Great Pond Restoration Design Charrette and Action Plan

A comprehensive restoration design project for the ecological preservation of Great Pond in St. Croix.

Overview

Tysam Tech, LLC collaborated with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) to develop a Restoration Action Plan (RAP) aimed at restoring or enhancing Great Pond, St. Croix, as a potential reef fish nursery to support food security in the USVI. This effort involves organizing a Restoration Design Charrette (RDC) with technical and restoration design experts. The RAP will present costed designs (ranging from 30-100% completion) for four (4) distinct Action Scenarios (AS) to guide restoration efforts. This initiative is linked to RFP No. BD-23-800-8002-204.

Key Deliverables

1. Action Scenarios

2. Restoration Action Plan

3. Stakeholder Engagement

4. Great Pond Geodatbase

Great Pond Action Scenarios

The designs take into account various factors, including scientific, historical, social, and cultural considerations. A comprehensive collection of documents informs the design approach and intended purpose, with references that are either specific to Great Pond and the USVI or relevant to the design concepts explored for this project.

1. Small-scale Approach: Includes two potential designs:
   a) Rehabilitating existing retention ponds.
   b) Adding drainage swales along roads to channel water into Great Pond.

2. Medium-scale Approach: Consists of three potential designs:
   a) Re-routing the gut west of Great Pond.
   b) Creating new retention ponds to manage runoff from Union and Mount Washington.
   c) Installing a vegetated sediment forebay north of Great Pond, lined with mangroves facing the pond.

3. Large-scale Approach: Focuses on restoring the tidal flush to Great Pond through dredging and widening its existing mouth.

4. Do-Nothing Approach: This option explores the possibility of leaving Great Pond in its current condition without intervention.

A PDF file of the presentation is attached for more information here.

Restoration Action Plan

The Great Pond Restoration Action Plan (RAP) outlines a comprehensive strategy for restoring the ecological health and functionality of Great Pond in St. Croix, USVI. The RAP is the result of an extensive Restoration Design Charrette (RDC) process, which engaged local stakeholders, technical experts, and community members to address the degradation of Great Pond’s tidal exchange and its role as a critical fish habitat. The plan evaluates four Action Scenarios, ranging from "Do Nothing" to large-, medium-, and small-scale intervention strategies. Key stressors impacting the pond, such as sediment accumulation, sargassum buildup, mangrove encroachment, and climate change, are thoroughly assessed. The preferred large-scale scenario involves dredging the pond's mouth and inlet channel, installing a vegetative forebay to capture sediment, and re-establishing shoreline vegetation to restore tidal flushing and water quality. The goal is to support biodiversity, improve stormwater management, and provide long-term ecological resilience for the pond and its surrounding watershed.

Implementation of the large-scale intervention requires permits from multiple agencies, including compliance with the Clean Water Act, Coastal Zone Management Act, and Endangered Species Act. The project will be financed through grants from NOAA, NFWF, and other funding sources, with a focus on environmental justice for the local community. Restoration activities will include dredging, water quality monitoring, and replanting native vegetation, with continuous assessment of ecosystem health and sediment flow. The RAP highlights the potential for the restored pond to function as a key nursery for reef fish, improve storm resilience, and support local fisheries. Long-term maintenance will involve periodic sediment removal, adaptive management, and ongoing ecological monitoring to ensure the pond remains a viable habitat. The project ultimately aims to balance ecological, cultural, and community needs while addressing climate change impacts, promoting environmental justice, and supporting local livelihoods.

Get all the information you need on the Great Pond Project! Click the buttons below to view the Referenced Documents or the Overview Report

Stakeholder Engagement

Tysam Tech led a comprehensive restoration effort for Great Pond, focusing on stakeholder engagement, expert collaboration, and community involvement. A multi-day Restoration Design Charrette was held on March 21-22, 2024, to review technical changes to Great Pond and present four (4) potential Action Scenario (AS) restoration options. Stakeholder input and expert testimony from this event were used to refine the knowledge base and support the development of a critical analysis report that will provide recommendations and evaluations of the four (4) AS approaches in collaboration with DPNR and technical experts.

A Community Sharing Event was scheduled for April 12, 2024. This event celebrated oral histories and local values tied to Great Pond while presenting key findings and project updates. Community feedback and preferences were gathered and incorporated into the final restoration plan. The event also addressed potential objections and highlighted the historical productivity of Great Pond, which further emphasized the potential benefits of restoring it as a functional, healthy fish nursery to support community and environmental well-being.

Geospatial Database

The Geodatabase for the Great Pond Restoration Plan is a comprehensive and centralized spatial data system designed to support informed decision-making, analysis, and long-term monitoring of restoration activities. It includes essential layers observed in the project’s spatial overlays, such as hydrology features , critical wetlands , and detailed parcel mapping that outline land ownership and development areas. Additionally, watershed boundaries like the Great Pond Bay Watershed provide a spatial framework to analyze water flow, land use, and ecological connectivity across the restoration area.

The maps also highlight existing estates and administrative divisions, showcasing developed and undeveloped areas around Great Pond. Observations from the overlays indicate flood-prone zones, watersheds, and wetland distributions that align with restoration priorities. The geospatial data is sourced from field surveys, remote sensing imagery (like satellite and aerial photos), and authoritative datasets from agencies such as DPNR, FEMA, and USFWS.

The Geodatabase provides a clear and actionable foundation for the Great Pond Restoration Plan, ensuring stakeholders and technical experts have access to critical data. It facilitates collaboration, supports scenario evaluations, and highlights priority areas for intervention, ensuring a data-driven approach to restoring Great Pond as a functional, sustainable, and ecologically vital ecosystem.

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