Project Description:

Between 1996 and 1999, the State of Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, required dam safety inspections at 14 State-owned reservoirs. Reservoir dams were located on the islands of Maui, Hawaii and Kauai.

During each safety inspection, RMTC civil engineers identified and assigned a severity rating to existing embankment conditions. Hydraulic and hydrologic analyses performed by RMTC engineers were used to assess the adequacy of both inlet and outlet works of the dams. Inlet works under evaluation included stream entrance and scour conditions; outlet works included primary and emergency spillways. Adequacy was rated both for daily use and under a maximum design storm flow condition. Potential for catastrophic flooding downstream due to dam failure was assessed based on a series of downstream risk categories and hazard classifications.

Reservoir dam inspections were completed by RMTC at the following locations:

• Lalakea Reservoir Dam, Hamakua, Hawaii, Hawaii
• Puukapu (Puu Pulehu) Reservoir Dam, Waimea, Hawaii, Hawaii
• Puuokumau Reservoir Dam, Hawi, Hawaii, Hawaii
• Okinawa Reservoir Dam, Hanamaulu, Kauai, Hawaii
• Lower Kapahi Reservoir Dam, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii
• Upper Kapahi Reservoir Dam, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii
• Twin Reservoirs Dam, Kapa'a, Kauai, Hawaii
• Pia Mill Reservoir Dam, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii
• Mauka Reservoir Dam, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii
• Puu O Hewa Reservoir Dam, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii
• Kahoma Reservoir Dam, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
• Hanakaoo Reservoir Dam, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii
• Olina Reservoir Dam, Olinda, Maui, Hawaii
• Horner Reservoir Dam, Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii