Kauai flood damage abounds but dams OK

Ally · 03-22-2006, 05:02 AM

22nd March 2006

Quote:

There has been more flood damage on Kauai than originally reported, but in most cases repairs are already underway, state officials report.

The one area where no new problems are reported concerns the safety of Kauai's 54 dams.

Inspection teams from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources reported Tuesday that they had so far inspected 27 dams. "All looked okay," DLNR spokesman Clifford Inn said, adding that when Kauai dam inspections are complete the same inspectors will move to other islands for the same purpose.

U.S. Geological Survey Pacific Islands Water Science Center worked over the weekend placing remote real-time monitoring water level sensing devices at Ka Loko, Puu Ka Ele, Waita and Kapaia Reservoirs. Two gages were installed, at the first two dams, both in the Kilauea area of northeast Kauai. The other two, at dams in the Koloa and Lihue areas, will be installed over coming days.

A quick summary of other Kauai flood aftermath developments:

* The Commission on Water Resource Management authorized emergency repairs for Kauai Marriott personnel to cross a stream to get equipment in to make emergency flood repairs. The Kauai Marriott grounds were significantly affected by culvert overflow flooding and took more than two dozen rooms out of service indefinitely for repairs.
* A flume that carries reservoir water to Kauai Coffee Co. collapsed. DLNR said it is working with the owners on permitting and repairs to the flume. Kauai Coffee Co., which owns the nation's largest coffee plantation, is a subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin Inc.
* The Waikaea canal is now shallower than before at the ocean side of the bridge due to soil deposited by the storm.
* Wailua River mouth is wide open but the decks of the wooden piers are loose, and flood debris has built up against the piers.
* Nawiliwili is O.K. Only two boats from up the river got loose. The owners retrieved them. Most flood debris flowed out to sea.
* Port Allen has some logs in the harbor that are being removed. The muddy parking lot at the harbor has already been cleaned.

On Oahu over the weekend there were reports of concerns at Waimanalo Reservoir and Oahu Reservoir at Kunia. Hawaii Department of Agriculture representatives inspected Waimanalo Reservoir and found water levels 6 inches below the spillway, and diverted about 90 percent of the inflow away from the reservoir. Oahu Reservoir, also known as Waiahole Reservoir, was inspected by private owners who also decided to divert water inflow away from the reservoir.
(Bizjournals)