Commission approves Waimea deep monitoring well permit to improve aquifer data in Kauai area

HONOLULU — The Commission on Water Resource Management on May 20 approved a well construction permit for a Waimea deep monitoring well sited at Hāpuna Beach Park on Kauai. The well will be used for long‑term aquifer monitoring; the applicant is drilling on state land and the project has obtained required SMA and conservation district permits.

Lede: The commission approved the construction permit for a deep monitoring well to gather aquifer condition data in the Waimea aquifer system; staff said the permit is for monitoring only and not for consumptive use, and they exempted the well from the usual quarter‑to‑half aquifer depth limitation because of the monitoring need.

Nut graf: Committee staff and the applicant told commissioners the Waimea aquifer currently has a sustainable yield of about 16 million gallons per day (MGD), with roughly 36 production wells and current reported production approximately 13.974 MGD (12‑month moving average as of January 2025). Staff said improved deep monitoring is needed because current reported pumpage approaches the sustainable yield threshold used in designation policy.

Key points from the staff presentation - Purpose: the well is a conventional deep monitoring well for long‑term aquifer observation and will provide data where deep monitoring is currently lacking on Kauai. - Location and permits: the proposed site at Hāpuna Beach Park lies within the conservation district and special management area; staff said they consulted the Historic Preservation Division and state parks and found no anticipated impacts to known historic properties in the immediate project area. SMA and CDUP approvals were in place for the project. - Cultural review: staff completed a Kapu A Kai review (6(e))-style analysis of potential traditional and customary practices in the area; the staff report notes local practitioners and community representatives were consulted and that no specific adverse cultural impacts were anticipated from a monitoring well that does not extract water for use.

Action taken - Motion to issue the well construction permit for the Waimea Deep Monitoring Well with standard conditions and a special condition exempting the well from the quarter‑to‑half aquifer depth limit (monitoring well only); motion passed unanimously (7–0).

Clarifying details - Waimea aquifer context: staff reported a sustainable yield of 16 MGD; 36 production wells exist with 32 reporting water use; reported 12‑month moving average pumpage was ~13.974 MGD as of January 2025 (~87% of sustainable yield). - Special condition: staff recommended a waiver of the typical depth restriction because the purpose is monitoring; Department of Land and Natural Resources (landowner) and State Parks reviewed and supported the project subject to standard cultural and environmental safeguards.

Speakers - Ryan Imatha, Program Manager, Groundwater Regulation Branch (CWRM) — presented the permit summary and Kapu A Kai review - Leimana (Ahamoku) and other community representatives provided cultural context and offered to share generational knowledge with staff during implementation

Provenance (transcript evidence) - topicintro: {"block_id":"t-13529.93","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"Okay. Good afternoon, chair, commissioners. Ryan Imatha, program manager for Groundwater Regulation Branch. Today, I am presenting to you a submittal on the well construction permit for the Waimea Deep Monitor Well..."} - topfinish: {"block_id":"t-14631.04","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"All in favor, please say aye or raise your hand. Okay. Motion passes unanimously with 7 votes."}

Authorities and compliance - State permitting: special management area (SMA) and conservation district approvals were obtained as required; staff also coordinated with Historic Preservation Division on cultural resources.

Community relevance - Geographies: Waimea (Kauai) aquifer - Impact groups: Kauai water managers, local cultural practitioners, shoreline park users

Meeting context - Engagement level: staff presentation and cultural remarks; permit approved after standard discussion; commissioners emphasized cultural due diligence and technical monitoring needs - Implementation risk: low — monitoring well only, no consumptive use requested

Searchable tags:["Waimea","deep monitoring well","Kauai","aquifer monitoring"]

Salience - overall:0.35 - overall_justification: Monitoring well will fill an identified data gap in Waimea aquifer conditions and supports future management decisions.