LAKE WILSON WATER LEVEL RETURNS TO NORMAL
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/brea ... 95944.html
Dole Foods has completed repairs on a valve at Lake Wilson, allowing water levels to return to normal.
On Thursday, the water level at Lake Wilson, the largest freshwater reservoir in the state with a capacity of 3 billion gallons, was at more than 73 feet. The state Department of Land and Natural Resources said the normal operating level is 65 feet.
At the beginning of this month, water levels dropped to 40 feet after the outlet valve became stuck, allowing water to drain from the reservoir. That raised concerns that the low water levels could endanger fish, including bass popular with anglers.
Tree roots and dumped shopping carts were visible along some areas of the exposed bank.
On April 8, Dole, operator of the reservoir, told the state that the butterfly valve was repaired.
The lake, also known as Wahiawa Reservoir, was replenished by the watershed in the west Koolau Mountains via the north and south forks of Kaukonahua Stream.
This is the letter to the editor I sent to the paper.
Aloha,
We are all happy to see the valve at Lake Wilson repaired.
But the water level has not returned to normal. The normal lake level is 80 feet. The DLNRs new normal level is 65 feet. If the water level drops another 5 feet to the 60 foot mark, we will be right back where we were the last week of Feb. Unable to use the boat ramp and concerned with a possable fish kill.
I can appreciate having the water level down a little in case of a huge flood... a water level of 70 feet seems more realistic. Enough leeway to allow for flood control, and also enough to weather periods of no rain.
Even at the 65 foot level... your can see lots of tree roots, tons of garbage, abandon cars, and shopping carts all along the shore line.
Stan Wright
Illegitimus Non Carborundum