Coral Bay Community Council,Inc.

 

The Coral Bay Watershed
Management Project

CBCC has received a $300,000 multi-year grant from the US EPA to fund implementation of the pilot Coral Bay Watershed Management Plan – including hiring a stormwater engineer to assist residents in choosing appropriate stormwater mitigation and control methods. This will protect the marine life in Coral Bay from damage from sedimentation and runoff of pollutants. Other environmental quality objectives will also be pursued under this grant with community participation and partnership with many government agencies and researchers.

Alan Steinberg, EPA Region Two Administrator presents the grant to CBCC. From Left to Right: Marie Naisby, Board Member (BM), Pam Gaffin, resident, Kent Irish, BM, Barbara Dalmida Thompson, Vice President, Sharon Coldren, President, Barry Devine, resident and researcher, Alan Steinberg, EPA, Jean Cottrell, Treasurer, Bonny Corbeil, BM, Elvis Marsh, Advisory Council Member.

Watershed Protection

The Coral Bay Watershed Management Plan is based on site visits in August 2007 and finalized in March 2008 through a collaborative effort of multiple local and Federal agencies, CBCC, and many local land owners and developers -- to serve as a guide for developing ways to protect Coral Bay from sediment and stormwater pollution. The plan provides a comprehensive set of objectives and actions that address land use planning, protection and restoration of sensitive lands and aquatic buffers, better site design and construction techniques, and effective stormwater management. Please note that the selected example sites are representative; there are many more sites in Coral Bay that deserve equal attention. This plan document is being used now as a helpful outline to undertake detailed actual multi-agency and community discussions to plan activities and prioritize actions on achieving the objectives. The EPA CARE grant being received by CBCC for 2009 and 2010 will bring stormwater expertise to Coral Bay expressly to implement the plan. CBCC welcomes your thoughts on how you can contribute to achieving the plan’s objectives.

Here is the Coral Bay Watershed Management Plan document:
Management Plan Document


EPA-CARE funded Planning and Design, and Partnership Relations:
Minimizing Environmental Toxins


NOAA-ARRA funds to impliment construction of BMPS to Minimize Main Toxin:
Sedimentation into Shoreline and Marine ecosystems.


Numerous small grants to implement projects, and local govt. participation
     

Volunteers and HOA funding and donations


Also Investigation : Air Quality, Drinking Water, Solid Waste, Waste Water, and
Land Use Planning Parameters

To increase public awareness, a brochure insert has been created with
watershed information and suggestions for Coral Bay development. Here it is in .pdf form: Coral Bay Watershed Info If you cannot read it, go to http://www.adobe.com/ and download the free adobe reader to your computer.

Storm water runoff - Coral Bay's worst Problem: Photos taken by CBCC members. Click Here

Sedimentation research is being conducted in Coral Bay and other St. John bays led by Dr. Sarah Gray of the University of San Diego: Here are links to two reports on the research: ICRS sediment poster and GrayNOAAreport.pdf .

Check out our new wastewater systems page: A compilation of articles to encourage discussion in this important area: wastewater systems
CORAL BAY COMMUNITY COUNCIL, INC.
Office: 8-1 Estate Emmaus, Coral Bay, St. John, U. S. Virgin Islands
Mailing: 9901 Estate Emmaus, St. John, VI, 00830-9587
E-mail: coralbaycommunitycouncil@hotmail.com
Phone 340-776-2099