Maui Water

Maui Tomorrow has been on the front lines advocating for wise decisions regarding use and protection of this public trust resource. • East Maui Water Decision – East Maui Irrigation has diverted flow from over 100 streams and tributaries for over a century. After a 17-year battle, the Commission on Water Resource Management issued a decision that restored mauka-to-makai flow in 17 streams, including full flow to 10 taro producing streams. Native stream life has already begun to come back to some formerly dry stream channels. In addition to providing for stream habitat, recreation, and beauty, this decision leaves more than enough water for agriculture to continue in central Maui, especially if regenerative farming practices are used. Although the stream flow standards have now been set, several of the streams remain dry, because the diversion structures are still in place. Maui Tomorrow is continuing to push for removal of these diversions, and the actual return of water to the streams. • 30-year Lease – Alexander and Baldwin (A&B) continues to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for a 30-year lease of the waters from the East Maui streams. It is unclear what the Department of Land and Natural Resources would do if there were another bidder for this lease. It is also unclear whether A&B, now a real estate investment trust, will continue to own the agricultural lands that they say they will irrigate. Maui Tomorrow is there representing a vision for this land and water to support a sustainable, green future for Maui’s people and ‘āina. • East Maui Water Roundtable – Maui Tomorrow participated in an East Maui Water Round Table that discussed water issues relating to the closure of the sugar plantation, future irrigation needs in Central Maui, and the needs of Upcountry water users. Participants included representatives from the U.S. Geological Survey, the University of Hawaii, Alexander and Baldwin/ East Maui Irrigation, the Maui County Department of Water Supply, Hawaiian cultural practitioners, and community associations. Maui Tomorrow is part of a team that will issue a report from this event entitled “Mālama Wai,” which will offer consensus based strategies for better management of East Maui water resources, for the benefit of the watershed and the many who depend upon these waters. • West Maui Streamflow Standards Set – At long last, the state water commission took the initiative and set streamflow standards for six West Maui streams, over the objections of developers who wanted to continue subdividing agricultural land for expensive homes. Maui Tomorrow was there to support the water commission’s action on behalf of our West Maui allies and coastal ecosystems. Now that the West Maui streamflow standards have been adopted, we will continue to support their implementation.