Virgin Islands 305(b) Report

Abbreviated
1998 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT for the United States Virgin Islands

Submitted by the Division of Environmental Protection, Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Government of the Virgin Islands of the United States

Abbreviated 1998 WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT for the United States Virgin Islands *

LIST OF TABLES *

LIST OF FIGURES *

PART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY *

A. Purpose *

B. Overview of Water Quality Conditions and Trends *

C. Program Initiatives *

D. Summary of Classified Uses *

E. Highlights of the Rest of this Report *

PART II: BACKGROUND *

A. Resource Overview *

B. Classifications, Total Waters and Applicable Standards *

C. Water Pollution Control Program *

PART III: SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT *

A. Current Surface Water Monitoring Program *

B. Assessment Methodology and Summary Data *

C. Estuary and Coastal Assessment *

D. Wetlands Assessment *

E. Public Health/Aquatic Life Concerns *

PART IV: GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT *

A. Overview of Virgin Islands Ground Water Protection Programs *

B. Overview of Ground Water Contamination Sources *

C. Summary of Ground Water Quality *

D. Summary of Ground Water-Surface Water Interactions *

Attachment I: Unified Watershed Assessment: Category 1 Watersheds *

Attachment II: Areas of Particular Concern *

Attachment III *

Endnotes *

LIST OF TABLES

Table II.A.1 Characteristics of Virgin Islands Watersheds and Islands *

Table II A. 1 Watersheds Listed in the Unified Watershed Assessment *

Table II.A.2 Alignment of 14-Digit HUs and Watersheds *

Table II.A.3 Waterbodies, Segments, Coastal Shoreline Miles and Monitoring Sites *

Table II.B.1 Summary of Pollutant Levels of VI Water Quality Standards: *

Table II.B.2 Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use and Island *

Table II.B.2.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. Croix *

Table II.B.3.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. Thomas *

Table II.B.4.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. John *

Table II.C.1 Federal Reports of VI Pollution Discharge Permits, 1996-97 *

Table II.C.2 Summary of TPDES Activities, 1996 and 1997 *

Table II.C.3 Supplementary POTW Inspections: TPDES, 1996 and 1997 *

Table II.C.4 Summary of TPDES Enforcement Activities, FY 1996 and FY 1997 *

Table III.A.1 142 Virgin Islands "Boat" Monitoring Sites *

Table III.A.2 65 Virgin Islands Beach Monitoring Sites *

Table III.B.1 Virgin Islands Hydrologic Units and Acreage *

Table III.B.2 Waterbodies, Segments, Coast Lengths and Monitoring Sites *

Table III.B.3 Summary of 1998 VI List of Impaired [303(d)] Waters *

Table III.C.1.a Waterbodies, Segments, Coast Lengths and Designated Uses *

Table III.C.1.b Summary of Designated Uses by Estimated Coast Lengths *

Table III.C.2 Summary of Fully, Partially and Non-supporting Coastal Waters *

Table III.C.3 Sources of Use Impairment by Sampling Site 1996 to 1997. *

Table III.D.1 Wetlands Classifications *

Table: Attachment III.A St. Croix Monitoring Results 1996 and 1997 *

Table: Attachment III.B St. Thomas-St. John Monitoring Results 1996 and 1997 *

Assessment & Source Codes for Attachment Tables III.A and III.B *

LIST OF FIGURES

Figure II.A.1 St. Croix Waterbodies *

Figure II.A.2 St. Thomas Waterbodies *

Figure II.A.3 St. John Waterbodies *

Figure II.B.2 St. Croix Coastal Waters Classified by Designated Use *

Figure II.B.3 St. Thomas Coastal Waters Classified by Class *

Figure II.B.4 St. John Coastal Waters Classified by Class *

Figure III.A.1: St. Croix Waters Boat Monitoring Network *

Figure III.A.2: St. Thomas Waters Boat Monitoring Network *

Figure III.A.3: St. John Waters Boat Monitoring Network *

Figure III.B.1 Data Relationships for Waterbodies, Segments and Assessment Information *

Figure III.C.2.a St. Croix: Fully, Partially and
Non-supporting Coastal Waters *

Figure III.C.2.b St. Thomas: Fully, Partially and
Nonsupporting Coastal Waters *

Figure III.C.2c St. John: Fully, Partially and
Nonsupporting Coastal Waters *

PART I: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

A. Purpose

The 1998 United States Virgin Islands Water Quality Assessment report was prepared on behalf of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protection (DPNR/DEP) and is intended to satisfy abbreviated reporting requirements under section 305(b) of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA), reference to the Territorial 1996 Report. This report provides an assessment of the water quality conditions of the Virgin Island’s surface and ground water resources for the period covering fiscal years 1996 and 1997 (October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1997), in addition to the conditions discussed in the 1996 Water Quality Assessment Report.

B. Overview of Water Quality Conditions and Trends

Water quality in the US Virgin Islands is generally good but declining due to an increase in point and non-point source discharges into the marine environment. Sources such as direct discharges, uncontrolled run-off and vessel wastes increase stresses on Virgin Islands (VI) waters. The lack of public awareness about the importance of the USVI waters contributes to the degradation of the water quality.

1. Surface Water

Non-point source pollution is the major source of surface water contamination in the Virgin Islands. Non-point source pollution can be attributed to several causes such as:

failure to properly install effective silt control devices during construction,
failure to contain storm water run-off from unpaved roads,
failure of other Divisions (e.g. Building Permits Division) to involve the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) in the review of earth change applications for possible environmental impacts, and
failure of on-site disposal systems (OSDS).

The discharging of wastes overboard directly into the sea by boat owners and the difficulty in regulating such activity also contributes to non-point source pollution problems seen in the Virgin Islands. Point Source Pollution can be attributed to a failing and overloaded municipal sewage system. Poor preventive maintenance practices due to lack of funding within the Department of Public Works, and negligence result in a pattern of frequent "bypasses" that empty sewage directly into the waters of the Virgin Islands.

2. Ground Water

The contamination of groundwater in the Virgin Islands is attributed to:

bacteriological contamination from failing septic systems,
leaking municipal sewer lines,
migration of contamination from previous injections and disposal practices, and
frequent sewage bypasses (generally described as discharges direct to the sea, but with some percolation into sub-soils).

Other sources of contamination include the intrusion of salt water caused by the over-pumping of the aquifers, the invasion of volatile organic compounds (VOC's) contamination from leaking underground storage tanks, and the indiscriminate discharging of waste oil onto the surface of the ground.

C. Program Initiatives

Under the provisions of the Federal and Local Water Pollution Control Act, the Virgin Islands Water Pollution Control (WPC) Program is mandated to conserve, protect, preserve, and improve the quality of water for public use, and the propagation of wildlife, fish and aquatic life for the USVI. Involved in the preservation of water quality will be the assurance that all projects are in compliance with the Water Quality Standards as set forth in the Virgin Islands Environmental Laws and Regulations.

In addition, the program reporting period (FY 1996 and FY 1997) saw water quality management activities in the Virgin Islands being planned for integration for both management and reporting purposes with the Unified Watershed Assessment process of the Clean Water Action Plan. This Virgin Islands Water Quality Assessment presents water quality assessment information in a format that preserves the Virgin Islands long-term data series by using the same water quality monitoring sites. This report also indicates how this data can be summarized at a level that is compatible for both Water Quality Assessment, and the Unified Watershed Assessment process.

D. Summary of Classified Uses

VI waters are classified into three (3) groups based on designated uses: Class A, B. and C:

Class A waters are for the preservation of natural phenomena requiring special conditions with existing natural conditions that shall not be changed. Class A water standards are the most stringent of the three (3) classes because of its pristine or near-pristine state.

Class B and C waters are for the propagation of desirable species of marine life and for primary contact recreation.

Class C waters have less stringent water quality standards than Class B.

Detailed specifications for these classes are presented in Part II, Section B, below.

All waters of the Virgin Islands are designated for fish consumption, aquatic life support, swimming, and secondary contact uses pursuant to the Virgin Islands Water Quality Standard, Title 12, Chapter 7, §186-1 of the Virgin Islands Rules and Regulations (VIRR).

E. Highlights of the Rest of this Report

Part II maps and explains the new geographic delineations used by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources to report on this Water Quality Assessment, and to display the effects on watersheds and watershed restoration priorities in the Virgins Islands.
Part III reports on surface water quality issues in the Virgin Islands.
Part IV reports groundwater and related non-point source issues in the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

PART II: BACKGROUND

A. Resource Overview

The territory of the United States Virgin Islands comprises 3 major islands: St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas. Additionally, Damman and Nellis (1992) documented 57 smaller islands and cays in A Natural History Atlas to the Cays of the US Virgin Islands. Taken together, the territory encompasses a total land area of about 135 square miles or 110,000 acres (Table II.A.1) characterized by central mountain ranges and relatively small coastal plains. Peak elevations are 1,165 feet on St. Croix (Mount Eagle), 1,550 feet on St. Thomas, (Crown Mountain) and 1,297 feet on St. John (Bordeaux Mountain). The islands are generally only 2 to 6 miles wide, with no land location far from the coastal waters. All data in this report focus on the main islands of St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas (although several enclosed bays within the main islands' watersheds include offshore islands and cays).

The recent (September, 1998) return of Water Island to the control of the Government of the US Virgin Islands, after 50-some years of direct federal administration (first as a fort by the Department of the Army during the Second World War, and later as the responsibility of the US Department of the Interior) raises the question of whether this areas should be treated as a fourth island. Because the area is small (less than 600 acres or 1 square mile), and because the island is practically within St. Thomas Harbor, for the purposes of the Water Quality Assessment, Water Island will be treated as another offshore cay or small inhabited island, such as Hassel Island or Great St. James.

The offshore cays and small islands are an inherent piece of the natural heritage of the Virgin Islands. Additionally, as an economic asset, these offshore sites could be included within a broad ecotourism program for the territory. Many government-owned cays have already been established as wildlife reserves pursuant to Title 12 94(b)(2) VI Rules and Regulations. A number are important seabird nesting sites, and several are important roosting areas. The surrounding waters of most of the cays and islands teem with marine life, providing food for seabirds and for the fish and shellfish sought by commercial and recreational fishermen. They are also critical as dive sites targeted by the local diving industry.

There are no large freshwater lakes or ponds, and no perennial streams on any of the islands; and intermittent streams can only be seen after heavy rainfall. The absence of large freshwater resources and perennial streams means that guts (watercourses) form the basis for watershed management in the territory.

This Water Quality Assessment is based on the United State Geological Survey (USGS) 8- digit Hydrologic Units for the US Virgin Islands, which designate two Virgin Islands watersheds: one for St. Croix, and one for the combined islands of St. Thomas-St. John.

In addition, this Water Quality Assessment also uses preliminary, draft 11- and 14-digit Hydrologic Unit definitions, in the process of being finalized by the US Geological Service of the US Department of Interior and the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the US Department of Agriculture, to define territorial Waterbodies. Within these fourteen draft waterbodies (seven on St. Croix, four on St. Thomas, and three on St. John), the Virgin Islands also wishes to define waterbody Segments, which correspond to coastal elements of watersheds used by and undergoing further definition in the Virgin Islands Unified Watershed Assessment program.

Table II.A.1 Characteristics of Virgin Islands Watersheds and Islands

Official Watersheds	St. Croix	St. Thomas-St. John
TOPICS/Islands	St. Croix	St Thomas	St John	TOTAL
Population	51,389	54,259	4,014	109,661
Land Area (square miles)	84	32	20	136
Land Area (acres)	53,499	17,489	12,323	83,311
Tidal/sub-tidal Wetlands (square miles)	2.5	2.4	1.1	5.9
Coastal Shoreline	70.3	52.8	49.7	172.8
Embayments (square miles)	1.5	0.9	0.1	3.0

Figure II.A.1 St. Croix Waterbodies

Figure II.A.2 St. Thomas Waterbodies

Figure II.A.3 St. John Waterbodies

The [preliminary, draft] 14-digit Hydrologic Unit delineations are to be integrated with the list of watersheds used for the analysis in the Unified Watershed Assessment: See Part III below.

Table II A. 1 Watersheds Listed in the Unified Watershed Assessment

The watersheds on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John are as follows:

St. Croix

Label Watersheds Acres

A. Northside 2,258

B. Baron Bluff 1,262

C. Salt River Bay 3,510

D. Princess 2,182

E. Christiansted 1,225

F. Altoona Lagoon 1,239

G. Southgate 1,597

H. Solitude 1,691

I. Teagues Bay 1,061

J. Turner Hole 711

K. Madam Carty 1,128

L. Great Pond Bay 2,007

M. Laprey Valley 1,853

N. Bugby Hole 998

0. Cane Garden Bay 1,527

P. Hovic-Vialco 7,642

Q. Bethlehem 6,689

R. Airport 1,654

S. Diamond 2,577

T. Long Point Bay 2,044

U. Sandy Point 2,735

V. La Grange 3,137

W. Prosperity 967

X. Creque Dam 703

Y. Butler Bay 918

Z. Rams Bay 757

Total St. Croix Acres 54,072

St. Thomas Watersheds

A. Botany Point 945

B. Santa Maria Bay 867

C. Dorothea Bay 1,861

D. Magens Bay 1,210

E. Mandahl Bay 1,883

F. Smith Bay 902

G. Redhook Bay 850

H. Benner Bay 3,666

I. Frenchman Bay 1,137

J. St. Thomas Harbour 2,696

K. Harry S. Truman Airport 1,524
(now Cyril E. King)

L. Preseverance Bay 704

M. Fortuna Bay 707

Total St. Thomas 18,952

St. John Watersheds

N. Hawksnest 1,305

0. Maho Bay 1,116

P. Leinster Bay 795

Q. Minnebeck Bay 629

R. Coral Bay 3,003

S. Great Lameshur Bay 1,545

T. Genti (Reef) Bay 1,208

U. Fish Bay 1,503

V. Rendezvous Bay 416

W. Great Cruz Bay 529

St. John Total Acres 12,049

These watersheds align closely with the larger 14-digit Hydrologic Units drafted by the USGS and the NRCS. In the current biennial planning period (FY 1998 and FY 1999), the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources will provide a detailed integration and overlay of these two systems.

The preliminary alignment is as follows:

Table II.A.2 Alignment of 14-Digit HUs and Watersheds

Hydrologic Unit Codes
8-Digit	11-Digit	14-Digit	Name	Acres
21020002			St. Croix Watershed	54,072
	21020002010		North St. Croix	22,507
		21020002010010	Northwest St. Croix	6,482
			V. La Grange	3,137
			W. Prosperity	967
			X. Creque Dam	703
			Y. Butler Bay	918
			Z. Rams Bay	757
		21020002010020	Northcentral St. Croix	7,030
			A. Northside	2,258
			B. Baron Bluff	1,262
			C. Salt River Bay	3,510
		21020002010030	Northeast St. Croix	8,995
			D. Princess	2,182
			E. Christiansted	1,225
			F. Altoona Lagoon	1,239
			G. Southgate	1,597
			H. Solitude	1,691
			I. Tagues Bay	1,061
				Acres
	21020002020		South St. Croix	31,565
		21020002020010	Southeast St. Croix	8,224
			J. Turner Hole	711
			K. Madam Carty	1,128
			L.. Great Pond Bay	2,007
			M. Laprey Valley	1,853
			N. Bugby Hole	998
			0. Cane Garden Bay	1,527
		21020002020020	Southports St. Croix	7,642
			P. Hovic-Vialco	7,642
		21020002020030	Airport St. Croix	8,343
			Q. Bethlehem	6,689
			R.Airport	1,654
		21020002020040	Southwest St. Croix	7,356
			S. Diamond	2,577
			T. Long Point Bay	2,044
			U. Sandy Point	2,735
21020001			St. Thomas- St. John Watershed	Acres
	21020001010		St. Thomas	18,952
		21020001010010	Northwest St. Thomas	4883
			A. Botany Point	945
			B. Santa Maria Bay	867
			C. Dorothea Bay	1,861
			D. Magens Bay	1,210
		21020001010020	Northeast St. Thomas	3,635
			E. Mandal Bay	1,883
			F. Smith Bay	902
			G. Redhook Bay	850
		21020001010030	Southeast St. Thomas	4,803
			H. Benner Bay	3,666
			I. Frenchman Bay	1,137
		21020001010040	Southwest St. Thomas	5,631
			J. St. Thomas Habour	2,696
			K. Cyril E King Airport	1,524
			L. Preseverance Bay	704
			M. Fortuna Bay	707
				Acres
	21020001020		St. John	12,049
		21020001020010	North St. John	3,845
			N. Hawksnest	1,305
			0. Maho Bay	1,116
			P. Leinster Bay	795
			Q. Minnebeck Bay	629
		21020001020020	Southeast St. John	4,548
			R. Coral Bay	3,003
			S. Great Lameshur Bay	1,545
		21020001020030	Southwest St. John	3,656
			T. Genti (Reef) Bay	1,208
			U. Fish Bay	1,503
			V. Rendezvous Bay	416
			W. Great Cruz Bay	529

Table II.A.3 Waterbodies, Segments, Coastal Shoreline Miles and Monitoring Sites

Finally, these two systems are displayed with an indication of the length of coastal shoreline associated with each Waterbody, and the number of current in-water (WQ or "boat" sites) and beach water quality monitoring sites established by the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources.

