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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-11-30 NKCDP Ag Water Meeting Notes FinalReport of the Parks, Water Roads Subcommittee of the North Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee Notes from the First Integrated Ag. Water Meeting. 11/30/2016 This was the first of what will be several information -gathering meetings on this topic This system is for North Kohala (not N&S) Need to assure entire system integrity. • Sufficient water for all users. • Attention to modern ag users and heritage use (water returned to streams). • Distribution laterals are imperative (restore lost ones and consider new ones). • Several said they had installed ag water pipes on their land because ditch water was promised, but not delivered. One estimated 40 to 50 landowners are in this position. Charlie Anderson said he would provide a map of all those who expected ag water. • To be economically viable, an ag water system will need to provide access to a much wider reach of farmers than the Ditch currently supplies. Who will eventually control the ditch/system? All agreed is must be North Kohala users. • Present Kohala Ditch Foundation is a temporary and transitional manager. • PUC says Owners must manage. A "Consumer Co -Operative" is preferred, according to Kije Hazelwood. • Bill Shontell: Surety will not last forever, he's happy with the Co -Op group now forming. Careful attention must be paid to the structure of the entire system. • Physical portions: ditch, tunnels, reservoirs, distribution laterals. • Personnel. Central system plus lateral user groups (one rep for each group). • Easements, usage rates, metering/billing. • Kamehameha Schools controls the Ditch headwaters and has responsibility for much of the "heritage use" of Kohala water to provide for traditional farming practices. • System needs to support small farmers as well as large. • Non -consumptive users (kayak operations, etc.). • The Co-op is planning to have licensing agreements with groups of users on each of the lateral lines. Each lateral having its own co-op, Hazelwood said. How will distribution line repair and new construction plus maintenance be funded? Tunnels may dry up too during a prolonged drought, according to Shontell. The ditch itself is presently in robust shape (perhaps best -ever). The distribution system, however, is definitely not robust. • Most lines are old. • Many are broken. • Many relatively new ones have been off-line for a long time and are likely to leak when activated. • New lines will require easements. • Highway crossings are typically a problem with DOT. There was a LOT of sentiment to get the water to the users (distribution). Kirk and Lani Eubanks produced a detailed water resources report done in 1974, showing locations and capacities of mauka water. Is the Ditch or an expanded system financially viable? Several attendees expressed concern over the financial viability of an expanded ag water system. Bill Shontell said the ditch needs more users to be financially viable. There is a need to look at how many more farmers would be needed to have the system operate and sustain itself. There was a suggestion to make a business plan and develop a set of financials to determine if a locally owned ditch business can be sustainable. New farmers will tend to purchase land where there is available cheap ag water. What will this $1.5 million accomplish?? • Why not put it straight into distribution lines? • Need to fully assess the entire system in advance. Only then can you adequately work to create an integrated system with a likelihood of working properly. The group who showed up (perhaps 25 people, representing Surety, the Co -Op, and many end- users and potential users) were in agreement on these points. There were no arguments. From Gail Byrne Baber via email: • Any study should include a detailed on -the -ground assessment of the current infrastructure. It will need on -the -ground information on what condition of the infrastructure (pipes, valves, any pumps) is to accurately set water rates and set asides for reserves for infrastructure replacement and maintenance. • Kohala should easily qualify for a 0% or very low interest loan from the Rural Community Assistance Corporation and should qualify for a planning grant, assuming they still offer these programs. • Ag water users must have an NRCS Ag plan for access and an Ag rate, not just County Ag plan. In my opinion, this extra water should not grow lawns and landscaping for large estates. And within in this group of NRCS plans, preference should be given to full time farmers.