Most dams in Hawaii classified as high hazard

Most dams in Hawaii classified as high hazard

Nearly all of Hawaii’s regulated dams are classified as “high hazard,” meaning their failure could result in loss of life — a designation that state officials say reflects downstream development, not the likelihood of collapse. According to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, 122 dams fall under state jurisdiction statewide, including 13 on Oahu. Of those, 115 are classified as high hazard, five as low hazard and two as significa…