GOVERNOR LINGLE RELEASES $40,000 FOR STATEWIDE FLOOD FREQUENCY ESTIMATES

For Immediate Release:  January 7, 2008

HONOLULU – Governor Linda Lingle has released $40,000 to fund the 2008 portion of a multi-year study that the state Department of Transportation (DOT) is conducting in cooperation with the United States Department of the Interior’s Geological Survey (USGS), to analyze and estimate stream water discharges over time in Hawai‘i.

As part of this project, rainfall data is being used to forecast flood magnitudes and frequencies for locations along streams, with a focus on where streams intersect with highways. Data collected from the cooperative study, which began in February 2002 and will end in September 2009, will be used by the DOT for the safe and efficient design of roads, bridges, drainage improvements and other flood-control projects.

Flood frequency estimates were last completed more than 30 years ago on Kaua‘i and the Big Island and 13 years ago on O‘ahu. They have never been developed for Maui.

“Consistent methods are needed to estimate flood magnitudes and frequencies statewide,” said Governor Lingle. “Now that new, more accurate technologies are available, this study will ensure that road and drainage infrastructure improvements throughout the state are properly designed to handle current and future rainfall and flood levels.”

DOT and USGS have agreed to contribute $223,394 and $156,606, respectively for the $380,000 study.  With this release of $40,000, DOT will have paid $213,394 of its share and owe a final amount of just $10,000 for the 2009 portion of the agreement.

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For more information, contact:

Brennon Morioka
Acting Director, Dept. of Transportation
Phone: (808) 587-2150

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

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