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(V os <br /> Wil Okabe <br /> • ",i•" Managing Director <br /> Harry Kim Mayor • .'••••f.pi`Mr` Barbara J.Kossow <br /> •��` Deputy Managing Director <br /> , <br /> Guilty ofC tz£vtri`i <br /> ODffire offileAgar <br /> 25 Aupuni Street,Suite 2603 • Hilo,Hawai`i 96720 • (808)961-8211 • Fax(808)961-6553 <br /> KONA. 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy,Bldg.C • Kailua-Kona,Hawaii 96740 <br /> (808)323-4444 • Fax(808)323-4440 <br /> March 14, 2017 <br /> Senator Karl Rhoads, Chairman <br /> and Committee Members <br /> Senate Committee on Water and Land <br /> State of Hawaii Legislature <br /> Honolulu, Hawaii 96815 <br /> Dear Chairman Rhoads and Committee Members, <br /> RE: HB 630 HD1 <br /> Relating to Drought Mitigation <br /> Thank you for the opportunity to provide supportive testimony regarding HB 630, <br /> HD1 relating to the appropriation of funds to support county drought mitigation <br /> measures and projects and a planner within the Commission on Water Resource <br /> Management. The County of Hawaii strongly supports this bill. <br /> Drought can be one of the more wide spread and damaging of natural disasters <br /> causing negative economic impacts due to crop and livestock losses; degrading natural <br /> areas and negatively impacting plants and wildlife; increasing the risk and extent of <br /> wildfires; generating water restrictions for domestic and commercial customers and <br /> expanding the risk of inadequate water supplies for fighting fires. Additionally, <br /> thousands of residents, especially in the districts of South Kona, Ka'u and Puna, rely <br /> solely on rain catchment for their daily drinking water, cooking, bathing and sanitation <br /> needs. <br /> With the intent of increasing preparedness to effectively address drought <br /> conditions, the State of Hawaii previously funded and collaborated with each county to <br /> develop drought mitigation strategies. In 2004, the Hawaii Drought Committee <br /> convened to compile an inventory of drought mitigation programs; identified gaps in <br /> data and risk areas; and prioritized and recommended drought mitigation as expressed <br /> through the County of Hawai'i Drought Mitigation Strategies. Over the course of years' <br /> County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer <br />