority 

areas, challenges and opportunities identified by states' Forest Action Plans. All western states and islands 

compete for funding through a process managed by the Western Forest Leadership Coalition (WFLC). 

Recent grants include: 

7 
31 

Consen,ing Kauai Hardwoods 

This project collects and banks the seeds of three endemic tree species (koa, 'ohi'a, and koaia) from stands 

on the island ofKauai, with the intent to expand this program to all of the Hawai'ian Islands. The goal is 

to create a reliable supply of native hardwood seed and seedlings to mitigate large-scale mortality events 

on Kauai, such as wildfires. In addition, the emergence of ROD has provided a stark reminder of the 

critical need for 'ohi'a seedbanks. Partners include: DOFAW, University of Hawaii, Hawaii Ag Research 

Center, Kaulunani UCF Program, USDA NRCS. In FY15 $75,000 was granted, with $75,000 in matching 

funds. 

Koa Seed Orchard 

This program will locate Fusarium wilt-resistant koa trees and collect seed from resistant trees. It will also 

expand and support a network of seed orchards to produce disease-resistant koa seeds, and provide 

cooperative extension information for landowners on using disease resistant koa. In FY 2014$150,000 

was granted with a $150,000 match. 

Pacific Islands Research and Technological Assistance 

An integral component of the Forest Service's mission in the Pacific is the Institute of Pacific Islands 

Forestry (lPIF), a field unit of the Pacific Southwest Research Station established in 1967. The Institute 

provides scientific and technical infonnation needed to restore, conserve, and sustain Pacific tropical 

forests and wetlands through an integrated and collaborative program of research and science delivery to 

coordinate and collaborate among all local, state, and federal partners. While 1PIF's research and 

technological assistance focus is Hawaii and the Western Pacific islands, its findings are applicable to 

many tropical and temperate ecosystems of the world, including the U.S. mainland. 

Four key collaborative research and technological assistance efforts are ongoing to specifically address: 

Water and Watersheds Vulnerabilities 

Climate change, land use and associated degradation, and invasive species are among the growing threats 

to water resources in the Pacific. Demand on water resources is predicted to increase with population 

growth, as native ecosystems are replaced by fast growing, water demanding invasive plants, and as 

temperatures wann further in the future. This situation will be exacerbated where rainfall amounts decline 

or where total rainfall is distributed over fewer but larger rain events, with larger intervening dry periods 

and droughts. lPIF research is providing important information for predicting future conditions within the 

Pacific, which is needed to aid in watershed management strategies for state and other land owners and 

managers for the future. 

8 
32 

Climate Change Vulnerabilities 

Climate change is expected to int1uence watershed function and native species habitat in tropical island 

streams, yet few model systems exist to study how these aquatic ecosystems will respond to forecasted 

changes. Tropical island watersheds are also threatened by invasive plants that use more water and alter 

stand and stream hydrology; changing climate is anticipated to exacerbate these parallel threats. Results 

from lPIF research is being used to develop decision support tools to aid in the conservation or restoration 

of Pacific island watersheds, steams, and water resources vital for sustaining communities and 

ecosystems. 

Fire Vulnerabilities 

Wildfire is a frequent disturbance in Hawaii with more than one percent of the state burning annually. 

This percentage is greater than that burned in the fire-prone western U.S., such as California. A I 08-year 

history shows a more-than-fourfold increase in acreage hurned annually statewide. These patterns suggest 

that wildfire occurrence may continue to increase across the state with expected future warming and 

drying. The vast majority of wildfires in Hawaii are started by humans, and are exacerbated by highly 

invasive grasses from Africa. If natural areas are burned they are replaced by these non-native grasses. 

Collaborative research in the Pacific is being conducted to better assess fire risk and its impacts at 

landscape scales to increase the integration of pre-fire planning and prevention into existing land 

management/restoration plans. 

Natural Resources Science Literacy 

Natural resources science literacy in the Pacific is furthered by the USFS through the work of the Hawaii 

Experimental Tropical Forest (HETF). The HETF consists of approximately 50,000 acres of State owned 

tropical wet and dry forest on Hawai'i Island, co-managed by the Division of Land and Natural Resources 

and the US Forest Service. The Mission of the HETF is to provide landscapes, facilities, and 

dataiinformation to support research and educational activities for a better understanding of how to 

conserve and manage the biological diversity and functioning of tropical forest and stream ecosystems, as 

well as to understand the human dimensions of natural resources conservation and management. 

Programs within USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service 

Within USDA, the Natural Resources Conservation Service helps America's farmers, ranchers and forest 

landowners conserve the nation's soil, water, air and other natural resources. All programs are voluntary 

and offer science-based solutions that benefit both the landowner and the environment. There are critical 

Farm Bill tools, including some programs that were newly created in the 2014 Fann Bill, that are used 

together and in partnership with producers, forest landowners, and other public and private partners that 

are making major gains in addressing locally and regionally identified priorities. 

9 
33 

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), one of these new programs, is a partner-driven, 

locally led conservation approach. Now in its second year, RCPP has demonstrated high demand, with 

over 2,000 partners leading nearly 200 projects nationwide. All told, in the first two years of the pro6'fam, 

NRCS will have invested about $500 million while another $900 million is being brought in by partners to 

address locally defined, nationally significant natural resource issues. 

Other NRCS programs such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation 

Innovation Grants (a component ofEQIP), and easement programs like the Agricultural Conservation 

Easement Program, have been successful in helping improve soil, water, plant, animal, air and related 

resources. Through the EQ!P National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), NRCS is offering financial and 

technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to improve water quality in priority watersheds with impaired 

streams. Nine watersheds draining to Hilo Bay on the island of Hawaii have been selected as the Pacific 

Island Area NWQI focus. Through USDA Farm Bill programs over $1.5 million of financial assistance 

has been provided to farmers and ranchers to apply conservation practices. Nutrient management systems, 

erosion control, conservation tillage, and grazing management are just some of the practices being offered 

through the NWQI. 

Conclusion 

Forested watersheds, both public and private, are essential to sustaining the Nation's freshwater supply, 

with more than half of this supply originating on forested lands. The Forest Service and USDA will 

continue to lead cooperative efforts to maintain and improve watershed health and water security for the 

citizens of Hawaii and for all Americans. 

This concludes my testimony. I want to thank the committee for its interest, leadership, and commitment 

to our shared natural resources. T would be pleased to answer any questions you may have. 

10 
34 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you very much. 

I love the way that you all stay within the five-minutes. [Laughter.] 

You must have done this before. 

Alright, Mr. Smith. 

STATEMENT OF DAVID SMITH, ADMINISTRATOR, DIVISION OF 

FORESTRY AND WILDLIFE, DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND 

NATURAL RESOURCES, STATE OF HAWAII 

Mr. SMITH. I will see if I can stay to that. [Laughter.] 

I am David Smith, Administrator with the Division of Forestry 

and Wildlife, and I appreciate this opportunity to examine opportunities for Federal and non-Federal partnerships in integrated water 

management and efforts to improve water security in Hawaii. 

In the late 1800s, vast areas of Hawaiian forests were cleared by 

grazing, unregulated logging and fires. As forests disappeared, our 

water supply was threatened and streams and springs began to dry 

up across the state. In 1903, Hawaii established the first state forestry division in the nation, spurred by the recognition of the important connection between forests and water security. 

In the early 1900s, our agency undertook an ambitious effort to 

fence a million acres of forested watershed, remove introduced 

grazing animals, control wildfires and plant trees to restore 

deforested areas. A century later this work is no less relevant, and 

the State of Hawaii continues to prioritize watershed protection 

through the Governor’s Sustainable Hawaii Initiative. 

With the recognition that 66 percent of Hawaii’s forests are in 

private hands, we worked cooperatively with our Federal and private partners to establish the Watershed Partnership Program in 

1991, an innovative voluntary partnership of forest landowners, organizations and agencies dedicated to the protection of forested watersheds. This groundbreaking model has been very successful in 

Hawaii allowing landowners to work across ownership boundaries 

to cooperatively manage watersheds. 

A number of federal agencies assist with watershed protection, 

research, and management actions in Hawaii. They assist the state 

with the landscape scale protection, watershed protection, management of ecosystems and native species and forest management on 

state and private lands. 

The U.S. Geological Survey’s Pacific Islands Water Science Center has been conducting important research that quantifies how our 

forests protect our water supply and how forest degradation can 

dramatically decrease water availability. Research by the Biological 

Resources Division informs our management of wildlife and plant 

populations throughout the state. 

National parks and national wildlife refuges protect some of Hawaii’s most impacted native forests. The Department of Defense 

and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Programs are central to restoring populations of birds, plants and invertebrates that are part of an interdependent network essential to 

overall forest ecosystem health. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, through its U.S. Forest 

Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Service 

agency provides technical and funding support for Hawaii’s water-
35 

shed projects. In particular, the USDA competitive grants programs, offered through the landscape scale restoration, forest legacy, joint chiefs restoration and regional conservation partnership 

programs, directly contribute to forest management that enhances 

water quality and quantity in Hawaii. These competitive programs, 

in addition to the U.S. Forest Service and NRCS base programs, 

have expanded important work in upland forests and are critical 

for water security. 

With the growing threats to the nation’s forests there is a need 

to increase the scale of proactive management; however, wildfire 

suppression costs are consuming the U.S. Forest Service’s funding 

for preventative management to restore forest health and resilience, protect clean water supplies and support climate change adaptation strategies. There is a clear need to have separate fire and 

emergency response funding for wildfire suppression to maintain 

the Forest Service restoration management programs that promote 

proactive management of the nation’s forests and will ultimately 

result in healthier, more resilient landscapes. 

Measures such as the proposed Wildfire Budgeting Response and 

Forest Management Act, the Recovery in America’s Wildlife Act 

and the existing Healthy Forest Restoration Act can all help to promote sustainable forest management. Further, management of 

these diverse forest threats require up to date research as provided 

through programs such as the U.S. Forest Service’s Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry. They provide expertise in critical natural resource management needs for us here in Hawaii. 

Hawaii is faced with other urgent forest health concerns. The 

Governor talked about Rapid Ohia Death and the leadership from 

federal agencies such as the Forest Service, Agriculture Research 

Service, the USGS and the National Park Service have helped to 

provide research and guidance helping us to characterize and contain this disease. 

Federal agencies have also provided expertise to support the 

state’s development of new mechanisms for watershed protection 

through programs that promise to provide financial incentives 

through private sector partnerships such as payments or credits for 

ecosystem services and carbon sequestration. 

Hawaii was an early leader in watershed protection and continues to engage on a national scale. Federal agencies add to the 

efforts of our local agencies and organizations and are essential to 

the success of our interconnected watershed partnerships. 

Thank you for holding this hearing on this important issue. Hawaii has a long history of forest protection and partnerships and 

we hope that Federal support and collaboration will continue to expand as both the threats and the importance of these forests are 

magnified in the future. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Smith follows:] 
36 

STATE OF HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIYJSIO;.; OF FORESTRY A ... \:I) WILDLIFE 

II 51 Pt;:\'CHBO\\'L STREET, ROO::VI 325 

HO~Ol,l LC, JL\\\'AU96813 

Testimony of 

DAVID G. SMITH 

Administrator 

Division of Forestry and Wildlife 

Before the U.S. Senate Committee on 

ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES 

Tuesday, October 18, 2016 

10:00 AM 

State Capitol Auditorium 

TO EXAMINE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FEDERAL AND NON-FEDERAL 

PARTNERSHIPS IN INTEGRATED WATER MANAGEMENT AND EFFORTS TO 

IMPROVE WATER SECURITY IN HAWAII 

In the late 1800s, vast areas of Hawaiian forests were cleared by grazing, unregulated 

logging, and fires. As forests disappeared, our water supply was threatened. Streams 

and springs began to dry up across the state. In 1903, Hawaii established the first 

forestry agency in the nation spurred by the recognition of the important connection 

between forests and water security. That initial agency has evolved into Ieday's Hawaii 

Division of Forestry and Wildlife. 

In the early 1900s, our agency undertook an ambitious effort to fence a million acres of 

forested watershed, remove introduced grazing animals, control wildfires, build trails for 

forest management, and plant trees to restore deforested areas. A century later this 

work is no less relevant, and the State of Hawaii continues to prioritize watershed 

protection through the Governor's Sustainable Hawaii Initiative and 30x30 watershed 

goal, an ambitious program to protect, restore and manage watershed forests in Hawaii. 

With the recognition that 66% of Hawaii's forests are in private hands, we worked 

cooperatively with our federal and private partners to establish the Watershed 

Partnership Program in 1991, an innovative voluntary partnership of forest landowners, 

organizations and agencies dedicated to the protection of forested watersheds. This 

groundbreaking model has been very successful in Hawaii, allowing landowners to work 

across ownership boundaries to cooperatively manage watersheds. 
37 

A number of Federal agencies assist with watershed protection, research, and 

management actions in Hawaii. They assist the state with the landscape scale 

watershed management, protection and management of ecosystems and native plant 

and animal species, and assistance with forest management on state and private forest 

lands. 

The U.S. Geological Survey's Pacific Islands Water Science Center has been 

conducting important research that quantifies how our forests protect our water supply, 

and how forest degradation can dramatically decrease water availability. Research by 

the Biological Resources Division informs our management of wildlife end plant 

populations throughout the state. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), through its U.S. Forest Service, Natural 

Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Farm Service Agency, provides technical 

and annual funding support for Hawaii watershed projects. In particular, the USDA 

competitive grant programs offered through the Landscape Scale Restoration, Forest 

Legacy, Joint Chiefs Restoration, and Regional Conservation Partnerships programs 

have directly contributed to forest management that enhances water quality and 

quantity in Hawaii. These competitive programs, in addition to U.S Forest Service and 

NRCS base programs, have expanded important work in upland forests that are critical 

for water security. 

