Ka Loko Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ka Loko Reservoir |
|
|---|---|
Aerial photo of the Ka Loko Dam breach
|
|
 Ka Loko Reservoir
Location in Hawaii
Ka Loko Reservoir
Location in Pacific Ocean
|
|
| Location | Kauai, Hawaii |
| Coordinates | 22°10′39″N 159°22′39″W / 22.17750°N 159.37750°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Basin countries | United States |
The Ka Loko Reservoir is a large reservoir (an artificial lake) on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. It was created by building an earthen dam, which is a wall made of earth and rock. The reservoir is located on the north side of the island. Water from Ka Loko Reservoir flows into other reservoirs and streams, eventually reaching the Pacific Ocean.
The Ka Loko Dam Failure
Ka Loko, sometimes spelled Kaloko, is well-known because its dam broke on March 14, 2006. This happened after a lot of heavy rain, which was unusual for the area.
The Flood's Impact
When the dam broke, a huge flood of water rushed downhill. It went through a valley east of the town of Kilauea. People reported that the wall of water was between 20 and 70 feet (6 to 21 meters) high and 200 feet (61 meters) wide. Sadly, this powerful flood destroyed several homes and caused the deaths of 7 people.
Why the Dam Broke
After the dam failed, experts investigated to find out what went wrong. They found several things that might have led to the dam breaking:
- The State of Hawaii government did not check the dam often enough. They also did not have enough inspectors for all the old dams in the state.
- The dam's owner, James Pflueger, did work near the dam without getting official permission. He might have filled in the emergency spillway, which is a special channel designed to let out extra water safely when the reservoir gets too full.
- Neither the owner at the time nor previous owners kept the dam in good condition. Dams need regular care to stay safe.
- The local government in Kauai County knew about the unpermitted work being done. However, they did not make the owner stop the work.