		Waterbodies	(WB 14-digit HU Codes) Segments	Approximate Length (est.)	WQ Sites	Beach Sites
VIRGIN ISLANDS TOTAL				172.8	140	65
St. Croix				70.3	59	32
	North St. Croix			33.4	38	na
		Northwest St. Croix	(21020002010010)	8.9	3
			V. La Grange	tbd
			W. Prosperity	tbd
			X. Creque Dam	tbd
			Y. Butler Bay	tbd
			Z. Rams Bay	tbd
		Northcentral St. Croix	(21020002010020)	9.5	12
			A. Northside	tbd
			B. Baron Bluff	tbd
			C. Salt River Bay	tbd
		Northeast St. Croix	(21020002010030)	15.0	23
			D. Princess	tbd
			E. Christiansted	tbd
			F. Altoona Lagoon	tbd
			G. Southgate	tbd
			H. Solitude	tbd
			I. Tagues Bay	tbd
				Miles	Sites	Sites
	South St. Croix			36.9	21	na
		Southeast St. Croix	(21020002020010)	15.3	6
			J. Turner Hole	tbd
			K. Madam Carty	tbd
			L.. Great Pond Bay	tbd
			M. Laprey Valley	tbd
			N. Bugby Hole	tbd
			0. Cane Garden Bay	tbd
		Southports St. Croix	(21020002020020)	8.1	9
			P. Hovic-Vialco	tbd
		Airport St. Croix	21020002020030	2.5	3
			Q. Bethlehem	tbd
			R.Airport	tbd
		Southwest St. Croix	(21020002020040)	11.0	3
			S. Diamond	tbd
			T. Long Point Bay	tbd
			U. Sandy Point	tbd
St. Thomas-St. John				102.5	81	33
	St. Thomas			52.8	62	23
		Northwest St. Thomas	(21020001010010)	11.5	8	5
			Botany Point	tbd
			Santa Maria Bay	tbd
			Dorothea Bay	tbd
			Magens Bay	tbd
		Northeast St. Thomas	(21020001010020)	13.5	13	8
			Mandal Bay	tbd
			Smith Bay	tbd
			Redhook Bay	tbd
		Southeast St. Thomas	(21020001010030)	11.0	16	5
			Benner Bay	tbd
			Frenchman Bay	tbd
		Southwest St. Thomas	(21020001010040)	16.8	25	5
			St. Thomas Harbor	tbd
			Cyril E. King Airport (ex-HST)	tbd
			Preseverance Bay	tbd
			Fortuna Bay	tbd
	St. John			49.7	19	10
		North St. John	(21020001020010)	20.0	5	6
			N. Hawksnest	tbd
			0. Maho Bay	tbd
			P. Leinster Bay	tbd
			Q. Minnebeck Bay	tbd
		Southeast St. John	(21020001020020)	19.7	4	1
			R. Coral Bay	tbd
			S. Great Lameshur Bay	tbd
		Southwest St. John	(21020001020030)	10.0	10	3
			T. Genti Reef) Bay	tbd
			U. Fish Bay	tbd
			V. Rendezvous Bay	tbd
			W.Great Cruz Bay	tbd

Tbd As indicated previously, detailed mapping, determination of the length of coast or area of the segments and waterbodies in this list are tasks being undertaken by Departmental staff and contractors during the current 305(b) reporting period, although planning for these issues began during the previous period (subject to this report).

B. Classifications, Total Waters and Applicable Standards

The information on Water Quality Criteria by Classification and pollutant are summarized in Table II. B.1, below, which closely follows the wording of Virgin Islands Rules and Regulations.

Boundaries of Class A Waters:

Preservation of natural phenomena requiring special conditions, such as the natural Barrier Reef at Buck Island, St. Croix (defined within 0.5 miles of the boundaries of Buck Island’s National Barrier Reef) and the Under Water Trail at Trunk Bay, St. John. Existing natural conditions shall not be changed.

Boundaries of Class B Waters:

Propagation of desirable species of marine life and for primary contact recreation (swimming, water skiing, etc.) The Water Quality Criteria as defined by VIR&R Title 12, Chapter 7, Section 186-3(b)(1-11) are:

Dissolved oxygen: Not less than 5.5 mg/l from other than natural conditions
pH: Normal range of pH must not be extended at any location by more than +/- 0.1 pH unit. At no time shall the pH be less than 7.0 or greater than 8.3
Temperature: Not to exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit at any time, nor as a result of waste discharge to be greater than 1.5 degree Fahrenheit above natural. A Thermal Policy section (defined by VIR&R, T.12, Ch. 7, Section 186-5) shall also apply
Bacteria: Shall not exceed a geometric (log) mean of 70 fecal coliforms per 100ml. By MR or MPN count
Dissolved Gas: Total dissolved gas pressure shall not exceed 110 percent of existing atmospheric pressure
Phosphorus: Phosphorus as total P shall not exceed 50ug/l in any coastal waters
Suspended, colloidal, or settleable solids: None from waste water sources which will cause deposition or be deleterious for the designated uses.
Oil and floating substances: No residue attributable to waste water nor visible oil film nor globules of grease
Radioactivity:

Gross Beta: 1000 picocuries per liter, in the absence of Sr 90 and alpha emitters
Radium-226: 3 picocuries per liter
Strontium-90: 10 picocuries per liter

Taste and Odor Producing Substances: None in amounts that will interfere with the use for primary contact recreation, potable water supply or will render any undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life
Color and Turbidity:

A secchi disc shall be visible at a minimum depth of one meter
A maximum nephelometric turbidity unit reading of three (3) shall be permissible.

Boundaries of Class B waters defined as all other coastal waters not classified Class "A" or Class "C". In addition, those Class "B" waters covered by color and turbidity criteria in Section 186-3(b)(11) [T. 12, Ch. 7] include:

St. Thomas coastal waters-Mandahl Bay (Marina), Vessup Bay, Water Bay, Benner Bay, and the Mangrove lagoon
St. Croix Coastal Waters-Carlton Beach, Good Hope Beach, Salt River Lagoon (Marina), Salt River Lagoon (Sugar Bay), Estate Anguilla Beach, Buccaneer Beach, Tamarind Reef lagoon, Green Cay Beach and Enfield Green Beach.

Boundaries of Class C Waters:

Propagation of desirable species of marine life and primary contact recreation (swimming, water skiing, etc.). The Water Quality Criteria as defined by VIR&R Title 12, Chapter 7, Section 186-4(b)(1-6) are:

Dissolved Oxygen: Not less than 5.0 mg/l from other than natural conditions
pH: Normal range of pH must not be extended at any location by more than +/- 0.1 pH unit. At not time shall the pH be less than 6.7 or greater than 8.5
Bacteria: Shall not exceed a geometric (log) mean of 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml. By MF or MPN count
Taste and odor producing substances: None in amounts that will interfere with the use for potable water supply or will render any undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life
Color and Turbidity: A Secchi disc shall be visible at a minimum depth of one (1) meter.
Other provisions for Class "B" waters shall apply.

Legal limits of Class C Waters defined as:

St. Thomas:

St. Thomas Harbor beginning at Rupert Rock and extending to Haulover Cut.
Crown Bay enclosed by a line from Hassel Island at Haulover Cut to Regis Point at West Gregerie Channel.
Krum Bay

St. Croix:

Christiansted Harbor from Fort Louise Augusta to Golden Rock.
Frederiksted Harbor from La Grange to Fisher Street.
Hess Oil Virgin Islands Harbor.
Martin-Marietta Alumina Harbor.

Table II.B.1 Summary of Pollutant Levels of Virgin Islands Water Quality Standards:

Pollutant	Class B	Class C
Dissolved Oxygen	Not less than 5.5 mg/l from other than natural sources	Not less than 5.0 mg/l
PH	<8.3 Tolerable Limit>7.0	<8.5 Tolerable Limit>6.7
Temperature	Less than 90° Fahrenheit	Same as Class B
Bacteria	Not to exceed 70 fecal coliforms per 100 ml by MF or MPN count	Not to exceed 200 fecal coliforms per 100 ml by MF or MPN count
Dissolved Gas	Not to exceed 110% of existing atmospheric pressure	Same as Class B
Phosphorus	Not to exceed 50 mg/l in any coastal waters	Same as Class B
Suspended , colloidal or settleable solids	None from waste water which would cause deposition or be otherwise deleterious.	Same as Class B
Oil and Floating substances	No residue attributable to waste water. No visible film; no globules of grease	Same as Class B
Radioactivity	Gross Beta: 1000 picocuries per liter, in the absence of Sr 90 and alpha emitters Radium-226: 3 picocuries per liter Strontium-90: 10 picocuries per liter	Same as Class B
Taste and Odor	None in amounts to interfere with use for primary contact recreation, potable water supply or to render undesirable taste or odor to edible aquatic life	Same as Class B
Color and Turbidity	A secchi disc shall be visible at a minimum depth of one meter A maximum nephelometric turbidity unit reading of three (3) shall be permissible	Same as Class B, but no NTU standard in Rules and Regulations

There have been no changes to these Water Quality Rules and Regulations in this reporting period

Table II.B.2 Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use and Island

	St. Croix	St. Thomas	St. John	Total
Class A	2.5	0.0	1.0	3.5
Class B	55.3	45.5	48.7	149.5
Class C	12.5	7.3	0.0	19.8
Total	70.3	52.8	49.7	172.8

Figure II.B.2 St. Croix Coastal Waters Classified by Designated Use

Table II.B.2.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. Croix

Coastal Shorelines for Classes for St. Croix are estimated as follows:

Class	Miles	Site or calculation
Class A	2.5 miles	Buck Island
Class B	55.3 miles	by subtraction (per VI R&R)
Class C	3.0 miles	Christiansted Harbor Shoreline
	4.0 miles	Hess Oil Terminal
	4.1 miles	Krauss Lagoon (Alumina Company Docks)
	1.4 Miles	Frederiksted Shoreline

Figure II.B.3 St. Thomas Coastal Waters Classified by Class

Table II.B.3.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. Thomas

Coastal Shorelines for Classes for St. Thomas are estimated as follows:

Class	Miles	Site or calculation
Class A	-- miles
Class B	45.5 miles	by subtraction (per VI R&R)
Class C	4.0 miles	St. Thomas Harbor
	1.8 miles	Crown Bay
	1.5 miles	Krum Bay Shore

Figure II.B.4 St. John Coastal Waters Classified by Class

Table II.B.4.a Miles of Coastal Shorelines by Class of Use on St. John

Designated uses for St. John are estimated as follows:

Class	Miles	Site or calculation
Class A	1.0 miles	Trunk Bay
Class B	48.7 miles	by subtraction (per VI R&R)
Class C	--- miles

Water quality standards for each class of designated use are provided in Table II.B.2. While the water quality standards are scheduled to be reviewed and updated every three years for the inclusion of additional needed criteria if necessary, this task has not been undertaken for several years [(1996 VI 305(b)]; still true.

1. Water Quality Standards to Support Drinking Water Use Attainment

The water quality standards do not support drinking water use attainment. As shown in Table II.B.1, the Water Pollution Control surface water monitoring program tests solely for the presence of total coliform bacteria .

National Primary Drinking Water Regulations	Water Quality Standards	Support Drinking Water use attainment
Organic compounds: Volatile Organic Chemicals Pesticides/Herbicides/ PCBs Synthetic Organic Chemicals	Standards not available	No
Inorganic compounds	Standards not available	No
Unregulated Chemicals	Standards not available	No
Radiological contaminants	Standards not available	No
Microbiological contaminants (Total coliform)	Class A-O/100ml Class B-70/100ml Class C-200/100ml	Yes

Since most drinking water supply comes from the Virgin Islands reverse osmosis and flash desalinization plants or from traditional rainwater cisterns (still required for all new construction) most national drinking water issues directed at surface or groundwater resources are moot in the Virgin Islands. The reason these standards are not developed in the US Virgin Islands is that drinking water is generally derived from cisterns holding rainwater at each house, or supplemented for public housing and in droughts and other emergencies by desalinization of sea water, as a co-generation by-product of the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. The Water and Power Authority in St. Croix maintain some public water supply wells.

No surface water is used directly for any drinking water supply, although questions have been raised about whether sea water intakes of contaminated water is capable of passing bacteria contamination through the relatively low temperature (60° C) flash desalinization processes used for most public desalinization..

C. Water Pollution Control Program

Under the provisions of the Territorial Pollution Control Act of 1972 (Title 12, Chapter 7, Virgin Islands Code), the Virgin Islands Water Pollution Control (WPC) Program is mandated to conserve, protect, preserve, and improve the quality of water for public use, and for the propagation of wildlife, fish and aquatic life in the Virgin Islands. This includes the assurance that all projects are in compliance with the Water Quality Standards as set forth in the VI Environmental Laws and Regulations (specifically, Virgin Islands Code, Title 12, Chapter 7, § 184, as interpreted below).

The role of the WPC Program is to facilitate the preservation and—where necessary—make improvements to water quality conditions so as to ensure that water quality standards are met; to monitor health; and to ensure that permitted discharges to waters of the VI meet effluent limitations. The DPNR/DEP is charged with the task of implementing and enforcing these provisions.

The WPC comprises two programs.

The Territorial Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (TPDES) Program involves the permitting of wastes to be discharged from a point sources into the waters of the VI, so as to ensure that those wastes meet the Water Quality Criteria in the VIC.
The Ambient Monitoring Program involves the collection of samples to comprehensively evaluate coastal water quality.

The Ambient Monitoring Program involves the collection of water samples to comprehensively evaluate coastal water quality. The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR), Division of Environmental Protection (DEP), conducts the sampling with cooperation from the Division of Environmental Enforcement (DEE) and Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW).

Under the Water Pollution Control Grant (pursuant to Clean Water Act (CWA) §106), the Division of Environmental Protection has been entrusted with the task of monitoring the marine waters of the USVI and controlling discharges to those waters. The Ambient Monitoring Program involves the collection of samples which will give scientific data regarding water quality, and the TPDES Program which involves the permitting of wastes to be discharged Into the waters of the Virgin Islands. Permitted effluents, however, must meet the Water Quality Criteria as set forth in the Virgin Islands Code. Both programs work in conjunction with one another to preserve the quality of the ambient marine waters for the people of the Virgin Islands. The water quality standards are to be reviewed and, if necessary, updated every three years to preserve the designated uses by including more criteria with which to monitor. Due to limited staffing this task has not been accomplished for many years.

The Division of Environmental Protection is expected to be trained in the STORET program for local management of STORET data in August, 1999.

Evaluation criteria are a comparison of the collected data with applicable VIR&R Water Quality Standards and consultation with Departmental program managers regarding other elements of professional experience and judgment.

1. Point Source Control Program

The TPDES program or Point Source Control program determines who is allowed to discharge and at what concentration from a specific facility into the waters of the Virgin Islands. Title 12, Chapter 7 §184-11 of the Virgin Islands Rules and Regulations states, "no person shall discharge (means the addition of any pollution) to Virgin Islands waters from any point source."

A TPDES permit requires that all point source discharges of pollution be monitored by the permittee (facility), and the results submitted to DPNR/DEP and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). DPNR/DEP conducts compliance inspections and compliance monitoring on all facilities that possesses a TPDES permit annually to ensure compliance. If a facility is found not to be in compliance with the TPDES permit, enforcement actions will be taken against the facility in the form of fines. The facility must demonstrate to the Department how it intends to come into compliance by the submittal of a corrective action plan.

Unfortunately, not all permitted facilities are in compliance with their TPDES permit. The Department of Public Works (DPW) continues to be a major violator of its permit. DPNR has issued numerous notices of violations during this reporting period; however, corrective actions have not been made. Until there are major changes in maintenance and equipment at DPW, which are severely constrained by the on-going Virgin Islands Government budget crisis, their TPDES permit will continue to be violated.

The VI Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) Electric Generating Facility continues to be the only permitted facility allowed to discharge toxic compounds and heavy metals, below EPA established Maximum Contaminant Loads (MCLs), into the waters of the VI. Compounds and heavy metals include Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCBs), Aluminum (Al) Copper (Cu), and Iron (Fe). In addition, the Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corporation (HOVIC) permitted discharge consist of the following compounds: Sulfide (S), total Chromium (Cr), and Phenols.

The point source program has developed a protocol for periods of noncompliance by the Department of Public Works. This entails the episodic monitoring of impacted coastal areas. This monitoring determines the level of bacteriological contamination in impacted areas, identifies trends (such as fish kills) and alerts the public of contaminated beaches based on sewage discharges.

Regulated discharges and discharge sites include sewage treatment plant outfalls (both public and private facilities), brine discharges from reverse osmosis (and other technology) freshwater production plants, industrial facility process water discharges, and industrial facility drainage discharge.

Unfortunately, many of the regulated facilities are not in full compliance with the provisions described in their respective permits, with site inspections of these facilities and reports of unpermitted discharges indicating that the water bodies near such facilities are constantly impacted. For example, the Virgin Islands Department of Public Works (DPW) is a major violator of its permit primarily because of a poorly designed and failing sewerage system in St. Croix that permits raw sewage to flow directly into the Caribbean Sea. Fish kills at ecologically sensitive wetlands have occurred repeatedly, and swimming beaches in the HOVIC/STX Alumina watershed have been closed on numerous occasions. Another example of a continual violator is the Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (WAPA), where oil spills at its St. Croix facility (part of the Christiansted watershed) flow directly into the Caribbean Sea.

Major TPDES outfalls such as DPW and WAPA, are of concern because they are located in the same segment of the water body where water intake occurs for the major desalination units at Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. Refinery and WAPA-Richmond, respectively. There is also some concern that occasional pollution or turbidity at the WAPA sea water intakes allows the intake of large volumes of bacteria that may pass through the relatively low temperature (60 C) flash distillation units used for desalinization.

TPDES has several components, all under the auspices of the Division of Environmental Protection:

TPDES permit issuance
Inspections [Compliance Evaluation (CEI) and Sampling Inspections (CSI)],
Enforcement

Permit Issuance:

Territorial TPDES permits are issued with limits pertinent to Federal and Local Regulations. Industrial permits are found primarily in the St. Croix district (Oil Refinery, Alumina Plant, and Rum Distillery). In each district the VI government operates publicly owned treatment works (POTW) and electric generating/ reverse osmosis (RO) water making plants (WAPA). There are numerous private and commercial RO plants throughout the territory that have TPDES permits. During this reporting period, twenty (20) TPDES permits were issued (or re-issued). Among these were 17 permits to Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. listed for the 1996 NPDES permits in the Permit Compliance System (PCS) system, and several other local permits such as the Esso station in Tutu, Texaco Tutu, St. Thomas Dairies, and Texaco Caribbean.

Table II.C.1 Federal Reports (PCS) of Virgin Islands Pollution Discharge Permits, 1996 and 1997 (5/30/99)

NPDES Id	EPA Facility Id	Facility Name	Address	County Name	Permit Issued Date	Permit Expired Date	Sic Code	SIC Desc
VI0040517	VID988268736	ANCHORAGE CONDOMINIUMS	ROUTE 6 ST. THOMAS, VI 00802	ST JOHN	08-19-1997	08-27-2002	8641	CIVIC, SOCIAL, AND FRATERNAL ASSOCIATIONS
VI0040622	VI0001597988	AQUA DESIGN FOR GALLOWS POINT CONDOMINIUMS	PARCEL NOS. 3AAA-2, 3AAA-4, ST. JOHN, VI 00830	ST JOHN	10-21-1996	11-05-2001
VI0040436	VID988268637	CHARLES BARRY	48 UPPER JOHN DUNKOE ST. THOMAS, VI 00802	ST THOMAS	06-13-1997	06-16-2002	4941	WATER SUPPLY
VI0039900	VID988267381	COWPET BAY EAST ASSOC	TRACY WAY ST THOMAS, VI 00801	ST THOMAS	06-13-1997	06-16-2002	4952	SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
VI0040193	VID091091033	DBA POINT PLEASANT RESORT	SMITH BAY #4 ST THOMAS, VI 00802	ST THOMAS	06-13-1997	06-30-2002	7011	HOTELS AND MOTELS
VI0040703	VI0002235208	ESSO TUTU SERVICE STATION	GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION ST. THOMAS, VI 00802	ST THOMAS	02-21-1997	02-21-2002
VI0000019	VID980536080	HESS OIL VIRGIN ISLANDS CORP.	LIMETREE BAY ST. CROIX, VI 00850	ST CROIX	08-16-1996	08-15-2001	2911	PETROLEUM REFINING
VI0040631	VI0001135763	LEWIS BARTLES	DR. LEWIS BARTLES ST. THOMAS, VI 00802	ST THOMAS	05-09-1997	05-23-2002	9999	NONCLASSIFIABLE ESTABLISHMENTS
VI0040347	VID988267506	MICHAEL BROWN	PLOT 106, ENFIELD GREEN ST. CROIX, VI 00820	ST CROIX	12-20-1996		4941	WATER SUPPLY
VI0040711	VI0001597996	MICHEAL WEINMAN	15 A 7-21 EST ST. JOHN USVI, VI 00831	ST JOHN	08-28-1996	09-11-2001
VI0040720	VI0002235216	SOLOMON'S PLAZA INC.	PARCEL #95 ST. JOHN, VI 00831		10-01-1996	10-15-2001
VI0020010	VID980536064	TEXACO CARIBBEAN INC	CROWN BAY CHARLOTTE AMALIE, VI 00801	ST THOMAS	02-20-1996	02-20-2001	5171	PETROLEUM BULK STATIONS AND TERMINALS
VI0040649	VID980780589	TEXACO TUTU SERVICE STATION	GROUNDWATER REMEDIATION ST. THOMAS, VI 00802	ST THOMAS	02-20-1996	02-20-2001
VI0039993	VID988267571	TRANS-CARIBBEAN DAIRY CORP.	7-1 ST. JOSEPH & ROSENDHAL ST THOMAS, VI 00801	ST THOMAS	10-21-1996	11-05-2001	4952	SEWERAGE SYSTEMS
VI0000060	VID980536056	VI WATER & POWER AUTHORITY	KRUM BAY ST. THOMAS, VI 00801	ST THOMAS	06-20-1997	07-09-2002	4911	ELECTRIC SERVICES
VI0040924	VI0001403070	VI ARMY NATIONAL GUARD (VIANG)	ST. CROIX, US, VI	ST CROIX	01-11-1996	01-10-2001
VI0040134	VID105811053	WATERGATE VILLAS EAST ASSN.	ESTATE BOLONGO BAY ST. THOMAS, VI 00801	ST THOMAS	06-23-1997	07-09-2002	6514	OPERATORS OF DWELLINGS OTHER THAN APARTMENT BUILDINGS

Compliance Inspections:

A schedule of compliance evaluation inspections (CEI) and compliance sampling inspections (CSI) is incorporated into the WPC program work-plan. In general, DEP staff conducts a CEI and CSI at major facilities and POTWs annually. Generally, facilities with minor permits receive only an annual CEI.

Table II.C.2 Summary of TPDES Activities, 1996 and 1997

FY-1996	St. Thomas/St. John	St. Croix
CEI	23 conducted of 56 scheduled	14 conducted of 17 scheduled
	numerous non-dischargers due to Hurricane Marilyn damages	3 facilities had no discharge
CSI	3 conducted of 9 scheduled	4 conducted of 4 scheduled

FY-1997	St. Thomas/St. John	St. Croix
CEI	34 conducted of 39 scheduled	10 conducted of 15 scheduled
CSI	4 conducted of 13 scheduled	5 conducted of 6 scheduled

Several of the POTWs and pump stations in the territory are under construction or repair from either damage caused Hurricane Marilyn or as Priority List Rehabilitation. These include:

Donoe POTW
New Tutu POTW
Nadir POTW
Old Tutu POTW
Charlotte Amalie POTW
Cruz Bay POTW
St. Croix Municipal POTW
Fig Tree Pump Station
Lagoon Street Pump Station
LBJ Pump Station
Cruz Bay POTW

Additional inspections are conducted at the Territory POTWs, including the major and minor pump stations. These inspections are scheduled quarterly.

Table II.C.3 Supplementary POTW Inspections:
TPDES Activities, 1996 and 1997

FY-1996	St. Thomas/St. John	St. Croix
Quarter 1	post-Hurricane inspections	post-Hurricane inspections
Quarter 2	no inspections	all inspections conducted
Quarter 3	all inspections conducted	all inspections conducted
Quarter 4	no inspections	all inspections conducted

During FY97, inspections continued on an "as needed" basis. (For example: St. Croix. District performed inspections of three stations in the first quarter, and fifteen in the third quarter.)

Other Ambient Monitoring Activities

As part of the Ambient Monitoring Program, the DEP staff takes part in reviews of the Environmental Assessment Reports (EARs) submitted by individuals or groups seeking to acquire land development or earth change permits within the Coastal Zone. EARs are submitted to the DPNR-Division of Coastal Zone Management (CZM) which, in turn, distributes them to various divisions for review. If the CZM permittee’s application involves potential impacts to Waters of the Virgin Islands, a Water Quality Certificate is necessary as part of the CZM permit. During this reporting period, certificates were issued in the St. Thomas/ST. John district to the V. I. Housing Authority for development of emergency housing in the aftermath of Hurricane Marilyn (FY96). St. Croix district issued a certificate to Sargasso Corp. for beach nourishment after an active hurricane season. In FY97, certificates were issued to Coral World, Port Authority/Red Hook Development, Louango Corp., West Indies Corp. (WICO), and Concordia Campground, all in the STT/STJ district. A major EAR review was conducted and denied in the St. Croix district for development of Jack’s and Isaac’s Bay.

During episodic monitoring, the DEP staff may sample water as a result of citizen complaint, storm event or episodic need. During this reporting period, most of these samples test for fecal coliform as a result of a sewer line breaks, sewage pump station bypass or failure, or storm event such as a hurricane or large rainfall event. For example, the following facilities were inspected (and samples taken as necessary) as a result of citizen complaints at the following locations:

Stouffers Grand Resort Hotel (STT)
DEVCON Corporation (STT)
Sweet Water Laundry (STT)
Bovoni Landfill (STT)
Limnos Marina (STT)
Mahogany Run Condominiums (STT)
New Tutu POTW (STT)
Green Cay Marina (STX)
Commanchi Hotel (STX)
Gallows Bay Intersection (STX)
Frederiksted Pier (STX)

Additionally, Hurricanes Bertha (July ’96) and Marilyn (Oct/Nov ’96) triggered episodic monitoring in conjunction with the EPA’s emergency relief. Comprehensive sampling was performed at beach sites, and waters serving as intakes to potable water throughout the territory.

Both public and business sector reports spills or threats to water quality to DEP that may trigger inspections. During this reporting period, 24 "spills" or releases of oil and one nitric acid release (to the water of the Virgin Islands) were reported to the St. Thomas DEP for that district. Fourteen "spills" were reported to the St. Croix DEP office for oil, and five releases of rum lees were reported by the VI Rum Distillery.

Frequent discharges of sewage into waters of the territory are reported to DEP. For example, the St. Croix district logged twenty-nine (29) sewage bypasses, spills or leaks from the municipal treatment system during this reporting period. The primary cause is failure of the POTW system, which is antiquated, and in need of repair and maintenance. Electrical Generating Units (EGU) installed at minor pump stations have helped in reducing the frequency of bypasses from general power outages, however lack of maintenance to the EGU’s or other system failures at the pump stations cause bypass conditions, which result in the discharge of raw sewage into waters of the Virgin Islands.

Ruptures or clogs in the collector system lines also cause operators to bypass until repairs can be made. During sewage bypassing the Division of Public Works is required (TPDES Permit) to alert the public via radio, television, newspaper and post signs along the beach in the affected area. Enforcement actions taken during bypass conditions are discussed in the following section of this report.

In September 1996 a citizen reported a release of drilling mud from a permitted (CZM) project in Frederiksted, St. Croix as a result of directional drilling operations for the installation of a submarine fibre optic cable. Investigations by DPNR revealed that drilling mud (approximately. 100,000 gallons, though reported amounts vary and have never been confirmed) were covering at least two areas, a sandy bottom (app. Area) and a nearshore reef area. DPNR enforcement orders C-97-001W (DEP) and CZX-75-1996 (CZM) were issued to AT&T regarding the release of drilling mud from a directional drilling project in Frederiksted, St. Croix.

Approximately 90,000 gallons of Bentonite drilling mud was released into the nearshore environment. The mud was initially reported covering two areas: a large area of several hundred square meters called the "emergence zone" near where the drill bits emerged from the bottom, and another area was near a shallow coral reef zone was called the "frac out" zone (it was surmised that the mud escaped to this area via fractures in the bedrock). The primary impact was to the benthic community especially the gastropods (i.e., conch) inhabiting the sandy plain. Clean-up efforts were eventually undertaken with oversight by private and government monitors.

Enforcement Actions:

Violations within the TPDES program can come from non-compliance with permitted effluent limits, or failure to report monitoring as required by the permit. This includes any special conditions contained within the permit. For example, St. Croix POTW permit requires the permittee to take several specific actions in the event of a bypass. Violations issued by DEP during this reporting period are:

Table II.C.4 Summary of TPDES Enforcement Activities,
FY 1996 and FY 1997

Enforcement Number	District	Issued Date	Issued to:	Cause
C-96-001W	St. Croix	01/12/96		Force Main Rupture Bypass at Figtree pump station
C-96-002W	St. Croix	01/19/96		Bypass at UVI Wetlands, Figtree Gut
C-96-003W	St. Croix	04/12/96		Force Main Rupture Bypass at Figtree pump station
C-96-004W	St. Croix	04/12/96		Effluent Discharge Violations
C-96-007W	St. Croix	08/02/96		Bypass at Figtree pump station
C-96-009W	St. Croix	08/02/96		Bypass at LBJ pump station & EGU failure
C-97-001W	St. Croix		AT&T	Release of drilling mud
C-97-003W	St. Croix		Vista Mar Apartments	Laundry waste discharge
C-97-008W	St. Croix		Vista Mar Apartments	Non-compliance with C-97-003W order
C-97-005W	St. Croix		Villa Le Rein Enterprises	Operation of illegal sewage treatment plant
C-97-009W	St. Croix		Armstrong Motors	Discharge of waste oil into gut

Additionally, an enforcement letter was written to Pueblo Supermarket in Golden Rock St. Croix for illegal discharge of cleaning waste into a conveyance leading into a storm drain that discharged into the Caribbean Sea.

Comprehensive Assessment Strategy

New guidelines request each state to develop a "comprehensive watershed assessment strategy." The Department of Planning and Natural Resources has plans to implement this assessment in the current multi-year monitoring strategy, and it should be completed by the end of FY 1999. Attachment I to this Report is excerpted from the Unified Watershed Assessment which is preliminary to the Comprehensive Watershed Restoration Strategy.

2. Non-point Source Control Program

Since 1994, the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Section 319 program has worked, via Memoranda of Agreement and cooperation with partner agencies such as the Virgin Islands Resource Conservation and Development Council (VIRC&D), Virgin Islands Conservation District (VICD), University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Island Resources Foundation (IRF) through the mechanism of the Virgin Islands Non-point Source Committee, to implement an active program, including activities in the five priority areas of:

Erosion And Sediment Control
Urban Run-off
Vessel Waste Disposal
On-Site Disposal Systems (OSDSs) Upgrade
Oil and Hazardous Material Spills.

The Non-Point Source Committee has endorsed nine key objectives as described in the May 1996 Non-point Source Program and Grants Guidance For Fiscal Year 1997 and Future Years. The nine objectives of the Program are:

Explicit short- and long-term goals, objectives, and strategies to protect surface and ground water.

Strong working partnerships and collaboration with appropriated state, interstate, tribal, regional and local entities including conservation districts, private sector groups, citizen groups, and federal agencies.

A balanced approach that emphasizes both state-wide non-point source programs and on-the-ground management of individual watersheds where water is impaired or threatened.

The state program:

abates known water quality impairments resulting from non-point source pollution and,
prevents significant threats to water quality from present and future non-point source activities.

Identification of waters and watersheds impaired or threatened by non-point source pollution and a process to progressively address these waters.
The state reviews, upgrades and implements all program components required by Section 319 of the Clean Water Act, and establishes flexible targeted and iterative approaches to archive and maintain beneficial uses of water as expeditiously as practical.
An identification of federal lands and activities that are not managed consistent with state non-point source program objectives.
Efficient and effective management and implementation of the state's non-point source program including necessary financial management.
A feed back loop whereby the state reviews, evaluates, and revises its non-point source assessment and its management program at least every five years.

Erosion and Sediment Control- Urban Run-off Demonstration Project

The project, begun in September 1997, will demonstrate various methods and materials used to control soil erosion and sediment transport. It included hydro-seeding, erosion control matting, structural and vegetative methods of erosion and sediment control. Workshops, conferences, radio, newspaper, and a web site will disseminate the information gained for the project.

Urban run-off

Erosion and sediment control measures are closely linked to storm water management as the latter causes soil erosion and sediment transport in the Virgin Islands. In an effort to address storm water management/urban run-off, the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service in conjunction with the Non Point Source Committee revised the Environmental Protection Handbook. The handbook, aimed at regulators, builders and designers, details appropriate measures and practices for soil erosion, sediment and storm water runoff management. By law, any person grading or disturbing land is required to prepare and submit either a Coastal Zone Management or Earth Change permit application in which soil erosion and storm water runoff must be regulated.

The Cooperative Extension Service also compiled a directory of agencies that provide information to designers/developers who need to prepare Coastal Zone Management or Earth Change permit applications.

A broader approach to urban run-off is being implemented through the efforts of the Watershed Protection Committee (a sub-committee to the Non Point Source Committee) which is developing watershed management plans. The Extension Service provides posters/displays at the annual agriculture and food fairs on St. Thomas and St. Croix that focus, among other topics on water quality and watershed health. These fairs generally reach many members of the community and expose them to the threats to watersheds and coastal ecosystems from the various forms of pollution—especially those deriving directly from construction and other development activities.

Vessel Waste Disposal

A joint project between the NPS Committee and the University of the Virgin Islands initiated a multi-dimensional recreational boater education program which included the production of signs, brochures and posters for the marina community stressing the need for practices which minimize or eliminate pollution of the marine environment. Workshops, presentations to boaters and public service announcements complemented the effort.

Onsite Sewage Disposal System Upgrade

The contribution of poorly functioning onsite sewage disposal systems (OSDS) to non-point source pollution in the US Virgin Islands was documented in an investigation performed by the engineering firm Kimball Chase in 1993-1994. This study found that OSDS are the predominate method of sewage disposal in non-sewered areas of the islands and that due to geologic conditions found over much of the islands (thin soil cover, steep slopes and high shrink-swell clays) such systems are prone to a relatively high rate of failure.

To counter this pollution source, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources funded two demonstration projects using innovative sewage disposal methods (other than subsoil disposal) and contracted with the University of the Virgin Islands to monitor the performance of the completed projects. The projects involved typical households that normally would have employed conventional subsoil (i.e., septic tank) disposal methods.

The advertisement for the demonstration projects was circulated in the Virgin Islands Daily News on January 25, 1995 and the installations, two constructed submerged wetlands, were completed in the fall of 1995. The Water Resources Research Institute (WRRI) of the University of the Virgin Islands published its report: Evaluation of Application of Alternative Onsite Sewage Disposal Systems in the US Virgin Islands, December 1996. The study concluded that the wetland systems performed well, especially in light of Hurricane Marilyn in September of 1995. The hurricane severely damaged the electric distribution system for many months, adversely affecting mechanical treatment systems relying on electric power (such as POTW systems relying on pumping stations, as in one of the control sites for the WRRI study).

Another effort to upgrade the performance of OSDS led to a DPNR contract with the WRRI of the University of the Virgin Islands, on September 23, 1997, to review the performance of the existing OSDS regulations and to proposed new regulations for enhancing or replacing the conventional subsoil disposal methods traditionally used in the islands, that of leach fields and seepage pits. This investigation is to address the following issues:

Verification of the perceived problem (viz., Do subsurface sewage disposal systems pose a major human health and environmental concern?);
Review of alternative OSDS technologies;
Proposed rules and regulations;
Preparation of a user-friendly handbook.

Oil and Hazardous Materials

Draft regulations were developed which will vest authority with the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources for management of the underground storage tank program. The document has undergone extensive review and was submitted to Government House by January 1998. Documents including non compliance letters and Notice of Violation as well as guidance manuals for the closure and upgrade of underground petroleum storage tanks not in compliance with the regulations.

In March of 1996 DPNR staff attended the UST/LUST National Conference and expedited site assessment training in Denver in August 1966. Staff training was enhanced by attendance at the Subsurface Contamination Field Course held at the University of Wisconsin August 11-15, 1997.

Outreach programs to promote compliance with Federal and State requirements are continuing by making available technical and regulatory information available to UST owner and operators. Two seminars were conducted for the VI Port Authority in February 1966.

Compliance and enforcement activity include compliance inspections at 20 sites, with two enforcement actions initiated

The Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Environmental Protection is tracking leaking underground storage tank sites in various stages of remediation. The status of each site is summarized below:

St. Croix

Texaco-Midway at Estate Lower Love is undergoing remediation.

