Did You Know...

. . . that the Kaneohe Flood Control Project on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii, has prevented millions of dollars in flood damages, while providing a public recreation area with fish and wildlife enhancement features?

Kaneohe is one of the wettest areas in the United States. The area receives an average of 80 inches of rainfall every year. Historically, a number of significant floods have affected this area, most notably a 1965 flood that caused significant damage to homes in the Keolu Hills subdivision area and loss of life.

The Corps of Engineers project, completed in 1981, consists of an earthen dam and reservoir, channel improvements and a public recreation area. The recreational and fish and wildlife features of this multi-purpose project are especially noteworthy. The reservoir has a 32-acre permanent pool that preserves and enhances fish and wildlife and promotes recreational fishing. Ho'omaluhia Recreation area encompasses 223 acres of land above the maximum flood control pool elevation and optimizes use of land and water areas required for flood control while ensuring the preservation of open space in a highly urbanized location.

The Kaneohe Flood Control Project was completed at a cost of $29,138,000. Flood control features cost $16,830,000. The project prevented $1.5 M in flood damages during a storm in March 1980 which occurred during construction and an additional $8.7 M during storms in 1987, 1988, 1994 and 1996.

Source: Corps of Engineers

(reprinted from the USSD Newsletter, March 2005, page 3)