However, with the growing threats to Hawaii's and the nation's forests from invasive 

plants, insects, diseases, and wildfire there is a need to increase the scale of proactive 

management Wildfire suppression, in particular, is consuming the Forest Service 

funding for preventive management that would increase forest resilience and health, 

sustainability, clean water, and support climate change adaptation strategies - all of 

which also support forest management in Hawaii. There is a clear need to have 

separate fire and emergency response funding for wildfire suppression; restore the 

Forest Service restoration and management programs; and promote proactive 

management of the nation's forests through measures such as the proposed Wildfire 

Budgeting, Response, and Forest Management Act Further, management of these 

diverse forest threats require up-to-date research as provided through the U.S. Forest 

Service Institute of Pacific Islands Forestry that provides expertise in critical natural 

resource management needs. 

Our other Federal partners that provide support for watershed protection are the U.S. 

Department of Interior National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and 

National Wildlife Refuges, which protect some of Hawaii's most intact native forests. 

The Department of Defense also partners to protect populations of listed species, and 

the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services' endangered species programs are central to 

restoring populations of birds, plants, and invertebrates. These listed species are part of 

an interdependent network essential to overall forest ecosystem health. 

Hawaii is faced with other urgent forest health concerns, the most critical of which at 

present is the fungal disease commonly known as Rapid '0hi'a Death. Leadership and 
38 

assistance by the Forest Service, Agriculture Research Service, the US Geological 

Survey, and the National Park Service has helped to provide research and guidance on 

this disease that is killing our most abundant native tree which is the keystone species 

in the Hawaiian native forest. These agencies have provided funding, research 

expertise, logistical support, and coordination toward understanding, mapping, and 

controlling this threatening disease. 

While Hawaii is dealing with this urgent local problem, we are also working on providing 

a solution to global issues, specifically by sequestering carbon through reforestation. 

Federal agencies have provided research and expertise to support the State's 

development of new mechanisms of watershed protection through programs that 

promise to provide financial incentives through private sector partnerships, such as 

payments or credits for ecosystem services for improved water quality benefits, and 

carbon sequestration. 

Hawaii has been an early leader in watershed protection, and continues to engage on a 

national scale. Federal agencies add to the efforts of our local agencies and 

organizations, and are essential for the success of our interconnected watershed 

partnerships. Thank you for holding this hearing on this important issue. Hawaii has a 

long history of forest protection and partnerships, and we hope that Federal support and 

collaboration will continue to expand as both the threats and the importance of these 

forests are magnified in the future. 
39 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you very much to all of our panelists. 

I have some questions for each of you as well as for the panel 

at large, if we can get to those. 

Mr. Smith, given the Governor’s recent announcement for the 

state to pursue the goal of protecting 30 percent of priority watersheds by 2030 and right now we are protecting, as he said, some 

15 percent, it is clear that watershed protection and water security 

are priorities for our state. 

Can you speak more to how high of a priority these are for the 

state and how does this compare to the importance and 

prioritization these are afforded by the state ten or 20 years ago? 

And how do you think that these will be ranked 20 years from 

now? It is a series of questions. Along those lines, what needs to 

happen for the state to achieve its goal of protecting 30 percent of 

priority watersheds by 2030? And are there clear ways in which 

the federal agencies can contribute to helping the state reach this 

goal? 

Mr. SMITH. Yes, there is currently a real strong push from the 

state government to protect forested watershed. This is a continuation, I mean, the baseline for our agency is watershed protection, 

so this has been a tradition in our agency since its inception, you 

know. It is over 100 years worth of protection. Just recently there 

has been a very strong push. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. SMITH. From the recent administrations to protect native forested watershed. And you know, we expect that to continue on to 

the future. Our legislative leaders recognize the need, and the Governor is certainly strongly committed to it. And so, with continued 

support, funding support at the state level, we should be able to 

reach our goals. 

It is definitely an ambitious program and we are looking for legislative support. But we have been getting it and it is, along with 

leveraging through partnerships, you know, that is really one of 

the really keys here is to be able to leverage those partnerships. 

You are going to hear from stakeholders in a little while. They 

are the folks that we work with out on the ground to get some of 

this work done. 

The Federal agencies are key, you know, for things like Rapid 

Ohia Death and a lot of our forest management programs, you 

know, the U.S. Forest Service is a key agency. 

I think one real important thing is this fire borrowing. We need 

to fix that because that is taking money away from a lot of these 

sustainability programs. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. SMITH. And so, something needs to be done to make sure 

that we are able to put water into sustainability in forest health 

and resilience of the forest so they can adapt to some of the fire 

threats, especially in the Western United States. But even though 

it is the Western United States, fire problems affect us because the 

fire borrowing takes from the Forest Service and then employees 

are affected by having the programs that really support Hawaiian 

watershed forests. 

Senator HIRONO. I am sure you are aware, or maybe you are not, 

but you certainly are Mr. Moore, that the Energy Committee in the 
40 

Senate has had a number of sessions regarding the fire borrowing 

and what that is doing to the budget. 

For the Forest Service, while our Committee is well aware of the 

extent of fire issues all across our country, of which, by the way, 

Hawaii is on par in terms of the percent of acreage that burns. Of 

that, our Committee is very aware. We just have to get everybody 

else to understand that this continual fire borrowing is very detrimental. Of course we will continue to push for all of that. 

Do you feel that in the State of Hawaii with everything that is 

happening with Rapid Ohia Death, climate change, etcetera, that 

you are seeing a sense of urgency? 

You did say that we have been doing these kinds of programs for 

a hundred years, but do you feel more of a sense of urgency now 

with everything that is happening and what we need to do in Hawaii? 

Mr. SMITH. Absolutely, and we’ve really stepped up the efforts in 

the last several years. The legislature and the, you know, at the 

Governor’s request and legislative support has provided millions of 

dollars that was not previously allocated for watershed protection 

and management. 

And so, there certainly is a sense of urgency. People are starting 

to understand and seeing the effects of climate change and what 

not, and we’re going to feel that very strongly here in Hawaii because we are out in the middle of the Pacific, all our water comes 

from rain. The Hawaiians said that the rain follows the forest and 

they understood, very clearly, that forest and water is interrelated. 

Senator HIRONO. I think that our panelists from the Federal 

Government, you are very well aware that Hawaii is very uniquely 

situated and that we get so much of the water that we need from 

our aquifers and rain, as opposed to rivers and dams. We do not 

have those in Hawaii, so the partnership with the Federal Government becomes even more important, the various programs that we 

have. 

I am glad that the Governor mentioned Rapid Ohia Death because to the extent that is covering, I believe he said, some 50,000 

acres, and we have not figured out how to stem this Rapid Ohia 

Death issue in our forested areas. 

Mr. SMITH. Yes, it’s really a scary issue. Ohia is the keystone 

species for the Hawaiian forest. Losing it would be devastating. So 

those types of issues help to underlie, you know, the level of urgency on these. 

Senator HIRONO. And in that we probably could use more help 

from the Federal agencies. 

Mr. SMITH. Absolutely. 

Senator HIRONO. Particularly, would it be the Department of Agriculture or what Federal agency do you think would be the most 

appropriate? 

Mr. SMITH. We work primarily with Agriculture and are also 

working with the National Park Service because they have some 

big land holdings on the Big Island. 

But really being able to characterize the disease, figure out how 

it is spreading and be able to contain it, are our focus right now 

and the Forest Service is going to want to remain a partner to that. 
41 

Senator HIRONO. By the way, since a large part of our blueprint 

for what we need to do regarding water usage is to improve our 

community’s understanding, you are also focusing on practices of 

the health department, I really do not know which state department, conservation aspects, and that we need to use less water in 

the State of Hawaii per person. 

Mr. SMITH. Yes, absolutely. 

Senator HIRONO. Can you get involved in that area? 

Mr. SMITH. Absolutely. It is not necessarily in our main mission 

on the conservation side, but we do work closely with the water resource agencies looking at how water is delivered to residential and 

agricultural customers and working on ways to deliver water more 

efficiently, that they are turning some of the old ditch systems 

which had a lot of leakage into pipe systems so it is more efficient. 

I know Senator Gabbard, for instance, and Rep. Yamane are very 

keenly aware of the water conservation side of the equation. 

Senator HIRONO. For Mr. Moore, I know that USDA has 

partnered with the Department of the Interior to pilot the Western 

Watershed Enhancement Partnership in six Western states and 

you did mention that in your testimony, I believe? That is in the 

continental U.S. for the purpose of reducing wildfire risk to water 

supplies. As you know, Hawaii is on par with Western states, as 

I mentioned, on percent land burned, and invasive species contribute to wildfire risk and threaten our watersheds. 

Do you think this partnership should be made permanent because right now it is a pilot program? And do you see benefits to 

expanding the partnership to Hawaii and other Pacific Islands, and 

if not this specific partnership, do you see benefits and opportunities for the Forest Service or more broadly, USDA, to engage in 

similar partnerships in Hawaii? 

Mr. MOORE. Thank you, Senator. 

I certainly think that it has been very helpful in terms of engaging the greater community and to securing all water flows and 

water rights. 

You know, one of the things that we are noticing though is that 

this is going to be a long-term issue and what we have done in the 

past which we have to improve upon is engaging our youth because 

this is going to be, like I said, a long-term issue and our youth need 

to understand the importance and the connection with these urban 

areas, with these rural areas that provide the water supply. 

And I will give you an example in terms of how that is being affected. You know, a lot of the reservoirs supply hydroelectric which 

provides energy into urban populations. And when you have a wildfire and it really affects a number of things. One, the carrying capacity of the reservoir to generate that electricity. But the other 

piece is the burning down of utility corridors and having to reroute 

the energy and in some cases, do without energy. 

And having these partnerships really allows the greater community to be engaged in, not only what we do, but how we go about 

being responsive to the water flow. 

Senator HIRONO. Since this is a pilot program right now with 

your agency, do you think that it should be made permanent and 

can we have something like this in Hawaii? 
42 

Mr. MOORE. I think if it is made permanent it would be a good 

thing, and I certainly think it can apply to Hawaii. I think Hawaii 

has a unique opportunity. The area, it is almost like a little enclosed island. 

Senator HIRONO. Well, it is. [Laughter.] 

Mr. MOORE. But what I have noticed is that—— 

Senator HIRONO. Most remote land is. 

Mr. MOORE. It is a family environment and that most of your, 

the key non-profit, special interest groups, they work together quite 

well as compared to some of the mainland opportunities where 

there’s a lot of consternation and sometimes litigation because we 

cannot agree on things. So I think putting this in Hawaii would be 

a great place because you have the partnerships and your relationships there. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. I will be wanting to work with you 

on how to make—— 

Mr. MOORE. I would be happy to. 

Senator HIRONO. This happen and to come to Hawaii. 

Mr. Anthony, in your testimony you mentioned the Secure Water 

Act and the work that USGS is doing to better understand water 

availability under that authority. The Act authorizes a number of 

programs to address water security in the West, including programs to study and improve security through a wide range of activities. 

Unfortunately, Hawaii is not eligible for many of these programs 

because Hawaii is not a traditional Reclamation state. And as an 

island state that faces severe, really challenging, water issues, I believe there is a need for Hawaii to access the same kinds of federal 

programs and assistance that have been so important in other 

Western states. 

What kinds of opportunities would strengthen federal engagement and support for addressing Hawaii’s water security and what 

do you think are some of the opportunities and challenges to improving federal and non-federal partnerships to help address Hawaii’s water challenges? 

Mr. ANTHONY. Thank you for that question. 

Yes, it is true that Hawaii is not termed a Reclamation state and 

if you would like more information on that and what it would take 

for Hawaii to become a Reclamation state I could have folks look 

into that and respond to the record for that. 

But what we have been able to do within the Department of the 

Interior is we have an initiative called Water Smart, and Water 

Smart stands for Sustainable and Managed America’s Resources 

for Tomorrow. This Water Smart initiative allowed some collaborative efforts with USGS and the Bureau of Reclamation, and 

USGS’ primary role in that is a national water census. That effort 

is extremely important because for us to secure our water future 

we need to understand how much water we are using and for what 

aspects of our sector, whether that be the industrial, utilities for 

public supply or agriculture. 

And our water use reporting in our nation is lacking. We, at 

USGS, work with states and federal agencies and local agencies to 

pull that information together every five years; however, that is not 

at a frequency that is sufficient enough to really assist decision- 
43 

makers. Also through the National Water Census we have been 

able to provide grant funding to states to try to improve water use 

reporting. 

There are other aspects with the National Water Census that we 

are involved in related to estimating stream flow at ungauged sites 

or in our nation as well as assessing ground water availability and 

Hawaii is one of the areas where we have been doing these regional ground water availability studies, building island-wide 

ground water flow models for the island of Oahu, Mokelumne, 

sorry, Oahu, Maui, and Kauai. Those models allow us to look at the 

impacts of developing ground water on stream flow as well as salinity within the aquifers. 

Also, as part of the National Water Census, we are looking at 

evaporation losses such as evapotranspiration and the role of ecology in the importance of sustaining ecological services and how the 

development of water resources does have consequences on our 

ecology and it is important to find a way to balance our needs for 

humans as well as ecology. 

And then finally under the Water Smart activity that USGS has 

there are geographic focus area studies that are being undertaken 

and there are three currently underway within the U.S. I am hoping that we could bring one of those focus area studies to Hawaii 

in the future. 

Senator HIRONO. I would like to work with you on a number of 

those issues including enabling the State of Hawaii to access all of 

these programs that other Western states have access to. 

Now, there have been several of our witnesses who commented 

on a ‘‘Blueprint for Action.’’ I do not know if the two of you have 

had a chance to read this, but one of the suggestions that applies 

to what you were just talking about is regarding the reporting. The 

council that put together this blueprint recommends that USGS 

and our Water Commission and County Water Departments develop and establish consistent methods, standards and indicators to 

monitor the status and trends in fresh water availability, etcetera. 