Esso-WAPA at Estate Richmond for which closure reports have been submitted.

La Riene Service Station at Estate La Riene has conducted a site assessment and is removing free product.

Mint Service Station at Estate Mountain discovered diesel fuel in the surrounding soil and a site assessment is scheduled.

Hassan Service Station at Estate Glynn found petroleum products in the surrounding soil which conducting an upgrade of the facility and a site assessment is scheduled.

St. Thomas/St. John

WICO/ESSO at Estate Thomas is recovering free product and remediation of soil is ongoing.

ESSO/DEVCON at Estate Brookman is recovering free product and remediating contaminated soil.

ESSO/GOTLIEB at Estate Constant has submitted a closure report which is being reviewed by DPNR.

ESSO/ONE STOP at Long Bay Road has submitted a closure report wich is being reviewed by DPNR.

TEXACO/Tutu at Estate Tutu is being monitored and is under investigation in context of the contamination of the Tutu aquifer. Remediation is being modeled and subsoil investigation is in progress.

TEXACO/Pollyberg at Estate Pollyberg is having sampling conducted to determine extent of soil contamination and potential affect of water wells in proximity. A remediation plan is being developed.

TEXACO/St. John at Cruz Bay discovered hydrocarbons in the soil while conducting an upgrade of the facility in November 1966. A subsoil investigation is being scheduled.

Waste Oil Collection by DPW

Managed by Virgin Islands Department of Public Works
Six collection sites for small waste oil generators on three islands
Collect about 300 gal/6 weeks on St. Thomas and 150 on St. John, St. Croix ?
PWD bought 2 oil collection trucks in 1997 which are used to collect the waste oil

The program is run on an as-needed basis; no dedicated staff is assigned on a full-time basis.

Other Non-Point Source Program Activities

Education Outreach/ Non-point Source Newsletter

In order to increase the awareness of non point source pollution among school children, 23 school presentations were made reaching 392 students. University of the Virgin Islands staff working with VI Education Department staff developed presentations on non-point source pollution and ways to prevent it.

Public information dissemination/outreach

Funded by Section 319 grant money, the first quarterly publication of the Non-point Source Newsletter was published in December 1997. Its purpose is to educate and inform the public about the programs of the Non-point Source Committee and increase the awareness of non-point source pollution aspects.

4th Annual NPS Conference

The conference was held on December 2 and 3, 1997 on St. Croix, bringing together planners, engineers, architects, scientists, homeowners, construction managers and other interested in non-point source pollution matters. It included student involvement through a poster contest and approximately 120 people attended the conference.

Other Projects /Action Relating To Water Quality

Waste Water System Upgrades

Sewage pump station upgrades
Managed by PWD
Major upgrade of three large stations (Lagoon St/LBJ/ Figtree)
New or refurbishment of electric standby generators are stations both major and smaller
Pump stations and sewer plant repairs at St. John.
Regional Mangrove Lagoon Treatment plant and collector system design contract advertised and awarded.
Cruz Bay treatment plant goes out to bid and construction contract is let for new 225,000 gpd plant replacing old 20,000 gpd plant.

Caret Bay, St. Thomas Coastal Zone Management Permit

A major coastal zone permit was issued in July 1997 (CZT-4-97L) for a 14-unit residential development on the steep, rugged coast at Estate Caret Bay, St. Thomas. The permit conditions required the implementation of effective soil erosion control measures, the monitoring of the near shore marine environment, for a three year period, for possible adverse impacts from the project and that a site engineer be engaged to ensure compliance of environmental permit conditions. The extent of the permit conditions to mitigate soil erosion has set a new benchmark for effectively addressing this non-point pollution source and should be viewed as a model for future construction projects whether they be near the coast or further inland.

Mannings Bay Wetland Project

Two projects on the south shore of St. Croix, one being the airport expansion and the other a highway (#64) were required under the VI Coastal Zone Permit and US Army Corps of Engineers Permit to provide mitigation measures for the destruction of 1.4 acres of herbaceous wetland. The Virgin Islands Port Authority, sponsor of the project, designed a comprehensive storm water management system including oil-water separators from the aircraft fueling area and a 3.4 acre constructed wetland that receives run-off from a 286 acre drainage area.

Permits were approved in 1996 and construction of the wetland system took place the following year.

3. Watershed Approach

The Virgin Islands submitted its Unified Watershed Assessment report pursuant to the Clean Water Action Plan in September, 1998. The report includes a detailed listing of the various watersheds with their Watershed Restoration Priorities (WRP). More detailed assessments of condition in the most critical watersheds requiring restoration will be developed as part of the Watershed Restoration Strategies program beginning in FY 1999.

As discussed above, a joint objective of the Unified Watershed Assessment program the Water Protection program is to design mutually re-enforcing reporting systems which integrate the watersheds of the Unified Watershed Assessment with the Waterbodies and Segments of the Water Quality Assessment and Assessment Database.

4. Coordination with Other Agencies

The Unified Watershed Assessment provides a comprehensive status assessment of Virgin Islands watersheds and evaluates whether the watersheds are increasing stresses on Territorial waters.. The statements published in the Unified Watershed Assessment, relating to conditions in the watersheds can be used as a contributing factor to determine which water bodies will be on the 303(d) list of impaired water bodies.

Agricultural operations receive scrutiny in a similar fashion. If a water quality violation triggers an area investigation and a farming operation is suspected to be the cause of the water quality decline, DPNR staff will perform an assessment of the facility, including identification of problems and suggested remedies with a specified timeframe for compliance. This corrective action could also involve other interested agencies including the Department of Agriculture, the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service (UVI-CES).

Federal programs, like Superfund, Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and UST, have not been delegated to the territory. Therefore, the Virgin Islands receives EPA Region II input in for events that would normally trigger actions under these federal programs (e.g. spills of solvents, oil-derived products and other hazardous substances affecting soils and groundwater). Additionally, regular sampling of ambient coastal water quality is performed, recorded and archived by the USGS-Biological Resources Division (BRD) in waters under the Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) control in St. John, other sites adjacent to St. John, and around Buck Island, St. Croix.

Cost/Benefit Assessment

An assessment of the costs and benefits of the costs and benefits of the Water Pollution Control program for the reporting period would include

Costs: Administration of all Water Programs, FY 1996; approximately $900,000

Administration of all Water Programs, FY 1997, approximately $950,000

Benefits: Value of improvements in recreational fishing

Value of improvements in commercial fishing

Number of coastal waterbody miles improved to fully supporting designated uses.

Reduced cost of drinking water treatment or purchases of bottled potable water due to cleaner intake water and greater security of WAPA-produced water.

Recreational value of increased use of beaches

Value of increases in recreational boating

In addition, recent improvements in infrastructure are beginning to mitigate water quality impacts from predictable breakdowns. For example, the Department of Public Works reports that recent emergency sewage bypasses around the airport in St. Croix (necessitated by the breakdown of pumping station equipment) flowed into an artificial wetland built during the reporting period. The built wetland mitigated the coastal waters' impacts, resulting in minimally detectable changes in water quality parameters even for coastal waters immediately adjacent to the bypass(es).

6. Special Concerns and Recommendations
1998 Virgin Islands Water Quality Assessment Concerns

Disbursement (or lack) of federal funding by VI Government for budgeted items (water quality study for adoption of toxic and bacteriological criteria; marine vessel for monitoring; personnel protective equipment; personnel training for STORET and PPE).
Public Owned Treatment Works (POTW) sewage bypasses
Lack of public environmental awareness program

1998 Virgin Islands Water Quality Assessment Recommendations:

Federal funding to support the WPC program should be used solely for said purpose.
POTW equipment regular maintenance and/or replacement, and privately owned treatment works require improved preventive maintenance and trained staff.
Public environmental awareness program.

PART III: SURFACE WATER ASSESSMENT

A. Current Surface Water Monitoring Program

EPA work plans require quarterly monitoring of sixty-four (64) stations around St. Croix, fifty-seven (57) stations around St. Thomas, and nineteen (19) around St. John. These sites are located offshore and are sampled by WPC staff using a vessel (thus these sites are commonly referred to as "boat" sites). However, because of frequent vessel break-downs and other difficulties that have arisen, an alternative "beach monitoring network" was established at swimming beaches at each of the three islands. The "beach" sites number thirty-two (32) around St. Croix, twenty-three (23) around St. Thomas and ten (10) around St. John. (See Table III.A.1 and III.A.2 for a complete list of beach and boat sites.) Bathers regularly use the beaches listed and although other beaches exist, they are not sampled due to difficult access. If vessel sampling cannot be performed, beach monitoring will be implemented.

1. Monitoring Sites

Table III.A.1 142 Virgin Islands "Boat" Monitoring Sites

St. Croix 65 Sites
Basic Water Quality Monitoring Stations (Boat)

Station(s) Class Location

STC-1 B Lagoon Recreational Beach

STC-2 B Ft. Louise Augusta Beach

STC-3 B Buccaneer Hotel

STC-4 B Tamarind Reef Lagoon

STC-5 B Green Cay Beach

STC-6 A Buck Island Beach

STC-7 A Buck Island Anchorage

STC-8 B Reef Club Beach

STC-9 B St. Croix Yacht Club Beach

STC-10 B Cramer’s Park

STC-11b B Isaac Forereef

STC-12 B Grapetree Beach/Turner Hole

STC-13a B Great Pond

STC-13b B Robin Bay Backreef

STC-14a B Halfpenny Bay-Manchineel

STC-14b B Halfpenny Backreef

STC-15 B Canegarden Bay

STC-16 C Northwest End,
Hess E Channel

STC-17 C Northeast End,
Hess W Channel

STC-18 C Limetree Bay

STC-19 C Krause Lagoon Channel

STC-20 C Martin Marietta

STC-21 B Spoils Island Channel

STC-22a B Treatment Plant Outfall

STC-22b B Outfall Break

STC-23 B Public Dump

STC-24a B Texaco Buoys

STC-24b B Rum Plant Outfall

STC-25 B Carlton Beach

STC-26 B Good Hope Beach

STC-27 B Sandy Point Public Beach Resort

STC-28 C Frederiksted Public Dock

STC-29 B Magic Isles Beach Resort

STC-30 B Sprat hall Beach

STC-31 B Davis Bay

STC-32 B Cane Bay

STC-33a-j B Salt River Estuary Stations

STC-33a Columbus Landing

STC-33b Shallow Grass bed

STC-33c Salt River Marina

STC-33d Sugar Bay

STC-33e Deep Grass Bed

STC-33f Beach

STC-33g NOAA Dock

STC-33h Bird Sanctuary

STC-33i Steeple

STC-33j Cove

STC-34 B St. Croix By the Sea

STC-35 B Long Reef, Forereef W

STC-36 B Long Reef, Forereef E

STC-37 B Christiansted Harbor Entrance W

STC-38 B Christiansted Harbor Entrance E

STC-39 C Altoona Lagoon Inlet

STC-40 C St. Croix Marine Marina

STC-41 C Gallows Bay

STC-42 C Public Wharf

STC-43 C Water Gut

STC-44 C Protestant Cay Beach

STC-45 C Christiansted Harbor

STC-46 C V. I Water and Power

STC-47 B Mill Harbor Condominiums

STC-48 B Long Reef Backreef W

STC-49 B Long Reef, Old Outfall

STC-50 B Long Reef, Old Outfall

STC-51 C King Cross Street, Storm Drain

St. Thomas—58 Sites
Basic Water Quality Monitoring Stations (Boat)

Station(s) Class Location

STT-1 C Crown Bay, near outfall

STT-2 C Crown Bay, tamarind outlet

STT-3 C Sub-Base

STT-4 B Krum Bay

STT-5a B Lindbergh Bay, E

STT-5b B Lindbergh Bay

STT-6a B Dump (Station Eliminated)

STT-6b B Airport/College Cove

STT-6c B SW Roads near Red Point Out

STT-6d B Flat Cay, NE corner

STT-7a B Brewers Bay

STT-7b B Perserverance Bay

STT-8 B Fortuna Bay

STT-9 B Botany Bay

STT-10 B Stumpy Bay

STT-11 B Santa Maria Bay

STT-12 B Caret Bay

STT-13 B Dorothea

STT-14 B Hull Bay

STT-15a B Magens Bay, NE

STT-15b B Magens Bay, NW

STT-16a B Mandahl Bay

STT-16b B Mandahl Bay Marina

STT-17a B Springs Bay

STT-17b B Sunsi Bay

STT-18 B Coki Bay

STT-19 B Water Bay

STT-20 B Smith Bay

STT-21a B St. John Bay

STT-21b B Red Bay

STT-22a B Red Hook Bay

STT-22B B Vessup Bay

STT-23 B Great Bay

STT-24 B Cowpet Bay

STT-25 B Nazareth Bay

STT-26 B Benner Bay

STT-27a B Mangrove Lagoon

STT-27b B Mangrove Lagoon

STT-28a B Bovoni Bay

STT-28b B Bolongo Bay

STT-29a B Frenchman’s Bay

STT-29b B Limetree

STT-30 B Morning Star Bay

STT-31a B Flamboyant Cove

STT-31b B Hassel Island, of Navy dock

STT-31c B Hassel Island, Careening Cove

STT-32a C Long Bay, S Dolphin

STT-32b C Long Bay, NE Corner

STT-33 C Long Bay, off Outfall

STT-34 C Long Bay, off Pump Stations

STT-35 C Garden Bay

STT-36 C STT Harbor, Coast Guard

STT-37 C St. Thomas Harbor, Cay Bay

STT-38 C Haulover Cut

STT-39 B Water Isle,
E Gregerie Channel

STT-40 B Water Isles, Hotel Beach

STT-41 B Water Isles, Flamingo Bay

STT-42 B Water Isles, Sprat Bay

St. John—19 Sites
Basic Water Quality Monitoring Stations (Boat)

STJ-43a B Cruz Bay, North of Pier

STJ-43b B Cruz Bay, South of Pier

STJ-43c B Cruz Bay, Creek, Seaplane

STJ-43d B Cruz Bay, Creek, North

STJ-44a A Trunk Bay

STJ-44b B Hawksnest Bay

STJ-44c B Cinnamon Bay

STJ-44d B Francis Bay

STJ-45 B Great Cruz Bay

STJ-46 B Chocolate Bay

STJ-47 B Rendezvous Bay

STJ-48 B Fish Bay

STJ-49 B Genti Bay

STJ-50 B Little Lameshur Bay

STJ-51 B Great Lameshur Bay

STJ-52 B Salt Pond Bay

STJ-53 B Coral Bay

STJ-54 B Caneel Bay

STJ-55 B Turner Bay

2. Monitoring Measurements

At each station, field measurements are made of the following:

Turbidity: expressed in Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU’s) using an EPA recommended meter.

Dissolved Oxygen: expressed in mg/l saturation and measured with an EPA recommended meter.

Temperature: expressed in degrees Centigrade measured with a thermometer or collected from the Dissolved Oxygen Meter.

Salinity: expressed in parts per thousand and measured with a optical salinometer.

Secchi Depth: expressed in meters by a secchi depth recording light transparency.

Water samples are collected at each station and taken to a DPNR certified laboratory for Fecal Coliform analysis. Results are expressed as number of colonies per 100 milliliters. Multiple Tube Fermentation (MTF) procedure is generally used.

[In general, the Beach Monitoring Program measures a smaller number of parameters than the standard Boat Monitoring activities. During the Reporting period, Beach Monitoring collected only temperature, pH, and fecal coliform measures, but these procedures are still being refined.]

Table III.A.2 65 Virgin Islands Beach Monitoring Sites

St. Croix Beach Monitoring Sites

STC-B1 Yacht Club Beach

STC-B2 Cramer’s park Beach

STC-B3 Divi St. Croix Beach

STC-B4 Frederiksted Pool Beach

STC-B5 Frederiksted Public Beach

STC-B6 Rainbow Beach Club

STC-B7 Butler Bay Beach

STC-B8 Carambola Beach

STC-B9 Cane Bay Beach

STC-B10 Gentle Winds Beach

STC-B11 Columbus Landing Beach

STC-B12 Pelican Cove Beach

STC-B13 Mill Harbor Beach

STC-B14 Hotel on the Cay Beach

STC-B15 Altoona lagoon Beach

STC-B16 Ft. Louise Augusta Beach

STC-B17 Buccaneer Beach

STC-B18 Shoys Beach

STC-B19 Chenay Bay Beach

STC-B20 Candle Reef Beach

STC-B21 Coakley Bay Beach

STC-B22 Reef Beach

STC-B23 Club STC

STC-B24 Gallows Bay Fisherman’s Pier

STC-B25 Christiansted Wharf

STC-B26 Boy Scout Camp

STC-B27 Tamarind Beach Hotel

STC-B28 Salt River Marina

STC-B29 Water Gut

STC-B30 Green Cay Marina

STC-B31a Billy French, S

STC-B31b Billy French, N

St. Thomas Beach Monitoring Sites

STT-B1 Lindbergh Bay Beach East

STT-B2 Lindbergh Bay Beach West

STT-B3 Brewers Bay Beach

STT-B4 Perseverance Bay Beach

STT-B5 Caret Bay Beach

STT-B6 Dorothea Beach

STT-B7 Hull Bay Beach

STT-B8 Magens Bay Beach Northeast

STT-B9 Magens Bay Beach Northwest

STT-B10 Mandahl Bay Beach

STT-B11 Spring Bay Beach

STT-B12 Sunsi Bay Beach

STT-B13 Coki Bay Beach

STT-B14 Smith Bay Beach

STT-B15 St. John Bay Beach

STT-B16 Vessup Bay Beach

STT-B17 Cowpet Bay Beach

STT-B18 Bovoni Bay Beach

STT-B19 Bolongo Bay Beach

STT-B20 Frenchman’s Bay Beach

STT-B21 Limetree Beach

STT-B22 Morning Star Beach

STT-B23 Flamboyant Cove Beach

St. John Beach Monitoring Sites

STJ-B1 Cruz Bay West Pier Beach

STJ-B2 Trunk Bay Beach

STJ-B3 Hawksnest Bay Beach

STJ-B4 Cinnamon Bay Beach

STJ-B5 Francis Bay Beach

STJ-B6 Leinster Bay

STJ-B7 Great Cruz Bay Beach (Virgin Grand Beach)

STJ-B8 Great Lameshur Bay Beach

STJ-B9 Caneel Bay Beach

STJ-B10 Turner Bay Beach

3. 1996 and 1997 Monitoring Frequency

During this reporting period Ambient Monitoring was conducted with the following frequency:

FY-1996	St. Thomas/St. John	St. Croix
Quarter 1	no sampling	no sampling
Quarter 2	no sampling	all boat sites; 3/22-27/96
Quarter 3	no sampling	no sampling
Quarter 4	all boat sites 8/21-23/96	all boat sites; 8/26-28/96
FY-1997
Quarter 1	no sampling	no sampling
Quarter 2	STT only: 3/19/97	all beach samples; 3/24/97
Quarter 3	STJ only: 4-9-97	all beach samples; 5/20/97
Quarter 4	no sampling	no sampling

The follow three pages show the locations of Water Quality (in-water or boat) monitoring sites in use in FY 1996 and FY 1997. Numbers on these maps correspond with the numbers in Table III.A.1, above; the 14-digit watershed identifiers are from preliminary, draft mapping of Virgin Islands 14-digit Hydrologic Units by the NRCS and the USGS.

