Schatz secures provisions to support critical flood management, environmental restoration projects on Maui

US Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) helped secure provisions in the biennial water resources bill that will support critical flood management and environmental restoration projects across on Maui and across the state. The Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024, which unanimously passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works last week, authorizes flood control, navigation, and ecosystem protection projects for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 

“As climate change drives more intense storms and flooding across Hawai‘i, we need all the federal support we can get to protect our communities and restore critical ecosystems,” said Sen. Schatz. “This bill will help strengthen water infrastructure in every county and help us prevent dangerous flooding, while creating good-paying local jobs.”

The legislation includes authorization for key projects in Hawai‘i, including:

Maui

• New feasibility studies for flood risk management and ecosystem restoration projects across the county

Kaua‘i

• New feasibility studies for ecosystem restoration, flood risk management, and hurricane and storm damage risk reduction projects, including the Hanapēpē Levee
• Expedited completion on flood risk management project at Waimea River

Hawai‘i Island

• Expedited completion of major maintenance project at Laupāhoehoe Harbor

O‘ahu

• Expedited completion of report on the Ala Wai Flood Risk Management Study
• New feasibility study for flood risk management project in Hawai‘i Kai
• Expedited completion of a feasibility study on modified navigation project at Honolulu Deep Draft Harbor