About the Branch

Protecting Hawai’i’s Waters

One Watershed, One Project

At a Time

Our Mission

The mission of the Surface Water Protection Branch is to protect and improve the quality of Hawai’i’s water resources by preventing and reducing nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.

What is the Surface Water Protection Branch?

Past

In 1987, amendments to the federal Clean Water Act (CWA) under Section 319 placed new emphasis on NPS pollution management and included specific requirements and responsibilities for state NPS pollution programs.

In November of 1990, Hawaii completed its Nonpoint Source Water Pollution Management Plan (NPSMP) and Assessment of Nonpoint Source Pollution Water Quality Problems. The Department of Health established the Polluted Runoff Control (PRC) Program within the Clean Water Branch to restore impaired waters by implementing Hawaii’s NPSMP and watershed-based plans.

Several people are standing on rocks in a stream in the forest. One of them is bending down to collect a water sample in a semi-translucent, white bottle.
Inland Stream Sampling on Maui
SWPB assisted in installing erosion control mats during a site visit to Kahoʻolawe.

Present

In 2021, the Department of Health established the new Surface Water Protection Branch (SWPB) under the authority of Hawaii Revised Statutes (HRS), Chapter 342E, Nonpoint Source Management and Control.

The SWPB develops and implements collaborative strategies such as the Coastal Nonpoint Pollution Control Program run jointly with the Coastal Zone Management Program; funds projects; and provides technical assistance to people working to reduce NPS pollution.

The SWPB is currently developing monitoring and control programs in accordance with Hawaii Administrative Rules (HAR) Chapter 11-56.

The duties and responsibilities of the fully established SWPB shall include:

  • Informing the public of HAR 11-56 requirements
  • Compliance assistance
  • Technical assistance for Watershed-Based Plans
  • Water quality monitoring
  • Statewide water quality planning and analyses
  • Section 319 grant administration, and
  • Enforcement of HRS, Chapter 342E.

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