If all of these different agencies are not using comparable measurements, that makes it difficult for decision makers to figure out 

what is really going on. 

So is this something that you can work with us on to develop 

these consistent measurements? 

Mr. ANTHONY. Yes, in fact just this year in cooperation with the 

State Water Commission, the USGS is engaging in a cooperative 

effort with them to identify what our water resource monitoring 

needs are in our state. 

Over the number of the last few decades there has been a decline 

in monitoring as money has gotten tight for water resource monitoring. And so, this effort is focused on trying to figure out where 

do we need to collect rainfall data, ground water levels, salinity 

data in our wells, as well as stream flow. And that effort is being 

undertaken, you know, again, in cooperation with the state water 

commission but also through that process we’ll be engaging the 

county water departments and other stakeholders. 

And one aspect of that is how do we bring together the data 

that’s also collected by others, not just USGS and as that initiative 

talks about ultimately creating a shared environment where all the 
44 

data from the various agencies and others are coming together and 

perhaps one place for that is at the University of Hawaii as they’ve 

recently have an NSF grant called EPSCoR. 

Senator HIRONO. Twenty million, I think it is. 

Mr. ANTHONY. Yes. And so that is a very nice opportunity to 

bring together. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. ANTHONY. The efforts of many. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you very much. 

It is very clear that there are a lot of entities, private, public, 

federal, county, people working in all these areas and the word holistic was mentioned by the Governor and others. 

This question is for the entire panel. Can you provide an example 

of really successful landscape-scale management, something that 

you mentioned, you used that term, Dave, partnership and landscape scale meaning working across boundaries and jurisdictions 

and taking into account the water, land, wildlife, etcetera, for a holistic management approach? 

What aspects allowed the successful partnership to work and are 

those successes translatable to watershed management initiatives 

here in Hawaii? And possibly for the two of you, because you have 

an awareness of what is going on with these holistic approaches all 

across the country, is there a model that we can look at? 

Mr. MOORE. Yeah. 

Senator HIRONO. Mr. Moore. 

Mr. MOORE. We don’t have a national forest in Hawaii, so the experiences would be different. We’d be working through the state 

and looking at landscape but I’ll give you some examples. 

In California under the Farm Bill, the Good Neighbor Authority, 

we have been working to use a lot of different moneys coming in 

to look at landscapes. And the thing that we’ve noticed is that watersheds, it just has no boundaries and that we need to get together with federal, state, local, and special interests and look at 

what’s best for that landscape and what’s best for that land. 

The Farm Bill authority, particularly under the Good Neighbor 

part of that, has given us the opportunity to have state money 

spent on federal lands and vice versa. 

You can also make investments. And we’re exploring opportunities now where investment bankers are looking at the ideal of investment, restoration of the landscape that they can receive some 

type of a profit. We haven’t worked that out yet but it’s these types 

of new ideals that are emerging, simplify taking a landscape approach and trying to bring the greater community into trying to be 

responsive to needs. 

And so, the state, California, for example, has a cap and trade 

system. Some of already news that’s generated from a cap and 

trade system, I noticed the Governor had put about $150 million 

into the forested sector for the 2016 budget. And whether that’s 

going to go through or not, I don’t quite know, but it’s recognizing 

the importance of forestry and how that greater community needs 

to be working together. 

So we’re working on that now and we have examples across the 

U.S., Arizona, Colorado and other places where we’re trying to 

work across boundaries so that it’s irrelevant who manages those 
45 

different boundaries, and we’re seeing some successes there in California. 

We’ve estimated, I don’t know if I’m giving you more than what 

you’re asking for, but we’ve estimated the National Forest in California, about 55 to 60 percent of all the water runs off the national 

forest and it’s the drinking supply for about 23 million Californians. And if you had to put a value on that water, it’s about $9.5 

billion per year and that also helps support about a $38 billion agriculture industry. 

And so because you have most of that coming off the national forest, we’re beginning to look at ways to explore and engaging a lot 

of other people in what we do because in the past the Federal Government, we would sit down and say here’s what we think. What 

do you think about what we think? 

And what we’re finding now through collaboration and facilitating the different expertise out in that greater community is that 

we sit down together and we decide what we want to think about 

and what we want to do. And I think—so I’m very hopeful moving 

into the future that that’s the way to go, a more collaborative, facilitative approach. And using some of the authorities like under 

the Farm Bill and the Good Neighbor Authority is helping us to do 

that from the federal side. 

Senator HIRONO. So it is not necessarily a one-size-fits-all, of 

course. 

Mr. MOORE. No. 

Senator HIRONO. But the key is for the stakeholders to be sitting 

together. 

Mr. MOORE. Yes. 

Senator HIRONO. And to identify what resources there are at the 

state, local and federal levels and to leverage those resources. 

Something you mentioned that was interesting is that you are 

getting the financial industry in California to step in. I do not recall that there are any of our financial industries who are involved 

in these issues? 

Mr. SMITH. Well, we’re working on models for carbon sequestration and getting different private organizations involved so folks 

like Hawaiian Airlines and Coca Cola have been already mentioned, and we’re looking at—perhaps Disney. Some of these folks 

that cater to the visitor industry and looking at trying to calculate 

carbon impacts of traveling and going on vacation and flying and 

all that. 

These private companies are very interested in participating and 

trying to figure out how they can give back, how people that are 

traveling, how they can provide opportunities for people that are 

traveling to help offset some of the impacts of their activities. And 

so, that’s—— 

Senator HIRONO. I think that is really important, because I 

would have liked to have somebody from our tourism industry be 

able to work with us today but we were not able to do that. Tourism is our number one industry and they, obviously, use a lot of 

water so they need to be at the table. Thank you very much for 

working toward that goal. 

Did you want to add anything to this conversation? 
46 

Mr. ANTHONY. Yes, I’d like to point out two examples of partnership activities that, I think, are a good model to be thinking about. 

And one being an effort that’s taking part in the Western part 

of the United States is it has to do with the National Drought Resilience Partnership that President Obama had called for where it’s 

bringing together federal agencies to form a federal action plan to 

help states and local entities build resilience toward drought. 

And as you’re well aware, there are many federal agencies that 

have a role in water, and there are efforts needed to help bring us 

together. This partnership, from what I’m hearing, has been quite 

effective and it’s something that we’ve heard from the Western 

States Water Council that they’re frustrated with federal agencies 

in that there are so many of them that deal with water and there 

needs to be better alignment in working toward common goals. And 

I think this partnership seems to be a good example of that. 

The other is something that’s been going on locally here in Hawaii which is a NOAA-funded effort called Pacific Research. With 

that effort there are researchers at the East-West Center and others at the University of Hawaii, and USGS is partnering with them 

to try to bring together decision making tools that are addressing 

not only water but land management decisions. One of their focus 

areas is Maui, and they’ve been interacting with county and state 

government officials trying to understand what are the land management plans of the future. And then USGS’ role in that is trying 

to figure out how those changes in land use may impact prime 

water recharge and ultimately ground water availability. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 

I know that I am going to be working/following up with both of 

you regarding the various programs and whatever we can do to enable Hawaii to access more of the resources and programs and any 

other ideas because what is emerging, of course, is the need to 

bring everybody to the table in a way that doesn’t drive everybody 

crazy, right? There are 50 people sitting here. We want to be efficient and effective in how we proceed. 

Thank you very much to the second panel. 

We will now move to our third panel, our last panel. 

We have Matt Gonser, he is with the Extension Faculty with the 

University of Hawaii, Sea Grant College Program. The University 

has done a lot of work looking at water security issues and, as 

mentioned, recently received a $20 million grant from the National 

Science Foundation to study over the next five years water sustainability issues in Hawaii. 

Next we have Trae Menard, Chair of the Hawaii Association of 

Watershed Partnerships. Trae works on Kauai and will provide not 

only the perspective of on the ground watershed protection but also 

some activities that are ongoing on our neighboring islands. 

Next is Dr. Sam Gon, who is the Senior Scientist and Cultural 

Advisor with the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, or TNCH. Dr. 

Gon, I look forward hearing from you, not only on the various watershed protection activities that TNCH is doing but also the importance of watershed protection in water security to the native 

Hawaiian community. 

We will start with you, Matt. 
47 

STATEMENT OF MATTHEW GONSER, EXTENSION AGENT, COMMUNITY PLANNING AND DESIGN, UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII 

SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM 

Mr. GONSER. Aloha and good morning. Thank you, Senator 

Hirono and the Committee for scheduling this hearing and allowing 

us to speak on the subject of integrated water management and efforts to improve Hawaii’s water landscape. I also thank my fellow 

speakers for your important contributions on the subject today. 

Lastly, I thank Dr. Darren Lerner, the Director of the University 

of Hawaii Sea Grant College Program, Interim Director of the UH 

Water Resources Research Center and the University Director of 

the Pacific Islands Climate Science Center, for affording me this 

opportunity to speak and represent the Hawaii Sea Grant program. 

The following is a summary of my full testimony which has been 

duly submitted for the record. 

Thank you to the Senate for passing S. 2848, the Water Resources Development Act of 2016. There are critical reauthorizations, modifications and additions designated in that bill, specifically those in Title VII, Subtitle B and C, relating to clean water 

infrastructure and innovative financing, respectively. 

We are also grateful to you, Senator Hirono, for highlighting 

areas that are important for Hawaii, such as making it easier for 

the Federal Government to enter into public/private partnerships 

for water infrastructure projects and directing the EPA to promote 

green storm water infrastructure projects. 

Hawaii has a history of water quality and quantity challenges. 

In the last two years alone heavy summer rains from both named 

and unnamed storms resulted in significant disruptions, ground 

water advisories and temporary beach closures due to sewage spills 

at multiple locations. 

In my work as an Extension Agent and member of the Hawaii 

Sea Grant faculty, I’ve heard strong local interest in receiving additional support, guidance and concentrated attention on topics of 

community greening, green infrastructure and flood risk reduction 

and resilience. 

In addition to certain rain and storm water conservation and efficiency practices of water capture, recycling and reuse and the regulation of storm water at the parcel and building scale, there are opportunities for interventions within the public right of way that can 

provide multiple community co-benefits. This highlights the integrated management and resource needs connecting agencies such 

as the National Academy of Building Sciences, Federal Highways 

Administration, HUD and non-profit professional organizations 

with national memberships in the design and planning fields. 

A case study in the challenges we are discussing today is the Ala 

Wai Watershed. The State, City, and County of Honolulu Corps of 

Engineers and community stakeholders have been engaged in efforts to understand and better manage the Ala Wai Watershed. 

These efforts were advanced this past legislative session with the 

adoption of House Concurrent Resolution 61 which endorses and 

supports the Ala Wai Watershed Partnership. With interest in a 

holistic systems approach to solving issues in the Ali Wai Watershed through Waikiki there are visions for ecosystem restoration, 

water quality improvements, flood mitigation and risk transfer and 
48 

a coordinating entity to implement these visions. Partners encourage the Congress’ continued support of the Corps in the Ali Wai 

Watershed through necessary appropriations and authorizations 

and urges to use the full suite of tools provided through WRTA. 

Trees are possibly the most conspicuous piece of environmental 

infrastructure and one that accrues benefits and becomes more valuable over time while also addressing other community, environmental and social justice disparities, choose our long-term investments with significant underappreciated returns on that investment. 

I currently sit on the Advisory Council for the State DLNR 

Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program. This program 

focuses on improving the health and viability of trees in Hawaii’s 

urban and town centers. Funding for this program comes from the 

State and Private Forestry Branch of the USDA Forest Service. 

The work at DLNR, the Watershed Partnerships and Kaulunani 

are critical for a future green Hawaii and the programs appreciate 

Congress’ continued support. 

Lastly, communities statewide have benefited from various technical assistance opportunities offered through the EPA, FTA and 

NOAA. Just last week Hawaii Sea Grant in partnership with the 

City and County of Honolulu submitted an application to the EPA 

to gain support toward flood resilience. If awarded, your small investment into the EPA’s Research and Services will be further leveraged and extended through Hawaii Sea Grant’s statewide extension network providing greater returns on the EPA’s building 

blocks for sustainable communities program. 

The service of organizations such as Sea Grant within NOAA and 

WRRC and PI-CSC with the USGS continue to serve important research extension and education outlets for the vast and developing 

green infrastructure and climate and water resilience resources developed by EPA and others. Such activities only further federal resources, which is consistent with interagency partnerships and a 

2011 Memorandum of Agreement between the EPA and NOAA, for 

example. This particular partnership identifies a strong Sea Grant 

role in delivering products, services, and research results to local 

community decision makers to meet the partnership’s potential to 

serve state and local governments. 

In closing, we thank the committee for its willingness to conduct 

this field hearing and work on these critical issues. 

Thank you Senator Hirono for the opportunity to speak today 

and with respect to today’s subject, we thank you for your continued support of the University of Hawaii and its Sea Grant College 

Program, Water Resources Research Center and Pacific Islands Climate Center. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Gonser follows:] 
49 

Matthew J. Gonser, AICP 

Extension Agent, Community Planning and Design 

University ofHawai'i Sea Grant College Program 

US. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

2016 October 18 

Aloha and good morning. Thank you to the Committee for scheduling this hearing and 

allowing us to speak on the subject of integrated water management and efforts to improve 

Hawaii's water landscape. An additional thank you to my fellow speakers for your important 

contributions on the subject. Lastly, I thank Dr. Darren Lerner, the Director of the University of 

Hawai'i (UH) Sea Grant College Program (Hawai'i Sea Grant), Interim Director of the UH 

Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), and the University Director of the Pacific Islands 

Climate Science Center (PI-CSC), for affording me this opportunity to speak and represent the 

Hawai'i Sea Grant program. 

