Updated at 4:01 p.m., Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Agreement paves way for $5 million marsh project
Advertiser Staff
The city and state have agreed to share responsibilities for flood control at Kawai Nui Marsh, paving the way for a $5 million restoration project to move forward.Under the agreement, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources will acquire the rest of the marsh and maintain a levee. The city will continue to maintain the Oneawa Channel.
In conjunction with the agreement, the Legislature has approved a bill that would provide $500,000 for the maintenance of the marsh in the first year and $420,000 for subsequent years.
A $5 million wetland restoration project that includes creating about 70 acres of ponds for water birds had stalled and stood a good chance of losing its federal funding because the city and the state could not agree on who would be responsible for the flood control project in the marsh.
The agreement means it can move forward.
