KITV4 - Jurisdiction Over Stream Delays Fix

Makaha Residents Concerned About Clogged Stream
Lawmaker Says Jurisdiction Over Stream Delays Fix
KITV-TV
updated 5:15 p.m. HT, Mon., Dec. 29, 2008

MAKAHA, Hawaii - Residents in Makaha are still waiting for debris to be cleared from severe flooding two weeks ago.

Several residents along Makaha Valley Road complained that debris from Dec. 11's floods blocked streams and drainage ditches in the valley and worsened the effects of heavy rains that fell two days later.

Rep. Maile Shimabukuro said that jurisdiction over who owns and should clean the drainage ditches and streams seems to be the largest problem.

"If nothing else at least the government should enforce the rules to make sure that all the owners from upstream down clear the portions that they're responsible for near the streams," she said.

Damage from the floods resulted in over $2.7 million in damage islandwide with hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage from Makaha alone.

Shimabukuro fears that if nothing is done to clear the proper drainage systems that similar damage could occur with more heavy rains.
[WebCite source]