Water Resources Development Act of2016 (WRDA 2016 1

) 

To begin my testimony, I would like to first thank the Senate for passing S.2848, the Water 

Resources Development Act of2016. There are critical reauthorizations, modifications, and 

additions designated in that bill, specifically those in Title VII Subtitle B and C, relating to clean 

water infrastructure and innovative financing, respectively. We are also grateful to you, Senator 

Hirono, for highlighting areas that are important for Hawai'i, such as, making it easier for the 

federal government to enter into public-private partnerships for water infrastructure projects 

(e.g., with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the Ala Wai Flood Mitigation Project) and 

directing the Environmental Protection Agency to promote green stormwater infrastructure' 

projects, which use natural features to reduce stormwater runoff 

Though not directly related to this bill, we are grateful for the continued support of the 

critical research produced from the National Academy of Sciences that address the integrated 

water discussion we are having today. As an example, I would like to highlight one 2016 

product, Using Graywater and Storm water to Enhance Local Water Supplies: An Assessmem of 

Risks, Costs, and Benefits3 This is the type of exemplary research stakeholders continue to rely 

upon, which we then further translate to inform decision making at the local level. 

Urban and Built Environment 

In that same vein, I am pleased to offer an additional perspective today, an urban or built 

environment framework for the discussion. As you are aware Senator Hirono, Hawai'i has a 

history of water quality and quantity challenges. In the last two years alone, heavy summer rains 

from both named and unnamed storms resulted in significant disruptions and damages, brown 

water advisories, and temporary beach closures due to sewage spills at multiple locations. 

Though we are a coastal state, we also have pockets of populations that are conspicuously 

riverine, which highlights the islands' ridge and valley topography. This showcases the local 

1 S.2848- l14'h Congress (2015-2016): Water Resources Development Act of 2016 2 Stonnwater infrastmcture is comprised ofthe system of landscapes (open spaces. urban trees and upland forests). 

curbs, pipes. and streams that transport rainfall runoff from mauka to makai. or from the mountains to the sea. 3 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering. and Medicine. 2016. [;~~·ing Graywater and S'tonmvater to Enhance 

Local Water Supplies: An Assessment of Risks. Costs, and Benefits. Washington, DC: The National Academies 

Press. doi: 10.17226/21866. 
50 

connection and understanding of environmental systems expressed as "mauka to makai," or from 

the mountain to the sea. 

In my work as an extension agent and member of the faculty with the Hawai'i Sea Grant, and 

in close partnership with WRRC and PI-CSC, stakeholders, government partners, and 

community members have expressed strong local interest in receiving additional support, 

guidance, and concentrated attention on the topics of community greening, green infrastructure, 

and flood risk reduction and resilience. We can be challenged by what local planners, designers, 

and policy makers cite as Hawai'i's particular geographies (e.g., short and steep watersheds and 

"flashy" systems, distinct soils, and high water tables), unique climate patterns, and limited land 

availability for certain landscape practices for green infrastructure and flood resilience strategies. 

The spectrum of rural to urban community patterns adds additional complexity to how we 

effectively engage in different communities and deliver applicable resources. The sustainable 

communities-related challenges of environmental planning, ahupua'a and watershed 

management, and flood mitigation are integrated with other considerations, such as tradeoffs of 

land uses, and open space and agricultural land needs; (re)development and affordable housing 

needs; and, complete streets, clean and affordable transportation, and public health and active 

transportation. 

Hawai'i's ocean users lament the time following medium to heavy rains across the islands 

and subsequent brown water advisories recommending against recreating for a day or two. 

These advisories are primarily the consequence of rainwater runoff, or stormwater. Stormwater 

runoff is the result of rainwater flowing over compact ground and other impervious surfaces into 

streams, ponds, storm drains, and the sea4

, and has been cited as the number one source of 

pollution in the state ofHawai'i. In Hawai'i, storm sewer pipes are separate from waste sewer 

pipes, and as a result, anything (water or otherwise) that enters the stormwater drainage system 

flows- untreated -directly to a stream or the ocean impacting water quality and nearshore 

environments. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approaches stormwater 

management with a watershed and landscape infiltration philosophy of"slow it down, spread it 

out, and soak it in." 5 

Practices and techniques to manage and utilize these water resources before it enters the 

storm sewer system include low impact development (LID) and green stormwater infrastructure 

(GSI) practices, rainwater catchment, and a multitude of building and plumbing techniques for 

water capture, recycling, and reuse. Hawai' i has not kept current with adoption of new versions 

of building or plumbing codes, which would more readily permit and/or require such water 

conservation and efficiency practices. 

In addition to the regulation of storm water management at the parcel and building scale (e.g., 

infiltration, green/blue roofs, cisterns/rain barrels, rainwater and gray water reuse), there are 

opportunities for interventions within the public right-of-way (ROW) (e.g., biofiltration, street 

trees, flow through planters, and permeable surfaces that can provide multiple benefits, including 

aesthetics, urban ecological systems, and enhanced environmental conditions for walking and 

bicycling. These strategies are more and more becoming required by re~;,>ulations and plans. This 

highlights the integrated management and resource needs, connecting agencies such as the 

National Academy of Building Sciences, Federal Highways Administration, Department of 

4 Arnold. C. and Gibbons, J. 1996. Impervious surface coverage, Journal of the American Planning Association, 

62(2): 243-58. 5 http://"ww.epa.govlowowlnps/lidlvideofactshect.pdf 
51 

Housing and Urban Development, and other professional organizations with national 

memberships in the design and planning fields. 

This past August, with the support of an award from the National Sea Grant College Program 

Office, Hawai'i Sea Grant and WRRC organized and hosted a day-long summit to discuss how 

to advance practice and policy for green and livable communities, with a specific focus on water 

quality (i.e., polluted runoff control) and quantity management (e.g., catchment, recharge or 

reuse, Hooding, and drought). We extend our gratitude to the additional program sponsors, and 

to Hawai'i State Senator, Mike Gabbard for joining us that day and providing opening remarks 

on the legislature's leadership on the subject. I regret that the event conflicted with Hawai'i 

State Representative Ryan Yamane's schedule, but thank him for his consideration at the time 

and input. 

In addition to many local experts, other invited guests included experts from the City of 

Seattle Office of Sustainability & Environment and Seattle Public Utilities, the Center for 

Watershed Protection in Maryland, the Boston oflice of The Trust for Public Land, the US. 

Water Alliance and Smart Growth America both in Washington D.C., and the Horsley Witten 

Group in Massachusetts. This is an example of the types of partnerships we are discussing today 

and a demonstration of the need to leverage and share resources nationwide as we all work 

toward cleaner waters, water security, and green and thriving communities. 

US. Army Corps of Engineers and the Ala Wai Watershed 

A case study in the challenges we are discussing today is the Ala Wai Watershed. The state, 

City and County of Honolulu, and the US. Anny Corps of Engineers (USACE) have been 

engaged in efforts to study and model the Ala Wai Watershed, which includes Makiki, Manoa, 

and Palolo valleys and their respective neighborhoods down to the ocean. These efforts have 

included investigating flood mitigation and other ecosystem enhancements, which, at present, 

sits as a draft feasibility study and integrated environmental impact statement for an Ala Wai 

Flood Mitigation Project. 

Though that flood mitigation project has been ongoing for nearly two decades, there is 

renewed interest in this feasibility study co-sponsored by the USACE and the state. 

Unfortunately, though the original scope was to address multiple purposes, including water 

quality issues and ecosystem restoration, these components are no longer within the scope of the 

federal sponsorship any secondary objectives must be carried forward by a non-federal sponsor 

(e.g., the state and/or a public private partnership (P3)). Stakeholders continue to note the 

importance of ecosystem restoration in the Ala Wai Watershed and believe the flood mitigation 

project represents a framework from which key opportunities can be sought to improve 

ecological and community health of the watershed. 

Following a disaster mitigation summit in early 2015, stakeholders agreed upon main goals 

to move forward the various desires in the watershed. Stakeholders convened as the Ala Wai 

Waterhsed Partnership (A WWP), a multi-sector partnership that coordinates stakeholders across 

the public, private, academic, nongovernmental, community and philanthropic sectors with a 

joint interest in the Ala Wai Watershed. Hawai'i Sea Grant is a partnering member, providing 

technical expertise, facilitation support, and coordination efforts. The A WWP is committed to 

increasing communication with key community groups, engaging the private sector, and 

developing and implementing innovative financing and regional planning solutions. 

Partners encourage the Congress' continued support of the USACE in the Ala Wai through 

necessary appropriations and authorizations, and urges using the full suite of tools provided 
52 

through WRDA. With interests in a holistic systems approach to solving issues in the Ala Wai 

Watershed through WaikTkT, there are visions for ecosystem restoration in the upland forests, 

streams and nearshore environments; water quality improvements in the streams, the Ala Wai 

Canal, and Mamala Bay; flood mitigation and risk transfer through watershed management, 

building and plumbing codes, and parametric insurance opportunities to shift the risk off the 

public sector and to engage the global capital market; and, to enable and stand up a coordinating 

entity to implement these visions. 

Later this week the stakeholders and partners will expand because of additional interests of 

the Polynesian Voyaging Society in having a local focus area and beginning efforts for long-term 

impact in anticipation of the return of the Hokiile'a and continued efforts ofMalama Honua. 

U.S. Forest Service and Urban and Community Forestry Programs 

I currently sit on the advisory council for the state Department of Land and Natural 

Resources (DLNR) Kaulunani Urban and Community Forestry Program. This program focuses 

on improving the health and viability of trees in Hawai'i communities through educational 

programs; financial support in the form of cost-share grants; technical training; Arbor Day 

promotions and public/private partnerships. Funding for this program comes from the State and 

Private Forestry Branch of the USDA Forest Service. The work Kaulunani is engaged in 

supports and is additive to the forestry and watershed management information provided by 

Administrator Smith and Chair Trae Menard, but with an emphasis in our urban and town 

centers. Additionally, there is a nascent cross-sector coalition working to increase our urban 

canopy statewide, to meet both near-term environmental goals and long-term climate adaptation 

goals. The work ofDLNR, the Watershed Partnerships, and Kaulunani are critical for a future 

green Hawai'i and the programs appreciate Congress' continued support. 

Trees are possibly the most conspicuous piece of environmental infrastructure, and one that 

accrues benefits and becomes more valuable over time. Trees are long-term investments with 

significantly underappreciated returns on investment. The heat mitigation and stormwater 

management benefits of a healthy urban forest can pay dividends on cooling and runoff 

management costs, while also working to address other community environmental and social 

justice disparities. 

A recent study from Illinois demonstrated trees' ability to reduced runoff and discharge when 

co-located in a bioswale. The trees' transpiration accounted for nearly half to three quarters of 

the water inputs from precipitation and irrigation. 6 The co-benefits of trees for water 

management, heat mitigation, carbon sequestration, urban habitat, and social and emotional 

benefits of nearby nature warrant additional attention and resources. 

Federal Partnerships Innovations and Technical Assistance 

Communities statewide have benefited from various technical assistance opportunities 

offered through EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities. I am also aware of other support 

communities in Hawai'i have obtained through similar technical assistance programs offered 

from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration (NOAA). Just last week Hawai'i Sea Grant in partnership with the City and 

County of Honolulu, submitted an application to the EPA to gain support towards flood 

resilience along our streams and the coast. If awarded, this small, but critical investment into the 

6 Scharenbroch, B.C., J. Morgenroth. and B. Maule. 2015. Tree Species Suitability to Bioswales and Impact on the 

Urban Water Budget Journal of Environmental Quality. 45(1): 199-206. doi: 10.2134/jeq2015.01.0060 
53 

EPA's research and services will be further leveraged and extended through Hawai'i Sea Grant's 

statewide extension network in partnership with WRRC and PI-CSC to provide significant 

returns on the EPA's Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. The service of an 

organizations such as Sea Grant within NOAA, and WRRC and Pl-CSC within the US. 

Geological Survey (USGS), continue to serve important research, extension and education 

outlets for the vast and developing green infrastructure and climate and water resilience 

resources developed by the EPA and others. Such activities only further federal resources, which 

is consistent with interagency partnerships and a 2011 Memorandum of Agreement between the 

EPA and NOAA, for example. This particular partnership identifies a strong Sea Grant role in 

delivering products, services, and research results to local community decision makers to meet 

the partnership's potential to serve state and local governments. 

As you know, Senator, Hawai'i is a small, but able community with deep interest in being 

leaders of sustainability and a model for other island and continental communities. The pursuit 

of these competitive funding and technical assistance opportunities to bring resources to bear for 

our communities is demonstrative of this fact. Recognizing the increasingly competitive funding 

environment, state, county, and non-governmental partners are diligently working to increase 

capacity to be successful when opportunities arise. We thank you for your continued support of 

these federal partnerships, of which the HUD-DOT-EPA Partnership for Sustainable 

Communities is necessary in helping to educate on the interconnected systems that impact our 

water resources, health and livability, and environmental quality. 

It seems natural that other agencies could join in such partnerships to meet shared goals. It 

would be encouraging to see the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), USGS and 

NOAA, even more directly connected as described herein. There will also perhaps be an 

emerging importance of the Economic Development Agency in a changing climate and 

economy, as we look to bridge innovation across federal regions. 

Lastly, I would like to highlight FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) 

Community Rating System (CRS), as important incentive-based programs that provides a 

framework for integrated water management. Though only two ofHawai'i's four counties are 

current CRS participants 7

, there is interest from the other two counties in pursuing participation 

for the direct benefit to NFIP policy holders, but more importantly, for the utility of the guiding 

framework and menu of activities offered to mitigate flood risk, conserve and better manage our 

lands, manage stormwater runoff, and educate communities on existing and future hazards. 

