A landmark decision was handed down by the state yesterday that puts more than 12 million gallons of diverted water back into eight Maui streams. State Commission on Water and Resource Management Chair Laura Thielen called the amendments a monumental change. Under the new standards, a minimum amount of water will stay in the designated streams, feeding the natural waterways before the point of diversion. Alan Murakami, with Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation says it’s the first time that an interim instream flow standard has been set while a major sugar company is still operating and actively using the diversions. Officials at HC&S had hoped for a broader decision on all 27 streams so they could better assess the overall impact to their operations which currently employ 800 people through the irrigation of 30,000 acres of sugar cane. The commission plans to assess the progress after a year. (Posted: 9/26/08) Credit: Pacific Radio Group & Mauitoday.tv
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