Dam

[OO7:BASSINASSASSIN]

I was wondering if the state had any long term plans for the dam or are they going to just wait till some breach occurs. I also notice every time they drain the lake, the water around Wailua becomes dirty. All that silt can not be good for the reef or ocean life.

[Stan Wright]

After that dam broke on Kauai… what was that, 7 or 8 years ago? The state got worried about liability and wanted to drain Lake Wilson and remove the dam altogether. Fortunately cooler heads prevailed… The Ag. department convinced the panicked state guys that irrigation water was still needed and that there is still a lot of land in agriculture that needs water. Dole owns the lake and the State manages the water (fish). Dole wanted to give the lake to the state… or anyone who would take over liability… but there were no takers. (even the Ag Dept didn't want the liability)

A compromise was reached… lower the water level of the lake some 20 feet below the spillway… so when the "100 year flood" comes they can open the outlet valves and drain the lake faster than it can fill by torrential rains… thus avoiding flooding out all those people who insist on living in the flood plane there in Waialua. (How did they get building permits in a flood plain in the first place?) You know the guys, every time there is a big rain, you see them on the TV news standing knee deep in their front yards beside their flooded car asking why the state doesn't do something… Stupid.

The dam is being constantly checked and monitored by the state.

[OO7:BASSINASSASSIN]

Thanks Stan. Do not know if really helps, I guess we will find out after all this rain.