Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission Seeks Applicants for Land Acquisition Funding

Funding will support efforts to preserve and protect lands that have historic or cultural significance,
abundant natural resources, and recreational value on O‘ahu

HONOLULU, JUNE 25, 2012 – Beginning July 1, 2012 applications to receive funding for land acquisition will be available through the Honolulu City Council’s Clean Water and Natural Lands Commission (Commission). Applications will be reviewed by the Commission, which will make recommendations to the City Council on projects to be funded through the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund. Final selection of projects to be funded will be made by the City Council as part of the City's annual budget process. Applications are due September 1, 2012 at 4:00 P.M.

 According to City Council Chair Ernest Martin, the Council has approved a total of nine exceptional O‘ahu land conservation projects in the first four cycles of the Fund. To date, these include: Kahuku Mauka Agricultural Lands, Kalauao Valley, Kukaniloko-Galbraith Lands, SunsetRanch, Honouliuli Preserve, Kunia Agricultural Research Station, the Fong Plantation, Hawea Heiau/Keawawa wetland, and Maunawila Heiau. “The Council encourages the public to work with the Commission through this process and to provide input that will assist it in making its recommendations to the Council,” Martin said.

According to Commission Chair Jean Campbell, the Commission has established an application process that reviews various criteria, including protection of watershed lands, historical or culturally significant land areas and sites, forests, beaches, coastal areas, and agriculture lands. Proposed projects may seek preservation of these areas through acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. Campbell said that the Commission will also consider factors such as the degree of urgency, financial support from other sources, and how a proposed project relates to the city’s fiscal priorities.

The application process to request funding from the City and County of Honolulu Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund for land acquisition on O’ahu opened on July 1, 2012 and will close September 1, 2012.  Please visit http://www.honolulu.gov/council/cbc/cwnl.htm to view and download the application and for other information about the fund.  Submitted applications will be reviewed and ranked by the Commission, which will make recommendations to the Honolulu City Council on projects to be funded by the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund.  

Final selection of projects to be funded will be made by the City Council as part of the City's annual budgeting process.  According to City Council Chair Ernest Martin, the Council has approved a total of nine exceptional O‘ahu land conservation projects in the first four cycles of the Fund. To date, these include: Kahuku Mauka Agricultural Lands, Kalauao Valley, Kukaniloko-Galbraith Lands, SunsetRanch, Honouliuli Preserve, Kunia Agricultural Research Station, the Fong Plantation, Hawea Heiau/Keawawa wetland, and Maunawila Heiau. “The Council encourages the public to work with the Commission through this process and to provide input that will assist it in making its recommendations to the Council,” Martin said.

According to Commission Chair Jean Campbell, the Commission has established an application process that reviews various criteria, including protection of watershed lands, historical or culturally significant land areas and sites, forests, beaches, coastal areas, and agriculture lands. Proposed projects may seek preservation of these areas through acquisition of fee title or conservation easements. Campbell said that the Commission will also consider factors such as the degree of urgency, financial support from other sources, and how a proposed project relates to the city’s fiscal priorities.

 

In 2006, Honolulu voters approved a charter amendment that set aside a portion of real property tax revenues for land conservation. In 2007, the Council established the Clean Water and Natural Lands Fund (Ordinance 07-18) and the Commission (Reso. 07-355 CD1) to advise the City Council on the use and expenditure of these funds. For more information about the Commission and the grant application process please visit http://www.honolulu.gov/council/cbc/cwnl.htm.