Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources

The Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) is a part of the Hawaii state government dedicated to managing state parks and other natural resources of the state of Hawaii.

The DLNR is headed by an executive board, the Board of Land and Natural Resources (BLNR). It is composed of seven members, one from land district and two at large, and the Chairperson, who is the executive head of the Department. The Board convenes twice monthly.

The Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM) administers the 1987 State Water Code, Chapter 174C of the Hawaii Revised Statutes. "It has jurisdiction over land-based surface water and groundwater resources, but not coastal waters and generally, it is responsible for addressing water quantity issues, while water quality issues are under the purview of the Hawaii Department of Health. Of the seven commission members, two are members by virtue of office and five, who must have "substantial experience in water resource management", are appointed by the Governor. One term lasts four years. The Chairperson of the Commission is the Chair of the BLNR. The chairperson appoints the CWRM Deputy Director,

The CWRM's staff is divided into 4 main branches: a surveying, a planning, a groundwater regulation, and a stream protection and management branch. The survey branch collects hydrologic data. The planning branch is responsible for data analysis and preparing the Hawaii Water Plan. The ground-water regulation branch consists of 4 sections: Enforcement, Ground Water Allocation, Ground Water Infrastructure, and Ground Water Protection. They establish minimum standards for well construction, process water and well permits, and investigate. The stream protection and management branch establishes minimum standards for and processes permits for surface water or instream use.

The DLNR has 7 other committees, commissions and councils, including Aha Moku Advisory Committee, Endangered Species Recovery Committee, Hawaii Historic Places Review Board, Island Burials Councils, Kaho`olawe Island Reserve Commission, Legacy Land Conservation Commission, Natural Area Reserves Systems Commission.

As of 2014, the DLNR has 10 divisions:

...
Wikipedia