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BULK RATE Permit No. 17 Charlotte Amalie Virgin Islands ie ees COVICRIER & @ @ oO mf Form 3547 Requested COLLEGE OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS, CARIBBEAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE, ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.1, 00801 VOLUME IV, NUMBER 1 EDITED BY S.J. OLIVERIO MARCH 1981 Water Resources Research Center RESEARCH ON SOIL Dr. Michael J. Canoy, head of the Ecological MOISTURE BEGINS Research Center (ERC), is doing a study funded by the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC), according to the Center's director, Dr. Richard D. Champney. An attempt is being made to correlate the amount of soil moisture present during certain seasons with the color and heat storage capabilities of surface vegetation. This will be done by taking aerial photographs of selected sites on St. Thomas and St. John at specific times and also by collecting data on the ground at the same sites. This will provide infor- mation on the soil moisture and amount of vegetative cover. The data and photographs will then be correlated. MODEL ROOF PROJECT IS Don Bullock, a consultant to the WRRC from UNDERWAY ON ST. CROIX St. Croix, is constructing model roofs in such a way that they can collect water for cistern storage when it rains and also distill fresh water from seawater on those days when it is not raining. It is anticipated that the higher cost of this type of roof will be offset by the decreased cost of cistern construction, since smaller cisterns will then be needed. The amount of distilled water to be expected and a complete cost analysis will result from the project. COOPERATIVE WATER For the next several months Kenneth Stevens STUDY IN PROGRESS of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in San Juan will be working in St. Thomas collecting data on old wells and also testing new wells in order to gain a better perspective of the ground water:resources on the island. In addition, rain water quality and rain infiltration rates will be tested so that recharge and runoff rates can be estimated more accurately. This work is being done as part of a cooperative program between the USGS, CVI and the V.I. Department of Public Works. er Administration DIRECTOR ATTENDS WORKSHOP , Dr. Norwell Harrigan, director of the SCHEDULES STAFF FORUMS Institute, attended a workshop in Atlanta in late January. The meeting was sponsored by the Consortium on Research Training (CORT). The agenda centered around finalizing the 1980-81 research program. Nine awards were approved by CORT for CVI personnel. As part of its program to encourage the interchange of ideas among the professional staff of CRI, Dr. Harrigan has scheduled a series of monthly forums for the coming year. CRI HOSTS VISITORS During the past three months several FROM THE MAINLAND professionals working in various areas of research have called on the Institute's director. Wilbur Williams from the Research and Special Programs Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation visited CRI to discuss the possibility of the Institute researching transportation programs. Dr. Burton Fox of the Inter-regional Center and Dr. Frederick Harrison, head of the Department of Biology, Western Carolina University, came to explore the opportunities available to pursue joint research. Roger Anderson of Marine Archaeological Ventures, Ltd. of Tortola, BVI met with Dr. Harrigan to discuss proposals for work being undertaken on the reefs of Anegada. Dr. George Breathett of Bennett College and Dr. Alan Fisher of the University of Pittsburgh were representatives of their respective institutions at the inauguration ceremonies of CVI President Dr. Arthur Richards. While on campus they discussed ongoing and future relationships between Bennett College, Pitt and CRI. Outreach Activities INSTITUTE PARTICIPATES IN During the inaugural ceremonies held MARCH PUBLICATIONS EXHIBIT March 13-16 for Dr. Arthur Richards, CVI's president, the Institute participated in‘a public exhibition held at the Ralph M. Paiewonsky Library on the St. Thomas Campus. A display was set up of publications from the Ecological Research Center, the Social Research Center, the Water Resources Research Center, as well as marine artifacts from the historic shipwreck, the H.M.S. Santa Monica. Stephanie Oliverio, special projects assistant, planned the CRI exhibit.