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Salt River Bay Mangrove Restoration Project |
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Hurricanes and land clearing have severely damaged many of the territory's mangrove forests. VIMAS is currently involved in projects to restore these important habitats on St. Croix. One such project is located within Salt River Bay. |
| background | current project | the future |
| Salt River Bay is the second largest watershed on St. Croix, consisting of 3510 acres. Salt River Bay is recognized as highly significant by both territorial and federal governments. Established as Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in 1992, the area is also a territorial marine reserve and wildlife sanctuary. |
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The old growth mangrove forest within Sugar Bay, a sub-watershed of the Salt River Watershed, was nearly 100% destroyed when the island of St. Croix sustained a direct hit by Hurricane Hugo in 1989. When these mangroves were destroyed valuable habitat, storm buffers and mitigators of Nonpoint Source Pollution (NPS) were also lost. By planting mangrove propagules and seedlings, project partners will begin the process of restoring this vital ecosystem, thereby protecting one of the most important watersheds on St. Croix. |
| In 1997, a pilot project took place to determine the effectiveness of the Riley Encased Methodology© in the reforestation of the bay. Many volunteers spent their Saturday morning trudging around in the quicksand-like mud, in an effort to give the little mangroves a better chance of survival. |
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During the summer of 1999 a 3-year reforestation project began, With funding from the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources through the federal Clean Water Act, and the Royal Caribbean Ocean Fund. During the course of the project, 18,000 red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) and 3,000 black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) will be planted in Sugar Bay. |
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The project is utilizing a planting method called the Riley Encased Methodology© (REM) to replant the red mangroves. This methodology incorporates a two-part PVC system to encase the propagule and provide protection against extended periods of submersion, damage from floating debris and crab predation on the young trees. |
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The project to reforest Sugar Bay is important for many reasons. The restoration of the mangrove forest will provide significant and unique habitat for thousands of organisms, it will provide protection from storm events, it will help improve water quality by reducing NPS pollution and it will educate many people about the importance of mangroves in our island ecosystem. The project utilizes volunteers to re-plant the area including individuals from many different organizations as well as students from several local high schools. |
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| This project has already benefited
these students by teaching them about the life cycle of the mangrove and
its important role in our ecosystem. This project will continue to
provide hands-on learning for students form nearly every elementary and
middle school on St. Croix, who will learn about mangroves through hikes
and presentations.
An additional component of the project will be the enhancement of the mangrove exhibit at the St. Croix Aquarium. The existing exhibit will be enlarged, and a collection of photos depicting the reforestation procedure will be displayed. As a result of the pilot project in 1997, an educational module about mangroves was created for inclusion in SEA's "My Environment" program.
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