ERG Helping Maui Recover Through Long-Term Monitoring After Devastating Wildfires

ERG is assisting the Hawaii Department of Health (DOH) in creating a Comprehensive Environmental Monitoring and Sampling Program following the devastating August 2023 wildfires in Lahaina and Kula on the island of Maui. Over 100 people lost their lives during this catastrophic event, and thousands of homes, structures, and cars were destroyed. 

DOH has been working with FEMA to provide emergency services and evaluate when it is safe for people to return to Lahaina and begin rebuilding. This program will help to inform environmental management decisions on drinking water, wastewater, stormwater management, air quality, debris removal and management, and recreational activities on beaches and in coastal waters, among others. ERG's extensive support includes everything from monitoring sediment, water, fish, and other media to reviewing and summarizing data and posting it to the Environmental Data Portal launched in June 2024. This public-facing website allows individuals to access, review, and evaluate available environmental monitoring data to inform individual decisions and actions such as what personal protective equipment may be needed when entering burn areas or if it is safe to use nearshore waters for recreation.

This work is vital for understanding the environment's response to and the potential long-term impacts of wildfires. Additional details about the data portal can be found in DOH's press release.