Closing Thank You 

We thank the committee for its willingness to conduct this field hearing and work on these 

critical issues. Thank you Senator Hirono for the opportunity to speak today, and, with respect 

to today's subject, we thank you for your continued support of the University ofHawai'i and its 

Sea Grant College Program, Water Resources Research Center and Pacific Islands Climate 

Science Center 

As a result of their classification level of 8 residents of both the Counties ofMaui and Hawai'i receive 10% 

discounts on insurance premiums for structures located in a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and 5% discounts 

on insurance premiums for structures located outside of a SFHA. 
54 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Mr. Menard. 

STATEMENT OF TRAE MENARD, CHAIR, HAWAII ASSOCIATION 

OF WATERSHED PARTNERSHIPS, AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY 

Mr. MENARD. Aloha, Senator. 

Senator HIRONO. Aloha. 

Mr. MENARD. My name is Trae Menard, and I am providing testimony in my capacity as the Chair of the Hawaii Association of Watershed Partnerships and also from my perspective as the Coordinator of the Kauai Watershed Alliance for the last 11 years. 

Really, you know, much of my testimony has already been covered so I’m going to excerpt it somewhat. 

The fundamental concept behind the watershed partnership 

model stems from the realization that the only way to address the 

primary threats to the forest is to work across landowner boundaries and apply the necessary management actions consistently 

and at a large scale. 

Before the partnerships these actions were occurring mostly on 

state and federal lands with very little private landowner cooperation. This resulted in fragmented protection. 

For example, before the Kauai Watershed Alliance was formed in 

2002 there was very little communication between the state and 

private landowners and virtually no forest protection actions taking 

place on private lands and very little interest in conservation in 

general. Today, as David Smith mentioned, the private landowners 

account for a significant portion of our watershed lands, upwards 

of 66 percent, and these private landowners are now committed to 

protecting watersheds and conserving native forests. 

The partnership meetings are a forum to discuss everything from 

a variety of topics of the environment ranging from endangered 

species, invasive species, water issues and pollution. Whenever federal agencies are planning a particular action, like critical habitat 

designations, endangered species listings, they contact watershed 

partnerships so that we can facilitate communications with those 

private landowners. 

For the past 25 years the coordinators of these partnerships and 

their staff have been constructing fences and removing destructive 

feral, hooved animals from thousands of acres of priority watershed 

areas throughout the state and controlling invasive plants, some of 

which use significantly more water than the native vegetation. In 

many cases, they’ve been active in preventing and controlling 

wildfires, combating forest diseases and pests, like Rapid Ohia 

Death, planting native trees and restoring degraded areas, educating the public about the cultural, economic and environmental 

importance of our forests. All of these actions are detailed in watershed management plans which are developed by the coordinators 

and approved by partners in each of the partnerships and then implemented by the coordinators and their staff. 

The coordinators are responsible for compiling most of the environmental documentation and acquiring permits, with the help 

from their staff at the State Division of Forestry and Wildlife and 

holding public meetings. A typical day for the coordinators and 
55 

their staff can include working with local hunters on the location 

of the next fence, managing complex helicopter operations in bad 

weather, hiking miles through dense forest and rugged terrain, 

crossing raging streams or rappelling off cliffs. This is a difficult 

and dangerous job and requires highly-trained, very skilled and 

dedicated staff, willing to do whatever it takes to achieve the goals. 

We’ve mentioned Governor Ige’s goal, the 30 by 30, 30 percent 

of our watershed forests should be protected by 2030. We are currently protecting 15 percent and 5 percent of that has become protected in the last five years. If we are to meet this ambitious goal, 

we need to maintain the pace of adding new fenced and managed 

acres while maintaining the acres that have already been fenced 

and protected. Daunting as it may seem, the watershed partnerships are fully prepared to make this goal a reality. We have the 

technology, the experience, and the proven track record of success. 

What we need is a constant flow of funding and this is where 

agencies like the Department of the Interior, the Department of 

Agriculture and even the Department of Defense can play a decisive role. We have a long history of working with the U.S. Fish and 

Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Army 

among many more and hope to continue that relationship in the 

coming years. 

In closing, I wanted to leave you with a quotation from Hawaii’s 

first Territorial Forester, Ralph. S. Hosmer, ‘‘In Hawaii, the most 

valuable product of the forest is water, rather than wood. It follows 

that conservation of its watersheds by keeping them permanently 

clothed in protecting forests, is the chief duty of the forester.’’ 

The first foresters in Hawaii recognized the importance of watershed protection to sustain our fresh water resources and now it’s 

our duty to carry on that vision and secure our future of Hawaii 

and its people. 

Mahalo for inviting me to present to this committee. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Menard follows:] 
56 

East Maul Watershed 

Partnership 

East Mo!oka'i Watershed 

Partnership 

Kaua'i Watershed Alliance 

Koha!a Watershed 

Partnership 

Ko'o!au Mountain 

Watershed Partnership 

Leeward Haleakala Watershed 

Restoration Partnership 

Mauna Kea Watershed Alliance 

Three Mountain Alliance 

Wai'anae Mountains 

Watershed Partnership 

West Maul Mountains 

Watershed Partnership 

uri www.hawp.org 

Testimony ofT rae Menard, Chair of the Hawai'i Association ofWatershed 

Partnerships, to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

October 18. 2016. 

Aloha. My name is Trae Menard and am providing testimony in my capacity 

as Chair of the Hawai 'i Association of Watershed Partnerships and ti-om my 

perspective as the coordinator of the Kaua'i Watershed Alliance for the past 

ll years. 

Watershed partnerships arc voluntary alliances between public agencies and 

private landowners who recognize that the best way to protect our forested 

watersheds and the source of our fresh drinking water was through 

collaborative management across landscapes. Starting with the East Maui 

Watershed Partnership. which formed in 1991, there are now 10 active 

watershed partnerships on all of the major islands with 74 partners, 

containing 2.2 million acres. roughly half of the entire state. l11e East Maui 

Watershed Partnership was one ofthe first watershed partnerships in the 

world and now the watershed partnership model is replicated nationally and 

globally. As such. Hawai"i is now broadly recognized as a leader in 

·watershed management. 

The fundamental concept behind the watershed partnership model stems 

from the realization that the only way to address the primary threats to the 

forest is to work across landowner boundaries and apply the necessary 

management actions consistently and at a large scale. Before the 

partnerships. these actions were occurring mostly on state and federal lands, 

with very little private landowner cooperation, resulting in fragmented 

protection. For example, before the Kaua'i Watershed Partnership fonned in 

2002, there vvas very little communication between the state and the private 

landowners, virtually no forest protection actions taking place on private land 

and very little interest in conservation. Today, private landowner partners 

account for over 600,000 acres, or 26% of the total statewide watershed 

partnership lands and arc committed to the protecting watersheds and 

conserving native forests. l11e partnership meetings are a forum to discuss a 

variety of environmental topics. ranging from endangered species, invasive 

species, water issues and pollution. "'11enever federal agencies arc planning a 

particular action, like critical habitat designations or endangered species 

listings. they contact the watershed partnership first to facilitate 

communication with the key lando\vners. 

For the past 25 years, the coordinators of these partnerships and their staff 

have been constructing fences and removing destructive feral, hoovcd 

animals from thousauds of acres of priority forested watershed areas 

throughout the state and controlling invasive plants. some of which use 

significantly more \Yater than native vegetation. In many cases. they··vc been 

active in preventing and controlling wildfires, combating forest diseases and 

pests, like Rapid Ohia Death. planting native trees and restoring degraded 

areas, and educating the public about the cultural, economic and 

environmental importance ofHawai'i's forests. All of these actions are 

detailed in watershed management plaus. which are developed by the 

sustaining the forest, 
57 

coordinators and approved by the partners in each partnership and then 

implemented by the coordinators and their staff. The coordinators are 

responsible for compiling most of the environmental documentation and 

acquiring permits, with help from staff at the State· s Division of Forestry and 

Wildlife (DOFA W) and holding public meetings. A typical day for the 

coordinators and their staff can include working with local hunters on the 

location of the next fence, managing complex helicopter operations in bad 

weather, hiking miles through dense forest and rugged terrain, crossing 

raging streams or rappelling off cliffs. 1l1is is a difficult and dangerous job 

that requires highly skilled, trained and dedicated staff, \\illing to do 

whatever it takes to achieve the goals. 

Governor lge, in his address to the World Conservation Congress, made the 

commitment to protect 30% of our watershed forests by 2030. Thafs 

235,000 acres. fenced and free of damaging feral, hoovcd animals. We arc 

currently protecting 15%, 5% of which became protected in the last five 

years. If we arc to meet this ambitious goaL we need maintain the pace of 

adding new fenced and managed acres while maintaining the acres already 

protected. Daunting as it may seem, the watershed partnerships arc fully 

prepared to make this goal a reality. We have the technology, the experience, 

and the proven track record of success. What we need is a consistent flow of 

funding, and this is where agencies like the Department of Interior. 

Department of Agriculture and even the Department of Defense can play a 

decisive role. We have a long history of working with the U.S Fish and 

Wildlife Service. National Park Service, U.S Forest Service, 1l1e Natural 

Resource Conservation Service and the U.S. Anny and hope to continue that 

relationship in the coming years. 

In closing, I want to leave you with a quotation from Hmvai·i"s first 

Territorial Forester, Ralph. S. Hosmer. "In Hawai'i, the most valuable 

product of the forest is water, rather than wood. It follows that conservation 

of its watersheds by keeping tl1em permanently clothed in protecting forests, 

is tl1e chief duty of the forester''. The first foresters in Hawai'i recognized 

the importance of watershed protection to sustain our fresh water resources 

and now it is our duty to carry out their vision and secure the fitture of 

Hawai'i for its people. 

Mahalo for inviting me to present the to the committee. 

Trae Menard 

Chair, Hawai'i Association ofWatershed Partnerships 

Coordinator, Kaua'i Watershed Alliance 

Director of Forest Conservation, The Nature Conservancy, Hawai 'i Chapter. 
58 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Dr. Gon. 

STATEMENT OF DR. SAM GON, SENIOR SCIENTIST AND 

CULTURAL ADVISOR, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII 

Dr. GON. Senator Hirono, if you’ll indulge for a moment before 

I begin. 

[Chants in Hawaiian.] 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Dr. GON. Aloha, Senator. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Dr. GON. So, aloha, I’m Sam Gon, Senior Scientist and Cultural 

Advisor for The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, State Chapter of 

the National and Global Conservation NGO. 

In Hawaii we manage 14 preserves and work in 19 coastal sites 

partnering with government, private parties and local communities 

to help manage forests and coastal areas. 

So, mahalo again for allowing me to testify at this field hearing. 

Hawaii’s native ecosystems once extended from the summits 

from each of islands to the sea and our cultural traditions reflect 

a long, close relationship with native forests. Hawaiians traditionally see ourselves as part of, not separated from, nature considering the plants and animals that share our world as kin, elders, 

ancestors. The land is aina, that which feeds us and its rich diversity help nurture and shape an equally rich and thriving island culture. 

The forested upland watersheds, in particular, we’re considered 

wao akua, the realm of gods and not for human incursion except 

for very specific needs and it restricts ceremonial protocols. Water 

came from the sacred forested realm to feed agricultural fields and 

fish ponds. Forest trees provided wood for temples, houses, canoes, 

tools. Forest plants were gathered for medicine, food, ornament and 

many other purposes. 

Today, roughly half of our native land cover is gone, particularly 

from the lowlands and the vast majority of native plants and animals find refuge in our upland forests. We too still depend on that 

native forest for our survival and well-being. 

Our forests are our primary watersheds. They protect our reefs 

and our beaches from runoff. They clean and cool our air. They 

soothe and renew our spirits. 

And while historical impacts from agriculture, grazing, logging 

and development are responsible for much of the initial loss of native ecosystems, the threat today is ongoing degradation by 

invasive, non-native species, invasive animals that prey upon native species and spread disease and invasive plants that compete 

with and displace native ecosystems. In doing so they transform 

our forests by simplifying forest structure, altering soil composition, increasing the risk of fire and diminishing watershed function. 

Fresh water is actually quite a limited resource in the middle of 

the Pacific. 

Hawaii’s latitude at 20 degrees is not a high rainfall zone, but 

for the topography and the forest cover of our Hawaiian high islands we would actually have very little fresh water. Trade winds 

moving across the ocean encounter our tall islands. Air is pushed 
59 

upward rapidly into lower temperature and pressure. Airborne 

moisture condenses creating clouds and rain, the classic orographic 

effect. 

But cloud and fog interception by Hawaii’s forest increase total 

water input by as much as 50 percent above the base annual rainfall. The 30 percent you cited earlier, that was from previous studies and it was on Kahala, in fact, the most recent numbers indicate 

closer to 50 percent. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 

Dr. GON. Intact Hawaiian forests, therefore, act as a living 

sponge, collect fallout rain and moisture and slowly deliver this 

water into our aquifers and streams, absorbing greenhouse gases 

and greatly reducing runoff. And on Oahu it’s where 85 percent of 

Hawaii’s population lives, the forested Ko’olau Mountains alone 

provide 135 billion gallons of fresh water annually or about half of 

Oahu’s ground water recharge. 

Seen or unseen that same forest function operates on all the 

main islands providing each island’s water supplies. 

Despite some reprieve during the last two El Nin ̃ o years, several 

locations in the state have experienced prolonged drought and it’s 

intensifying again. Now we’re seeing more frequent and more severe storms that increase destructive runoff, but at the same time 

we see less total rainfall overall at higher temperatures that impact our watershed health and encourage outbreaks of pests and 

diseases. 

We’ve seen a century long trend of decline of rainfall here and 

even sharper declines in recent decades. Recent studies have shown 

that native forests are better at capturing rain water and recharging aquifers that forests degraded by invasive species. In response to these troubling development we’re taking action to mitigate and adapt to bolster the resilience of our natural and human 

communities. 

