Dam Burst on Kauai

[tutusue]

For those of you who haven't yet heard...

[Glen Miyashiro]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Uh oh. Isn't that the same Kaloko Reservoir that James Pflueger has been in trouble over for unpermitted grading activities which caused erosion and runoff? I wonder if there is a connection.

[pzarquon]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Kaloko dam? Where is that?

This overview of Hawaii dams in the Star-Bulletin lists a Waita Dam in Koloa, Kauai (3,250 feet long, 28 feet high), the same dam that people thought broke in February:

Despite the erroneous call of a dam breaking in Koloa, it was a pretty normal rain event, Marshall said. While six homes did flood in Koloa town, it was due to a dike, and not the Wait Reservoir dam, he added. The waters receded in the afternoon and no one was evacuated.

Ah, thanks, Glen. Lots of info on the Kaloko Reservoir. I guess there's a dam? Interestingly, reading the article, it sounds like Pflueger was in trouble for runoff, muddy storm water leaving the property and polluting Pila'a Bay. Apparently Pflueger "implemented a multi-million dollar remediation plan" - I wonder if that meant building a dam?

[tutusue]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Kaloko dam? Where is that?[...]

I saw the breaking news on KHNL. Their web page shows the locations of the 2 dams/reservoirs. Waita dam is also in jeopardy.

[LikaNui]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

"The Kaloko Reservoir dam burst this morning, releasing more than 300 million gallons of water down the North Shore of Kaua'i."

300 million gallons?! Since one gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds, the weight of that spill today is well over 2,400,000,000, or close to 2-1/2 billion pounds!

[LikaNui]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

I saw the breaking news on KHNL. Their web page shows the locations of the 2 dams/reservoirs.

Thanks for the 'heads up' on this, Tutu. And FYI, as of the time of this message, KHNL and the Advertiser are the only websites with the story.
Apparently seven people washed away, according to the early reports.

[tutusue]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Thanks for the 'heads up' on this, Tutu. And FYI, as of the time of this message, KHNL and the Advertiser are the only websites with the story.
Apparently seven people washed away, according to the early reports.

I think this story can only get worse as the day wears on. And, I can't imagine that there won't be fingers pointing at Pflueger. If I was him I'd be hoping for the Waita dam to burst to help take some of the heat off the Kaloko dam situation. Regardless, it's a terrible situation and Kauai is getting nailed by rain.

I had the tv on as background noise only. When I heard breaking news I expected an update on the UH med. school chemical spill situation which is less than a mile from my office...or a possible negative update on Sunday's downed power poles in Nanakuli. I hadn't left for work and didn't want to make a trek into town only to be turned away.

BTW...the power poles in Nanakuli fell and blocked Farrington Hwy. at 1p on Sunday. Driving home that day, I passed that exact spot at 12:57, according to a cell phone call I received at that spot at that time! Yikes!

[LikaNui]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

The Star-Bulletin now has it... see http://starbulletin.com/breaking/breaking.php?id=4279

[Miulang]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

That's soooo sad. And to think it's not happening in some foreign country, but in Hawai'i! Any reports on how the dams in Honolulu (which were also considered to be badly in need of repair) are holding up under the heavy rains?

Miulang

[LikaNui]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

One photo at http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/da.../kflood2_b.jpg
and a map at
http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/da...damburst_b.gif

There may be several more people missing in addition to the seven people first reported.

[LikaNui]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

KITV's story: http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news...95/detail.html

KGMB's story: http://www.kgmb.com/kgmb/display.cfm?storyID=7451

KHNL's story: http://www.khnl.com/Global/story.asp?S=4630958

And yes, James Pflueger's illegal grading may very well have contributed to the dam breaking.
See http://www.teresatico.com/pflueger_c...cle_11-14.html which includes "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency yesterday ordered James Pflueger and Pflueger Properties to halt the discharge of stormwater into streams and ocean that resulted from unpermitted grading at a construction site by the Kaloko Reservoir in north Kaua'i."

Also see http://www.environment-hawaii.org/ar...03pflueger.htm which includes "In making the land suitable for building, Pflueger's company has garnered a number of violations: In December 1997 and July 2002, the Kaua'i Department of Public Works issued notices of violation to Pflueger Properties for grading without a permit near Kaloko Reservoir."

A 2002 story in the Advertiser ( http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/ar.../ln/ln19a.html ) included: "Jimmy Pflueger is in trouble again over grading work conducted in northern Kaua'i, this time at a mauka site near Kaloko Reservoir."
"The EPA's continuing investigation into Mr. Pflueger's activities on Kaua'i has revealed that in addition to his activities at Pila'a, he also graded and disturbed this large swath of land at Kaloko Reservoir without having received the necessary permits," said Catherine Kuhlman, the EPA's acting director for water programs in the Pacific Southwest region."
"He told The Honolulu Advertiser in 1998 that a hill below Kaloko Reservoir was so steep it wasn't useful for ranching, so he flattened it."
"EPA and state health inspectors visited the site Sept. 18 and found more than five acres disturbed because of construction activities, the EPA said. Clearing and grading of the area above the Kaloko Reservoir occurred on the north, east and southeast sides. Construction of a road approaching the east side reservoir embankment involved cut slopes and grading work."

And click http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/np...nance-plan.pdf for a 29-page Consent Decree/Operation Monitoring & Maintenance Plan for the Pflueger damage.

Also click http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/npdes/pflueger/ for Environmental Protection Agency records on the matter.
Photos are at http://www.epa.gov/region09/water/np...er-photos.html .

If his illegal grading (for which he has, so far, been hit with fines of over $12 million) caused today's disaster, with the possible loss of 7 or more lives and at least five homes lost, then Mr. Pflueger is in one helluva lot of trouble.

[Miulang]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

The irony of course is that if there are additional lawsuits against him because of this tragedy, it would be on top of the fines he already has to pay...and most or all of it could have been avoided if he had been upfront and paid what was it? something like $6,000 to get the proper permitting in the first place! I think that's called being "penny wise and pound foolish."

Miulang

[tutusue]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

I haven't read all of the Pflueger articles cited above. But, was the only reason he didn't get permits the $6000. fee? Or was it the fear of not getting approval to do what he wanted...or everything he wanted? This will be an interesting story to follow.

[Miulang]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Oh, I'm sure it was more than the $6k fee, but this is what people with money do...if they have one scintilla of doubt that what they want to do might be illegal, they'll just fly under the radar and go ahead and do what they want to do and take their chances on getting caught. Usually when people like that get caught, they only get a slap on the wrist anyway, and then go on their merry way, because it's called "white collar crime".

People of lesser financial means probably wouldn't want to take any risks like that, but heh, rich people would say they didn't get rich just by being careful...they generally are risk takers...unless they were born with a silver spoon in their mouths!

Miulang

[Miulang]

Re: Heads Up Kauai Residents...

Egad...the latest news reports say there is another dam which is in serious jeopardy of being breached near Kilauea. People between Haena, Hanalei and Princeville are trapped because Kuhio Hwy in that stretch has been closed down. Sounds like damage will be in the millions, and the taro crop is probably wiped out for the year due to the flooding.

Miulang