Published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service VI NPS Update Table of Contents Call for Presentations for the 6th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference . . . 1 St. Croix Rapid Ecological Assessment Maps Unveiled . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 UVI-C ES an d Centra l High Sc hool Stu dents Teach Safe & Healthy Home Principles . . 1 Cheese An' Bread- There's a Fish on the Road!2 DPNR Unveils Draft Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Com bat the Sea o f Plastic - Particip ate in Coastweeks! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Web Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Availab le Grants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Upcom ing Eve nts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee Newsletter Vol. 3, No. 2 June 2000 Call for Presentations for the 6 th Annual Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference Mark your calendars, the Sixth Annual Virgin Islands Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference has been scheduled for December 6 th & 7 th, 2000 at the new Divi Carina Bay Resort & Casino, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. This year's theme, "From Summits to Sea: New Projects & Programs for a New Millennium," emphasizes the need for comprehensive watershed planning to protect water quality and preserve valuable habitat and ecosystems for future Virgin Islanders. The conference planning committee invites abstracts for technical paper or poster presentations and product or information exhibits. Presentations and exhibits must be grouped into one of the following categories: * Nonpoint Source Education & Outreach: youth education, community outreach, in-school projects, media campaigns; * New Government Initiatives: pollution prevention, erosion, sediment, stormwater control, sewage, watershed/land use planning, restoration strategies, legislation; * Nonpoint Source Case Studies/ Research: demonstration projects, alternative practices, monitoring, pilot projects, future uses; * Watershed Approaches: land stewardship, public/private partnerships, NGO programs. Preference will be given to presentations related to insular island issues. The deadline for paper and poster abstract submission is September 15, 2000. The deadline for product or information exhibit registration is October 13, 2000. For information or a presentation submission form, please contact Julie Wright, UVI-CES, at (340) 693-1082. St. Croix Rapid Ecological Assessment Maps Unveiled Natural resource managers, developers, researchers and planners on St. Croix now have a new tool for measuring environmental impacts. On May 2 nd, the University of the Virgin Islands  Eastern Caribbean Center (UVI- ECC) unveiled its Rapid Ecological Assessment maps - color-coded maps that delineate St. Croix's vegetation and marine communities. According to Dayle Barry, coordinator of the UVI-ECC Conservation Data Center (CDC), "The maps provide a big picture of the island's natural resources, and help natural resource managers and developers understand how individual changes affect the larger ecosystem." Said Barry Devine, CDC chief scientist, "We now have information that was totally unavailable before...this is a major step forward in the field of planning and natural resources in the Virgin Islands." The maps were developed by interpreting 1994 aerial photography and verifying the vegetation and marine communities in the field. The maps were prepared with ArcView® Geographic Information System and changes that have occurred since the aerial photos were taken were incorporated using Global Positioning Systems technology. Similar maps for St. Thomas and St. John will be released later this year. Copies of the St. Croix vegetation map are available in hard copy or ArcView® .shp files on CD. The CDC collects, analyzes and disseminates information on the natural resources of the U.S. Virgin Islands. For further information or copies of the St. Croix map, contact Dayle Barry at (340) 693-1030 or dbarry@uvi.edu. Central High School Students Share  Safe & Healthy Home  Practices Two St. Croix Central High School (CHS) students and their teacher, Sharon Prudoff, were so excited about the information they received at the UVI Cooperative Extension Service's (CES) December VI*A*Syst Safe and Healthy Homes Train-the-Trainer workshop that they decided to pass it along. The students trained 31 students from CHS's Principles of Technology second period class, also taught by Mrs. Prudoff. That class, in turn, created a hands-on demonstration activity they shared with at least 800 fifth and sixth graders during a one-day presentation at the St. Croix Eco Fair, held April 27-29, 2000 at the St. George's Botanical Gardens. The CHS student facilitators taught younger Eco Fair attendees how to make less-toxic cleaning product recipes. They then helped the youngsters demonstrate their effectiveness by cleaning soiled glass blocks with old newspapers and a vinegar and water solution. Another demonstration used an all- purpose cleaner made from water, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol and baking soda to scrub soiled bathroom tiles, a sink and toilet. This activity was a hit with fair participants - every fifth and sixth grader wanted to clean the "john!" The jewelry cleaning demonstration was another hit. Everyone wanted to polish his/her tarnished or dirty gold and silver jewelry with soft toothbrushes and a vinegar and baking soda paste. After buffing with a soft cloth, both the Mrs. P rudoff an d CH S Prin ciples of T echno logy stud ents demonstrate least-toxic household products to students April 28th at the St. Croix Eco-Fair. St. Croix storm drain ste ncil. students' and their teacher's smiles were as shiny and bright as their jewelry. CHS student facilitators thoroughly enjoyed the experience. As a result, Mrs. Prudoff's class was invited to present their demonstration to 4 th-6 th grade students at four elementary schools on St. Croix. The hands-on student demonstrations were complemented by a detailed presentation delivered by UVI-CES staff. The CES presentation explained the potential health effects and pollution problems related to chemicals found in common household products and presented less toxic alternatives. Information on proper ways to discard household hazardous wastes and toxic products, and evaluating and ranking a home for pollution potential was also presented to over 1300 students, teachers and chaperones that participated in the three-day fair. VI*A*Syst is a voluntary program that offers Virgin Islanders a simple and effective way to help protect water quality and improve their health and quality of life by reducing pollution risks in the home and around their property. To learn more about less toxic household products or to participate in this program, contact Julie Wright, UVI-CES, at (340) 693-1082. Cheese An' Bread... There's a Fish on the Road! This summer, a triggerfish sketch and a stormwater awareness message will be popping up on St. Croix's roads. The Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS) is beginning a storm drain stenciling project to educate the community about nonpoint source (NPS) pollution by increasing awareness of storm drain connections to our local water bodies. According to a recent Roper survey, many people believe that industry is the biggest source of water pollution. However, the U.S. EPA reports that over 60% of the nation's water quality problems come from urban and agricultural stormwater runoff. In the Virgin Islands, pollutants entering storm drains along our streets are discharged directly to the sea without treatment. This means that anything we put on our yards, driveways, streets, farms, construction sites and parking lots washes directly into the ocean. Storm drain stenciling projects are currently underway in over 40 states in the U.S., and have been highly successful. The St. Croix storm drain stenciling project is part of a larger joint program with the Boys and Girls Club that focuses on NPS pollution. Groups of kids and adults will be painting "Dump No Waste, Protect Your Water," along with the image of a triggerfish, alongside storm drains. They also will be distributing information on NPS pollution in the neighborhoods that are getting stenciled. "The basic message we want to get out is that if you don't want to swim in it or drink it, don't dump it," says program coordinator Paige Rothenberger. Aloy Neilsen, V.I. Department of Public Works Director of Highway Engineering, also gave enthusiastic permission for the stenciling project. This project is funded by the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) Division of Environmental Protection through a federal Clean Water Act grant. For more information, contact Marcia Taylor or Paige Rothenberger, VIMAS, at (340) 778-1112 or (340) 779-3141. DPNR Unveils Draft Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Regulations DPNR Commissioner Dean C. Plaskett, Esq., and the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) announce the USVI's draft Nonpoint Source Control Regulations are available for public review and comment. The regulations are intended to ensure the preservation and protection of marine life, public health and the waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands through the control and regulation of untreated storm water runoff. Two public meetings are scheduled to explain the regulations and discuss public concerns. The first meeting will be held July 31, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. in the Florence A. Williams Public Library, Christiansted, St. Croix. The second meeting will be held August 1, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. in the DPNR-DEP offices, Wheatley Center II, St. Thomas. The public is invited to submit written comments to DPNR-DEP. Comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 24, 2000 in order to be considered by DPNR. The draft regulations are available for review between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday except holidays. Visit the DPNR-DEP offices located at 1118 Watergut Homes, Christiansted on St. Croix or Wheatley Center II on St. Thomas or contact Syed Syedali, DPNR-DEP, (340) 773-0565, for information. Combat the Sea of Plastic - Participate in Coastweeks! On Saturday, September 16 th, volunteers from the Virgin Islands will join thousands of volunteers from more than 80 countries worldwide in an effort to conserve and protect the abundance and diversity of marine life and the health of our waterways. This