Figure III.A.1: St. Croix Waters Boat Monitoring Network

Figure III.A.2: St. Thomas Waters Boat Monitoring Network

Figure III.A.3: St. John Waters Boat Monitoring Network

Toxics/biological monitoring

No monitoring for toxics or biological effects are conducted in the Virgin Islands for lack of baseline standards for Virgin Islands conditions

Fish tissue, sediment, shellfish monitoring:

The Virgin Islands Water Pollution Control program does not include toxic chemicals or biological monitoring. The program also does not monitor fish tissue, sediment or shellfish for toxicity. A background analysis of ambient water quality has not yet been performed to support the adoption criteria for toxic chemicals (1996 VI 305(b)).

Quality assurance/quality control program

The Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources has a full-time Quality Assurance Officer.

Data storage, management, information sharing

The Storage and Retrieval of Water-Related Data (STORET) program has not yet been implemented (1996 305(b)) in the US Virgin Islands.

STORET program training is needed for DEP staff (1996 305(b) report)— it is now scheduled for the August, 1999, hurricane season, in San Juan.

It is proposed to use the Assessment Database after waterbodies, segments and watersheds are finally determined for the Virgin Islands.

Volunteer monitoring

Volunteer monitoring is used to support the recently initiated COSALC Coast and Beach Stability in the Lesser Antilles beach profiling program. (The source of the acronym for COSALC is not known, but it may have been based on the name of the program as assigned by a previous French-speaking administrator of UNESCO.) Volunteers are not used for water quality monitoring or assessment. Virgin Islands non-governmental environmental organizations and other private, voluntary groups are involved in the non-point source programs of the Department.

Program evaluation

A background analysis of ambient water quality is needed to support the adoption of criteria for toxic pollutants.

New equipment and staff training is needed to assess water quality for the development of toxic and biological criteria.

B. Assessment Methodology and Summary Data

The 1998 State Water Quality Assessment 305(b) uses the fixed ambient stations’ monitoring water quality data and best professional judgment, from 1996 to 1997.

The Department intends to use the Assessment Database to record ambient monitoring information in the future, but this requires a four-step process:

Adjusting the definition of Territorial waterbodies, based on final USGS/NRCS mapping at the 14-digit Hydrologic Unit level;
Defining watershed boundaries as used in the Unified Watershed Assessment which are congruent with the waterbodies;
Using the coasts of the watersheds to derive waterbody segment definitions; and
Defining coastal areas associated with the water side of each watershed/waterbody segment (in contrast to the current use of linear miles of coastal shoreline).

Once these four tasks have been accomplished, the Department will work with the Assessment Database (ADB) system to define all elements of the system for future data recording. Until these major policy issues are more refined, however, and in the absence of the Department’s ability to readily re-map and these conditions at will, it seems to make little sense to set up an ADB system which will be subject to many changes and adjustments.

1. Segmentation Criteria and Waterbody Identification
Waterbody

The waterbody is the traditional unit-of-record for tracking water quality assessment information about designated use support and impairment. The states have defined waterbodies in various ways, from short stream segments and individual lakes to entire watersheds. Waterbodies have also traditionally been the basic unit states use to report water quality data for annual electronic reporting under Section 305(b).

Waterbody Segments

In many states, the currently defined waterbodies are quite large and changes in designated use support occur within a single waterbody. Prior to the era of GIS analysis, this was not a problem- However, when a waterbody cannot be treated as a single homogeneous unit for assessment purposes, mapping the locations of impairment within the waterbody can be impossible, as can certain summary functions. This condition is often referred to as "spatial indeterminacy". This has been an issue for many states, for example, when they try to map their 303(d) waters. To avoid spatial indeterminacy, the Assessment Database requires that a waterbody be broken into one or more segments. These segments must then be treated as single homogeneous units, meaning that any designated uses, the rating of these uses, and any associated causes and sources must be applied to the entire waterbody segment.

It is critical to understand that the Assessment Database (ADB) uses the waterbody segment as the key organizing unit.

In the ADB, waterbodies are given a single segment by default, If this single segment can be treated as a unit then no further work is required. However, if this single waterbody segment cannot be treated as a unit, the waterbody will have to be broken into multiple segments in such a way that each segment can be treated as a unit.

Thus, the use of the waterbody segment is critical to maintain the existing waterbody identification numbers and definitions and is critical to providing for the division of waterbodies into segments that can be treated as units

Assessment Database Structure

As the key organizing unit in the Assessment Database (ADB), each waterbody segment may have multiple uses defined. These defined uses must apply to the entire waterbody segment. After at least one use has been defined, assessment information (e.g. assessment dates and methodologies) can be specified. The ADB only allows one assessment per waterbody segment. If any uses are assessed as something other than "fully" supporting, any number of causes and sources can be recorded.

In an ideal world, the user would like to identify the causes or stressors associated with impaired (or even threatened) uses. Then, the user would like to identify the sources associated with those causes. While the ADB allows and even encourages the user to specify these linkages, setting up these linkages is not required. Figure III.B.1 demonstrates these basic relationships.

Figure III.B.1 Data Relationships for Waterbodies, Segments and Assessment Information

Definition of Hydrologic Units of the United States

The Hydrologic Units (HUs) for the United States, Puerto Rica and the US Virgin Islands are being delineated following the guidelines specified in the National Instruction NO. 170-304. This document can be found at the web site:

http://www.nhg.nrcs.usda.gov/hu/ni170304.html

In the guidelines there is a size criteria for the HUs at the different levels (watershed and sub-watershed). The size criteria established by NRCS (Tom Sebert) for the USVI HUs is as follows:

10,000 to 40,000 acres for the 11-digit hydrologic units (watershed level)

3,000 to 10,000 acres for the 14- digit hydrologic units (subwatershed level)

Hydrologic Units (watershed and subwatershed level) for USVI were delineated based on topographic contours and hydrographic features on 1:24,000 USGS topographic base maps taking into account the size criteria of 10,000 to 40,000 acres for watersheds and 3,000 to 10,000 acres for subwatersheds, The following Hydrologic units (subwatershed level) resulted from the delineation:

Table III.B.1 Virgin Islands Hydrologic Units and Acreage

Watershed (11-digit) hydrologic units

St. Thomas

11-digit HUC ACREAGE

21020001010 17,488.78

St. John

11-digit HUC ACREAGE

210200DI020 12,323.20

St. Croix

11-digit HUC ACREAGE

21020002010 21,897.98

21020002020 31,601.16

Subwatershed (14-digit) hydrologic units

St. Thomas

14-digit HUC ACREAGE

21020001010010 4,446.51

21020001010020 3,314.54

21020001010030 4,661.89

21020001010040 5,065.85

St. John

14-digit HUC ACREAGE

21020001020010 3,295.54

21020001020020 4,687.57

21020001020030 4,340.09

St. Croix

14-digit HUC ACREAGE

21020002010010 7,429.4

21020002010020 6,347.9

21020002010030 8,330.1

21020002020010 7,398.9

21020002020020 8,958.8

21020002020030 7,862.7

21020002020040 7,420.1

Synthesis of Waterbodies, Segments and Monitoring Sites

Table III.B.2 presents the relationships of:

Waterbodies as defined by 14-digit Hydrologic Units;

Segments as defined originally by Chris Buros of CH2MHill, for Sediment Reduction studies of the US Virgin Islands in 1979, and subsequently adopted by the Unified Watershed Assessment (9/98). This list, or the boundaries of individual segments is subject to adjustment for alignment as sub-units of the 14-digit HUs by the NRCS/USGS; and

Water Quality Monitoring Stations, organized by the proposed waterbodies, but not yet assigned to segments, pending the completion of mapping and other approvals. These sites are those listed in Tables III.A.1-3 and Figures III.A.1-3.

Completion of these relationships is a task being undertaken as part of the new monitoring strategy for the Virgin Islands in 1998 and 1999.

For this 1998 Virgin Islands Abbreviated Water Quality Assessment, the following table represents the extent of current knowledge or policy management capability. Tables III.C.1 and III.C.2 (below) represent conjectural applications of the available monitoring and evaluation information to rough estimates of the coast length by Segments.

Table III.B.2 Waterbodies, Segments, Coast Lengths and Monitoring Sites

		Waterbodies	(14-Digit Hydrologic Unit Codes) Segments from UWA Watersheds	Coast Length (est.)	WQ Sample Sites	VI Station IDs	Class	Location
VIRGIN ISLANDS				172.8	157
St. Croix			21020002	70.3	64
	North St. Croix		21020002010	33.4	43
		Northwest St. Croix	21020002010010	8.9	4
			La Grange	na		STC-28	C	Frederiksted Dock
			Prosperity	na		STC-29	B	Magic Isles Beach
			Creque Dam	na		STC-30	B	Sprat Hall Beach
			Butler Bay	na		STC-31	B	Davis Bay
			Rams Bay	na

		Northcentral St. Croix	21020002010020	9.5	12
			Northside	na		STC-32	B	Cane Bay
			Baron Bluff	na		[STC-33a-j	B	Salt River Stations]
			Salt River Bay	na		STC-33a	B	Columbus Landing
						STC-33b	B	Shallow Grass bed
						STC-33c	B	Salt River Marina
						STC-33d	B	Sugar Bay
						STC-33e	B	Deep Grass Bed
						STC-33f	B	Beach
						STC-33g	B	NOAA Dock
						STC-33h	B	Bird Sanctuary
						STC-33i	B	Steeple
						STC-33j	B	Cove
						STC-34	B	St. Croix By the Sea

		Northeast St. Croix	21020002010030	15.0	27
			Princess	na		STC-1	B	Lagoon Rec. Beach
			Christiansted	na		STC-2	B	Ft. Louise Augusta
			Altoona Lagoon	na		STC-3	B	Buccaneer Hotel
			Southgate	na		STC-4	B	Tamarind Reef Lagoon
			Solitude	na		STC-5	B	Green Cay Beach
			Tagues Bay	na		STC-6	A	Buck Island Beach
						STC-7	A	Buck Island Anchorage
			[Note that the sequence of			STC-8	B	Reef Club Beach
			monitoring stations here			STC-9	B	St. Croix Yacht Club
			does not track with the			STC-10	B	Cramer’s Park
			sequence of segments			STC-35	B	Long Reef, Forereef W
			above.]			STC-36	B	Long Reef, Forereef E
						STC-37	B	C’sted Harbor Entr W
						STC-38	B	C’sted Harbor Entr E
						STC-39	C	Altoona Lagoon Inlet
						STC-40	C	St. Croix Marine Marina
						STC-41	C	Gallows Bay
						STC-42	C	Public Wharf
						STC-43	C	Water Gut
						STC-44	C	Protestant Cay Beach
						STC-45	C	Christiansted Harbor
						STC-46	C	V. I Water and Power
						STC-47	B	Mill Harbor Condos
						STC-48	B	Long Reef Backreef W
						STC-49	B	Long Reef, Old Outfall
						STC-50	B	Long Reef, Old Outfall
						STC-51	C	King Cross St, Drain

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
	South St. Croix		21020002020	36.9	21
		Southeast St. Croix	21020002020010	15.3	6
			Turner Hole	na		STC-11b	B	Isaac Forereef
			Madam Carty	na		STC-12	B	Turner Hole
			Great Pond Bay	na		STC-13a	B	Great Pond
			Laprey Valley	na		STC-13b	B	Robin Bay Backreef
			Bugby Hole	na		STC-14a	B	Halfpenny Bay-
			Cane Garden Bay	na		STC-14b	B	Halfpenny Backreef

		Southports St. Crix	21020002020020	8.1	9
			HOVIC-VIALCO	na		STC-15	B	Canegarden Bay
						STC-16	C	NW End, Hess E Channel
						STC-17	C	NE End, Hess W Channel
						STC-18	C	Limetree Bay
						STC-19	C	Krause Lagoon Channel
						STC-20	C	Martin Marietta
						STC-21	B	Spoils Island Channel
						STC-22a	B	Treatment Plant Outfall
						STC-22b	B	Outfall Break

		Airport St. Croix	21020002020030	2.5	3
			Bethlehem	na		STC-23	B	Public Dump
			Airport	na		STC-24a	B	Texaco Buoys
						STC-24b	B	Rum Plant Outfall

		Southwest St. Croix	21020002020040	11.0	3
			Diamond	na		STC-25	B	Carlton Beach
			Long Point Bay	na		STC-26	B	Good Hope Beach
			Sandy Point	na		STC-27	B	Sandy Point Beach

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
St. Thomas-St. John			21020001	102.5	93
	St. Thomas		21020001010	52.8	74
		Northwest St. Thomas	21020001010010	11.5	8
			Botany Point	na		STT-9	B	Botany Bay
			Santa Maria Bay	na		STT-10	B	Stumpy Bay
			Dorothea Bay	na		STT-11	B	Santa Maria Bay
			Magens Bay	na		STT-12	B	Caret Bay
						STT-13	B	Dorothea
						STT-14	B	Hull Bay
						STT-15a	B	Magens Bay, NE
						STT-15b	B	Magens Bay, NW

		Northeast St. Thomas	21020001010020	13.5	13
			Mandahl Bay	na		STT-16a	B	Mandahl Bay
			Smith Bay	na		STT-16b	B	Mandahl Bay Marina
			Redhook Bay	na		STT-17a	B	Springs Bay
						STT-17b	B	Sunsi Bay
						STT-18	B	Coki Bay
						STT-19	B	Water Bay
						STT-20	B	Smith Bay
						STT-21a	B	St. John Bay
						STT-21b	B	Red Bay
						STT-22a	B	Red Hook Bay
						STT-22B	B	Vessup Bay
						STT-23	B	Great Bay
						STT-24	B	Cowpet Bay

		Southeast St. Thomas	21020001010030	11.0	28
			Benner Bay	na		STT-25	B	Nazareth Bay
			Frenchman Bay	na		STT-26	B	Benner Bay
						STT-27a	B	Mangrove Lagoon
						STT-27b	B	Mangrove Lagoon
						STT-28a	B	Bovoni Bay
						STT-28b	B	Bolongo Bay
						STT-29a	B	Frenchman’s Bay
						STT-29b	B	Limetree
						STT-30	B	Morning Star Bay
						STT-31a	B	Flamboyant Cove

		Southwest St. Thomas	21020001010040	16.8	25
			St. Thomas Harbor	na		STT-31b	B	Hassel Island, Navy Dock
			Cyril E. King Airport (ex-HST)	na		STT-31c	B	Hassel Is., Careening
			Perseverance Bay	na		STT-32a	C	Long Bay, S Dolphin
			Fortuna Bay	na		STT-32b	C	Long Bay, NE Corner
						STT-33	C	Long Bay, off Outfall
						STT-34	C	Long Bay, Pumphouse
						STT-35	C	Garden Bay
						STT-36	C	STT Harbor, USCG Sta
						STT-37	C	St. Thomas Harbor, Cay
						STT-38	C	Haulover Cut
						STT-39	B	Water Isle, E Gregerie
						STT-40	B	Water Isles, Hotel Bch
						STT-41	B	Water Isles, Flamingo
						STT-42	B	Water Isles, Sprat Bay
						STT-1	C	Crown Bay, near outfall
						STT-2	C	Crown Bay, Tamarind
						STT-3	C	Sub-Base
						STT-4	B	Krum Bay
						STT-5a	B	Lindbergh Bay, E
						STT-5b	B	Lindbergh Bay
						STT-6a	B	Dump (Station Elim)
						STT-6b	B	Airport/College Cove
						STT-6c	B	SW Roads nr Red Point
						STT-6d	B	Flat Cay, NE corner
						STT-7a	B	Brewers Bay
						STT-7b	B	Perserverance Bay
						STT-8	B	Fortuna Bay

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
	St. John		21020001020	49.7	19
		North St. John	21020001020010	20.0	5
			Hawksnest	na		STJ-44a	A	Trunk Bay
			Maho Bay	na		STJ-44b	B	Hawksnest Bay
			Leinster Bay	na		STJ-44c	B	Cinnamon Bay
			Minnebeck Bay	na		STJ-44d	B	Francis Bay
						STJ-54	B	Caneel Bay

		Southeast St. John	21020001020020	19.7	4
			Coral Bay	na		STJ-50	B	Little Lameshur Bay
			Great Lameshur Bay	na		STJ-51	B	Great Lameshur Bay
						STJ-52	B	Salt Pond Bay
						STJ-53	B	Coral Bay

		Southwest St. John	21020001020030	10.0	10
			Genti Bay	na		STJ-49	B	Genti (Reef) Bay
			Fish Bay	na		STJ-48	B	Fish Bay
			Rendezvous Bay	na		STJ-47	B	Rendezvous Bay
			Great Cruz Bay	na		STJ-45	B	Great Cruz Bay
						STJ-46	B	Chocolate Bay
						STJ-55	B	Turner Bay
						STJ-43a	B	Cruz Bay, North of Pier
						STJ-43b	B	Cruz Bay, South of Pier
						STJ-43c	B	Cruz Bay, Seaplane
						STJ-43d	B	Cruz Bay, Creek, North

Entries of coast length in Italics are preliminary and dependent on a number of factors including final definitions of NRCS 14-digit HUCs.

na Estimates not reliably available

2. Assessment Methodology for Use Support Determination

The 1998 Abbreviated Virgin Islands Water Quality Assessment 305(b) uses best professional judgment, in consideration of:

the results of fixed ambient monitoring water quality data from 1996 to 1997,
beach monitoring [usually as a result of extreme weather conditions or equipment (boat) failure],
sewage treatment system bypasses and spills,
Clean Water Act 303(d) water quality limited segments,
known areas of inadequate or deteriorating septic systems,
landfills and hazardous waste sites’ leachates.

a. Monitored Waters

Monitoring data for St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas for the reporting period (October 1, 1995 to September 30, 1996) are reported in Attachment III. These are not officially monitored waters for the purposes of this abbreviated report, since the "best professional judgment" basis of the assessment includes additional factors.

b. Evaluated Waters

Evaluated waters include all coastal shorelines of the Virgin Islands.

c. Determination of Source and Cause Impacts for Less than Full Support

Source information, based on best professional judgment, is presented on a monitoring site/segment basis in Attachment III, and Table III.C.3, below.

