S.C.R. No. 176 Summary

• Ka'elepulu watershed in Kailua, O'ahu covers approximately 3,450 acres and is identified as a federal Environmental Protection Agency watershed priority.

• Ka'elepulu stream is listed as impaired water under Clean Water Act section 303(d) due to turbidity, nutrients, bacteria, and chlorophyll pollution from storm water runoff, septic tanks, cesspools, and sanitary sewer overflows.

• The Department of Health designated Ka'elepulu watershed for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) development but never completed the process; the watershed was downgraded from high to medium priority in 2016 and later assigned category 5 status due to increased turbidity.

• TMDL process has stalled because the Department cannot locate a quality assurance data plan and sample analysis plan report from 2005 and refuses to accept preliminary draft data without the final report.

• Urges the Department of Health to complete the TMDL process for Ka'elepulu watershed by December 31, 2019, and directs certified copies be sent to the Governor, Director of Health, and Mayor of Honolulu.