Government infrastructure
Rapid response protects Maui coast after wildfire
Summary
- After a devastating wildfire, the County of Maui needed stormwater management plans to protect the ocean from polluted runoff.
- Using drone mapping, Haley & Aldrich prepared plans for 1,300+ parcels in under two months so rebuilding could start as soon as possible.
- Later third-party testing of ocean water found contaminant levels below thresholds of concern.
Client challenge
In August 2023, a wildfire devastated Lahaina, Maui, claiming more than 100 lives and destroying more than 2,200 homes, businesses, and cultural sites. Climate change had, in part, set the stage for this disaster: Drought conditions, coupled with winds from a severe storm miles away, fanned an unprecedentedly large and fast-moving blaze.
After the fire, toxic debris and heavy metals polluted Lahaina’s soil. Rainwater runoff could carry these pollutants into the ocean, threatening a fragile marine ecosystem that’s already stressed by tourism and population growth. To protect this ecosystem, the County of Maui relied on Haley & Aldrich to quickly engage the community and develop postfire containment plans delineating stormwater best management practices (BMPs).
Our approach
We collected light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and photogrammetry data via drone, which gave us accurate and up-to-date mapping. Informed by the data, we rapidly prepared design plans for BMP implementation. This approach emphasized speed without sacrificing effectiveness, which enabled cleanup and community recover to start as soon as possible.
Value delivered
- Prepared design plans for BMPs to protect stormwater runoff from more than 1,300 wildfire-damaged parcels in under two months so cleanup and community recovery could start as soon as possible
- When third-party agencies tested ocean water two months after the fire, found that contaminant levels were below thresholds of concern for human health and marine life
- Pioneered work approaches that can apply to natural hazard mitigation and future disasters
“Wildfires burned near Haley & Aldrich’s office and our homes. So we know that responding to disasters is more than work. It’s about making communities stronger.”
Mikki Slentz, Senior Project Manager, Civil Engineer
For more information, contact:
Senior Project Manager, Civil Engineer
Technical Expert, Geoscientist
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