The Senate Committee on Water and Land voted to pass SB 1083 on Feb. 5, a bill that makes appropriations to the Department of Land and Natural Resources for maintenance dredging at state small boat harbors, launch ramps and waterways.

Megan Stats, Administrator for the Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR), said dredging costs vary widely by site and scope. "The dredging cost anywhere between 3 to 5,000,000, just depending on how big of a task it really is," Stats told the committee, and she gave examples: Pohuiki had costs approaching $9.6 million; Wailoa was about $4.9 million, supplemented with Boating Special Fund monies; Hilo was recently finished. She said smaller projects can cost roughly $2 million.

Stats and other witnesses told senators proactive funding would allow DOBOR to plan design and permitting in advance, rather than reactively seeking capital improvement funds. Senator McKelvey asked whether pre-permitting would streamline federal permitting; Megan Stats and department engineers confirmed that doing design and permitting ahead of need would reduce wait times for dredging work.

The Ocean Tourism Coalition (Denver Gruen) and other industry representatives testified in strong support, describing the bill as a proactive approach that benefits mariners and commercial users. The committee adopted the chair's recommendation to pass SB 1083 with amendments and to attach a defective effective date of July 1, 2050, and the roll call showed the committee voted in favor.

Why it matters: Small boat harbors are vital to local fishing and tourism economies. Regular maintenance dredging supports safe navigation and commerce; the committee advanced a bill intended to give DLNR predictable funding to plan dredging and permitting work more proactively than the current reactive model.