“The biggest mistake that you will make in life is believing that governments act in the public interest.” ― Steven Magee

1. IAO STREAM FLOOD CONTROL
Scope and Authority
The United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is proposing to implement engineering
designs to address existing flood hazards and provide the authorized level of reduced flood risk
along ‘Īao Stream, Wailuku, Maui, Hawai‘i. A joint National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
and Hawai‘i Revised Statues (HRS) Chapter 343 compliant Environmental Assessment (EA) is
being prepared for the Proposed Action, following a Draft EA previously released in March 2009
(USACE, 2009). The Proposed Action is authorized under Section 203 of the Flood Control Act
of 1968 (Public Law [PL] 90-483), which authorizes works of improvement for the control of
destructive floodwaters. The County of Maui (COM), Department of Public Works is the
non-Federal sponsor and the requesting agency for concurrent compliance with HRS Chapter 343.
Project Description
The purpose of the proposed Iao Stream Flood Control Project is to address ongoing flood hazards
caused by long-term damage to the existing flood control structures during repeated floods since its
original construction completion in 1981 and to provide the authorized level of reduced flood risk to
the town of Wailuku, Maui.
Location
Iao Stream is located within the Na Wai Eha Watershed in Wailuku, Maui. The Iao Stream drainage
basin is a 10 square mile area that begins at the boundary between the Lahaina and Wailuku judicial
districts and extends along the crest of the Kahoolewa and Kapilau Ridges to the Pacific Ocean.
Project History
The existing Iao Stream Flood Control Project includes a debris basin, flow diversion levees, and
channel improvements along the lower 2.5 miles portion of the Iao Stream. The existing project
was designed to reduce the risk associated with floods as severe as the 222-year flood
(approximately 0.5% chance of flooding in any given year). [Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Iao Stream. http://www.iaostreamea.com/

2. “ The stream drains a steep valley with flows at the upstream limit
conveyed into an existing debris basin and flood control system
which was constructed between 1977 and 1981. This flood control
system consists of the debris basin located 2.5 miles upstream from
the stream mouth, a 3,500-ft long channel downstream from the
debris basin, a drop structure with a 22-ft vertical drop, levees along
the left and right bank, flood plain management along 6,950 ft of the
left bank, and stream realignment for a 1,730-ft reach to the
shoreline. In the flood plain management reach, levees are located
on the right stream bank and are offset up to 80 ft beyond the
existing stream bank. The existing stream channel has a relatively
narrow width of 40 to 60 ft and is boulder-lined. The channel has an
average slope of 2.6%. This steep stream channel results in critical
and supercritical flows in the stream. Average channel velocity
through the unlined portion of the stream varies between 8 and 32 ft
per second (fps) with an average velocity in excess of 20 fps during
annual floods. These high velocities have eroded the channel bed
and caused severe undermining of the existing levees. The original
flood control project was designed to provide protection against a
Standard Project Flood (SPF) (i.e., a flood event based on estimates
under the most severe combination of meteorological and hydrologic
conditions which are reasonably characteristic of the project site);
however, the 33-year old flood control system no
longer has the ability to provide its original
level of protection to the town of Wailuku.”
[Empahasis Supplied]
Environmental Assessment ‘Īao Stream Flood Control Project June 2015
Chronology
September 14, 2016
“The National Weather Service reported that the highest amount of rainfall — 5.47 inches
— was reported by automated rain gauges during a six-hour period at Puu Kukui.”
[Emphasis Supplied]
http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/09/14/breaking-news/heavy-rains-trigger-flooding-
landslides-on-maui/

3. September 15, 2016
County of Maui
Rod Antone
Public Information Office
Communications Director
PRESS RELEASE - For Immediate Release - September 15, 2016
“Mayor Alan Arakawa signed an emergency proclamation today following torrential
through Iao Valley that knocked out a waterline, flooded several homes with mudflooding
and debris and destroyed a significant portion of the County’s Kepaniwai Park parking lot
area.” [Emphasis supplied]
http://paiaelementary.com/PdfFiles/9.15.press.release.pdf
September 15, 2016
“Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa has signed an emergency proclamation ,following the storm
which dropped nearly 10 inches of rain in Puu Kukui and 6 inches at Hana Airport.”
[Emphasis Supplied]
http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/33090247/maui-homes-flooded-highways-closed-
residents-evacuated-due-to-torrential-rain
September 16, 2016
“The flooding of Iao Stream also significantly damaged the Kepaniwai County park
downstream and road to the park, which are also closed, as well as a number of residences.”
http://khon2.com/2016/09/16/iao-valley-state-monument-closed-indefinitely-due-to-
significant-flood-damage/

4. September 17, 2016
“Water in the Wailuku River [Iao Stream] was flowing at 3 billion gallons a day during the
height of the rainstorm Tuesday night, and Iao Valley homes that were flooded that night
were once again threatened by high water Friday night. [Clarification Supplied]
The U.S. Geological Survey's Wailuku River stream monitor reported flows of 4,200 cubic
feet per second, or 3 billion gallons a day, at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday [September 13, 2016]
before it was washed away, said Avery Chumbley, chairman of Wailuku Water Co.,
. The river averages 150 million gallons a day.”which diverts water from the river
[Emphasis and Clarification Supplied]
Note, Supplied: Wailuku Water Co. holds title to the land for the watershed
area feeding Iao Stream, water permits from the CWRM
(Commission on Water Resource Management) and Mr.
Avery Chumbley, Chairman of Wailuku Water Co had actual,
personal knowledge of rainfall and stream conditions in
advance and prior to announced Emergency Proclamations
by Maui Mayor Alan Arakawa and Governor David Ige.
“It was without question one of the highest volumes of water that has flowed in recent
times. We are looking at an entirely different alignment. The focus should be on preventing
future flooding; the river is “never going to be what it was before,” he said.” [Emphasis Supplied]
Note, Supplied: The Act of Cod defense is unavailable:
a. When the cause of harm is, in part, the intervention,
neglect, or failure to act of man;
b. When events in nature so extraordinary that the history of
climatic variations and other conditions in particular
locality affords no reasonable warning;
c. When damage is due to natural causes without human
intervention and there no negligent behavior by the
party sustaining damages (Hurricane Katrina).
http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/623936/River-recorded-flowing--at-3-
billion-gallons-a-day.html?nav=10
September 18, 2016, Updated September 19, 2016
Ask the Mayor: When Will Kepaniwai Park Reopen? By Maui Now

5. Dear Mayor:
Q: I saw on the news how badly damaged Kepaniwai Park is after the terrible flooding.
What do you think the chances are that it can be repaired and reopened? It’s one of
my favorite places on the island. Mahalo.
A: As you may have heard by the time this column is published, it will take a minimum
of $2 million to repair the catastrophic damage to the Kepaniwai parking lot and
other portions of the park. We will begin assessments to determine the work that
needs to be done, but only time will tell whether all of the safety hazards can be
addressed with the funds available. I met with Council Chair Mike White and
Councilmember Riki Hokama last week and we are all anxious to move forward with
repairs so we can reopen portions of this much-loved recreation area, if not the
entire County park.
http://mauinow.com/2016/09/18/ask-the-mayor-when-will-kepaniwai-park-reopen/
PREVENTABLE AVOIDABLE RESPONSIBILITY
IT’S YOUR CALL