3. Section 303(d) Waters

Section 303(d) of the CWA requires the identification and establishment of a priority ranking for waters that do not or are not expected to achieve or maintain water quality standards with existing or anticipated required controls. The establishment of total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) are required for such waters in accordance with such priority rankings.

August, 1998, EPA and the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources reached agreement on a list of nine (9) impaired waterbody segments as 303(d) waters. This agreement included a priority ranking of those waters and a general schedule for the development of Total Maximum Daily Loads, including agreement to conclude TMDLs for the three high priority impaired waters—the associated bays of Vessup Bay, Benner Bay and the Mangrove Lagoon on the southeast coast of St. Thomas for 1999. The 1998 list was an update of a list of waters first developed in 1996. From that earlier list, EPA and DPNR agreed to "delist" Christiansted Harbor, the Longreef waterbody, and the Salt River Estuary complex in St. Croix.

The table below, excerpted from the EPA–DPNR, agreement summarizes this information for the 1998 list:

Table III.B.3 Summary of 1998 Virgin Islands List of Impaired [303(d)] Waters

Segment Name	Priority	Class	Impairment	Pollutant	Source	Scheduled TMDL Completion
St. Thomas
Vessup Bay	High	B	Dissolved Oxygen	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Nonpoint marina/ residential Possible POTW	1999
Benner Bay	High	B	Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Nonpoint marina/ residential, Possible POTW	1999
Mangrove Lagoon	High	B	Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity	Dissolved oxygen deficit Sewage	POTW Outfall Landfill Run-off	1999
Lovenlund Bay	Medium	B	Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Undetermined	2005
Sprat Bay	Medium	B	Dissolved Oxygen	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Undetermined	2007
St. Croix
Salt River Estuary	Medium	B	Dissolved Oxygen	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Nonpoint marina/residential,	2001
Manning Bay	Medium	B	*Dissolved Oxygen	Dissolved oxygen deficit	Non-point landfill run-off	2003
VIRIL Outfall. Caribbean Sea	Medium	B	*Aquatic Life	Waste Water	VIRIL Rum Plant discharge	2009
St. John
Turner Bay– Enighed Pond	Medium	B	Dissolved Oxygen Turbidity	Sewage	POTW Outfall	2009

C. Estuary and Coastal Assessment

1. Designated Uses

Table III.C.1.a presents a conceptual definition of Designated Uses by proposed Waterbody and Segment, based on the hierarchy of waterbodies and segments presented in Section III.B, above.

Table III.C.1.a, amplified and extended from Table III.B.2, presents notional segment lengths, pending approval of NRCS 14-Digit Hydrologic Unit codes and adjustment of Unified Watershed Assessment watersheds. These estimates are presented here, however, because they are useful in illustrating order-of-magnitude and relative effects of surface water pollution in the Virgin Islands.

Note that these are preliminary assignments, subject to change based on refinements of the Hydrologic Units and ground truthing of the Designated Use Classes provisionally assigned below. For example, depending on the actual shoreline positions of the boundary between La Grange and Prosperity (the first two entries below), and depending on analysis of coastal current flows, Designated Use Class C might be extended to the Prosperity watershed.

This information is summarized for all of the Virgin Islands in Table III.C.1.b.

Table III.C.1.a Waterbodies, Segments, Coast Lengths and Designated Uses

		Waterbodies	(14-Digit Hydrologic Unit Codes) Segments from UWA Watersheds	Coast Length (est.)	WQ Sample Sites	Class	Use
VIRGIN ISLANDS				172.8	157
St. Croix			21020002	70.3	64
	North St. Croix		21020002010	33.4	43
		Northwest St. Croix	21020002010010	8.9	4
			La Grange	1.4		C
			Prosperity	2.0		B
			Creque Dam	1.5		B
			Butler Bay	1.0		B
			Rams Bay	3.0		B

		Northcentral St. Croix	21020002010020	9.5	12
			Northside	3.0		B
			Baron Bluff	3.0		B
			Salt River Bay	3.5		B	PS

		Northeast St. Croix	21020002010030	15.0	27
			Princess	2.0		B
			Christiansted	3.0		C
			Altoona Lagoon	2.0		B	DNS
			Southgate	2.0		B
			Solitude*	4.0		B
			Tagues Bay	2.0		B

			*includes Buck Island	2.0		A

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
	South St. Croix		21020002020	36.9	21
		Southeast St. Croix	21020002020010	15.3	6
			Turner Hole	2.5		B
			Madam Carty	2.5		B
			Great Pond Bay	2.5		B
			Laprey Valley	2.5		B
			Bugby Hole	2.5		B
			Cane Garden Bay	2.8		B

		Southports St. Croix	21020002020020	8.1	9
			HOVIC-VIALCO	8.1		C	PS

		Airport St. Croix	21020002020030	2.5	3
			Bethlehem	1.0		B	DNS
			Airport	1.5		B	DNS

		Southwest St. Croix	21020002020040	11.0	3
			Diamond	3.0		B
			Long Point Bay	4.0		B
			Sandy Point	4.0		B

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
St. Thomas-St. John			21020001	102.5	93
	St. Thomas		21020001010	52.8	74
		Northwest St. Thomas	21020001010010	11.5	8
			Botany Point	3.0		B
			Santa Maria Bay	3.0		B
			Dorothea Bay	2.0		B
			Magens Bay	3.5		B

		Northeast St. Thomas	21020001010020	13.5	13
			Mandahl Bay	4.0		B
			Smith Bay	4.0		B
			Redhook Bay	5.5		B	PS

		Southeast St. Thomas	21020001010030	11.0	28
			Benner Bay	5.0		B	DNS
			Frenchman Bay	6.0		B

		Southwest St. Thomas	21020001010040	16.8	25
			St. Thomas Harbor	7.3		C
			Cyril E. King Airport	3.5		B
			Perseverance Bay	3.0		B
			Fortuna Bay	3.0		B

				Miles of Coast	# of Sites
	St. John		21020001020	49.7	19
		North St. John	21020001020010	20.0	5
			Hawksnest*	6.0		B
			Maho Bay	4.0		B
			Leinster Bay	4.0		B
			Minnebeck Bay	6.0		B

			*includes Trunk Bay	1.5		A

		Southeast St. John	21020001020020	19.7	4
			Coral Bay	12.0		B	PS
			Great Lameshur Bay	7.7		B

		Southwest St. John	21020001020030	10.0	10
			Genti Bay	2.5		B
			Fish Bay	2.5		B
			Rendezvous Bay	2.5		B
			Great Cruz Bay	2.5		B
		Segments evaluated as PARTIALLY SUPPORTING designated use
		Segments evaluated as NOT SUPPORTING designated use

Entries of coast length in italics are very preliminary and dependent on a number of conditional factors including final definitions of NRCS 14-digit HUCs for Virgin Islands.
Table III.C.1.b Summary of Designated Uses by Estimated Coast Lengths

Designated Use	Total Assessed Size (miles)
Class A: Aquatic Life Use Support (Preservation of Natural Phenomena)	3.5
Class B: Primary Contact Recreation	149.5
Class C: Secondary Contact Recreation	19.8
TOTAL ASSESSED	172.8

2. Individual Use Support Summary

Assessment of the Virgin Islands’ coastal waters is presented in (estimated) miles of coastal shoreline. Some 173 shore miles are assessed in this report (representing 100 percent of the 173 miles of total coastal waters), of which 173 miles were assessed through evaluation. A summary of use support assessments for coastal waters are shown in Table III.3.1.

Table III.C.2 Summary of Fully, Partially and Non-supporting Coastal Waters

Note that all waters are evaluated on the basis of best professional judgment, including ambient surveys; no waters are monitored on the basis of quantitative data alone.

Designated Use/ Coastal Shoreline (miles)	Fully Supports	Partially Supports	Non Support	Total Assessed
Class A: Aquatic Life Use Support (Preservation of Natural Phenomena)	3.5 mi	0.0	0.0	3.5
Class B: Primary Contact Recreation	112.0	28.0	9.5	149.5
Class C: Secondary Contact Recreation	11.7	8.1	0.0	19.8
TOTAL ASSESSED	127.2	36.1	9.5	172.8
Percent	73.6%	20.9%	5.5%

Figure III.C.2.a St. Croix: Fully, Partially and Non-supporting Coastal Waters

Non-supporting areas (darker circles) include the Dump and Sewage outfalls to the west of the Southport complex (#22-23), and small sites at Salt River Marina and Green Cay Marina. Partially supporting areas include the Southport complex, the Long Point area of the southern coast, and most of the Salt River estuarine area. (Table Attachment III.A.)

Figure III.C.2.b St. Thomas: Fully, Partially and Nonsupporting Coastal Waters

Non-supporting areas (darker shaded ovals) include Water Bay (#19), and the Benner Bay/Mangrove Lagoon complex. Red Hook/Vessup Bay are assessed partially supporting (Table Attachment III.B.)

Figure III.C.2c St. John: Fully, Partially and Nonsupporting Coastal Waters

Partially supporting areas (lighter shading) are Coral Bay and a portion of Cruz Bay adjacent to the commercial port area. (Table Attachment III.B.)

3. Causes and Sources of Designated Use Impairment

Table III.C.3 Sources of Designated Use Impairment by Sampling Site 1996 to 1997.

From Attachment III, Ambient Survey Results

WBID	WB Loc. site:	Source Code
STC-01	Lagoon Rec. Beach	8700
STC-02	Ft. Louise Augusta	8700
STC-03	Buccaneer Hotel	0230, 8700
STC-04	Green Cay Marina	0230, 7900
STC-05	Chenay Bay	0230, 8700
STC-06	Buck Island Beach	8700
STC-07	Buck Island Trail	8700
STC-08	Reef Beach	0120, 0230
STC-09	Yacht Club	7900, 6500
STC-10	Cramer Park	8700
STC-11b	Isaac Forereef	8700
STC-12	Grapetree Beach	0120, 0230
STC-13a	Great Pond	8700
STC-13b	Robin Bay Backreef	8700
STC-14a	Manchinil Bay	8700
STC-14b	Halfpenny Backreef	8700
STC-15	Cane Garden Bay	210
STC-16	Hess Channel, East	0100, 0110
STC-17	Hess West Channel	0100, 0110, 8400
STC-18	Limetree Bay	0100, 0110, 6500
STC-19	Krause Lagoon	0100, 0110
STC-20	VIALCO	0100, 0110
STC-21	Spoil Island Channel	8950
STC-22A	Sewage Outfall	210/ 191
STC-23	Dump	6300
STC-24B	Rum Plant Outfall	0100, 0120/ 191
STC-25	Carlton	4000
STC-26	Good Hope	4000
STC-27	Frederiksted Pool	8700, 8950
STC-28	F'sted Public Dock	8700, 8950
STC-29	Majic Isle Beach Sundowner	8700
STC-30	Sprat Hall	8700
STC-31	Davis Bay	8700
STC-32	Cane Bay	8700, 0230
STC-33A	Columbus Landing	8700
STC-33B	Shallow Grass Bed	8950
STC-33C	Salt River Marina	7900, 4600/
STC-33E	Deep Grass Bed	8950
STC-33F	Beach	8950
STC-33G	NOAA Dock	9000
STC-33H	Bird Sanctuary	9000
STC-33I	Steeple	9000
STC-33J	Cove
STC-34	St. Croix by the Sea Hotel	8700
STC-35	Longreef Forereef West	0500
STC-36	Longreef Forereef East	0500
STC-37	C'sted Harbor West	0500
STC-38	C'sted Harbor Entrance E.	0500
STC-39	Altoona Lagoon	8700
STC-40	St. Croix Marine	7900
STC-41	Gallows Bay	4000
STC-42	Public Wharf	8700, 0500
STC-43	Water Gut	0500, 8700
STC-44	Hotel on the Cay	8700
STC-45	C'sted Harbor	4000
STC-46	WAPA	0100, 0110, 8400
STC-47	Mill Harbor	8700, 0500
STC-48	Longreef Back Reef W	0500
STC-49	Longreef Back Reef E	0500
STC-50	Longreef Outfall	0500
STC-51	King Cross St. Storm Drain	4000
WBID	WB Location St. Thomas/St. John	Source Codes
STT-01	Crown Bay near outfall	0210
STT-02	Crown Bay Tamarind Outlet	0120, 8950
STT-03	Subbase	0120, 8400
STT-04	Krum Bay	0110, 8400
STT-05a	Lindbergh Bay, East	8950
STT-05b	Lindbergh Bay, West	8950
STT-07a	Brewer's Bay- drainage ditch	4300
STT-19	Water Bay	0120/ 191
STT-22a	Red Hook Bay near Ferry dock	7900, 4300
STT-22b	Vessup Bay	0220, 4300,
STT-26a	Benner Bay	0120, 0500, 8700
STT-27a	Mangrove Lagoon, near POTW	0220, 0500, 8400,4600/
STT-27b	Mangrove Lagoon	0220, 0500, 8400,4600/
STT-32a	Long Bay, WICO South Dolphin	0120, 7900
STT-32b	Long Bay, NE Corner of WICO dock	0120, 7900
STT-33	Long Bay, off outfall	0120, 0220
STT-34	Long Bay, off pumpstation	0220
STT-35	Garden Bay,	9000
STT-36	St. Thomas Harbor, North of CG dock	7900, 8700,4600
STT-37	St. Thomas Harbor, Cay Bay	4600, 8700
STJ-43a	Cruz Bay, north of pier	7900, 4300
STJ-43b	Cruz Bay, south of pier	7900, 4300
STJ-43c	Cruz Bay, Creek, Seaplane	7900
STJ-43d	Cruz Bay, Creek, North	7900, 8700
STJ-44a	Trunk Bay	8700, 4300
STJ-44b	Hawksnest Bay	8700, 4300
STJ-44c	Cinnamon Bay	8700, 4300
STJ-44d	Francis Bay	8700, 4300
STJ-45	Great Cruz Bay	0500, 4300
STJ-46	Chocolate Hole Bay	0500, 4300
STJ-47	Rendezvous Bay	0120, 0500
STJ-48	Fish Bay	0500, 4600,4300
STJ-49	Genti Bay	4300, 9000
STJ-50	Little Lameshur Bay	8950
STJ-51	Great Lameshur Bay	8950/ 191
STJ-52	Salt Pond Bay	8950
STJ-53	Coral Bay	0120, 9000, 7900
STJ-54	Caneel Bay	8950
STJ-55	Turner Bay	0120, 9000

Source Attribution
Code	Source Attribution
0100	Industrial Point Sources
0110	Major Industrial Point Sources
0120	Minor Industrial Point Sources
0210	Major Municipal Point Sources—dry and/or wet weather discharges
0220	Minor Municipal Point Sources—dry and/or wet weather discharges
0230	Package Plants (small flows)
0500	Collection System Failure
4000	Urban Runoff/Storm Sewers
4300	Other Urban Runoff
4600	Erosion and Sedimentation
6500	Onsite Wastewater Systems (septic tanks)
7900	Marinas and Recreational Boating
8400	Spills (accidental)
8700	Recreation and Tourism Other than Boating
8950	Other
9000	Unknown

Data to be imported from Sections 3.2 -3.6 of the Unified Watershed Assessment report, by topic.

1) Eutrophication

Eutrophication is rarely observed in the Virgin Islands because of tidal flushing and currents driven by the Caribbean current and steady tradewind patterns.

3) Case Studies

The Unified Watershed Assessment includes a detailed summary of current conditions for the 18 Coastal Zone Management Areas of Particular Concern (This summary is Attachment 5 of the Unified Watershed Assessment, which is included in this Abbreviated Water Quality Assessment as Attachment II.) These APC reports contain water quality reports for each APC.

D. Wetlands Assessment

1. Introduction

Prior to October 31, 1978, the US Army Corps of Engineers, as delegated by 404 of the Clean Water Act performed protection of wetlands in the Virgin Islands. After that date, all coastal wetland protection was mandated to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Division of Coastal Zone Management. Guidelines are found in VIC Title 12, Chapter 21, §.903(b)(8), which states that the Division’s responsibility is

"to conserve ecologically significant resource areas for their contribution to marine productivity and value as wildlife habitats, and preserve the function and integrity of reefs, marine meadows, salt ponds, mangroves and other significant areas".
2. Classification of Wetlands

Classification of wetlands is based on the US Fish and Wildlife Wetland and Deepwater Habitat System (Cowardin et al., 1979). Wetlands are grouped into four categories: tidal, seep, landlocked ponds, and spring tidal wetlands.

Tidal ponds or lagoons have narrow inlets connecting to the sea and have a salinity level that is slightly higher than sea water.

Seep ponds and landlocked ponds are not open to the sea, and have fluctuating water and salinity levels depending on rainfall.

Spring tidal wetlands fringe bays, but standing water only occurs during spring tides, when strong onshore winds push water into the wetlands, or during times of heavy rainfall and consequent flooding.

The primary source of wetland impairment is non-point source pollution, construction intrusions, and sedimentation from upland run-off.

Table III.D.1 Wetlands Classification
[Classification of wetlands is based on the US Fish and Wildlife Wetland and Deepwater Habitat System (Cowardin et al., 1979).]