Conservancy is working with our conservation partners, public 

and private throughout the islands to protect our precious forested 

watersheds. Our strategic approach is focused on managing our 

statewide network of forest preserves and—oh, really, no. [Laughter.] 

And integral parts of the larger public/private watershed partnerships. 

In conclusion, we see opportunities here for greater collaboration 

and we want to take this opportunity to thank you for being a 

champion of the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Hawaiian 

Forests at Risk project. 

We want to fix the U.S. forest wildfire funding mechanism, as 

you pointed out. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Dr. GON. And provide equity for Hawaii and the Federal Endangered Species recovery funding so that it’s more truly proportional 

to the very large numbers of the threatened and endangered species found here. 

Thank you very much. 

[The prepared statement of Dr. Gon follows:] 
60 

The Nature Consernncy 

Hawai'i Program 

923 Nu'uanu AYenue 

Honolulu, HI 96817 

Testimony of Dr. Sam 'Ohukani'6hi'a Gon, 

Tel(8o8) 537-4508 

Fax(8o8) 545-2019 

nature.orgfha\Yaii 

Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i 

United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

Field Hearing on Water Security in Hawai'i, October 18, 2016 

Aloha, I am Dr. Sam Gon and I am the Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor for The Nature 

Conservancy of Hawai'i. The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i is the state chapter of The Nature 

Conservancy, a private non-profit conservation organization dedicated to the preservation of the lands 

and waters upon which life depends. 

Hawaii's native ecosystems once extended from the mountains to the sea, with forests of several types 

extending from near sea level to as high as nearly 9000 feet on our tallest mountains. Hawaiian cultural 

traditions reflect a long, close relationship with native forest, and Hawaiians saw themselves as part of, 

not separate from, nature; considering themselves direct kin of the plants and animals that shared their 

world. The land was 'aina, "that which feeds," and its rich diversity helped shape an equally rich and 

thriving island culture. The forested upland watersheds were considered wao akua, the realm of the 

gods, and not for human incursion except for very specific needs and under strict ceremonial protocols. 

Water came from this sacred forested realm fed lo'i (taro fields) and fishponds. Forest trees provided 

wood for houses, canoes, and tools. Forest plants were gathered for medicinal and many other 

purposes. 

Today, roughly half of our native land cover is gone and the vast majority of Hawaii's native plants and 

animals find refuge in the upland forests, in large native landscapes across the islands. The Islands' 

native forests are among the world's biological treasures, sheltering more than 10,000 native 

species- more than 90% of which are endemic, that is, found only in these islands. Today, many of 

these species are rare, threatened and endangered with Hawai'i holding one of the highest percentages 

of endangered plants and animals in the nation. Several of these now endangered species were once 

so common that they were culturally important; examples include rare hardwoods like kauila and uhiuhi. 

People still depend on native forests for their survival and well-being. Forested lands are our islands' 

primary watersheds, supplying us with hundreds of billions of gallons of fresh water each year. Our 

forests protect our reefs and beaches from destructive run-off and sediment, clean and cool our air, and 

are our best defense against flood and drought. While the historical impacts from agriculture, grazing, 

logging, and development are responsible for much of the loss of native habitat, the greater threat today 

is the destruction wrought by invasive plants and animals. Invasive animals prey upon native plants and 

animals and spread diseases. Invasive plants crowd out native species and compete with them for food 

and habitat. Over time, these pests transform the forests they invade, simplifying their structure, altering 

soil composition, increasing the risk of fire, and endangering our future water supply. 

Easily available fresh water is not a limitless resource here in the middle of the Pacific. On the latitude of 

Hawai'i it doesn't rain much in the Pacific Ocean. But for the topography and forest cover on our 

Hawaiian high islands, we would have very little fresh water. Warm trade winds blow across the ocean. 

When they encounter the steep windward slopes of the Hawaiian Islands they are pushed upward, cool 

and condense creating cloud moisture and rain. Upland Hawaiian forests that are not overrun by 
61 

The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i 

October 18,2016 

Page2 

invasive species act like a sponge, collecting that rain and moisture, slowly delivering fresh water into 

aquifers and streams, absorbing greenhouse gases, and reducing runoff and siltation into near shore 

waters during storm events. The native 'ohi'a and koa forest canopy along with a diverse native 

understory creates the watershed system that collects fresh water, feeding surface and groundwater 

systems, making life in these islands possible. 

Cloud and fog interception by Hawaii's forests increase total precipitation by as much as 50% above the 

base annual rainfall. On O'ahu (where 85% of Hawaii's population lives), the Ko'olau Mountains provide 

135 billion gallons of fresh water annually, or about half of O'ahu's groundwater recharge. East Maui 

mountains provide 60 billion gallons of fresh water per year. The University of Hawai'i estimated that the 

cost to replace lost fresh water, runoff control, recreational, cultural, aesthetic and other ecosystem 

service values from O'ahu's Ko'olau forest would be $7.4- $14 billion. 1 

Though we have had some reprieve during the last two El Nino years, several locations in the state have 

experienced prolonged drought and that is beginning to happen again. We are seeing other likely effects 

of climate change which science indicates likely will include: 

>- More frequent and more severe storms that can increase runoff and siltation; but 

>-- Overall, less rainfall in many locations and therefore less fresh water; and 

>-- Higher temperatures that affect watershed health and can be beneficial to pests. 

The University of Hawaii's Rainfall Atlas' catalogues a century of declining rainfall, with an increase in 

the rate of that decline in recent decades and fewer trade wind days. Summer temperature records have 

been broken across the state and a record number of storms took aim at Hawai'i over the last few years. 

In 2014, tropical storm lselle hit Hawai'i island hard. Fallen invasive albizia trees left the Puna area a 

quagmire of damaged houses, blocked roads and downed power lines. At the same time, native '6hi'a 

and koa forests in the area were virtually undamaged. These same native forests are also showing that 

they are better at capturing rain water and recharging aquifers than invasive species such as strawberry 

guava. 3 

In response to these conditions, we must plan and implement mitigative and adaptive measures to 

ensure the resilience of our natural and human systems. One of the most effective tools we have to help 

address the effects of climate change in Hawai'i is to protect our forests. Healthy and diverse Hawaiian 

forests act like a sponge, collecting rain and moisture from passing clouds, slowly delivering fresh water 

into streams and aquifers, absorbing greenhouse gases, and reducing runoff and siltation into near 

shore waters during storm events. 

The Conservancy is working with our conservation partners-public and private-throughout the islands 

to protect our precious forested watersheds. Our strategic approach is focused on: 

>-- Managing our statewide network of forest preserves; 

> Helping to build and manage Watershed Partnerships that include our preserves; and 

J..- Advancing new methods and technologies to control invasive animals and weeds. 

1 Roumasset, L lB. Kaiser. N. Krause, D. Mecham and J. Woo lev. 1997. Draft EnYironmental Valuation and the Havvaiian Economv. 

University ofH::n:rai"i Economic Research Organization, UH~ Mai1oa. · 2 http://rainfall.gcography.hmvaii.edu/ 

3 Giambelluca, T. W., Delay, J. K.. Asncr. G. 

American Geophysical 
62 

The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i 

October 18, 2016 

Page3 

There are a number of opportunities for greater collaboration and support: 

>- Congress should reauthorize and provide full dedicated funding for the Land and Water 

Conservation Fund. (See, Attachment2) We thank Senator Hirono for leadership in this regard. 

>- Congress should pass the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act for a stable budget approach to wildfire 

suppression without raiding other important forest health programs. (See, Attachment 3) 

>- Hawai'i should receive an equitable share of federal endangered species recovery funding such 

that it more proportionately represents the numbers of threatened and endangered species here. 

>- Enhanced local, state and federal support is needed for public-private watershed partnerships 

(www.hawp.org), forest management tools and infrastructure like fencing. 

J- Continued development of leading edge technologies and tools are critical for forest 

management 

';> Enhanced federal partnerships and funding are needed for the U.S. Depts. of Agriculture, Interior 

and possibly the Defense Department for research, technology development, biosecurity, 

biocontrol research, disease management, and watershed partnerships. 

Mahalo for the opportunity to testify today. Having dependable supplies of clean fresh water is of critical 

importance not only to an island state like Hawai'i, but to the nation and the world as we work together to 

address and adapt to the effects of a changing climate. 

Attachments 

1. Before and After Hawaiian Watershed Photos 

2. Land and Water Conservation Fund Handout 

3. Wildfire Disaster Funding Act Handout 
63 

The Nature 

Conservancy Hawai'i 

The Nature Conservancy 

Hawai'i Program 

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Attachments to the Testimony of Dr. Sam 'Ohukani'ohi'a Gon, 

Senior Scientist and Cultural Advisor, The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i 

United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

Field Hearing on Water Security in Hawai'i, October 18, 2016 

Attachment 1: Before and After Hawaiian Watershed Photos 

Attachment 2: Land and Water Conservation Fund Handout 

Attachment 3: Wildfire Disaster Funding Act Handout 
64 

Before and After Fencing and Animal Control 

Selected Priority Hawai'i Watershed Areas 
65 

I Moloka'i South Slope 2014 I 
66 
67 
68 
69 
70 

protecting America's 

and permanent reauC<n1Se!rva!tion Fund 

Important recreational access for hunting & 

Natural areas that sustain clean water and 

er community benefits 

and ranches 

and forests 

Neighbo;rhood parks and trails 

battlefields and cultural sites 

Fish and wildlife refuges 

Overview of the Fund 

The Land and Water Conservation Fund's goal is to balance the extraction of oil and gas resources with conservation by using a portion of drilling fees to protect important 

land and water resources. 

The program is authorized to receive a small percentage of 

offshore oil and gas revenues-up to $900 million per 

year-but most of these funds have been diverted elsewhere. With 50 acres of farm and ranch !and lost to development every hour in the United States, according to 

American Farmland Trust, it is critical that we ensure funding for the LWCF for the next generation of conservation. 

Ill '" • HI 1111111 

EBBJ I BB 

Hi 1111111111 

Bill-

-

11111!1 
71 

A 2013 poll fr()m Public Opinion 

Strategies found: 

• More than 85 percent of Americans support funding the Land 

and Water Conservation Fund at 

its authorized level of $900 milHan Per year. 

Nearly nlne in ten voters 

posed future diVersions 

ing. Support came from 93 percent of Democrats, 84 percent of 

independents, and 78 percent of 

Republicans. 

Progress on LWCF 

As a part of a RAiaska, and 

that permanently It 

maintains the program's current flexibility and includes a critical oversight role for Congress. 

The Senate passed the LWCF package with wide 

support in its version of the bill (5. 2012) in 

Nature Conservancy We 

ate and House to keep 

energy bill. 

Conservation= Economic 

Sustained investment in LWCF will stimulate our nation's 

and our infrastructure. LWCF 

makes by securing the 

economic assets that our federal, state public lands 

represent: 

outdoor recreation drives 

supports 6.1 accordOutdoor Industry (See 1, front 

It also brings $80 billion in federal, state and local tax 

revenue. 

effect of outdoor recreation activity 

of jobs and wages as they 

economy), those numbers 

grow to $1.6 trillion in economic impact and 12 million 

jobs. 

are 

ties elsewhere. 

• Visitor-driven business stimulates the 

communities surrounding national parks and 

lands. 

in local 

public 

Protecting water sources through watershed, forest and 

wetland conservation is often a cost-effective way to ensure dean and adequate water supplies. 

• The "value of ecosystem services provided by natural habitat in the 48 contiguous United States amount to about 

$1.6 trillion annually, which is equivalent to more than 10 

percent of the U.S. GDP," according to a 2011 report for the 

National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 

Contact: Tom Corsi Director, Lands I The Nature Conservancy I (703) 841-5300 
72 

two decades, fires have increased in 

and cost, and the fire seasons 

longer. the structure for 

budgeting has not and is significantly impacting important programs. The 

U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Department of the 

Interior (DOl) are responsible for federal firefighting response and bear the full burden for funding those activities from their annual budgets. 

When suppression costs run high, aorxoon<ators 

are forced to shift funding to the evE>r-111Creasm 

proportion of the budget that is devoted to fire suppression, leaving less for programs that restore and 

manage forests. 

• ln 1995, fire management accounted for 

16% of the USFS budget; today it is more 

than half. At the current rate, it is expected 

to make up two-thirds of the agency's 

budget by 2025. 

• USFS and DOl have run short on firefighting twelve times since 2002. 

• USFS transferred ten times since 2002; 

$700 million in September, 2015. 

Often, that funding is still not sufficient, which 

forces the agencies to borrow money from other 

to make up the difference. This practice 

non-fire less and then 

has led to decreased 

such as the 

WllDfii'U: MMIAG~MENT TAKING OV~R THE US FOREST SERVICE SUOOfT 

FV201S 

Pr<.!dktedfY101S 
73 

A fire funding solution must include all of the 

following: 

l) A fulllOO percent of normal fire funding activities 

will continue to be funded through the appropriations 

process (the 99 percent of wildfires that are predictable). 

2) Additional firefighting activities would be funded using disaster funding similar to that currently used by 

the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

for natural disasters. 

3) The practice of borrowing or transferring funds from 

non-suppression accounts to make up for funding 

shortfalls would be minimized. 

ln addition, any forest management proposal that may 

be linked to fire funding must emphasize science-based 

restoration that promotes collaboration. 

Fixing the fire funding problem will ensure that the increasing costs of firefighting do not continue to drain 

other programs, and wil! allow appropriators new flexibility to reinvest in restoration programs. 

Broad, !liparHsan Support 

WDFA is the most widely supported fire funding solution in Congress today. lt addresses the problems of 

transfers and increasing suppression costs by accessing 

disaster funding, 

More than 300 organizations representing a diverse 

range of interests support WDFA, including conservation, sportsmen, timber, tribal, firefighting, and recreation groups. 

