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Published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service VI NPS Update Installing triangular dike check dam across a drainage swale in Estate St. George s Hill, St. Croix. Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee Newsletter Vol. 1, No. 3 Summer 1998 VIRGIN ISLANDERS RECEIVE HANDS-ON EROSION & SEDIMENT CONTROL TRAINING Practical Approaches to Effective Erosion and Sediment Control Workshop, sponsored by UVI- CES, USDA-NRCS, DPNR, and VI RC&D, provided hands-on practice design and installation training to 34 local regulators, architects, engineers, and draftsmen in St. Thomas and St. Croix. During the first day of the two-day workshop, Dr. Jerald Fifield, Professional Hydrologist and Certified Professional Erosion and Sediment Control Specialist (CPESC), instructed participants in principles of erosion and sediment control, use of effective methods of controlling erosion and removing sediment from stormwater, protecting small drainage channels, and developing an effective erosion and sediment control plan. D ay two of the workshop was devoted to hands-on installation of erosion and sediment control practices, some of which were new to the territory. On St. Thomas, workshop participants used the DPNR/DPW hydroseeder to apply bahia, bermuda and rye grass seeds, hydromulch and a soil binder on steep slopes at the entrance to a new shopping mall off Weymouth Rhymer highway. Grass seed was also hand- broadcast within a retention pond overflow channel with a straw/coconut fiber erosion control mat installed over the seed. S t. Croix participants installed practices on a steep, bare slope in Estate St. George s Hill. Practices used included: Silt fencing (trenching the material into the ground and using metal stakes) at the base of the slope, Hydroseeding with bahia grass seed, hydromulch and a soil binder along the middle of the slope, Bahia grass seed hand-broadcast on the remainder of the slope with hay mulch spread over one section and a synthetic erosion control mat installed over a steeper section, and A triangular dike for use as a check dam within a drainage swale. F or information on erosion and sediment control workshops, practices or site visits, contact Julie Wright, UVI-CES at 693-1082, or Rudy O Reilly, USDA-NRCS, at 692-9632. TABLE OF CONTENTS Virgin Islanders Receive Hands-On Erosion & Sediment Control Training . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 DPNR-DEP Unveils Unified Watershed Assessment Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 EPA Presents 1998 Environmental Quality Awards . 2 Pollutio n Control/ Pre ventio n Grant Mo ney A vailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Conservation Data Center Unveils BCD . . . . . . . . . . 3 Upcom ing Activities & Even ts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 DPNR-DEP UNVEILS UNIFIED WATERSHED ASSESSMENT PLAN O n October 18, 1997, President Clinton directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prepare an aggressive Clean Water Action Plan (CWAP) to assess and protect the nation s waterways. The Plan, published in February 1998, outlines a new course for achieving the original goals of the Clean Water Act - fishable and swimmable waters throughout the United States. Published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service Reef Rangers receive 1998 Environmental Quality Award. L-R: EPA Region 2 Director Jeanne Fox, Ariel Martin, Thom McClellan, Kareema Smith, and Congresswoman Donna Christian-Green. T o accomplish this goal, states and territories are required to develop Unified Watershed Assessment Plans in order to qualify for Clean Water Act funding. Local and federal agencies, along with the public, must develop plans that identify watersheds in the following categories: 1. Watersheds in need of restoration - watersheds that are not meeting water quality goals; 2. Threatened watersheds - watersheds that need an extra measure of protection and attention; 3. Pristine or sensitive watersheds - to prevent degradation of water quality; and 4. Watersheds with insufficient data to assign them to one of the previous three categories. D PNR, in conjunction with the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, has developed a Unified Watershed Assessment Report for the U.S. Virgin Islands that will be available for public review and comment beginning August 1, 1998. All interested persons are invited to submit written comments to the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP). Public meetings will be held on St. Croix and St. Thomas to solicit input from the public (see Upcoming Events on back page). T he report is on file for rev iew at DPN R-D EP s offices in Watergut Homes, Christiansted, (340) 773-0565, and at DPNR-CZM s offices in Foster Plaza, St. Thomas, (340) 774-3320, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. EPA PRESENTS 1998 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AWARDS C ongressional Delegate Donna Christian Green, Senator Adlah Foncie  Donastorg, U.S. EPA Region 2 Director Ms. Jeannie Fox, EPA representatives from New York, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and other invited guests were