Hirono, Schatz Secure Several Provisions to Support Hawaii Communities and Strengthen Disaster Resilience in 2024 Water Resources Development Act

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Senate passed the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024, which includes several provisions secured by U.S. Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) to benefit Hawaii’s communities and strengthen the state’s disaster resilience. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Army, through the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, to conduct studies, construct projects, and research activities to improve U.S. waterways. The bill passed the Senate by 97-1 and now heads to the President’s desk to be signed into law.

“The Water Resources Development Act is crucial legislation to strengthen our country’s water conservation efforts and improve waterways. This year’s bill includes several provisions that will benefit Hawaii’s communities, including projects to expand access to resources for remote communities, reduce flood and storm damages across the state, and support Maui as they continue to recover after the wildfires,” said Senators Hirono and Schatz. “We’re proud to have helped secure these provisions and will continue fighting to ensure that Hawaii has the federal support necessary to enhance our waterway infrastructure and improve disaster resilience efforts.”

WRDA—legislation that is passed every two years—enables the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to carry out activities related to the conservation and development of water and related resources, such as flood control, navigation, and ecosystem restoration.  

In October 2023, Senator Hirono and Senator Schatz sent a letter to leadership of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works requesting the inclusion of several provisions that would benefit Hawaii’s communities in the 2024 WRDA. Ten of those provisions were included in the final bill, including:

Supporting Maui Post-Wildfires

• Maui Wildfire Response:
• Prioritizes watersheds of the island of Maui, including Wahikuli, Honokowai, Kahana, Honokahua, and Honolua, as well as the coral reef habitat north of Lahaina, in watershed and river basin assessments recommending construction or modification of water resources development projects.
• Creates a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and ecosystem restoration in the County of Maui.
• Carries out a post-disaster watershed assessment for areas impacted by the August 2023 wildfires on Maui.

Expanding Access to Resources

• Section 444 Amendments: Adds Hawaii to the “Pacific Region” within Section 444 of the WRDA of 1996. This would allow USACE to partner with stakeholders on a broader range of projects including cultural resources preservation and environmental restoration.
• Expanding Remote and Subsistence Harbors Eligibility: Expands eligibility for coastal communities whose longevity is linked to harbor accessibility. This change would also allow for greater consideration of cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits to the local community in cost-benefit analyses.
• Remote, Coastal, or Small Storm Damage Reduction Projects: Creates an avenue for remote, coastal areas to include comprehensive cultural, social, and ecosystem benefits in cost-benefit analyses for small hurricane and storm damage reduction projects. This addition would also allow remote, coastal communities to qualify for projects based on increased area costs, remote location, or the relationship between project success and long-term community viability.

Strengthening Disaster Resilience

• Honolulu Deep-Draft Harbor Funding Modifications: Amends the current study to expand its scope, including to consider disaster resilience and enhanced national security from utilization of the harbor by the Department of Defense.
• Laupahoehoe Harbor Breakwater: Expedites the completion of the repairs of the damaged seawall at Laupahoehoe Harbor.
• Flood and Coastal Risk Management Study for County of Kauai: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management and coastal storm risk management in the County of Kauai.
• Hanapepe Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Hanapepe Levee project to evaluate sources of flooding and propose engineering and non-structural solutions to reduce flood damages in the Hanapepe River watershed.
• Waimea Levee Assessment Expanded Authority: Modifies the current Waimea project to evaluate sources of flooding in the Waimea River watershed and investigate modifications to existing Waimea River levees on the southwest coast of Kauai.
• Kuliouou Stream Flood Risk Management: Authorizes a new project to conduct a feasibility study for flood risk management in Hawaii Kai.

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