St. Croix	Classification
Great Pond	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested
Billy French Pond	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Scrub-Shrub, Basin
West End Salt Pond	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub, Basin
Altoona Lagoon	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested,
Coakley Bay	Marine (Coastal), Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Long Point Bay	Estuarine, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Intertidal
Mt. Fancy	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub- shrub, Unconsolidated shore, cobble-gravel
Robin Bay	Marine (Coastal), Intertidal, Unconsolidated cobble gravel
Southgate Pond	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub basin
Salt River/Sugar Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore and bottom
Half Penny	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Krause Lagoon	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub,
Manchenil	Marine (Coastal), Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore

St Thomas	Classification
Mandahl Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated bottom, Scrub-shrub
Fortuna Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Forested,
Magens Bay	Marine (Coastal), Sub-tidal, Coral Reef,
Perseverance Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Frenchman's Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Little Conculus Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Benner Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Mangrove Lagoon	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Smith Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
St. John Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Great Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Cabrita Peninsula	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Cowpet Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Vessup Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested,
Bolongo Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Cabes Point	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Little St. James	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Salt Cay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated Mud,
Patricia Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Muller Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Water Island	Classification
Limestone Bay	Marine (Coastal), Intertidal, Unconsolidated Cobble gravel
Sprat Bay	Marine (Coastal), Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded bottom
Sprat Point	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub

St. John	Classification
Brown Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Leinster Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore
Kiddel Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Little Lameshur	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Great Lameshur	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Fish Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore,
Frank Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Enighed Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Francis Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Salt Pond Bay	Marine (Coastal), Subtidal, Coral Reef, 2, Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Privateer Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
South side Pond	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Elk Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated, sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Water Creek	Estuarine, Sub-tidal, Unconsolidated bottom
Otter Creek	Estuarine, Sub-tidal, Unconsolidated bottom
Princess Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Coral Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated cobble gravel, Forested
Chocolate Hole	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Peter Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested,
Turner Point	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Newfound Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Unconsolidated Sanded shore,
Reef Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested,
Calabash Boom	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore
Annaberg	Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub
Europa Bay	1. Estuarine, Intertidal, Scrub-shrub 2. Estuarine, Sub-tidal, Unconsolidated sanded bottom
Grooto Pain Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Hart Bay	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub
Mary Point	Estuarine, Intertidal, Forested, Unconsolidated Sanded shore, Scrub-shrub

3. Wetlands Protection Activities

The Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) is presently monitoring wetlands. Species diversity in wetlands varies according to the availability of water and migration periods, together with other factors. As a result, any assessment of changes in living resources is difficult to estimate.

Division of Fish and Wildlife are being asked to complete and correct Tables 8 and 9, which are incomplete, as noted in reviews of the draft 1998 Abbreviated Water Quality Assessment.

E. Public Health/Aquatic Life Concerns

Pollution-caused fish kills, ciguatera or other abnormalities

A commercial ciguatera test kit is now being sold in the US Virgin Islands. Concerns have been raised about whether the kit (CiguaChek), which was developed in Hawaii, using Pacific strains of the ciguatera dinoflagelate, is effective in the Caribbean.

Restrictions on swimming areas

September 11 through September 16, 1996, DPNR conducted three beach monitoring exercises in STX to measure contamination of coastal shorelines in the aftermath of Hurricane Hortense. All beaches were briefly closed; all beaches were re-opened by September 20^th.

Public advisories are broadcast over the radio when sewage bypasses monitored by the Department of Public Works (through special arrangements discussed above) indicate that beach contamination is possible. (Note that constructed wetlands built during the reporting period, in the path of bypasses, as in St. Croix, have reduced these risks in recent years.)

PART IV: GROUND WATER ASSESSMENT

A. Overview of Virgin Islands Ground Water Protection Programs

This report is an extension and update to the extensive background report on the organization of the Wellhead Protection Program and other Groundwater Assessment activities presented in the Virgin Islands1996 Water Quality Assessment. For detailed background on the program and its legislative and regulatory bases, and the basic hydro-geological background for ground water programs in the Virgin Islands, please consult that report.

For the 1996-1997 reporting period the following highlights affected the programs ability to protect Territorial ground water resources:

The territorial Wellhead Protection Program Plan (WHPP) continued to be frustrated in securing active support from other agencies of the Government of the Virgin Islands. In part, this probably stems from unwillingness to undertake new program responsibilities in a era of drastic budget cuts, and in part it may represent a feeling that there is insufficient ground water resources in the Virgin Islands to bother with a new protection program.

Additional public education meetings are set for early 1998 to try to stimulate some public support for the WHPP. Public concern is substantial, but budgetary realities prevent the passage of a new programs at this time.
Staff of the Division of Environmental Protection worked with other planners in DPNR and elsewhere in Government to ensure that wellhead protection concepts were built into the re-drafted Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan which the executive branch proposed to the Legislature. The new provisions would address current legal deficiencies in well drilling, water appropriation and the imposition of penalties.
The Division of Environmental Protection updated the well inventory of the Water and Power Authority-the major supplier of public water from groundwater resources (primarily on St. Croix). Forty-three of the most active wells on St. Croix were geo-located to five-meter accuracy by the use of differential GPS acquired by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. This information is being combined with other Division of Environmental Protection information to design Wellhead Protection Areas (WHPAs) for major WAPA wells and well fields on St. Croix, which remains a high priority goal for the Division of Environmental Protection, with or without the added regulatory and legal authorities discussed above.
Contractors updated the datasets in the Groundwater Site Inventory (GWSI) which was designed for the Territory by USGS in the early 1990’s. Recommendations for making the database more user-friendly and capable of providing on-going management information have been discussed with USGS.
Groundwater staff has also delineated watersheds on all three islands and has calculated water budgets for each of these areas to guide the issuance of water appropriation permits.
Ninety-one drilling permits, 183 ground water appropriation permits and seven water well drillers' permits were issued in 1997.
Four Standard Operating Procedure reports were written by groundwater assessment staff, and approved by the departmental Quality Assurance officer for:

licensing of well drillers,
siting criteria for water wells,
water appropriations permitting procedures, and
document handling.

1. Summary of Principal Territorial and Federal Ground Water
Protection Agencies and Organizations

Department of Planning and Natural Resources-Division of Environmental Protection. DPRN-DEP is the lead agency for implementation and administration of ground water protection activities in the Virgin Islands.. DPNR DEP duties include the development and enforcement of regulations associated with the ground water and wellhead protection, the management of databases containing information on hydro-geology of the Virgin Islands, wells and well-related permits, the mapping of ground water supply well locations, the delineation of wellhead protection areas, and other technical activities.

Other agencies with roles for ground water management and protection include the following:

VI Water. and Power Authority (WAPA). As the major public water supplier in the VI, WAPA assists the Division of Environmental Protection in the delineation of wellhead protection areas around its wells and in the development of inventories of potential pollution sources in the delineated areas. WAPA maintains and provides DEP with data on pumping rates and on ambient ground water quality at its public supply wells. WAPA assists DEP in the development of contingency plans for chemical spills. underground and aboveground storage tank leaks and other incidents that might pose immediate threats to ground water.

VI Department of Health (DOH), Division of Environmental Health (DEH). DOH-DEH is the point of contact for citizens reporting leaking septic systems. VI-DOH coordinates with DEP in its response to reported septic system failures. In addition, VI-DOH is authorized, under. VIC Title 19, Ch. 53, subchapter 1404, to enforce certain provisions of the Virgin Islands Code relating to refuse collection, all aspects of solid waste disposal, sewage disposal including septic tanks and sewage treatment plants, etc., which may affect human health.

Department of Public Works (DPW). DPW manages the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTWs) in the Territory and has the major responsibility for the management of solid and hazardous waste in the VI (under VIC T19 Chapter..56). It owns and operates the two municipal solid waste landfills in the VI—at Estate Bovoni on St. Thomas and at Estate Anguilla on St. Croix. DPW inherited several inadequately designed POTWs on St. Thomas from defunct developers. Several of these facilities discharge into main drainage ways in central St Thomas, and contribute to elevated nitrate and coliform levels in the ground water.

USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This agency is active in the development of water resources for farmers, including the design and building of agricultural retention ponds, which directly aid in aquifer recharge and address nonpoint source pollution. NRCS completed the remapping of VI soils several years ago and the information should soon be available to assess aquifer vulnerabilities and influence decisions pertaining to development options. NRCS is also involved in the detailed mapping of Virgin Islands watersheds for the 14-Digit Hydrologic Unit Codes.

VI Housing Authority (VIHA) and the VI Department of Housing, Parks and Recreation (DHPR): On St. Thomas, VIHA's Tutu high rise housing project, built in the early 1970s, utilized four (4) wells to supplement rainfall collection. These wells were closed for human consumption in. 1987. following the discovery of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and the petroleum compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene. (BTEX) in a commercial supply well nearby. An investigation is ongoing in the Tutu Valley to determine the type and extent of contamination which includes, among the aforementioned chemicals, Trichloroethylene (TCE), 1,2 Dichloroethylene (1,2DCE) and Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE).

On St. Croix, VIHA is operating a renewable energy project (called RENTEC for Renewable Energy TEChnology) with cooperation and funding from the VI Energy Office. The system is designed to supply approximately 10,000 GPD to a housing community in Frederiksted using two wells for sources of water and a reverse-osmosis (RO) plant for water processing. All electrical components are solar powered (solar panels charging massive battery banks).

DHPR plays a smaller role in public housing management than VIHA, managing only four housing communities on St. Thomas and four housing communities on St Croix. DHPR. is principally focused on the operation and maintenance of public recreational, areas, many which use ground water to supply a portion of the water systems requirements (including gray-water systems for restrooms).

VI Department of Agriculture. The Department of Agriculture controls much of the open-space government land in the Territory. Much of this land is available for farming and grazing activities via leases issued to applicants, however some of the open space land has also been used by WAPA for well field areas.. The Adventure we11 field on St. Croix, and in the Carolina well field on St. John, are on DEDA land. In these areas, The Department of Agriculture has the primary responsibility for land use management on non-developed government land

VI Department of Public Safety (DPS): DPS has the responsibility of enforcing motor vehicle laws, rules and regulations. Its officers must be able to recognize hazardous materials shipment signs and be aware of the consequences of a hazardous materials spill in the vicinity of a wellhead.

VI Department of Planning & Natural Resources, Division of Permits (DoP): DoP is directly involved with land use permitting. DoP is the agency responsible for ensuring correct installation of septic systems.

US Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division (WRD): USGS.-WRD completed a comprehensive wellhead location survey for its Ground Water Sites Inventory (GWSI) database in. the Virgin Islands in 1990. USGS has been instrumental in organizing the database information into a GIS format. The information will be available from USGS on a request basis, or through a contractual arrangement if needed. USGS-WRD is also directly involved in mapping Virgin Islands watersheds for the NRCS 14-digit Hydrologic Unit definition activity.

B. Overview of Ground Water Contamination Sources

Groundwater contamination sources are principally failed septic systems, but some prominent examples such as the Tutu Valley Superfund Site, apparently result from improper disposal of volatile organic compounds and leaking underground storage tanks.

Ground Water Contamination Summaries (by aquifer)

For the purposes of this report, aquifers will be assumed to be congruent with 14-digit Hydrologic Units. This means that we have not yet compared actual aquifer mapping with the new draft proposed 14-Digit Hydrologic Units to determine if aquifers lie within the HUs. This assumption—which is probably true for high aspect areas of St. Thomas and St. John, but which may not hold on the south coast of St. Croix—will be updated and corrected in the year 2000 Water Quality Assessment report, or as additional hydro-geological mapping information is available for program planning.

C. Summary of Ground Water Quality

Bi-weekly and monthly reports on well operations and water quality are provided by WAPA to the Department of Planning and Natural Resources as internal working documents.

No studies of natural sensitivity of aquifer or vulnerability to land use practices were produced during the reporting period.

No well closure information is available for the reporting period.

D. Summary of Ground Water-Surface Water Interactions

A previous estimate of 300-400 septic system failures per year is incorrect. The rate of reported septic system failure is about 25 to 30 per island based on Health Department records. However, in reality, this number is much higher, as much as 50% of systems fail intermittently or permanently (based on unpublished investigations of DPNR consultants.

Attachment I: Unified Watershed Assessment: Category 1 Watersheds

Table 1.

CLEAN WATER ACTION PLAN :

UNIFIED WATERSHED ASSESSMENT.

UNITED STATES VIRGIN ISLANDS

WATERSHED CATEGORY 1 : PERIOD 1999-2000

Hydrologic Unit

Watershed

Sub-watershed

Acreage

APC's

Water Quality

Impaired Water Bodies

TPDES

Unpermitted Discharges

UST

Marine Water Intake &

RCRA

UIC

CZMA

305 (b) Report

303(d) List

& Sewage Bypasses

Groundwater Resources

Class V

Bethlehem

2230

Yes - Manning Bay

STX PWD-1

11Q

Territorial Court (C)

10Q

HOVIC-STX Alumina

Barren Spot

2087

Southshore IA

Hovic -STX Alumina-2

BC -9

14P

Caledonia Springs (W) Hovic (S)

12P

Castle Coakley

1606

Southshore IA

STX Alumina (S)

Airport

Flamboyant Racetrack

6680

Southshore IA

VING-1

Paradise Purification(W)

Diamond

VIRIL

1322

Southshore IA

Yes

VIRIL-1

Paradise Bottling (GW)

St. Croix

Southgate

Chenay Bay

387

Southgate Pond

Southgate Gardens (GW)

16,372 out of 54,072 acres

Southgate Farm

704

Southgate Pond

30.3%

Christiansted

Altoona Lagoon

557

STX Reef System

WAPA-1

BC-9

WAPA (S)

Mt. Welcome

472

STX Reef System

Great Pond Bay

Great Pond

327

STX Reef System

Great Pond

St. Thomas Harbor &

St. Thomas Harbor

417

STT Harbor

30J

Blue Beards Castle N &W

21J

Long Bay

Krum Bay / Long Bay

500

STT Harbor

Ramana Yacth Haven (S)

Red Hook Bay

850

Mangrove Bay /Benner Bay

Anchorage Condos, Cowpet Bay (S)

Vessup Bay

400

Vessup Bay

Yes (1)

Elysian Beach Resort (GW)

Benner Bay

Nadir

2135

Mangrove Lagoon

Yes

Yes (1)

14H

Anchorage Condos (S)

St. Thomas & St. John

Benner Bay

378

Mangrove Lagoon

Yes

Yes (1)

Elysain Beach Resort (GW)

8,260 out of 31,001 acres

Mangrove Lagoon

1153

Mangrove Lagoon

Yes

Yes (1)

26.6%

Magens Bay

Lovenlund

920

Magens Bay

Mandahl

Great Cruz Bay

447

Enighed Pond

Yes (1)

Caneel Bay Resort(S)

Fish Bay

1060

Yes (1)

Table 1: continued

Hydrologic Unit	Watershed	Special Studies &	FIFRA	Coastal Barriers	Fish & Wildlife	Marine	Soil Type	Others	Designated	Land & Water Use Impacts
		Areas of Special Significance		CBIA	Resources	Habitat	HEL	CERCLA	Use Class	Others
St. Croix 16,372 out of 54,072 acres 30.3%	Bethlehem	Sandy Point Federal Wildlife Refuge			MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Fringe Reef.		1Q	Class-C	Oil Seepage, heavy metals , sewage drainage noted.
	HOVIC-STX Alumina	Sandy Point Federal Wildlife Refuge	NR -2, R -1	Krause Lagoon	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Mixed Coral, Pavement,Fringe Reef.	AgD, FrC2, AgC2, ScC, PrB, FrA, FcA, HeA, FrB, ScB, AgF, AgD.	0P	Class -C	Oil Seepage, heavymetals, sewage drainage noted .
		Sandy Point Federal Wildlife Refuge				Deep Reef ,Pavement, Mixed Coral, Fore Reef.	ScB, AgC2, AgD, ScC, AgE, AgF,DiB, DeF,.		Class-C	Oil seepage , heavymetals, sewage drainage noted.
	Airport	Sandy Point Federal Wildlife Refuge			MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,RF.	Deep Reef, Pavement, Mixed Coral, Fore Reef	DeF,SaA,JaC,DeD,PaC,SgF,SaC,DeE,SgE,PaB,VcD, GyB,JaB,FeC2,AuA,FrB,FcA, ScB, JaD, AgC2, AgD,FcA, FrC2, AgE,AgF.	1R		Run-off from dump site and POTW discharge.
	Diamond	Sandy Point Federal Wildlife Refuge				Deep Reef, Pavement, Mixed Coral ,Fore Reef	CoA, AgC2 , AgD,ScB, AgE, Ls, CaB, FcC2, AgF, DeD, JaC, PaC.	0S	Class-C	Permitted discharge of molasses;Rum slop,oil ,heavy metals and sewage .

