The V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Coastal Zone Management, has announced a public event to discuss the restoration designs for the Great Pond lagoon.
Scheduled for April 12 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the St. Croix East End Marine Park office at the Old Arawak Camp, this engagement aims to delve into the potential restoration of Great Pond, a significant coastal site on St. Croix.
Great Pond, a 50-hectare saline lagoon located on the island's southeastern shoreline, is a vital fishery habitat with a rich ecological framework. Separated from Great Pond Bay by a vegetated baymouth bar, it connects to the sea via a narrow channel. The surrounding mangroves and exposed mudflats at low tide add to its ecological diversity. With water salinity levels varying between 20 and 40 parts per thousand, the lagoon is influenced by rainfall and groundwater runoff from its 470-hectare catchment area, which hosts a small settlement of around 100 houses primarily on the northeastern side.
DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol emphasized the department's commitment to discussing and designing restoration possibilities to rejuvenate Great Pond as a functioning fishery habitat. Following a community meeting that spurred robust dialogue on the lagoon's future, the upcoming social event, co-hosted by Tysam Tech, LLC, will include a documentary, oral histories, and a review of previous design ideas from community gatherings.
The public is encouraged to participate in this informative session to learn about the local history and potential futures of this significant coastal site. For those unable to attend, project background and design information will soon be available online, offering an opportunity to stay informed and involved in the restoration efforts of Great Pond.
In preparation for this Friday’s social, the public is invited to review footage of the kick-off meeting for project background.
