Speak up on Lahaina flood control
| • | Flood devastates farmers |
By Christie Wilson
Neighbor Island Editor
WAILUKU, Maui — Public comment is being accepted for a proposed environmental impact statement for the Lahaina Watershed Flood Control Project.
The deadline for public comment is June 7. Send comments to the Department of Public Works and Waste Management, 200 S. High St., Wailuku, HI 96793, with copies sent to consultant Munekiyo & Hiraga Inc., 305 High St., Suite 104, Wailuku HI 96793, and the state Office of Environmental Quality Control, 235 S. Beretania St., Suite 702, Honolulu HI 96813.
The project will provide flood protection to homes and businesses in portions of low-lying Lahaina town, which last suffered flood damage in January.
To comment
Plans call for construction of a 6,831-foot floodwater diversion system that starts south of Lahainaluna Road and extends in a southwesterly direction across former sugar lands to Kaua'ula Stream. From there an outlet will lead to the ocean at Puamana.
The diversion system will consist of sediment basins and grass-lined channels, except for a 1,531-foot portion that will be done in concrete. An archaeological survey will be done as part of the EIS.
Lands required for the project are owned in large part by Amfac/JMB, Kamehameha Schools, Makila Land Co., the state and county.
Although it was to be announced today that public comment is being gathered, the project is years from construction. In addition to obtaining a required shoreline setback variance and special management area permit, the flood control project must await the availability of federal money. The cost has been estimated at more than $10 million.
The county already missed one opportunity for federal financing because of delays in preparing an earlier environmental statement. The money earmarked for the floodwater diversion system went instead to Hamakua Ditch on the Big Island, and it could be five to 10 years before money is available again for the Lahaina project.
The county and the West Maui Soil and Water Conservation District are doing the project in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service.