There are currently more than 150 bipartisan members 

of the House and Senate cosponsoring the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act. 

Contad: Cecilia M. C!avet, Senior Policy Advisor I The Nature Conservancy I (703) 841-5300 
74 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you, and I want to thank you for starting your testimony with a chant. Thank you very much. 

Okay, so, I want to thank the panelists. This is the last panel, 

and this is a question for all of the witnesses. Do you think there 

is a role for federal agencies to play in landscape-scale watershed 

protection in Hawaii? If so, what would that role look like and 

would it be a program to provide grants for certain activities? 

Would it be the federal agencies assisting existing partnerships to 

provide technical assistance? What would the ideal federal role look 

like to you? 

Mr. GONSER. Sure, thank you. 

I would just like to offer and go back to your original points 

about what a watershed is and reminding ourselves that in our discussions today we’re certainly focused on our upper forested watersheds, but that common outlet is the sea. So we need additional 

consideration for where we inhabit so, the state urban lands and 

understanding that landscape scale strategies will be vastly different in the conservation lands versus those urban and town centers. 

The landscape of funding opportunities seems to be shifting more 

toward competitive opportunities. I’m a little cautious toward that 

because of, you know, our small population. There’s only so much 

new initiative we can try to take on at any one point in time. 

So if there are ways to increase some of the support for programs 

that were discussed earlier today and from my colleagues here, 

that would be beneficial, but also reconsidering ways we can utilize 

the state revolving water funds for infrastructure type projects, either for both clean drinking water, but also some of the green infrastructure and the recharge to reduce the rainfall runoff would 

be additionally beneficial. 

Senator HIRONO. I will get back to you after the other two witnesses have made a comment. 

Mr. MENARD. Sure. 

I think, you know, from the watershed partnership’s standpoint, 

we do work with multiple federal agencies both in the funding aspect as well as some of the technical expertise like, for instance, 

from the USGS. 

I think one of the main benefits of working with the Federal Government is through the funding, obviously, and the ability of the 

watershed partnerships to be able to leverage state funding, private funding, to help actually provide match for federal funds. 

In the past, we’ve been able to get federal funding for fencing 

projects, particularly on Kauai, where I work, during the downturn, 

economic downturn, we were able to get funding through the Forest 

Service through the ARRA program. And that was—and that enabled us to actually hire a local fence contractor to construct our 

fence. And that actually saved a lot of jobs. 

And so—— 

Senator HIRONO. Are you talking about the ARRA? 

Mr. MENARD. Yeah, the ARRA funds in 2011, I believe? 

Senator HIRONO. Okay, yes. 

Mr. MENARD. So—— 

Senator HIRONO. It was a one shot deal. 

Mr. MENARD. It was a one shot deal. 
75 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. MENARD. But it came——[Laughter.] 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you for maximizing what you did with 

that money. 

Mr. MENARD. Yeah. 

You know, I think going forward, one of the biggest challenges 

I mentioned in my testimony is not only building more fences to 

keep pace and to achieve that 30 percent goal, but also to maintain 

the areas that we’ve already fenced off. 

And I think one of the, you know, like there’s a quote from Kurt 

Vonnegut, that I like to use that one of the fundamental human 

flaws is that everybody wants to build and nobody wants to maintain. And I think that, you know, the more funding we can get to, 

not only build more fences, but also enable us to maintain what 

we’ve already got is going to be, you know, very important to reach 

that goal. 

Senator HIRONO. In line with that comment we have huge infrastructure needs throughout our country to the tune of trillions. We 

need to address those. 

Did you want to add something, Dr. Gon? 

Dr. GON. Certainly. 

I’m currently serving as the Chair of the Hawaii Conservation 

Alliance. That Alliance is a group of Federal, state and private organizations that together have combined to try to minimize the 

amount of duplication and to maximize the optimization of our efforts together in conservation in Hawaii. It includes the National 

Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Forest Service, The 

Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, Kamehameha schools, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, State of Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources. You 

name it. If it’s an organization in Hawaii that’s dealing with conservation, the Hawaii Conservation Alliance includes those members. 

Now it was through our efforts that we were able to pull together 

the resources and the arguments to bring the world to Hawaii for 

the—— 

Senator HIRONO. IUCN? 

Dr. GON. Right, yes. Just recently and it was an amazing opportunity for us to demonstrate the power of that kind of collaboration 

of Federal, state and private organizations and bringing a focus on 

conservation. 

Therefore, the idea of how to fund our efforts here in Hawaii is 

a matter of coordination of the existing programs and ensuring that 

the highest priority management occurs. And in the conservation 

alliance the idea of protecting those large watersheds, those large 

landscapes of remaining native dominated ecosystems in Hawaii 

that provide so many services to us, is the way to go. And we get 

together and talk about what the National Park Service, the Fish 

and Wildlife Service and all of the federal agencies are doing and 

how we can best coordinate those kinds of efforts. 

So, I think that that would be one excellent route to bring to 

bear focus and optimize the federal opportunities that might be 

here. 
76 

Senator HIRONO. So, Matt, just very briefly I know that UH recently, as I mentioned before, received $20 million. Was that a 

competitive grant that the University of Hawaii sought and got? 

Mr. GONSER. I actually am not so familiar with the opportunity 

that was offered. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 

Mr. GONSER. I believe it was the Science Foundation. I can’t actually—— 

Senator HIRONO. Yes, so the National Science Foundation. It is 

a five-year study. That is a hefty amount for a study, sustainability 

in terms of water. So we will talk to the appropriate person. I 

guess it is not you, but you are doing other good things. 

Mr. GONSER. Thank you. 

Senator HIRONO. Alright. 

Some of the things you mentioned leads me to this next question 

to all of you. Do you think that it would be helpful that federal 

agencies, such as the EPA, NOAA, DOI, USDA and I think I also 

heard FTA, DOD, all these federal agencies that have something 

to do with the subject matter at hand, formed a watershed protection council at the federal level to align their various watershed 

protection efforts and make accessing information and resources 

easier and support on the ground efforts that folks, such as you, 

are doing? Would that help to create a Federal Watershed Protection Council? 

Mr. GONSER. I’m not sure on say, the specifics of a title for it, 

but it sounds sort of in line with what has been a really successful 

Federal partnership between EPA, HUD, and DOT, the partnership for sustainable communities which really helps to educate the 

interconnectedness of all these systems that impact whether it’s 

water resources, health or environmental quality. 

So along those lines but perhaps there are certainly better ways 

to bring in some of those federal agencies that don’t necessarily get 

so engaged in the extension and education whether it’s FEMA, 

through flood risk reduction because that, obviously, has a landscape and water component, others in NOAA and USGS as well. 

Sure, I could certainly see to Sam’s, Dr. Gon’s, point of better opportunities for coordination just to continue to maximize the investments that are already in place. 

Mr. MENARD. Yeah. 

Senator HIRONO. Mr. Menard. 

Mr. MENARD. I think from my experience working with multiple 

agencies, it would be beneficial to have some kind of council where 

they could coordinate a lot of their actions, in particular, from the 

funding standpoint. Some agencies have certain requirements for 

grants that are different than other agencies, and certain agencies 

are going to be focused on funding a particular thing, like if there’s 

a lot of endangered species in a particular area then that’s the 

place to go, you go to the Fish and Wildlife Service. If it’s a forest 

protection project, then you go to the Forest Service. 

I mean, I think that coordinating between those agencies and 

being able to say, okay, let’s make sure that these guys get enough 

money to do the endangered species stuff and protect, you know, 

this much watershed and enough to get to the Forest Service to 
77 

make sure that there’s enough fire protection and other forest 

pathogens and pest money to go toward also protecting that. 

I think sometimes I wonder if there’s somewhat of a competition 

for funding and maybe there could be some better coordination so 

there’s maybe less overlap and conflict. 

But yeah, I mean in general I think it works fairly well. I mean, 

we’ve, like I said, we’ve gotten a lot of support from the federal 

agencies. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. MENARD. And we’ve been able to make that work. 

Senator HIRONO. So this is not an idea to try to get another 

group of people who are siloed. The whole idea is to break through 

the silos? 

Mr. MENARD. Right. 

Senator HIRONO. And to maximize our resources which are 

scarce enough as they are. 

Did you want to comment? 

Dr. GON. Yes, certainly. 

I think that the model that we have here in Hawaii with the Hawaii Conservation Alliance, as I mentioned, was built out of exactly 

that kind of frustration with the idea of slightly differing mandates, different ways of mobilizing funds, different mission statements. 

And so, what the conservation alliance has been able to do over 

the course of its existence since, gosh, well before this millennium, 

certainly, is to identify what each of those mandates allow them to 

do and then to work to optimize the total picture of what the state, 

federal and private organizations within the state can do. So it was 

built, kind of, out of a desperation of the fact that we had so many 

endangered species, limited size, great pressures on our native ecosystems to preserve them and you know. 

As a result we have been able to work out a very amazingly cooperative relationship, and I think that same kind of relationship can 

be forged at a national level. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 

Because it is not the easiest thing to identify all of the various 

federal resources and whatever grants there are because each one 

has a slightly different set of requirements and outcomes and all 

of that. It would help if everything were, sort of, put in one place 

so that as we deal with these issues that are common to all of us 

then we can do a better job. I will probably continue to talk with 

you folks and some of our federal agencies to see whether this is 

a fruitful idea. 

Trae, do you think that the state’s goal of protecting 30 percent 

of Hawaii’s priority watersheds by 2030 is adequate and achievable? You noted that prior to 2002 there was not that much private 

sector, private landowner engagement in protecting our forested 

watersheds and now they are much more engaged. Maybe you can 

explain why this changed? Were there some tax incentives or something like that, and do you think that 30 by 30 is an achievable 

goal and what do we have to do to get there? 

Mr. MENARD. Okay. 

Well let me start with, you know, I’m at mainly on Kauai. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 
78 

Mr. MENARD. There was not a lot of private landowner involvement. There has been, prior to that, there was quite a bit of private 

landowner involvement on East Maui where the first watershed 

partnership was formed. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. MENARD. And so I think that was the model that we were 

following on Kauai. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. And there are now ten, right? 

Mr. MENARD. Yeah. 

Senator HIRONO. Those partnerships? 

Mr. MENARD. Correct, yeah. 

But yeah I think when I first started as a Coordinator on Kauai 

and we started with the first watershed partnership meetings, and 

we got everybody in the same room together and people were just, 

kind of, looking at each other and going, wow, this is the first time 

we’ve ever really all sat down and had a conversation. 

And so I think from there, you know, I think that really developed into a base of trust so that when we were able to start moving 

forward on a plan and developing, you know, plans for fencing and 

for large scale invasive species control that would cross boundaries. 

I think that that level of trust needed to happen prior to that, you 

know. So now we’re able to build fences across boundaries and including multiple landowners. I think before the partnership that 

probably wouldn’t have happened. 

So that gets to the point of is it achievable? I believe it is because 

with these partnerships the communication is important because 

now when we do these large scale projects, you know, all the rights 

of entry, all the legal paperwork, all the, you know, differing processes that each landowner has and each agency has, you know, we 

can consolidate that into one meeting, essentially, and say, okay, 

this is the plan. How many of—you know, everybody is on board. 

There’s a—it kind of greases the wheels administratively to get 

these things done. And so when we do get the money we’re able 

to mobilize and get the money on the ground quickly and get the 

job done within the timeframe, you know, the allotted timeframe. 

I think that the reason I believe it’s achievable is, like I said, 

we’ve achieved that in the last five years we’ve got that five percent. And so if we stay on track and maybe with a little bit of an 

acceleration, by 2030 I think we’ll be really close to 30 percent. Yes, 

I do think it’s achievable. 

Is it going to be easy? No. It’s not going to be easy. And it’s probably going to be increasingly more difficult as we get, as we approach that 30 percent goal. 

I think right now when we first started doing this we really kind 

of grabbed the low hanging fruits in terms of the lands that we 

were going to target, the most logistically simple, the politically 

simple, places that didn’t have much conflict. And I think as we approach that 30 percent at the end we’re going to need to really 

work hard to, you know, with communities and be able to really 

focus on achieving that. But I think, I do believe it is possible. Yes. 

Senator HIRONO. I do realize that on the neighboring islands 

projects such as fencing, are really important. I wonder whether on 

Oahu, which is a much more urban situation, are we doing enough 
79 

to pay attention to the call outs on Makaha, for example, in terms 

of protecting the watersheds on Oahu? 

Mr. GONSER. I’ll let Trae speak more about the partnerships in 

general but for example, the Ko’olau watershed partnership, as you 

might imagine, stretches the entire range of the watershed. But the 

similar practices of removal of invasive flora and fauna and the reintroduction of native species in combination with the fencing, as 

I understand, is still the primary strategy and has proven successful across the state. 

Mr. MENARD. Yes, I would say that yeah, it has improved quite 

a bit in the last few years. The watershed partnership in the 

Ko’olau has been able to put in some significantly sized fences and 

really achieve some pretty big goals. 

I think really when you look at the Ko’olau it’s a challenging, it’s 

a really challenging watershed partnership because when you look 

at, if you look at a landowner map there’s, I don’t know, a lot. 

There’s probably more landowners per acre on the Ko’olaus than 

anywhere in Hawaii. 

And so that’s always a challenge because when you’re trying to 

do a big project with multiple thousands of acres that’s even more 

landowners that you have to get and have an agreement with and 

being able to really, kind of, coordinate with. But nonetheless, 

they’ve been, they’ve really worked hard and they’ve been very successful so far at getting some areas fenced off in the central part 

of the Ko’olaus. 

