The Virgin Islands’ marine and terrestrial ecosystems are closely inter-related and heavily impacted by a population of over 110,000 residing on slightly more than 130 square miles. Increased conversion of forests and agricultural land to residential and commercial development has resulted in numerous environmental and public health problems, including:

1. Water quality impairment and coral reef degradation from sedimentation (i.e., the primary nonpoint source pollutant),
2. Increased stormwater runoff volume, velocity, and contamination resulting from rapidly depleted forest habitat and dramatically increased impervious surface area, and
3. Surface and ground water contamination from failing septic systems.

To address these issues, VICES is working with local, regional and federal partners to increase public awareness of the immediate and long-term impacts of poor land use planning and development practices, and to promote the development of a comprehensive watershed management strategy that incorporates the use of low-impact development practices and conservation of natural resources.

The CES Water Quality Program provides public information and outreach to the public on ways to minimize or prevent Nonpoint Source (NPS) pollution of our ground water and surface waters (including guts, ponds, bays, lagoons and other coastal waters). We also provide technical assistance to local regulatory agencies (V.I. Department of Planning & Natural Resources), reviewing coastal zone development environmental assessment reports for proper erosion, sediment and stormwater control and sewage disposal and draft rules, regulations and management plans. CES also coordinates the V.I. Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee, produces and distributes its quarterly newsletter to a mailing list of over 1,600 government agencies, nonprofit and private sector representatives, and coordinates its annual conference.

CES, in cooperation with the V.I. Coastal Zone Management Program, is conducting a “Smart Growth” project to be linked to the national NEMO (Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials) network to educate territorial officials about the direct impacts of uncontrolled development and resultant NPS pollution, sprawl and increases in impervious surfaces on our tourism-based economy. Smart Growth partners encourage and assist regulators in developing and implementing new rules and procedures to incorporate NPS pollution prevention, impervious pavement reduction, low-impact development practices, and land use planning tools.

Partners include various University departments, local and federal government agencies and non-governmental organizations. This project is researching smart growth initiatives and practices to adopt or adapt them for use in initiating a Virgin Islands NEMO-type program and producing education and outreach materials to promote smart growth and low-impact development practices with the construction industry and homeowners to reduce erosion, sedimentation, stormwater runoff and impervious surface coverage.

To date, UVI-CES has provided training on smart growth/low-impact development issues (specifically construction planning, minimizing impervious surfaces, sediment/erosion/stormwater control) to over 160 individuals.

Download the After the Rain brochure/poster in Adobe Acrobat format here for information on what individuals can do to prevent stormwater pollution. You can also visit our Water Quality Publications page to download more factsheets and publications on pollution prevention, erosion control and low-impact development practices, and protecting health and water quality. Click the Adobe button to download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view and print our publications. Click here to view our Low-Impact Development Practices for the Virgin Islands presentation. For more information on smart growth, low-impact development or pollution prevention, contact Toni Thomas at 340-693-1084 or Dale Morton at 340-693-1086.