The KIUCWaiahi Hydropower Long Tern Lease  Environmental Assessment AFONSI has just been released for a 30 day comment period until Nov. 7, 2019. KIUC alleges no impact from diverting the waters of Wai’ale’ale and Waikoko for the next 65 years. Until 2085!

Send email comments to:
ian.c.hirokawa@hawaii.gov
dhu @joulegroup.com
jscheffel@ssfm.com

Ian Hirokawa
Department of Land and Natural Resources,
State of Hawaiʻi
1151 Punchbowl St., Room 220, Honolulu, HI 96813
(808) 587-0420, ian.c.hirokawa@hawaii.gov

Dawn Hu
Kauai Island Utility Cooperative
5362 Kumole St., Kapaʻa, Hl 96746
(360) 483-6488, dhu @joulegroup.com

Jennifer Scheffel
SSFM International, Inc.
99 Aupuni St., Suite 202, Hilo, HI 96720
(808) 375-6038,
jscheffel@ssfm.com

"KIUC has requested a 65-year long-term water lease from the Board of Land and Natural Resources for the diversion of water from the North Fork Wailua River and Waikoko Stream for the Upper and Lower Waiahi Hydropower Plants to replace the existing revocable permit authorizing the diversion of water from the North Fork Wailua River and Waikoko Stream Diversions.

KIUC is requesting to divert at the North Fork Wailua River all water available in the stream above and beyond 3.5 mgd at the diversion and at the Waikoko Stream all the water available in the stream above and beyond 0.8 mgd at the diversion, up to the ditch capacity, which is estimated to be 30 mgd below the Waikoko Stream Diversion. Upon receipt of the long-term water lease, KIUC would make permanent modifications to the diversion structures to ensure the IFS established by CWRM remains in the stream channel at all times." 

Any volume of diverted Water that exceeds the turbine capacity is wasted, but they want it all.

http://oeqc2.doh.hawaii.gov/The_Environmental_Notice/2019-10-08-TEN.pdf