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DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES News Release LINDA LINGLE GOVERNOR _________________________________________________________________________________________________________
PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON
Phone: (808) 587-0401
Fax: (808) 587-0390
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For Immediate Release:
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| The following is an update of various activities by DLNR Divisions dealing with impacts of the recent storms. This is broken down by Division and County. Bob Masuda, DLNR Deputy Director, will continue to be on Kauai and assist in manning the Kauai Emergency Operation Center, as well as be a point of contact for DLNR activities on Kauai. Engineering: Kauai Six DLNR Engineering Division staff are on the island of Kauai. One Engineer has a main function of manning the Kauai Civil Defense Emergency Operation Center; he is also assisting with dam inspections and related activities, as needed. Four DLNR Engineers are teaming with representatives from the Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps). DLNR - Army Corps teams will be working throughout the week and inspecting all dams and reservoirs on the island of Kauai. Inspection Teams covered 50% of the dams and all looked okay; they completed 27 out of 54 dams. (Note: The “master” count says 53 total, but Twin Reservoir should be counted as having two dams.) After inspections of the Kauai dams and reservoirs are completed, DLNR and Army Corps engineers will conduct inspections of all other dams and reservoirs statewide. US Geological Survey Pacific Islands Water Science Center worked over the weekend placing remote real-time monitoring water level sensing devises at Ka Loko, Puu Ka Ele, Waita and Kapaia Reservoirs. Two of four gages were installed this past weekend. The remaining two gages will be installed in the coming few-several days. Ka Loko Reservoir near Kilauea (data online since 3/19/06) All data will be displayed on our public web page at: Over the weekend there were reports of concerns at Waimanalo Reservoir and Oahu Reservoir (Kunia). Department of Agriculture representatives inspected Waimanalo Reservoir and found water levels at approximately 6 inches below the spillway. They diverted approximately 90% of the inflow away from the reservoir. Oahu Reservoir (some refer to it as Waiahole Reservoir) has been inspected by private owners, and they diverted water inflow away from the reservoir. Maui and Big Island DLNR Engineers on each island remain on stand-by and in communication with local Civil Defense should inspections or other needs arise. Commission on Water Resource Management Kauai 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. One geologist is assisting Attorney General’s Office investigation team at Ka Loko Reservoir. Oahu Water Commission staff are responding to an alleged dumping and filling complaint in Makaha Stream near Farrington Highway. Maui and Big Island No storm related activities. Forestry and Wildlife Kauai Forestry and Wildlife staff on Kauai are transporting DLNR Engineers and Army Corps personnel as they make inspections of all dams and reservoirs on Kauai. Oahu The storm caused a large tree to fall across the Alawaihini Trail in the Roundtop and Tantalus Trail Complex last week. It was cleared by Oahu trail crew last week. Maui and Big Island No storm related activities. Kauai Debris and water flow in Wailua River destroyed approximately 100-feet of the 120-foot dock at Fern Grotto last week and deposited debris in the landing area. Over the weekend, two-thirds of the ferry dock at Fern Grotto was rebuilt by State Parks staff and tours are underway. Tourists must take the upper trail to access the grotto, however, because the lower portion of the loop trail is still flooded and littered with debris. One access road to Kokee and Waimea Canyon is still open but it is the steep narrow road that tour buses cannot navigate. Cars can make it to Kokee; buses cannot. Signs are still up at the trail head end of Na Pali Coast declaring the trail closed. Polihale access road is flooded. Polihale remains closed and impassible. Oahu Two large trees fell and are in Kaluanui Stream (Sacred Falls.) The location is away from any access for vehicles and equipment to get in easily to remove the trees. DLNR has contracted for a tree service to cut up the trees and remove them from the stream. Maui and Big Island No storm related activities. Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands Kauai DLNR has a report of a collapsed flume that transports water from a reservoir (part of the Alexander Dam system) servicing Kauai Coffee; so the flume is basically blocked. DLNR is working with the owners on permitting and repairs to the flume. DLNR is working with Kauai Marriott on permitting and work for emergency flood repairs on a washed out are near the hotel, as well as restoration of sand at Kalapaki Beach. Oahu, Maui and Big Island No storm related activities. Aquatic Resources Kauai Over the weekend, a DLNR marine biologist did an over-flight of Kilauea Bay to document the impacts to the coastline, reef and near shore waters for initial assessment. Aquatic Resources staff kayaked into Ka Loko Reservoir over the weekend and assisted in measuring the water volume of the reservoir. Boating and Ocean Recreation Kauai Hanalei river mouth is wide open, no damage to the pier. Wailua River mouth is wide open, the decks of the wooden piers are loose, and debris from the flood has built up against the piers as expected. Private contractors will be hired to clean the debris out of the marina. Nawiliwili is OK; only two boats from up the river got loose but the owners retrieved them. The fast moving water moved the debris through the harbor and most of it went out to sea. Port Allen has some logs in the harbor that are being removed. Mud from the construction above Port Allen came down but the construction workers removed it and also cleaned the parking lot of the Harbor. Oahu Ala Wai debris “trap” was cleaned last week and continues to be monitored. Sierra Club volunteers participated in a regularly scheduled Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor clean-up over the weekend. Big Island Water flowing from Wailoa River forced out some (approximately 3 feet in some places) of the accumulated sand and mud that was partially blocking the channel entrance to Wailoa Small Boat facility. Maui No storm related activities. Enforcement Kauai Ten DLNR Enforcement staff are assisting in the on-going search and
rescue efforts.
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