on hand Wednesday morning, July 8th, to congratulate the Virgin Islands  1998 Environmental Quality Award recipients. E nvironmental Quality Award recipients were recognized for their significant accomplishments in improving environmental quality in their communities. Awardees dedicate countless hours, both professionally and personally, to reach their goals. Individual Citizen - Susanna Ocasio, St. Croix, for single-handedly propagating and planting hundreds of trees, shrubs and flowers in an effort to beautify the landscape at Altoona Lagoon, St. Croix. Environmental Education - St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) for spreading environmental awareness throughout the St. Croix community. Since 1990, SEA has sponsored summer outdoor Adventure Weeks for youths and environmental education workshops for teachers, and has advocated for protecting St. Croix s natural resources, for legislation to prevent destructive development, and for the implementation of the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan. Nonprofit Organization, Environmental or Community Group - Paula Morgan, Thom McClelland, and the  Reef Rangers,  St. Thomas, for their efforts in youth and community education on the importance and value of our coral reefs. Paula Morgan and Thom McClelland initiated  Reef Rangers  to mark the International Year of the Reef using community donations and their own funds. Fourteen youths were recruited and trained in coral reef identification, water quality monitoring, and humpback whale ecology and then empowered to spread their knowledge to the community. The  Reef Rangers  are: Bradley Bryan, Bryson Bryan, Soundjata Carty, Alexandria Corniero, Marie Freeman, Tessa Grayman, Theo Landt, Randy LaPlace, Ariel Martin, Damalie Rodriguez, Adel B Schulterbrandt, Kareema Smith and Ojana Smith. Federal, State, Local or Tribal Government Agency - DPNR Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW), Environmental Education Program, St. Thomas, for their work in increasing the public s awareness of the Virgin Island s unique natural resources, fish and wildlife habitats, and environmental issues. The program distributes information at all educational levels, including brochures, educational videotapes, coloring books, monthly newsletters, and environmental posters. Published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service F or more information about EPA s Enviro nmen tal Quality Awards, contact Jim Casey, U.S. EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, at (340) 714-2333. POLLUTION CONTROL/PREVENTION GRANT MONEY AVAILABLE T he DPNR Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced funding available for Nonpoint Source (NPS) Pollution Control and Management Implementation Grants (FY 1999). Past NPS Management Program grants have focused on public education and the introduction of NPS best management practices (BMPs) through demonstration projects. Pursuant to the President s new Clean Water Initiative (see item above), the Program s focus is now shifting from demonstration projects to watershed-based implementation and monitoring projects. A total of approximately $382,000 will be available for State Fiscal Year 1999, in the form of pass- through grants, to perform NPS Pollution Control and Management Implementation projects. These grants are funded through Section 319(h) of the federal Clean Water Act for projects that implement BMPs in priority and other watershed areas and provide education to critical audiences. P ublic meetings will be scheduled for August 1998 to explain the grant application process and to discuss ideas with applicants. Meeting notices will appear in the St. Croix Avis and The Daily News. Please come prepared to discuss potential projects eligible for funding. DPNR-DEP staff and the NPS Pollution Committee will entertain questions and provide comments on proposals at that time. G uidelines for the development of NPS Pollution Control and Management Implementation proposals may also be obtained from DPNR-DEP offices at 1118 Watergut Homes, Christiansted, or by contacting Syed Syedali at (340) 773-0565. CONSERVATION DATA CENTER UNVEILS BCD 1. Where can I find Xanthoxylum thomasianum? 2. Who owns the land on which it is found? 3. What is the global rarity of the species? T he answers to these types of questions determine whether conservation efforts are necessary to protect plant and animal species in the Virgin Islands. Effective conservation depends on good information. O n Friday, April 3rd, at the University of the Virgin Islands, eighteen persons from various governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, and the University joined with the staff of the Conservation Data Center (CDC) and the Eastern Caribbean Center (ECC) to take another step toward effective resource conservation. W ith the assistance of Mr. Luis Corrales from The Nature Conservancy's home office in Arlington, Virginia, the CDC hosted a demonstration of the Virgin Islands Biological and Conservation Database (BCD) system, a state-of-the-art information management tool designed to provide answers to conservation questions. M r. Corrales described the many features of the BCD and its ability to track information on elements of biological diversity (plants, animals, communities), their occurrences (location), conservation sites, projects for protecting sites, real estate tracts and transactions (including ownership and other interest rights), property tax obligations, ecological monitoring programs, and individual and institutional contacts. With these applications, the Conservation Data Center's BCD offers an integrated approach to biodiversity conservation. T he public is invited to call the Conservation Data Center at (340) 693-1030 to schedule a demonstration of the CDC's Biological and Conservation Database system and Geographic Information System. UPCOMING ACTIVITIES & EVENTS Fish Bay Hom eow ners Tow n M eeting. 