My Impressions The last KRCA meeting of 2012 opened with the president once again sharing the importance of maintaining civility at the meetings. It was discussed by the board and members present that if someone attending becomes contentious, argumentative, demeaning, intimidating, or sarcastically insults others this becomes upsetting to everyone and will result in a warning. If such behavior doesn't stop the individual will be asked to leave. If this is refused the public portion of the meeting will be ended. Recording meetings by audio or video was also discussed and a member wanting to record a KRCA meeting will need to make a written request to the board ahead of time and at the meeting will have to have a unanimous written agreement of all board and members present to openly record. No further surreptitious recordings will be allowed as this is an ethical conflict and also infringes on individual privacy rights. An annual fee of $626 will be voted on at the January 16, 2013 Annual meeting and KRCA Board meetings will be held every two months in 2013, while committees may be meeting more often. The entrance to Kalihiwai Ridge has been neglected over the years by the previous landscaper hired in 2007. A new service has been approved to maintain the entrance and lake lot access road with a more specific contract of twice a month services delineated. Grass clippings, run off soil, and use of pesticides going into our roadside drains was discussed and how this is negatively effecting the Kalihiwai River and Anini Reef. Members are encouraged to be more conscientious about correcting this issue. The County crews are trimming our overhanging trees on Kahiliholo Road and when a safe way to trim the tree tunnel can be coordinated with FEMA's repair of the culvert in that area, this part of the project will also be completed. Our Kalihiwai earthen dam is now being monitored for its seepage rate, which will be very helpful data for the engineering studies to be completed in 2013. All earthen dams have seepage and when at a level of 12.2 on the stick in one area studied our dam is seeping 10-12 gallons per minute, which according to Jack Gushiken's experience is a very low rate. Other areas of the dam will be studied now that the outside face has been cleared and once the reservoir pool begins to fill again to higher levels this winter. The potholes on the dam and access road have been filled with much help from Porter Irrigation supplying the necessary fill dirt and truck. Our cost for this work was only $295, paying one third for the driver's time and labor. This last rainfall starting December 18th finally brought the first measurable 12 inch increase to the lake level since March 6th, now being at 13.2. We are still nearly three feet low to have safe recreational use of the lake and it is my hope once we are at full pool this level will be better maintained to stay at full pool. For the last 78 weeks I have been monitoring the lake level and we have had less than 2 weeks with a full pool for preserving a healthy wetland and providing our members with safe recreational use of the lake. At 13 up to 14 range on the stick you can not safely boat, kayak, paddle board, or fish on the lake as the fish start dying off, and paddles, rudders and fins get constantly stuck in the mud as sediment has filled our lake considerably since the last Bathymetry Mapping Study done on April 1, 2009. The storm of March 2012 that finally filled the lake from November 2011 resulted in the lake immediately being taken down to 13 on the stick, with the drought this summer then bringing it to a low of 12. It seems our safe recreational use of the lake should once again be considered as not only our covenant right, but a priority of the easement holders now that we are sharing one third of most expenses and are fully responsible for others. They have the value of the water use and we have the preservation of the wetland habitat for our endangered waterbird population to consider and safe recreational use of the lake for our members, that was consistently enjoyed for many years past leading up to the summer of 2011. Let us hope 2013 will be a safe time of peace and beauty for all and that each of you will have a very Happy Holiday season. Aloha, Maggie Lea |
Suggested Readings: Water Resources and Climate Change Adaptation in Hawai`i: 2012 Reference: Commission on Water Resource Management Click here to download PDF file Koamalu Volumes 1&2 by Ethel M Damon, 1931 A story of pioneers on Kauai and of what they built in that island garden Sugar Water by Carol Wilcox 1996 Hawaiian & English definitions from the book: wai - water, blood, passion, life wai wai - wealth pani wai - dam water - transparent, odorless, tasteless, liquid, H2O Wetland habitat non-invasive plant suggestions: bacopa, makaloa, carex, aka 'akai, neke kupukupu, laua'e Links: Hanalei National Wildlife Refuge www.fws.gov/hanalei Kauai Forest Birds Recovery Project www.kauaiforestbirds.org Sounds Hawaiian www.soundshawaiian.com/birds National Wildlife Federation www.nwf.org Kalihiwai Reservoir is a Certified Wildlife Habitat Ducks Unlimited www.ducksunlimited.com Fishing Notes www.fishingnotes.com Hawaii Audubon Society www.hawaiiaudubon.com Sierra Club Hawaii www.sierraclubhawaii.com Sufi at the helm of Moe Moku |