Stormwater Resilience and Flood Risk Management
Consult
High
High
Planning
County
State
County & State
Private
Lahaina Watershed Flood Control Project
“Incentivize 100% stormwater control and infiltration (with simple vegetative swales) to eliminate brown water events that impact our reefs and to recharge the aquifer...”
Community Quote from Long-Term Planning Recovery Survey
Purpose
This project will implement holistic stormwater and flood management, minimize stormwater runoff into the ocean and manage floodwaters across West Maui.
Project Description
Drainage Master Plan Update (to address localized flooding in urbanized areas of Lahaina) and preliminary design for the flood control project (retention basins and diversion channels mauka of Lahaina). This project is supported through U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service’s (NRCS) Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations Program. The County Department of Public Works (DPW) is the local sponsor with Stantec as contractor. The project is currently working on a supplementary environmental impact study since the original Environmental Impact Statement was written in the 1980s, and a hydrologic and hydraulic study. Once studies are completed, USDA NRCS and DPW will discuss the data, needs and how the Lahaina Watershed can address the needs through feasible conservation practices, either structural or non-structural.
Interdependencies and Roadblocks
This project aligns with the current effort to develop a watershed management plan for Kahoma and Kaua’ula watersheds. Currently there is a lack of sponsorship for NRCS projects. The current contract NRCS has is for roughly $1.4 million, but additional funds are needed. This project will have to compete nationally for design funding.
Next Steps
- Identification of funding source(s) and design
Latest Updates
Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan
The County of Maui Department of ʻŌiwi Resources is currently working with Group 70 International, Inc. (G70) to develop the Lahaina Royal Complex Master Plan. The project scope includes hydrology and water policy; wildfire resiliency and risk planning; biological and ecological assessment; cultural landscape architecture; community engagement protocol; transportation circulation planning; topographical survey; cultural and archaeological studies; soils and geotechnical studies; and boundary mapping.
Provide your comments on the draft Action Plan online, by mail or in-person at the Lahaina Resource Center or Kāko‘o Maui Relief & Aid Services Center.
Contact
Project Details
Cost Estimate:
TBD
Existing Funding Sources:
Project Lead:
County Department of Public Works
Potential Funding Sources:
Watershed Protection Grants Program
Project Partners:
- County Department of Agriculture
- State Department of Health,
Surface Water Protection Branch - State Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Aquatics Resources
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Alignment with West Maui Community Plan (WMCP)
- Goal 2.1 Ready and resilient systems
- Action 1.38 Update the Lahaina Town Drainage Master Plan for Low Impact Development (LID) and develop an implementation plan
- Action 1.39 Support the implementation of flood control projects and siltation basins mauka of Honoapiʻilani Highway, including the remaining phases of the Lahaina Watershed project to address problem areas
- Action 1.40 Maintain a current inventory of drainage facilities in West Maui for use in developing long-term plans to address stormwater issues
- Action 1.41 Improve stormwater management systems along the Lower Honoapiʻilani Road to minimize stormwater runoff to the ocean
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