Maunawili Ditch Emergency Repairs

On Saturday, May 22, 2010, Waimanalo Farmers and HDOA personnel teamed up to form a work party to make emergency repairs to the Waimanalo Irrigation System at a section of earthen ditch in Maunawaili Valley.  The ditch section of approximately 80 feet had developed a major leak over the past few weeks leading to a precarious drop in the reservoir level.

The work party installed heavy duty tarps to temporarily retard the seepage.  It is hoped that the temporary repairs will prevent heavy losses of precious irrigation water and help to stabilize the reservoir level and prevent more severe water restrictions until scheduled permanent improvements can be made.

The HDOA wishes to thank the following people for their hard work and effort and their continued commitment to keeping this vital system operational: 

Waimanalo farmers and volunteers: Grant Hamachi, Scott Chun, Paul Kaneshiro, Thomas Mendes, Joe Bussen (Tom’s friend) and Fred Mench and HDOA personnel: Duane Okamoto, Glenn Okamoto, John Springs, Shaun Wilcox and Randy Teruya.

Installing tarp lining and fabricating wood framing

Left to Right: Glenn Okamoto, John Springs and Duane Okamoto Resetting the invert for a corrugated metal flume.

Emergency repairs completed

Left to Right:  Randy Teruya, Joe Bussen, Thomas Mendes, Scott Chun, Fred Mencher, Grant Hamachi, Paul Kaneshiro and Duane Okamoto.  Missing: Glenn Okamoto, John Springs and Shaun Wilcox.