LAHAINA – The public is invited to attend hands-on workshops to identify and evaluate methods and scenarios to comprehensively manage, develop and use the water resources of Maui to meet the needs of all water users.

The results of these regional workshops will assist the county in preparing the Maui Island Water Use and Development Plan (WUDP).

The West Maui workshop will be held on Saturday, May 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lahaina Civic Center.

Workshop participants will be requested to review and provide input on: 1) regional issues and objectives used to evaluate water plan options and strategies; 2) draft water management, use and allocation guidelines; 3) options and scenarios to address water issues and create a comprehensive water plan; and 4) to test those scenarios for consistency with the planning objectives.

The first round of public meetings that wrapped up in April provided input on water issues around the island.

Meeting presentations, summaries and a short questionnaire to gather more input are available online at www.mauiwater.org. ?

The WUDP drafted several years ago is being redone in an effort to include a more comprehensive inventory of all water users and systems on Maui and to focus more attention on our ground, surface and alternative water resources.

According to Hawaii law, each county is required to prepare, periodically update and adopt by ordinance a WUDP to serve as the long-range planning blueprint for all uses of water in each county.

In addition to these workshops, the public will also have an opportunity to offer input at all of the scheduled Maui County Council Water Resources Committee meetings.

The Department of Water Supply, Water Resources and Planning Division is hosting the meetings; for information, call 463-3110.