International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) kicks off three weeks of Coastweeks activities. Coastweeks is an annual event held each fall to increase awareness and understanding of the importance of our beaches and marine resources. This year, Coastweeks will be celebrated from September 16 th through October 9 th. Activities such as beach and underwater cleanups and educational programs will be coordinated by VIMAS on St. Croix, and by DPNR on St. Thomas and St. John. Last year, 428 Virgin Islands volunteers removed 9,281 pounds of debris from our beaches and underwater areas. Most of the debris came from land-based sources and included food wrappers, plastic utensils, diapers, six-pack holders, cigarette butts and lighters, bottles (plastic and glass) and styrofoam cups and containers. The two most common items removed from V.I. beaches and waters were plastic cups and utensils. Plastic items represented 59% of the debris found. Rounding out the top five debris items removed from our beaches and waters were: pieces of plastic, metal bottle caps and plastic lids or caps. The properties that make plastic popular with people (it is light and durable), also make it especially dangerous in the marine environment. Plastic debris travels easily and persists for a long time. It can entangle, smother and harm marine organisms for many, many years after it initially enters the sea. For more information on Coastweeks or to schedule a cleanup, contact Paige Rothenberger PUBLIC NOTICE Any person who operates a business that charges a fee for any motorized vessel, water craft or water sports equipment and does not have a current Operator's Permit are notified that a perm it must be o btained p ursuant to V.I. Rules & Regs tit. 25, section 297-10. DPNR- CZM is offering a six-week amnesty from June 26, to August 11, 2000. All persons that do not obtain a valid Operator's Permit by the end of the amnesty period shall be subject to a $500 fine or 6 month imprisonment, or both, for each violation pursuant to V.I. Code, tit. 25, section 304. F urther in forma tion an d perm it applications may be obtained from DPNR- CZM at Cyril E. K ing Airport, 2 nd Floor, (340) 774-3320, fax (340) 775-5706, in St. Thomas or 6003 Annas Hope, Christiansted (340) 773- 3450, fax (340) 773-1716, in St. Croix. or Marcia Taylor, VIMAS, at (340) 779-3141 or (340) 778-1112 on St. Croix, or Donna Griffin, DPNR-DFW, at 775-6762 on St. Thomas. Web Resources Aerial Photographs of the USVI and Puerto Rico for March and December 1999, and January 2000 are now available to query, view, and download through a searchable archive at http://biogeo.nos.noaa.gov/data/. For more information, contact Dr. Mark Monaco, NOAA/NOS Biogeography Team Leader, at mark.monaco@noaa.gov or (301) 713-3028 x160. U.S. EPA has published the Atlas of America's Polluted Waters (pub. # EPA 840-B-00-002). It includes maps with waters that do not meet state or territorial water quality standards. Free copies are available on EPA's website at: www.epa.gov/owow/tmdl/atlas/index.html or from the National Service Center for Environmental Publications at (513) 489-8190. The Trust for Public Land's "Building Green Infrastructure: Land Conservation as a Watershed Protection Strategy" is now available. To order, contact TPL at 1-800-714-LAND or view www.tpl.org/tpl/watershed/index.html. "Clean boating is smart boating" is the theme of this year's National Clean Boating Campaign that focuses on fueling and bilge care; use of pumpouts to manage boat sewage; maintenance tips to promote clean water; and use of environmentally friendly products. For more information, contact Larry Innis at (301) 858-7149 or visit www.cleanboating.org. Decentralized Wastewater Systems Technologies Fact Sheet series on onsite and decentralized wastewater system technologies are available at the EPA website www.epa.gov/owm/decent/treat.htm#factsheet. "Establishing A Storm Water Utility In Florida" is available on the Internet at: www.fasu.org/fasu/manual/index.html. The guide can help communities develop and implement a storm water utility to provide supplemental or alternative funding for their storm water management program. "A Guide to USDA and Other Federal Resources for Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry Enterprises," published January 2000, is now available at: www.attra.org/guide. "Septic Sense, Scents and Cents" is available at www.wsg.washington.edu/outreach/mas/water_ quality/septicsense/septicmain.html in interactive format. For information, contact Nancy Blanton, Washington Sea Grant, at (206) 685-9215. New Storm Water Fact Sheet series on EPA's Storm Water Phase II rule is now available. The fact sheets discuss the rule's requirements to control storm water runoff from smaller storm sewer systems and construction sites. For copies visit www.epa.gov/owm/sw/phase2/factshts.htm. The EPA and ASCE Storm Water Best Management Practices Database is now available. It allows water quality professionals to apply proven management practices to local water quality projects. Visit www.bmpdatabase.org/ or order on CD-ROM from Jane Clary, Project Manager, Wright Water Engineers, Inc., at (303) 480-1700 or clary@wrightwater.com. Available Grants American Honda Foundation Grants are available to support youth education programs. Grant deadlines are 8/1/00 and 11/1/00. For