The temblors also released landslides that buried all four intakes that feed the Waimea ditch system, but Waimea farmers are better off than those in Hamakua, according to Board of Agriculture Chairwoman Sandra Lee Kunimoto.

For the moment the 110 farmers and ranchers of the Waimea system can draw water from a full 100-million-gallon reservoir and a partially full 60-million-gallon reservoir in the area. They will also be able to draw from a deep well that is being connected up to feed the farms, she said.

Kunimoto said agriculture officials viewed the damage to the water systems from the air, but have not been able to complete their damage assessment from the ground because of wet weather and safety concerns amid the continuing aftershocks.

"We do not know the extent of the damage because we can't even get up in there," she said. "We have to hike in there or be able to helicopter in and land to do an inspection."

Kunimoto said the damage to both the Waimea and Hamakua systems was not limited to the intakes.

In Hamakua, the pipe leading from the 10-million-gallon Pa'auilo reservoir is damaged, and in Waimea there was a collapse "somewhere between the last intake and the reservoir."

Kunimoto said both water systems will qualify for federal assistance under the disaster declaration by President George W. Bush on Tuesday.

Kalopa orchid farmer Jerome Akasaki said he hasn't been receiving water from the 24-mile Hamakua ditch since the earthquakes struck on Sunday. For the time being Akasaki said he can manage because he has access to county water.

"It's not sufficient, but at least we can have the plants survive," he said. Other farmers in the area rely completely on ditch water, and will have more severe problems, he said.

Akasaki said he has spent the past year ramping up production after losing about $1 million in plants and sales when the ditch was blocked with dirt and debris in flood in 2004.

The Waimea system is 15 miles long and irrigates 566 acres. The larger Hamakua system delivers water to 4,755 acres, according to a Department of Agriculture spokeswoman.

Reach Kevin Dayton at kdayton