DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES

News Release

LINDA LINGLE

GOVERNOR

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PETER T. YOUNG, CHAIRPERSON

Phone: (808) 587-0401

Fax: (808) 587-0390

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2006

Maui Dam Inspection Reports Available

HONOLULU -- The Maui Dam Inspection Reports, a cooperative effort between the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, have been posted on the DLNR website at www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/  and can be accessed via the Dam Safety Program hyperlink.

These reports can also be accessed directly via www.hawaii.gov/dlnr/reports/dam-inspections/ .

The reports include a Limited Visual Summary Inspection Report, photographs, and copies of the field inspection reports.  The emergency visual dam inspections were conducted as a broad-based visual view intended to provide a sufficient basis for the State to contact the dam owners for follow-up investigations and potential remedial action to assure safe conditions.

Findings for each of the 53 facilities are contained in the individual summary reports.  The DLNR has provided this report to the dam owners for their information and action, and has developed a timeline for response and follow-up to applicable concerns (Dam Safety 2006 Reporting and Remediation Plan timeline.)  

The dam owners can utilize the information to evaluate what future work or studies might be needed to ensure the safety to the public.

The purpose of the statewide dam visual conditions survey is to determine whether there existed any imminent danger to life and property based on the dam and reservoir conditions at the time of the inspections.  

This broad-based survey was intended to provide a sufficient basis for the State to contact the dam owners for follow-up investigations and potential remedial action to assure safe conditions.

The dams were inspected between April 3, 2006 through April 8, 2006.

The findings and recommendations are limited to a visual condition assessment of the dam and related features that were visible at the time of the inspection.

53 dams were inspected on the island of Maui – from the list of regulated dams in the State’s Dam Safety Program as of March 2006.

The dam safety inspections involved the visual-only examination or condition survey of the regulated dam structures, including abutments, spillways, outlet facilities, and reservoir to determine if there exist imminent hazards that could result in the loss of property and life downstream of the facilities.

Findings for each facility are contained in the individual visual conditions survey that is appended to this report.

These visual assessments yielded condition ratings that ranged from “poor” (may not fulfill intended function; maintenance or repairs are necessary) to “satisfactory” (expected to fulfill intended function) condition, with most of the facilities falling in the “fair” (expected to fulfill intended function, but maintenance is recommended) to “poor” category.

Recommendations for each facility are contained in the individual visual conditions surveys.  They can range from removing vegetation to facilitate further inspections -- to requiring the owners to take immediate actions to restore the integrity of the facilities.

DLNR has provided copies of the individual dam inspection sheets to each dam owner for their information and further action according to a remediation timetable we have provided to them (see website).

Of the 53 dams inspected on the island of Maui, none are deemed to present an immediate threat to downstream areas.

Individual dam inspection sheets specify findings and recommended corrective actions
Determination of the extent of repairs needed will depend on the outcome of further follow up investigations by owners and their consultants.  

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For more information, media contact:
Major General Robert G.F. Lee
Department of Defense
Phone: (808) 733-4246

Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Office
Phone: (808) 587-0320