Untitled Document

Professor Brandes assists State in its investigation of the Ka Loko dam failure on Kauai

The Ka Loko dam on Kauai failed catastrophically on the morning of March 14, claiming the lives of at least three people and causing extensive property damage. The office of the Attorney General has retained Professor Brandes and a mainland expert to assist with its investigation of what caused the breach. In the aftermath of the disaster, which followed a period of unusual rain, Brandes also assisted with emergency technical assessment and management of the threat posed by Kauai’s 51 other dams. An initial aerial reconnaissance was followed by emergency inspections of all the dams on Kauai by teams of engineers from various State and Federal agencies. These inspections were useful for identifying critical situations that were flagged for further immediate consideration. Professor Brandes will continue to provide technical assistance on dam safety and dam engineering to State agencies and concerned parties as needed.