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From: Janice Palma-Glennie COUNTY CLERK
To: Council Testimony COUNTY OF HAWAI'I
Subject: Bill 65(Tuesday)-Protect our most critical Public Trust resource RECEIVED
Date: Tuesday,September 19,2017 7:53:33 AM Time By 1644)
Importance: High
Attn:AGRICULTURE, WATER AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE
Re: Bill 65 needs to be stronger and its planning inclusive
Aloha,
Though I appreciate the work of the Dept of Water Supply for working toward protecting our aquifer and
nearshore waters, I feel strongly that Bill 65 does not go far enough to those ends. I'm requesting that
AGRICULTURE, WATER AND ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY COMMITTEE members help guide the DWS'by adding
language that improves this bill.
The Dept. of Water Supply understands that there will be no more basal aquifer wells, public or private, in
the thin lens just above sea level, which feeds our fishponds, pools and reef.That's good. But their current
plan will rely on existing and new high level/mauka wells.Those wells have keep failing and have falling
water levels. As you know,four wells went out at the same time ten years ago, and there were mandatory
restrictions. Now here we are again, but even worse.
The DWS needs to be accountable, and the Public needs to have the opportunity, and be encouraged,to be
involved at every level of the process.A systematic identification and preservation of impacted
natural/cultural resources needs to be instated with those closest to the resource, including kupuna.
The Water Use Development Plan assumes a steady state recharge of the aquifer, but that seems
unreasonably optimistic since the 2011 USGS ( US Geological Survey) assessment showed a 50%variation in
recharge rate between wet and dry years. Climate models show a drying trend in the future for Kona, which
has been evident to residents like myself who have lived here for over 4 decades. Besides being overly
dependent upon wells that may or may not provide the water this region requires,the plan must be
predicated upon a drier future.
Please insist that DWS provide a stronger and more sustainable water use plan that includes a wide swathe
of public input and supports the National Park Service aquifer designation petition which would help DWS
achieve their water management goals.
Mahalo and sincerely,
Janice palma-glennie
Kailua-kona
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