Opinion ID: 2581050
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Water Commission's D & O II

Text: On remand, the Water Commission determined that there was sufficient evidence in the existing record to set an interim instream flow standard without further hearings.... D & O II at 7. On April 4, 2001, the Water Commission heard arguments regarding the remaining issues on remand. On August 1, 2001, the Water Commission issued its proposed legal framework, findings of fact, and decision and order (proposed decision and order). Several parties filed written exceptions to, and the Water Commission held oral arguments on, the proposed decision and order. On December 28, 2001, the Water Commission issued its 158 page D & O II and concluded, inter alia, that: 1) 8.7 mgd shall be released into Waiãhole stream, 3.5 mgd shall be released into Waianu stream, and 3.5 mgd shall be released into Waikãne stream; 2) IIFSs must be met before the ditch operator may allocate water to any of the leeward offstream permitted uses, and any water not used shall be released into the windward streams, of which 0.9 mgd shall be released into Waikãne stream and any remainder into Waiãhole stream; 3) 2,500 gad for acres under cultivation or planned to be under cultivation is a reasonable water duty for leeward diversified agriculture and the diversified agriculture water use permits are conditioned on a showing of actual use, not to exceed 2,500 gad, within four years of this Decision and Order[;] 4) Campbell Estate and PMI have no practicable alternative sources of water; and 5) ADC should be able to function with a system-loss use permit of 2.00 mgd. D & O II at 134-39. In addition, the Water Commission found that the Windward Parties had a full and fair opportunity to present the issue of Campbell Estate's transfer of its EP-15/16 water use permit to BWS and, based on the evidence, did present this issue in the context of the Waiãhole I remanded case hearing. The Water Commission then concluded that Campbell Estate's transfer of its EP-15/16 water use permit to BWS was legal. The Windward Parties and HTF timely appealed.