Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources Division Of Forestry And Wildlife To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.
Summary
SCR 42 is a Senate Concurrent Resolution urging the Department of Land and Natural Resources, through its Division of Forestry and Wildlife, to prioritize the restoration and protection of additional wetlands in Hawaiʻi. It also urges the Division of Agricultural Resources to extend wetland-style protective policies to anchialine pools, which are rare coastal ecosystems with unique species. The resolution specifically highlights wetlands in Kihei on Maui and asks that their protection be prioritized over development concerns where feasible.
The measure is framed as an environmental protection and resource management resolution rather than a statutory mandate. Its findings emphasize that wetlands support water quality, reduce flooding, improve wildfire and drought resilience, filter runoff before it reaches the ocean, and provide habitat for endangered species and other wildlife. It also notes that protecting wetlands can be more cost-effective than restoring degraded areas later, and that anchialine pools face similar risks of degradation without additional protections.
Impact
SCR 42 does not directly amend the Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes or create new regulatory requirements; instead, it expresses the Legislature’s policy preference and urges executive agencies to act. If followed, it could influence DLNR and related divisions to elevate wetland and anchialine pool conservation in planning, permitting, and restoration priorities, especially in Kihei and other vulnerable areas. The resolution may also reinforce existing state water-quality and environmental protection frameworks by encouraging broader application of protective policies to these ecosystems.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the resolution. In the Senate Water and Land Committee, the measure passed 5-0 with amendments, indicating unanimous committee approval among those voting. The bill text itself is strongly pro-conservation, and the stated rationale focuses on environmental resilience, habitat protection, and long-term fiscal prudence. No opposing testimony or committee debate is provided in the record excerpt.
Contention
The main tension reflected in the resolution is between environmental protection and development pressure, particularly in Kihei on Maui. The resolution explicitly asks that wetland protection be prioritized over development concerns where feasible, signaling that land-use and permitting interests may be the likely area of disagreement. Another potential point of contention is the extension of wetland-style protections to anchialine pools, which could affect future project approvals or land management decisions. However, no direct opposition is shown in the available committee materials.
Same As
Urging The Department Of Land And Natural Resources Division Of Forestry And Wildlife To Prioritize The Restoration And Protection Of Additional Wetlands And Anchialine Pools.