Department of Land and Natural Resources

DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES
News Release

NEIL ABERCROMBIE GOVERNOR

WILLIAM J. AILA JR, CHAIRPERSON

For Immediate News Release March 20, 2014 

MAKAHA COMMUNITY MEMBERS URGED TO ATTEND PUBLIC MEETING
ON NEW FLOOD STUDY BEING CONDUCTED IN MAKAHA VALLEY

WAIANAE –The Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) along with Townscape, Inc., an environmental planning company, invites Makaha Valley community members to attend and provide feedback at public meeting that will share the latest information from a flood study of Makaha Valley.

The study was funded by the appropriation of State Legislature by way of Act 283, SLH 2012 (introduced by Rep. Jo Jordan).

The meeting will take place from 7 – 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, at Waianae District Park, multi-purpose room at 85-601 Farrington Highway

“We at the Department of Land and Natural Resources are concerned for our neighbors on the Leeward coast of Oahu and seek to find mitigation projects to help prevent flooding,”said William J. Aila, DLNR chairperson.

“We encourage homeowners, land owners and business owners to attend the public meeting to find out what can be done to alleviate flooding in Makaha Valley, and to share their knowledge of historical flooding in the area,”Aila said.

In the past, runoff from the valley has resulted in major flooding, including a landslide in 1996 that caused large boulders and debris to hit the Mākaha Valley Tower complex. In December 2008 a storm that recorded 12 inches of rain in one day caused significant damage to homes, property, and roads.

DLNR urges all interested individuals to attend and share their knowledge of the area and flood-related events. Refreshments will be served at 6:30 p.m.

DLNR is the state coordinating agency responsible for assisting the coordination of all flood control and flood water conservation and related activities according to Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 179, Section 3.

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Media Contact:

Deborah Ward
DLNR Public Information Specialist
(808) 587-0320