Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
Dam breach causes water uncertainty
 |
| Graphic |
Litigation complicates irrigation discussion, impacts new study
By Michael Levine - The Garden Island
LIHU‘E — The March 2006 Ka Loko Reservoir Dam disaster that claimed seven lives and wrought untold millions of dollars in property damage also had a considerable impact on the farming operations of the surrounding Kilauea area, a new report shows.
The final version of an engineering and monitoring study was presented to the Kaua‘i County Council last week. The report, which was prepared by O‘ahu-based Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc. at the behest of the county’s Office of Economic Development, said the breach reduced the reservoir’s capacity from 400 million gallons to 48 million gallons.
Andy Hood of SRGII said ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits muddle the future of the irrigation system in place in the North Shore community and complicated work on the study because the Kilauea Irrigation Company, a major player, declined to work with SRGII.
“The failure of the dam, corresponding loss of storage, and uncertainty over whether the structure will continue to be available for irrigation jeopardizes this water resource and those farmers who depend on it,” the report’s executive summary says.
The full report can be accessed at srgii.com/projects/KilaueaIrrigationWaterEngineering_Final_June09.pdf
While the county commissioned the study, ultimately, any decisions regarding the future of water in the Kilauea area will be made by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management, Council Vice Chair Jay Furfaro said Wednesday.
State biologist Don Heacock told the council that he supports the water budget analysis and suggested the council send a letter to DLNR and federal agencies.
Heacock and Moloa‘a water activists Hope and Tim Kallai said water usage by various parties — including the Mary Lucas Trust — should be fully disclosed.
“This is community water, it’s a public use resource and it’s for everybody,” Hope Kallai said.
The final version of an engineering and monitoring study was presented to the Kaua‘i County Council last week. The report, which was prepared by O‘ahu-based Sustainable Resources Group International, Inc. at the behest of the county’s Office of Economic Development, said the breach reduced the reservoir’s capacity from 400 million gallons to 48 million gallons.
Andy Hood of SRGII said ongoing civil and criminal lawsuits muddle the future of the irrigation system in place in the North Shore community and complicated work on the study because the Kilauea Irrigation Company, a major player, declined to work with SRGII.
“The failure of the dam, corresponding loss of storage, and uncertainty over whether the structure will continue to be available for irrigation jeopardizes this water resource and those farmers who depend on it,” the report’s executive summary says.
The full report can be accessed at srgii.com/projects/KilaueaIrrigationWaterEngineering_Final_June09.pdf
While the county commissioned the study, ultimately, any decisions regarding the future of water in the Kilauea area will be made by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Commission on Water Resource Management, Council Vice Chair Jay Furfaro said Wednesday.
State biologist Don Heacock told the council that he supports the water budget analysis and suggested the council send a letter to DLNR and federal agencies.
Heacock and Moloa‘a water activists Hope and Tim Kallai said water usage by various parties — including the Mary Lucas Trust — should be fully disclosed.
“This is community water, it’s a public use resource and it’s for everybody,” Hope Kallai said.
 |
||
| Living life to the fullest |
Related headlines
- Dam breach causes water uncertainty
- AG keeps Ka Loko manslaughter case
- North Shore farmers worried about water
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of kauaiworld.com.
aym wrote on Jun 30, 2009 2:35 PM:
" in rgrs to foundationhawaii comment: (And till this day NOT ONE of them has come publicly to support him).
I do not agree, I, myself and two land care taker/ workers for the property that Mr. P owns have supported this subject publicly, in court and at the Hawaii State hearings on few occasisions. however I do agree that Mr. P support or backing is just normal paid lawyers, I wish more people would shed on the light of his right doings rather than ONLY his negative/wrong ones. I wish the public had views on two sides of the storie/facts. it just seems "everybody" is out to crush Old Mr. P and get him for whatever money they can before he passes...........thats the sad truth. (and yes, I'm of local ethinicty) "
I do not agree, I, myself and two land care taker/ workers for the property that Mr. P owns have supported this subject publicly, in court and at the Hawaii State hearings on few occasisions. however I do agree that Mr. P support or backing is just normal paid lawyers, I wish more people would shed on the light of his right doings rather than ONLY his negative/wrong ones. I wish the public had views on two sides of the storie/facts. it just seems "everybody" is out to crush Old Mr. P and get him for whatever money they can before he passes...........thats the sad truth. (and yes, I'm of local ethinicty) "
You must register with a valid email to post comments. Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here: |
Become a Registered User |
RSS
foundationhawaii wrote on Jun 30, 2009 12:23 PM:
The Moloa'a water activists want the water but they rather 'bite the hand that feeds them'. By supporting the lawsuit against the land owner who (by contract) does not manage the operation of the dam. In other words, the land owner is not the person responsible for the failure of the Kaloko Dam. There is 'paper trails' years before the dam burst that shows the land owner (and not the operator) was concerned about water leaking from the dam wall and trees growing at the foot of the dam wall. He reported this to the State and Kauai Country but no one bothered to help the land owner.
No matter what people will say there WAS NO SPILLWAY at the Kaloko dam. This may be one reason why the owner (and not the operator) was concerned about the water leaking from the dam wall and notified and warned the State and Country about this problem. This is a matter of written public record.
The property owner had hundreds of acres of land he had to take care of. Some people disliked the way he operated his land holdings. But he was doing his best so he could give jobs to the many local people here on Kauai., (And till this day NOT ONE of them has come publicly to support him).
So too bad for the farmers, the Water Activitists and local people who enjoyed the use of the Kaloko Dam and Pila'a beach property. Despite what all the negatives you are hearing about the owner --- he is a good man. "