This watershed work is different than other watershed work on Maui as it is focused on water quality, identifying pollutant sources, and estimating the pollutant loads entering the waterbodies. Knowing the pollutant sources, types, and amounts leads to management and planning. We have to look at the whole, and measure the mass of pollutants. Other Clean Water Act goals include 1) eliminating point source discharges of pollution, covered under NPDES permits regulating wastewater discharges from private industry and utilities, also construction site runoff (for sites larger than one acre) and 2) controlling non-point sources of pollution such as ag, and urban runoff. At minimum, the plan will provide for the waters to meet the basic Clean Water Act goals of being fishable and swimmable. The watershed is defined based on hydrology and includes all waters above and below ground, and the ocean near shore. Overview of SMWP and Watershed Planning Processįunding for this project is provided under an EPA 319 grant. The result will be recommended Best Management Practices (BMPs) for all land uses to help land managers and users better protect our natural resources. Assess and Report happen every two years. Assess = is it meeting goals? Report = States report their assessments to the EPA, which reports to Congress. The process is part of an adaptive management cycle: Monitor, Assess, Report, Act (and back to Monitor). The people of Maui had opportunities to work together to develop this plan. South Maui’s nearshore waters have been deemed 'impaired' by the state Department of Health. The planning area includes lands mauka to makai, from Makena to Ma`alaea Bay. The Southwest Maui Watershed Plan is an effort sponsored by the Central Maui Soil and Water Conservation District with the goal of developing a plan for improved water quality in the Hapapa, Wailea, and Mo`oloa watersheds of South Maui.

Ag source water shed meetng