Team approach emphasized
By James Gonser
Advertiser Urban Honolulu Writer
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On the one-year anniversary of the devastating flood in Manoa Valley, city, state and federal officials gathered yesterday beside Manoa Stream to outline their efforts to safeguard residents, businesses and the University of Hawai'i.
State Rep. Kirk Caldwell said the flooding last year caused nearly $90 million in damage to about 120 homes in the valley and at the University of Hawai'i. People want to know they are protected, he said.
"Since then, the people of Manoa have expected their elected representatives to work as a team together with the various levels of government to try to come up with solutions to protect the valley from future flooding," said Caldwell, D-24th (Manoa).
Mayor Mufi Hannemann said the city has stepped up its stream maintenance and debris removal efforts since the flooding.
"Specifically, since the flooding occurred, especially along the Woodlawn Bridge area, we've been there doing our part in terms of always making sure it is clear of silt and debris," Hannemann said.
The mayor said the city will keep the area within 40 feet of the Woodlawn bridge clear. Debris that had collected at the bridge last year caused water to overflow the banks and flood Noelani Elementary School, dozens of homes and UH.
"This is something that we are not waiting to see if this is our jurisdiction or is it the state's jurisdiction," Hannemann said. "We are going to do it. For public safety and the residents that live along this area, (it) is very important."
Hannemann noted three other city projects in the wake of last year's floods:
Hannemann said the city has also filled 616 potholes on Manoa roads since the flood.
Meanwhile, Derek Chow, an Army Corps senior project manager, said the state may add walls in areas where the stream jumped its banks and build concrete aprons along bridges to prevent debris from collecting.
The work is expected to be paid for with $2.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, $400,000 from the state and $200,000 from the city.
Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said a study being done by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will detail what happened that night and give recommendations on steps to take to mitigate flooding.
The Army Corps of Engineers is working on a $5.1 million Ala Wai Canal Project study expected to be completed in 2008 to make more long-term recommendations on flood control.
A much larger "100-year-storm" could flood the entire watershed and put parts of Waikiki, Mo'ili'ili and McCully under water, said Chow.
The study will look at improvements to stream banks, creating areas to divert and hold floodwater, installing grates to collect debris and ecosystem restoration. That work could cost $100 million and take a decade to complete after construction begins in 2010.
"We are looking at critical areas," Chow said. "Where there is a bend in the river, we might want to improve it. Where there is a space to do restoration of flood plain, we might want to do that."
Chow said much of the debris comes from near Lyon Arboretum. A grate could be placed there to collect tree limbs and other runoff.
Floodwaters also could be diverted from the stream into areas such as Manoa District Park so that it is not all rushing down at once.
"Later on, when the storm is done and it dries up, the city or the state would come in and bring in trucks to remove the debris and rocks," Chow said.
Reach James Gonser at jgonser@honoluluadvertiser.com.
