Office of Planning: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the State of Hawaii GIS database may be reflected in the data supplied. The user must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. The GIS data or cartographic digital files are not a legal representation of any of the features which they depict. No warranty expressed or implied is made by State of Hawaii GIS program regarding the accuracy or utility of this information.
wqc.problems ********* Documents problems in compiling/digitizing/editing wqc layer ********* Each entry below is keyed to the wqc-id of the polygon with the problem.
41,46 - A portion of polygon 46 overlapped with polygon 41. The overlap was allocated to the more restrictive classification (Polygon 41).
69,70 (Whale sanctuary)- These polygons stored in a separate layer because they overlap other wqc areas. The 'marine standards' for the Whale sanctuary were assigned to be 1 (the most restrictive), although portions of it are also 2 (open coastal waters), or 3 (oceanic waters). The 'marine standard' values are stored in the INFO file: wqc.lut Humpback Whale Sanctuary boundaries will likely be changed in 1994.
This dataset amends the 1994 Water Quality Standards Classifications dataset originally created by Ogden Environmental Services for the State Office of Planning. Reasonable effort has been made to correct inaccuracies and upadates to the original dataset. However, the amended dataset should not be construed to represent all known Water Quality Standards Classifications in the vicinity of the main Hawaiian Islands.
The following changes and/or additions were incorporated into the dataset:
1: Added the Water Standards Classification boundary around Niihau.
2: Corrected the Water Standards Classifications around Hawaii island by changing the Class A waters to Class AA waters and vice versa.
3: Kahoolawe and Sand Island were erased from the relevant Water Standards Classifications polygons.
4: Corrected the Water Standards Classification around Kahoolawe from Class A to Class AA waters.
5: Amended the Water Standards Classifications boundary between Maui and Kahoolawe to correspond with maps published by the State Dept. of Health, Clean Water Branch on their website.
6: Polygons representing the island land masses were deleted from the dataset, leaving only the Water Standards Classification polygons.
7: The fields Bound1, Bound2, and Bound3 in the original Water Standards Classification dataset were replaced in the amended dataset by a single field Descript.
The following notes and problems were documented from the original [1994] dataset and is reproduced here for reference. These items were left unaddressed and are relevant to the amended Water Quality Standards Classifications dataset.
Note 1: Polygon # 70, Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, is miscoded, with a "Standard" field code of 12. Polygon was left with this code, since OP was unsure as to what the correct code should be.
Note 2: This layer does not include restrictions for the Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, which should logically have the restrictive water quality standards.
Note 3: Pearl Harbor does not have a water quality classification, because it is classified as an estuary, not marine waters.
Note 4: For more information regarding attribute codes and citations, please see the final report for the Comprehensive Management of Coastal Resources - Phase I (Ogden, 1994).
The source data set, ClassWater, was created as follows: The original Water Quality Classifications dataset, Wqclass, was first transformed from UTM Zone 4, Old Hawaiian to UTM Zone 4, NAD 83 using the Hawaii Datums and Projections extension in ArcView 3.2. The transformed dataset was amended to incorporate the following changes: 1)Kahoolawe erased from water standards classification polygon, 2)Sand Island erased from water standards classification polygon, 3)corrected the water standards classification boundary between Kahoolawe and Maui, 4)corrected the water standards classification designations around Hawaii island, 5)corrected the water standards classification designation around Kahoolawe, and 6)deleted the polygons representing land masses (i.e. islands).
Jpeg images were downloaded from the State Department of Health's website and displayed in ArcView using the Jpeg Image Support extension. The images were positioned and manipulated to correspond with the Niihau coastline using the Image Georeferencing Tools and Image Analysis extensions. The Niihau coastline is part of the State's coastline layer. The water standards classifications boundary around Niihau was digitized from the jpeg. The Niihau water standards classification boundary was then merged with the amended class water dataset.
Class A. (from Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 54):
It is the objective of class A waters that their use for recreational purposes and aesthetic enjoyment be protected. Any other use shall be permitted as long as it is compatible with the protection and propagation of fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and with recreation in and on these waters. These waters shall not act as receiving waters for any discharge which has not received the best degree of treatment or control compatible with the criteria established for this class. No new sewage discharges will be permitted within embayments. No new industrial discharges shall be permitted within embayments, with the exception of:
(A) Acceptable non-contact thermal and drydock or marine railway discharges, in the following water bodies:
(i) Honolulu Harbor, Oahu; (ii) Barbers Point Harbor, Oahu; (iii) Keehi Lagoon Marina Area, Oahu; (iv) Ala Wai Boat Harbor, Oahu; and (v) Kahului Harbor, Maui.
(B) Storm water discharges associated with industrial activities (defined in 40 C.F.R. Section 122.26(b)(14)) which meet, at the minimum, the basic water quality criteria applicable to all waters as specified in section 11-54-04, and all applicable requirements specified in the chapter 11-55, titled "Water Pollution Control"; and
(C) Discharges covered by a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System general permit, approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and issued by the Department in accordance with 40 C.F.R. Section 122.28 and all applicable requirements specified in chapter 11-55, titled "Water Pollution Control".
Class AA. (from Hawaii Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 54):
It is the objective of class AA waters that these waters remain in their natural pristine state as nearly as possible with an absolute minimum of pollution or alteration of water quality from any human-caused source or actions. To the extent practicable, the wilderness character of these areas shall be protected. No zones of mixing shall be permitted in this class:
(A) Within a defined reef area, in waters of a depth less than 18 meters (ten fathoms); or
(B) In waters up to a distance of 300 meters (one thousand feet) off shore if there is no defined reef area and if the depth is greater than 18 meters (ten fathoms). The uses to be protected in this class of waters are oceanographic research, the support and propagation of shellfish and other marine life, conservation of coral reefs and wilderness areas, compatible recreation, and aesthetic enjoyment. The classification of any water area as Class AA shall not preclude other uses of the waters compatible with these objectives and in conformance with the criteria applicable to them.
Office of Planning: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, errors and conditions originating from physical sources used to develop the State of Hawaii GIS database may be reflected in the data supplied. The user must be aware of data conditions and bear responsibility for the appropriate use of the information with respect to possible errors, original map scale, collection methodology, currency of data, and other conditions specific to certain data. The GIS data or cartographic digital files are not a legal representation of any of the features which they depict. No warranty expressed or implied is made by State of Hawaii GIS program regarding the accuracy or utility of this information.