Hydrologic Unit	Watershed	Special Studies &	FIFRA	Coastal Barriers	Fish & Wildlife	Marine	Soil Type	Others	Designated	Land & Water Use Impacts
	Southgate	Green Cay Federal Wildlife Refuge		Southgate Pond.	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,ST,SG,RF.	Mixed Coral, Deep Coral, Fore Reef.	CoA, JuB, JaC, SaA, DeE, CrF, SaC.	0G	Class- B	Bacterial and heavy metals levels have been higher than allowed.
		Green Cay Federal Wildlife Refuge				Mangrove	Crf,CrE,SaA,Def,CoA,DeD,PaC,SgF,Ivd,CaB,JuB,Ts			Marina , Hotel
	Christiansted	Secondary Priority Post Hugo VITPS Site.	NR - 16 ,R - 9	Altoona Lagoon	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Mixed Coral , Pavement.	DeE,JaC, Te, CoA, LaB, CrF, IvD,CrF,SaA.	0E	Class -C	C'sted Harbour : Run-off, sewage , POTW & WAPA discharge.
						Mixed Coral, Deep Reef, Pavement, Fore Reef.	Ma, IvD,LaB,CrE,SaC,CrF, CsF,SaA.		Class-C	Has been in violation for bacterial levels, has execessive amounts of heavy metals ,phosphorous and DDE.
	Great Pond Bay	Highest Priority Post Hugo VITPS Site.		Great Pond Bay.	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Mixed Coral ,Deep Reef, Fore Reef,Fringe Reef.	JuB, SaA, CrE, CrF, IvD, SaC	0L	Class- B	Sedimentation, nutrient loading and bactriea levels are of concern in Reef System
St. Thomas & St. John 8,260 out of 31,001 acres 26.6%	St. Thomas Harbor &	Hassel Island Federal Wildlife Refuge.	NR-3 , R-8		TE,FE.			2J	Class-C	Pollution from five sources, 1. Run-off ,sedementation and , 2. leeking sewer pipes and storm water flow.
St. Thomas & St. John 8,260 out of 31,001 acres 26.6%	Long Bay						VcD, VcE, CrE, CrF, SaA, GyB,CvE, SaC, Ma.			3. Vessel waste discharge ,4.solid waste from both land and vessels, 5. Oil concentration fronm both land and sea (dripping leeks)

Hydrologic Unit	Watershed	Special Studies &	FIFRA	Coastal Barriers	Fish & Wildlife	Marine	Soil Type	Others	Designated	Land & Water Use Impacts
St. Thomas & St. John 8,260 out of 31,001 acres 26.6%	Red Hook Bay	Secondary Priority Post Hugo VITPS Site.	NR-3 ,R-2		MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN.			0G
		St James Marine Reserve and Wildlife Sanctuary .			MN,ST,SG,LM,WM,FN.					High Cu & Hg levels ,sewage : High priority for TMDL.
	Benner Bay		NR- 4 ,R-3	Benner Bay	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Mangrove	JaC, CrE, CrF, IsE, CrC, CvE, GyB, LaB, ScA, VeD, VcE, Cb , Tf , Ts, DeD,DeE	5H	Class-B	However waters are very unhealthy four facilities have repeatedly violated their permits
		Compass Point Pond Marine Reserve /Wildlife Sanctuary.			SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.	Mangrove	CrE, Tf, SaA, CrF, CvE,			Sewage and Urban Run-off.
		Cas Cay Marine Reserve /Wildlife Sanctuary.			SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG,RF.					Permitted POTW sewage discharge.
	Magens Bay			Magens Bay	SP,TE,FE,LM,WM,FN,ST,SG.	Deep Reef, Pavement	Vr, CrE, CrF, AgE, PbB, PbC, IsE, CrE, DoF, VcE, AgF, DeF, CrF,	0D	Class -B	Usually under limits, stormwater run-off a problem, due to turbidity and bacterial concentration .
St. John	Great Cruz Bay		NR -5		SP,MN,TE,FE.	Mangrove	Tf, CrE, SaA, CsF,CrC, IsE, CsE2, CvE	0W	Class -B	Has been in violation due to storm sewer discharges and heavy commercial boat usage , dredging in Cruz Bay increase turbidity.
										Run-off, Sewage : Terrestrial Run-off POTW discharge.
	Fish Bay	Secondary Priority Post Hugo VITPS Site.		Fish Bay	SP,MN,TE,FE,LM,WM,ST,SG,RF.	Mangrove ,Mixed Coral, Deep Reef.	CrE, CvE, CrC, CaF, CrF, CsE2, Vr, JuB, Tf, SaA, IsD2, PbC.	0U	Class -B	Sediments

Attachment II: Areas of Particular Concern

AREAS OF PARTICULAR CONCERN

The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1974 defines areas of particular concern (APC). DPNR incorporated criteria for APC designation (15 CFR Part 923) and developed seven categories of areas relevant to the Virgin Islands.

Significant Natural Areas - These are areas of unique, scarce, or fragile natural habitat or physical features; areas of high natural productivity; or essential habitat for living resources, endangered species including fish and wildlife and various levels of the food chain critical to their well being. Examples of significant areas are unique or remnant plant and animal species of special interest; natural areas that provide scientific and educational value; and areas necessary for nesting, spawning, rearing of young, or resting during migration. Also included are areas needed to protect, maintain or replenish coastal lands and resources.

Culturally Important Areas - These are coastal lands and waters where sites of historic and archaeological significance, cultural or traditional value, or scenic importance are located.

Recreation Areas - Coastal lands and waters of substantial recreational value and/or opportunity. Examples include areas well suited for public parks, beaches, boat launching and mooring and other recreational activities.

Prime Industrial and Commercial Areas - Those coastal lands and waters with existing and potential geologic and topographic amenability to industry and/or commercial development, especially those requiring a waterfront location.

Developed Area - Those urbanized or highly populated and intensively developed areas, where shoreline utilization and water uses are highly competitive or in conflict.

Hazard Areas - Coastal locations that, if developed, would pose a hazard because of periodic flooding, storms. erosion or land settlement.

Mineral Resources - Coastal areas with existing or potentially important mineral resources, particularly sand deposits for commercial extraction.

St. Croix APCs

Southshore Industrial Area

Resource uses

As the territory's most important industrial complex, this area presents special problems to resource management. The Southshore Industrial Area' APC boundaries encompass rapidly growing commercial and residential tracts as well as important wildlife areas and sea turtle nesting beaches. Major industries include VIALCO, Hess Oil Refinery and the Virgin Islands Rum Industries, Ltd. Tailings (red mud) from alumina processing have been accumulating since operations began in the late 1960's. The environmental impact of the byproduct is unclear, but they are unsightly. Oil seepage from the Hess Oil Refinery has been noted for decades and other hydrocarbon storage sites have contaminated the groundwater supply. Local fishermen vie with boat traffic to access the fishing grounds in the Alucroix Channel.

Water Quality

The waters in this area are designated as Class C and have been termed as "stressed" by the USEPA. Several sewage drainage sites infuse the area, causing concern for the well-being of humans and wildlife. Effluent from the rum distillery was determined to be toxic to marine life and may even affect nesting sea turtles at Sandy Point. Heavy metal concentrations are above standard, and Storm water runoff adds to the burden.

Summary

The Southshore Industrial Area's existing environmental limits have been and will continue to be overreached. Future development will exacerbate the situation unless strict enforcement and cleanup takes place. However, a variety of factors must be taken into account, such as the economic position of the island, natural habitat preservation, and recreational opportunities.

Christiansted Waterfront

Resource uses

The boat launch facility at Altona Lagoon underwent improvements which were completed by May 1993. This may be a nursery area for recreationally important fish: a study began in April 1993 to investigate the possibility. Commercial and recreational fishing and shrimping in Altona Lagoon is now regulated by the DPNR.

The VI Port Authority owns and operates the Gallows Bay commercial dock, which is in need of renovation. The dock receives much boat traffic from cargo vessels, fishing boats, and inter-island craft.

The waterfront area is subjected to heavy traffic congestion and inadequate parking due to its numerous hotels and shops. More threatening are Christiansted's water supply and sewer piping systems, which are in need of major repairs.

Water Quality

Christiansted Harbor's water are considered to be in Class C as described under the Water Pollution Control Act. This indicates that the harbor has been impacted by toxic, conventional and unconventional pollutants. A major source of water quality degradation, including thermal pollution, comes from emergency effluent flowing from the LBJ pump station. The DPNR/DEP must be notified by the DPW within 24 hours of a malfunction so as to notify the public and close the beaches in the western harbor. Bacterial contamination is a concern as well, since the public water supply comes from chlorinated, desalinated sea water. Water Gut drains a 327 acre watershed into the harbor, and the waters near the water entry point are frequently in violation of bacterial Class C limits. Sediment sampling conducted since 1983 by both DPNR and the USEPA also show excessive amounts of heavy metals, phosphorous, and DDE in the harbor. Tributyltin from antifouling paint on foreign vessels and oil discharge from boats in the harbor originating from the harbor's only marina, St. Croix Marine, continue to be a concern.

Results from numerous water quality and biological surveys indicate a worsening problem, particularly as growth and development plans for this area are underway. Although Christiansted Harbor will never be able to return to a pristine condition, it is possible, through mutual efforts of private and government agencies, to mitigate current degradation sources.

Southgate Pond/Chenay Bay

Resource uses

The Southgate Pond/Chenay Bay area includes one of St. Croix remaining wetlands and is situated in a large flood plain. Many endangered species inhabit this locality, including federally listed sea turtles that use the beaches as nesting grounds. Despite the ecological fragility and the recognized need for environmental protection, the CZM has issued four permits for major commercial developments. Commercial developments in the area include Green Cay Marina, located on the western shore of Southgate Pond, Chenay Bay Beach Resort, and Tamarind Reef Hotel. Much of the eastern portion remains undeveloped.

Water Quality

The waters in Chenay Bay and Green Cay Marina have been monitored since 1968. Though the bay usually remains clear and clean, storm water runoff can cause periodic turbidity. Most water quality impacts have come from Green Cay Marina, which has been cited for previous water pollution. Bacterial and heavy metal concentrations have been higher than allowed.

Summary

Conservation efforts are at odds with development pressures the Southgate Pond/Chenay Bay area. There are sufficient scientific data to indicate that the region requires special protection: it is classified as an Area of Particular Concern, an Area for Preservation and Restoration and is included in the Virgin Islands Coastal Barrier Resources System. Despite the recognition, it appears as though development will still be allowed to continue.

St. Croix Reef System

Resource uses

This APC includes the coral reefs from Davis Beach on the north side of St. Croix, around the east end, and then stops at Great Pond Bay on the south shore. The Buck Island Reef National Monument and the Green Cay Wildlife Refuge are contained within its boundaries. Commercial fishing and recreational activities such as water skiing, SCUBA diving, pleasure boating and jet skiing are the main resource uses in this area. Most conflicts arise from competition for boat moorings and between "active" and "passive" X.

Water Quality

Terrestrial runoff is the primary factor in reduced water quality, mainly in nearshore waters. Sedimentation, nutrient loading, and bacteria levels from poorly functioning septic systems and vessel waste are of concern as well. Oil and grease can also affect the health of coral reefs.

Summary

Degradation to St. Croix's reefs can be caused by natural occurrences, but human-borne damage due to over fishing and pollution can be controlled.

Great Pond and Great Pond Bay

Resource uses

This area is not substantially developed, but as of September 1993, plans to build a 350-room hotel, 600 condominium units, and a 18-hole golf course were in the works. The Boy Scout Council, who own land in the area, successfully reduced the size and scope of the original project, which had included a marina.

Water Quality

Great Pond/Great Pond Bay water are placed under Class B and usually stays well under the upper limits. Continual monitoring, especially after construction begins on the new site, will be of utmost importance in this area.

Summary

No substantial impacts occur in the Great Pond/Great Pond Bay area, but potential problems could stem from nearby development. Preservation initiatives may serve to keep the area unharmed. Preventative measures must be heavily implemented.

St. John APCs

Enighed Pond-Cruz Bay

Resource uses

The Cruz Bay area is home to 2469 out of 3504 St. John residents. The town is significant culturally as well as commercially. Over 2000 people travel between St. John and St. Thomas: the ferry dock is located in Cruz Bay, which also serves as a US port of entry. Space is limited, as a majority of the island is National Park. Unplanned development has resulted in violations of building codes and incompatible land uses. Boat fuel for ferries is stored in The Creek area, with little regard for safety measures. Other marine-related industries include a boatyard in Caneel Bay.

Water Quality

Both the DPNR/DEP and the Virgin Islands National Park conduct water quality sampling. The Creek has been in violation of its Class B standards for clarity, due to storm sewer discharges and heavy commercial boat use. Cruz Bay waters are usually clearer than those of The Creek but are still quite turbid. Although the bay is classified as "fishable/swimmable", the water quality is still questionable.

Summary

The haphazard manner of progress in Cruz Bay must be evaluated and regulated before the situation becomes critical. The proposed sewage treatment plant at Enighed Pond needs to meet very rigid standards so the problem is not aggravated.

Chocolate Hole - Great Cruz Bay

Resource uses

The watershed which drains into Great Cruz Bay contains developments such as: the not yet completed Virgin Grand Estates, which consists of 99 homesites, Virgin Grand Villas, and the Hyatt Regency hotel. Future development remains a possibility, and as of May 1993, 79 boats utilize the bay. Chocolate Hole is less developed, and a 70 unit hotel project was abandoned after the site clearing stage. The Villa St. John accommodates 12 people and uses a septic tank system for waste disposal. Most use conflicts arise due to increasing boat anchoring and mooring which has reduced maneuverability in the area. Other conflicts include small craft use and snorkeling/diving activities.

Water Quality

Maintenance of water quality is of utmost importance in this APC. Dredging in the late 1960's and mid-1980's have significantly increased turbidity in Great Cruz Bay. Further development would elevate sediment loading without strict control measures in place. Vessel waste discharge has become more of a concern as boaters use the bay for anchorage. At this point, only turbidity is tested for in this area; obviously, bacterial and chemical levels need to be monitored as indicators of impacts. A closed solid waste dump at Estate Susannaberg may be contributing pollution to the watershed, but the effects are unknown.

Summary

Future development within the Chocolate Hole/Great Cruz Bay area needs to be strictly managed. The Estate Susannaberg dump could be leaching contaminants and needs thorough evaluation. Boating traffic, which also poses to be a threat to coastal water quality, also requires immediate management.

St. Thomas

St. Thomas Harbor and Waterfront

Resource uses

This APC is heavily used for industrial and commercial purposes. There are two major cruise ship docks and many boat anchorages and marinas within the area. Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort, which has 525 guest rooms and numerous facilities, along with the 96-room Morningstar Beach Resort, occupy Muhlenfels point and utilize on-site wastewater treatment and desalination plants. The area is also densely packed with housing: there is little green space left after a period of extraordinary growth and development. As boat traffic has greatly increased, congestion has become a safety risk, as well as space limitations. Motor vehicle congestion is a major problem along the waterfront.

Water Quality

There is dire need for pump-out facilities throughout the territory, but the St. Thomas Harbor situation is especially critical. Water pollution in the harbor comes from five main sources: 1) runoff sedimentation and propeller wash; 2) leaking sewer pipes and Storm water flow; 3) vessel waste discharge; 4) solid waste from both land and vessels and 5) oil contamination from both land and sea dumping/leaks. Incomprehensibly, there is no consistent water quality monitoring system. Therefore, specific regulation implements will have little scientific backing.

Summary

A thorough examination concerning the extent of the degradation in the St. Thomas Harbor/Waterfront area is urgently needed. Only then can cleanup efforts be organized and implemented. Rapid growth has not been appropriately managed and may have very negative effects on the health of the waters in and around St. Thomas harbor.

Magens Bay

Resource Use

Magens Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the island and littering becomes a problem during periods of heavy usage. The area is also a favorite with boaters, which causes problems when swimmers and snorkelers venture outside of the designated swimming area. Most of the development of the Magens Bay area has been private housing and several condominium and four-plexes. Housing construction continues, with little commercial property in the watershed. Runoff from this watershed can be potentially harmful, as the soil is very thin on the steep slopes above the bay.

Water Quality

Following Hurricane Hugo of September, 1989, the Magens Bay watershed experienced an unquantified amount of hydrocarbon pollution due to the increased use of gasoline-powered generators. The amount of sewage runoff has also been untested, although two water sampling stations are in place in the bay. As Class B waters, Magens Bay usually remains well below its water quality parameters.

Summary

Although there is no substantial pollution in Magens Bay, the possibility still remains. Continuing development and excessive beach use need to be managed through regulations and public education.

Mandahl Bay

Resource Use

The construction of two stone jetties at Mandahl Beach has resulted in the loss of beach sands; therefore, public usage of the beach has significantly declined. Although plans to design a marina in Mandahl Bay have been proposed, there are no immediate intentions to proceed. The area may be established as a part of the Territorial Park System which would be in conflict with future development. The salt pond and other natural features has allowed Mandahl Bay to be an excellent location for educational field trips.

Water Quality

The Mandahl Salt Pond is tested for water quality and Storm water runoff has negatively impacted the pond periodically. Elevated, though isolated, levels of fecal coliform bacteria have been reported, probably due to septic tank effluent. The pond acts as a sediment trap for the bay, but turbidity following a heavy rainfall has been reported in nearshore waters.

Summary

The proposed marina would degrade the land and water quality of the Mandahl Bay area. The area should be preserved for nature conservation and as a recreational spot. Development practices should include adequate sewage disposal systems and well-built drainage structures.

Vessup Bay/Red Hook

Resource Use

The Vessup Bay/Red Hook area is the center of an increasing amount of inter-island transportation and commercial activity. This has resulted in rapid housing development, upgrading of roads, and construction of a new wastewater treatment center. New housing developments have been connected to the sewage treatment plant at Vessup Bay, so additional leaching from septic tanks should be averted. The area is also popular for recreational activities, and several hotels and condominiums utilize the beaches. Both Vessup Bay and Red Hook are used as anchorages and experience heavy boat traffic. Oil disposal has also been a problem, as it is in the rest of the territory.

Water Quality

The development boom in Vessup Bay/Red Hook has resulted in nutrient and sediment loading in the area. The waters are tested every three months in two locations. The lack of pump-out facilities adds more contamination to the water. The Red Hook salt pond is very important to the ecology of the region, but plans to use the pond as a marina are being developed.

Summary

A balance between sustaining both commercial and biological resources needs to be found for this APC. The importance of business interests needs to be considered, while the remaining wildlife needs to be protected as well. Future progress on the east end should not occur without careful forethought.

Mangrove Lagoon/ Benner Bay

Resource Use

Almost one-third of the residents of St. Thomas live within this watershed. Numerous businesses also exist, with many marina/ marina-related businesses in Benner Bay. With few restraints on development in the past, the numerous homes and businesses surrounding the water's edge have essentially hampered public access. Poor water quality has also thwarted public usage.

Water Quality

With heavy land and water usage, the waters of Benner Bay are nutrient loaded and quite unhealthy. The four wastewater treatment plants in the area have repeatedly violated their discharge permits and create public health hazards.

Virgin Islands Department Of Planning and Natural Resources and United States Department Of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services. United States Virgin Islands Unified Watershed Assessment Report St. Croix, September 30, 1998

Attachment III

Table: Attachment III.A St. Croix Monitoring Results 1996 and 1997

USE SUPPORT OF THE WATERS OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

Sites found to be in violation of the VI Water Quality Standards based on best professional judgment are shaded in the table below. (Source and Assessment Codes defined at the end of this section.)

WBID

WB Loc. site: St. Croix

Source Codes/ Assessment Code

WB usage support