6:30 p.m., July 30th, Territorial Court, Cruz Bay, St. John. DPNR has scheduled this meeting in an effort to develop a mutually beneficial management plan for the Fish Bay Watershed, St. John. The goal of the meeting is to help identify environmental issues and concerns and to determine how resources may be focused to address them. All stakeholders and interested persons are invited to attend. Contact Janice Hodge, DPNR-CZM, at (340) 774-3320 for further information. Published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service To have your activity or event included in VI NPS Update, send the event title, date, time, location, contact person and other relevant information to the Editor at the address listed in the box below. VI NPS UPDATE SUBSCRIPTION FORM Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution results from rain water flowing over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into guts, salt pond s, beaches, co astal wa ters, and grou nd wat er. VI NPS Update wants to hear from you. Send flyers, news-letters, articles, letters or story ideas to the editor, care of UVI-CES, #2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802-9990, voice: (340) 693-1082, fax: (340) 693-1085, email: jwright@uvi.edu Editor & Designer: Julie Wright, UVI-CES Reviewers: Clarice Clarke, UVI-CES Toni Thomas, UVI-CES Janice Hodge, DPNR-CZM Faye Williams, USDA- NRCS Photographer: Dale Morton, UVI-CES Unified W atershed Assessm ent Public Meetings - these meetings are to solicit public comment on DPNR s reports identifying priority, threatened and pristine watersheds in the territory and providing territorial guidelines for watershed management plans (see article on previous page). St. Croix: Tuesday, August 18th, 9:00 a.m., DPNR main offices at 6003 Estate Annas Hope, 773-3450. St. Thomas Wednesday, August 19th, 9:00 a.m., DPNR main offices in Foster Plaza. Farm C ensus - The V.I. Department of Agriculture (VIDA) will be conducting a census of farmers in St. Croix beginning July 20th, and in St. Thomas and St. John beginning in August, to determine the number, type and location of farms currently operating in the territory. This detailed information is needed to ensure USDA has accurate data to use in calculating the grant formulas for funding allocation in the territory. Contact Dr. Louis Petersen, VIDA, at (340) 774- 5182 for further information. Coastweeks, September 19th through October 11th - Coastweeks International Coastal Cleanup, sponsored by the Center for Marine Conservation, is a worldwide effort to remove and catalogue litter and debris from beaches, coast lines, waterways and underwater areas. Coastweeks  goal is to focus global attention on the value of coastal natural resources. For a calendar of Coastweeks  activities or to schedule or participate in a beach or coastal cleanup, contact Lillian Moolenaar, DPNR-St. Thomas, at (340) 774-3320 or Marcia Taylor, VIMAS-St. Croix, at (340) 778-1112. Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy Ink. Marine Debris Monitoring - The Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) is conducting a debris monitoring project at Brewers Beach, St. Thomas. Debris will be collected and catalogued monthly, beginning in September, for a one-year period to determine types and sources of marine debris. To volunteer to participate in this project, contact Mayra Suarez-Velez, VIMAS St. Thomas, at (340) 693-1392. VI NPS Update is a quarterly newsletter produced by the Virgin Islands Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee to inform the public about projects funded by U.S. EPA Nonpoint Source Pollution Management (§319) grants and other NPS pollution control/ prevention projects in the territory, and to provide information and material regarding the control/prevention of NPS pollution. Funding for VI NPS Update provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program through the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Beulah Dalmida-Smith, Commissioner. VI NPS Update is published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, Kwame Garcia, State Director. No endorsement of products or firms is intended, nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned. Issued by the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or gender preference. %¡YES, please add me to the mailing list for VI NPS Update. Name: Organization: Address: City: State: Zip: Phone: Fax: Email: RETURN TO: VI NPS Update at the address/fax number listed to the right.