GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $10,250,000 FOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO STATE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS

For Immediate Release:  February 8, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $10,250,000 for the design and construction of safety improvements to reservoirs managed by the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA).

“We must take every step necessary to ensure that our reservoirs, dams and irrigation systems are safe and continue to meet the community’s agricultural needs,” said Governor Lingle. “This project will move the state forward on much-needed improvements to reservoirs belonging to our state irrigation systems, including measures to help prevent future irrigation system failures.”

Improvements will be made to the following reservoirs:

Big Island:
Honoka‘a-Pa‘auilo Irrigation System (Pa‘auilo Reservoir)
Waimea Irrigation System (Pu‘u Pūlehu and Pu‘ukapu reservoirs)

Kaua‘i:
Kōke‘e Ditch Irrigation System (Pu‘u Loa and Kitano reservoirs)
Kekaha Ditch Irrigation System (Mana reservoir)

Moloka‘i:
Moloka‘i Irrigation System (Kualapu‘u Reservoir)

O‘ahu:
Waiāhole Irrigation System (Reservoirs #155 and #225)
Waimānalo Irrigation System (Waimanalo Reservoir)

Design is scheduled to be completed in November 2008. Construction is scheduled to be completed in November 2009.

Following the breach of Kaua‘i’s Ka Loko reservoir dam in March 2006, the state inspected all regulated dams across Hawai‘i. This separate safety program was undertaken by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

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For more information, contact:

Sandra Lee Kunimoto
Chair, Board of Agriculture
Phone: (808) 973-9550

Lenny Klompus
Senior Advisor – Communications
Phone: (808) 586-7708

Russell Pang
Chief of Media Relations
Phone: (808) 586-0043