The other challenge, I think, in the Ko’olaus is that it is an interface of very intensive urban development. So like, particularly in 

the Southern Ko’olaus where you folks work, I mean, I think that’s 

even more critical to work in collaboration with the more urban 

watershed partnerships and be able to come up with strategies that 

span that interface. And I think that’s going to be challenge but I 

think that’s where it’s exciting. I think it’s a very exciting opportunity to do that. 

Dr. GON. I’d like to add to that by pointing out that since 85 percent of the population of the state is on the island of Oahu there 

is an opportunity to educate and bring awareness up for the majority of the state’s population by engaging more focused effort in the 

protection of both Ko’olau and Wai’anae watersheds. 

The watershed history, as Dave Smith pointed out earlier, in 

1903 the very first forest reserves in what would be the United 

States, is something that means that there’s a long standing tradition of protection of our watersheds and recognition that those upland forests are essential, essential to our survival in the long run. 

It’s easy to be disconnected from that system but I think everyone looks up into the mountains, sees that green watershed and it’s 

easy to make that connection visually that that forest is essential 

to our life and to the water supply of this island, the most populated one. 

So, if we were going to put together a program to enhance both 

watershed development and protection on both the Wai’anae Mountains and Ko’olau, it’s been done before. The arguments are there 

in place. We have a long history of very compelling statements 

about the importance of this. The Board of Water Supply would be 

right on it, of course. And I think that everyone in the state and 
80 

on the island of Oahu is in a position to understand, grasp and appreciate how important those kinds of projects would be. 

Senator HIRONO. Mr. Menard, you talked about all of the multiple landowners. How do we incentivize them to work with all of 

you to protect our watersheds? As I mentioned, are there tax incentives in place or what do we have to encourage them to come to 

the table? 

Mr. MENARD. Well I think there are tax incentives in place for 

entering into conservation agreements, conservation easements and 

so forth and I also work for The Nature Conservancy and they’ve 

done a fair amount of those as well as the Mayan Trust and so 

forth. Those are, obviously, probably, the most direct incentive to, 

you know, to do conservation on their lands. 

You know, from the standpoint, like on Kauai, the landowners 

were incentivized by the very need for water. 

Senator HIRONO. Okay. 

Mr. MENARD. Some of our landowners were particularly concerned about the availability, the future availability of water, some 

of them had hydroelectric operations, others had agricultural operations that relied on the water from the forest. 

And so, when we first started talking about protecting the watershed they didn’t really approach it from hey, this is going to be— 

we need some kind of a financial incentive to do this. They actually 

saw the need for it, and they actually realized it. 

You know one of the things like we talked a little bit about dams 

and so forth, when sediment runs down streams and fills up reservoirs or clogs up intakes, that’s a big maintenance issue for them. 

And I think one of the landowners that we worked with on Kauai 

was particularly interested in eliminating a lot of the causes of that 

erosion. 

So, you know, there are incentives outside of just basic tax incentives and financial incentives, at least in the short term. 

Senator HIRONO. I have a question for you, Dr. Gon. You and 

many folks in this room today know the land in Hawaii, of course, 

is very expensive and add to that the resources necessary to protect 

and conserve the land or in some cases, rehabilitate the land, and 

pretty soon you have a very large price tag. 

Can you speak to the importance of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, in helping landowners and land managers here in 

Hawaii to protect our forests and our watersheds? 

Dr. GON. Certainly the idea of being able to protect the lands and 

waters, the forests and the ecosystems that we rely on with funds 

that are devoted to the protection of those resources, that’s an extremely important incentive. It goes hand in hand with just the inherent value, cultural, water and other of the values that go with 

those forested ecosystems. 

So, we certainly, as we said, thank you for being a champion of 

the Land and Water Conservation Fund and I think that there are 

huge opportunities in Hawaii for the application of those funds. 

The nice thing is that we’ve got a limited acreage. We know 

where those important forested areas are. We know the connections 

between the land and water resources. And so we would be able to 

move quickly to apply those funds in Hawaii. 
81 

Senator HIRONO. You were talking about you thinking that there 

is an awareness in the state of the importance of our watersheds. 

Do you agree with that, that there is a general population awareness of the need to conserve water and that it is not a finite resource in Hawaii? 

Mr. MENARD. I would say that it needs to be, that that needs to 

improve. 

Dr. GON. There’s always a need for improvement, but I think 

that the Board of Water Alliance and various other folks have 

made it pretty clear to the population at large of the need to conserve of the fact that we have limited water supplies and maybe, 

to a lesser extent, of where that water comes from and what it depends on in order to maintain a supply into the future. 

Senator HIRONO. For example, you said that on Kauai the landowners there saw the need, so it is not as though they needed a 

financial incentive to step forward and do what needed to happen. 

Places like California, where they experience droughts and where 

it is very clear that water is a finite resource there, and they put 

in all kinds of programs that we have never had to do here such 

as not flushing toilets and all of that. 

I am just not sure whether there is that connection from a consumer standpoint, because don’t we consume more water in the 

state per capita than any other state? 

Dr. GON. That may be true. 

Senator HIRONO. We are way up there in terms of consumption. 

Dr. GON. We also, at least on this island, have huge water resources, and I think that that has allowed us to be complacent 

about these kinds of things. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Dr. GON. Therefore, the recent droughts on Maui and Hawaii, in 

particular, are beginning to draw attention to the fact that one size 

does not fit all across the archipelago, that there are places in 

which the water resources are in a different state and that there’s 

much more need for conservation and for protection of the sources 

of that water. 

Oahu might be, you know, it rains pretty much every day and 

so people get a feeling of, they get complacent about that kind of 

thing. They look up into the mountain and they see that it’s generally green and so you get the feel that our forests are in good 

shape. Whereas, those who know the conservation challenges of 

invasive weeds and the simplification of our forest watersheds and 

therefore a degradation of their ability to act as watershed. Those 

kinds of things are not so forefront in the minds of people, and I 

think that that needs to be enhanced. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes, especially as the reality is that our 

aquifers are having to support a lot more people, a lot more tourists, and I think there is more we can do along those lines. 

Do you think that there is a particular awareness among the Native Hawaiian community as to the importance of water? 

Dr. GON. I think that there is very easy to find very cogent arguments for the importance and the connection between forested watersheds and water supply in Hawaii in traditional knowledge. 

And so, that is certainly clear in the messages that were placed 

at the IUCN World Conservation Congress. 
82 

And so, the impression was that people in Hawaii were cognizant 

of those kinds of things. But I think that although Hawaiian 

knowledge is going to be important in pointing out and making the 

connections between people and place and people and forests and 

the importance of native species and forests, in general. Not everyone is in the state of sufficient enlightenment along those lines. 

And there’s always room for education and improvement in awareness. 

Senator HIRONO. Before you began your testimony you did a 

chant. Could you just briefly tell us what—— 

Dr. GON. Yes. It talked about how Oahu is clad in Oku Oku and 

the mist that cleans the mountain and that this is a mist that provides water to the Ohi Alawaka which is a type of Ohia tree in legend with white flowers on one side and red flowers on the other. 

And it talks about how that mist comes into the mountains and 

how the upright cliffs allow the rains to come and provide water 

to us, to us all. 

It speaks to an integration of the nature of just natural phenomena in the mythology and in the stories and in just the awareness of natural process to bring water to the land and provide life 

to people. So, that’s what that totally was about it. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

Dr. GON. I felt that it was an appropriate one for this particular 

session. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Dr. GON. So that’s why I shared it. 

Senator HIRONO. It was. 

Dr. GON. And thank you for giving me the opportunity to point 

out some of the features of that oli and why it was shared. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. 

The cultural aspects of how the people of Hawaii feel about our 

environment are very unique. 

Dr. GON. And in fact, rapid Ohia death on Hawaii island, where 

Mary Monarch came it was an opportunity for disaster if the world 

came to Hawaii, moved around on the island there and then moved 

to other islands and spread that disease to other islands. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Dr. GON. But it was the Hawaiian community and the Mary 

Monarch organizers that took the leave and make sure to minimize 

the amount of Ohia Lehua that was going to be used in ornamentation. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Dr. GON. And also to make sure that there was an opportunity 

to dispose of any lay materials so that it stayed on that island rather than moving back to the other islands. I think that cultural 

awareness and the cultural practitioners were really important in 

staving off what could have been an archipelagic disaster. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes, thank you for pointing that out. 

Matt, you bring to the table the unique perspective of planning 

and design. Do you feel that groups in Hawaii understand the importance of and are amenable to designing urban spaces to incorporate green infrastructure and decrease demand on Hawaii’s fresh 

water resources? And can you provide some examples or your as-
83 

sessment of what future projects and developments of this perspective may be particularly important for? 

Mr. GONSER. Thank you for that question. 

I shared their sentiments about levels of awareness and education and always opportunities to increase that. I’m glad you 

asked this question because I was going to offer that though we’re 

speaking about water volume or water quantity which is a very important discussion, I think we need a really full court press on 

water quality issues, particularly in our urban and community 

areas. 

The same ways that we can make that direct connection with the 

environmental services at green or public spaces or trees, as I alluded to before, serve as they’re trying to work in the upper forest 

to really manage water where it falls. We need a similar approach 

in our community and town centers. 

Either we need to do it voluntarily or in the next several rounds 

of our NPPS permits we’ll be required to. So it’s really the opportunity to get ahead of the game, to manage it onsite. 

I alluded to the public right-of-way because I really think it’s a 

public right-of-way meaning either building-to-building or sidewalk-to-sidewalk. It’s really our streets that the conspicuous relationship that we all have with this, which is our public space, 

though primarily for automobiles. If we can reintroduce nature and 

think about urban street trees through our Kaulunani urban and 

community forestry program and other programs at the county levels, I think that’s a huge opportunity to both mitigate heat island 

as well as manage water onsite and will just become more and 

more important as our rain conditions evolve and change. 

Research coming out of an arboretum in Illinois recently found 

that of all the water inputs into a bioswale that had trees planted, 

so a bioswale meaning a slightly depressed area for water to infiltrate, filter somewhat, perhaps overflow into another area from the 

irrigation and rainfall these trees in bioswales were managing 50 

to 75 percent of that water. So it was evaporating? 

So just the ability of these, I would call them, urban forests to 

help us both green Hawaii’s communities and manage rainfall onsite, I think, would become integral as we move forward. 

Senator HIRONO. Urban forests, that is an interesting thought. 

Do we have any such thing on Oahu? 

Mr. GONSER. We do. 

Senator HIRONO. Where? 

Mr. GONSER. Actually Oahu has some of the best information of 

its urban canopy. There’s a new urban kind of via assessment 

going out in the next couple of years and through Administrator 

Smith’s—as I mentioned, the Urban and Community Forestry program which receives Forest Service funding from the USDA and is 

managed through the DLNR. They’ve been the ones managing the 

grant moneys to then do these assessments. 

The sad story is in this next roll out I believe we’ll have seen a 

five-percent decrease over five years of our urban canopy. So, as I 

mentioned, these are long-term investments. They hopefully have 

long and healthy lives. So we need to start planting them now for 

the future. 
84 

Senator HIRONO. When you talk about urban forests, do you 

mean is it a matter of planting trees, maybe particular kinds of 

trees in our urban environment? 

Mr. GONSER. I would say the science is out. We still need more 

information on which species could provide those benefits I alluded 

to of urban heat mitigation and the storm water management. 

But when I say urban forestry, I really mean everything outside 

of our state conservation lands. It would be that expansive from 

our densely urban to our suburban and even to our rural town centers. 

Senator HIRONO. So, for example, if we had pocket parks 

throughout our community then it would matter what kind of trees 

are planted in those parks because I don’t know that there was 

much consideration given to those aspects of helping our water 

issues. 

Mr. GONSER. Yeah, and again, I’m just going to make a plug for 

the streets as they’re essentially rivers or conduits for rainwater to 

flow. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. GONSER. Expediently to the ocean. So if there are ways to 

repurpose. 

Senator HIRONO. Yes. 

Mr. GONSER. Again, that which is our public space, to provide 

these other sustainability and community benefits that I believe 

are consistent with the values of a lot of the residents of the state. 

I think that’s a very important opportunity to re-envision how we 

can be a green community and a model moving forward. 

Senator HIRONO. Are we doing well in terms of the kind of considerations in our landscape that you just mentioned? 

Mr. GONSER. In short, we can do better but we do have complete 

streets policies which is a little bit off topic but it’s about reallocating space for multiple modes of moving about our communities. 

And there are segments in there that include considerations for 

green infrastructure and urban forests. 

Senator HIRONO. Thank you. Thank you very much. I want to 

thank our three panels and, of course, the Governor and our Senator and Representative and our people who came from the mainland. Thank you very much. 

I hope that maybe you can spend at least another day here or 

so to see what our environment is like and what our culture is like 

because I very much welcome the opportunity for Members of the 

Administration to come to Hawaii and to see that Hawaii is much 

more than a tourism and military place, important as those activities are to the State of Hawaii. 

Please, feel free to work with my staff on any places that you 

could go to experience some of the aspects of Hawaii that will enable you to become advocates for us as we go forward. 

For this last panel, thank you very much for all that you do. 

There will be an opportunity for people who want to submit questions, let me see, there are magic words that I am supposed to say. 

[Laughter.] 

In terms of the record being open. 

The official record for this Committee hearing will be open for 

two weeks and after this hearing should anyone want to submit 
85 

any written testimony, you can do so by sending your testimony to 

testimony@hirono.senate.gov. For Senators and their staff, Members of the Committee or not, questions for the record are due by 

the close of business tomorrow. 

Thank you very much. I know that we will be working with you 

as we go forward. This is a very important topic. While the Energy 

Committee deals with what would seem to be energy issues, I really wanted to bring focus on the importance of our forested watersheds and that it is a part of the Energy Committee’s jurisdiction. 

Mahalo nui loa to each of you. 

This hearing is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 12 p.m. the hearing was adjourned.] 

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