HANALEI, KAUAI – November 10, 2015 – (RealEstateRama) — Hanalei Stream is again flowing freely and within its banks after the completion of a multi-million dollar stream restoration project. Hanalei is one of only two EPA National Heritage rivers west of the Rockies. A breach in its bank, 20 years ago, diverted water from the stream and often flooded adjacent properties after heavy rains.
Yesterday, under gray skies, Jade Waialeale Battad stood on the rain soaked stream bank, recently planted with hundreds of native plants, and blessed the state-sponsored project. Nine taro farmers, their families, local and state political leaders, engineers and construction workers joined in the commemoration of the end of work. Rodney Haraguchi, one of the farmers who was an outspoken advocate of the repairs outlined stop-gap measures taken over the past two decades to try and fix the breach.
The new plantings and the streambank improvements, will be monitored by the DLNR over the next three years. A temporary irrigation system is in place in case of dry spells, but the area is typically one of the wettest agricultural areas on Kauai. It’s expected in time, the vegetation will blend seamlessly with the surrounding forest. The Hanalei Stream Bank Restoration Project was engineered by AECOM Technical Services Inc., and construction was done by Goodfellow Construction Inc.
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