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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 2:45 p.m., Thursday, December 11, 2008

Lake Wilson threat diminishes

Advertiser Staff

Water in Lake Wilson reservoir reached its spillway this morning and residents of Otake Camp in Waialua were evacuated as a precaution.

As Kaukonahua Stream swelled with rainwater this morning, water from Lake Wilson reached 80 feet and entered the reservoir's spillway. An alarm sounded as the level reached 82.17 feet at 9:30 a.m.

Between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., the water got as high as 83 feet, said John Cummings, spokesman for the city's department of emergency management.

"At no time was there a threat of the dam breaking," Cummings said. "The biggest hazard was all that water coming off of the spillway."

Otake Camp is located downstream of the Lake Wilson reservoir.

When the water level hits 80 feet, the reservoir spillway is designed to allow water to overtop it.

Officials say when the water level hits 84 feet, they know from past experience it leads to flooding at Camp Otake, which is downstream.