Ala Wai Watershed Project

Project Objectives

Goal:

The goal of the project is to improve the quality of the Ala Wai watershed, from the crest of the Ko’olau Mountains to the nearshore waters, with a focus on reducing flood hazards and restoring aquatic ecosystem function.


Objectives:

• Flood Risk Management: Reduce riverine flood hazards to property and life safety in the Ala Wai watershed, with an emphasis on:
  • improving water conveyance
  • restoring hydrologic and hydraulic functions and processes to a more natural state, where possible
  • incorporating natural habitat features (consistent with the ecosystem restoration objective)
  • integrating non-structural approaches


• Ecosystem Restoration: Preserve, restore, or reverse the degradation of aquatic habitat functions and processes, where possible throughout the Ala Wai watershed, with an emphasis on:
  • improving habitat and connectivity for native aquatic species
  • improving floodplain functions in urbanized portion of watershed
  • increasing extent and connectivity of riparian habitat
  • reducing sediment inputs to streams and the Ala Wai Canal


• Water Quality Improvement: Improve water quality in the streams and canals within the Ala Wai watershed in support of CWA swimming and fishing goals, with an emphasis on:
  • improving management of stormwater, sediments, and other pollutants
  • minimizing ecological and human health risks associated with exposure to degraded water quality


• Maximized Recreation Opportunities: Incorporate public use, access, recreation, and environmental education opportunities in combination with the flood risk management and ecosystem restoration objectives within the Ala Wai watershed.



• Water Supply Enhancement: Contribute to conservation and recharge of groundwater in combination with the flood risk management and ecosystem restoration objectives within the Ala Wai watershed.