guidelines, send a SASE to American Honda Foundation, PO Box 2205, Torrance, CA 90509 or contact Kathy Carey at (310) 781-4090. http://alerts.sciencewise.com/swalert/fnd/opp/a mer07289901.htm. The Federal Funding Sources for Watershed Protection catalog is available at www.epa.gov/OWOW/watershed/wacademy/fu nd.html. GIS/GPS Assistance Available to Local Governments. The Environmental Systems Research Institute and Leica Geosystems, Inc. are seeking participants for their State and Local Government GIS/GPS Demonstration Program. The program will provide software, hardware, and training to ten state and local government agencies to demonstrate GIS/GPS applications to improve government processes. Application deadline is August 31, 2000. For information, visit www.lgean.org/html/whatsnew.cfm?id=63. North American Wetlands Conservation Act: Request for Small Grants. Application deadline is December 1, 2000. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the North American Wetlands Conservation Council seek proposals for wetland and wetland-associated upland conservation projects. For more information, contact Dr. Keith A. Morehouse at (703) 358- 1784 or visit http://alerts.sciencewise.com/swalert/doi/opp/fr 06140001.htm. Upcoming Events Regional July 16, 2000. Mango Melee & Tropical Fruits Festival, St. George Village Botanical Garden, St. Croix, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m.. Contact (340) 692-2874 for information. July 22, 2000, Mango Melee, Tutu Park Mall Center Court, St. Thomas, from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Contact Carlos Robles, UVI- CES, at (340) 693-1083 for information. July 20-22, 2000. Eco-tourism Conference for the Dominican Republic. For information, visit www.kiskeya-alternative.org/repdom/ecoto urism2000.html. August 1-3, 2000. VI*A*Syst Home Cistern Care and Water Treatment. UVI-CES on St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John, respectively, from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. For information, contact Julie Wright, UVI- CES, at (340) 693-1082 or jwright@uvi.edu. August 7-8, 2000. How Mangrove Forest Ecosystems Function in the Virgin Islands St. Thomas UVI-CES conference room at 6:00 p.m. and St. John UVI-CES office up stairs from Joe's Discount at 6:00 p.m., respectively. Contact Olasee Davis, UVI- CES, at (340) 778-9491 for information. August 8-10, 2000. Introduction to ArcView® GIS class. UVI-St. Thomas. For further information, contact Stevie Henry, UVI- CDC Data Manager, at (340) 693-1033. August 24-25, 2000. Coastal Protection Workshop. Contact Dr. Henry Smith, UVI- WRRI, at (340) 693-1062, for information. September 16 - October 9, 2000. Coastweeks 2000. On St. Thomas, contact Donna Griffin, DPNR-DFW, at (340) 775-6762. On St. Croix, contact Paige Rothenburger, VIMAS, at (340) 779-3141. December 6-7, 2000. Sixth Annual V.I. Nonpoint Source Pollution Conference: "From Ridges to Reefs: New Projects and Printed on Recycled Paper with Soy Ink. To have your article, announcement or activity included in VI NPS Update, please mail, fax or email your submission to the Editor at: VI NPS Update, c/o Julie Wright, UVI Cooperative Extension Service, #2 John Brewers Bay, St. Thomas, VI 00802-9990, fax (340) 693-1085, email: jwright@uvi.edu. VI NPS Update mail-in co upon. %¡ YES, please add me to the VI NPS Update mailing list. %¡ Please change my address. Name : Organization: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone/Fax: Email/We bsite: Nonpoint source (NPS) pollution results from rain water flowing over and through the ground, picking up pollutants and depositing them into guts, salt ponds, beaches, coastal waters, and ground water. Editor & Designer: Julie Wright, UVI-CES Reviewers: Dayle Barry, UVI-CDC Clarice Cla rke, UV I-CES, Janice Hod ge, DP NR- C ZM, Rudy G. O Reilly, Jr., USDA-NRCS Marvin Williams, UVI-CES Photographer: Dale Morton, UVI-CES Programs for a New Millennium." Divi Carina Bay Resort and Casino, St. Croix, USVI. Contact Julie Wright, UVI-CES, at (340) 693-1082 for an abstract submittal form or more information. National July 21, 2000. Source Water Protection Symposium call for papers deadline. See website for details: www.awwa.org under Events/calendar. July 31-August 5, 2000. Environmental Services Training For Small Communities. Morgantown, WV. Wastewater, drinking water, and solid waste training. Visit www.estd.wvu.edu/netc/NETC_institute/in stitute.html for information. August 6 - 11, 2000. International Marine Debris Conference on "Derelict Fishing Gear and the Ocean Environment," Honolulu, Hawaii. To register, contact (808) 875-2317 or info@mauipacific.org, or visit www.hihwnms.nos.noaa.gov. August 28 - 31, 2000. AWRA International Conference on Riparian Ecology and Management in Multi-Land Use Watersheds, Doubletree/Lloyd Center Hotel, Portland, OR. For information, call (540) 687-8390 or visit www.awra.org. September 11-14, 2000. 8th National Nonpoint Source Monitoring Workshop- Monitoring and Modeling Nonpoint Source Pollution in the Rural-Urban Interface, Hartford, CT. Contact John C. Clausen, (860) 486-2840 or jclausen@canr.uconn.edu, or visit www.ce.uconn.edu/nps.html October 17-19, 2000. NEMO University, workshop on Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials. CT. Contact John Rozum, at jrozum@canr.uconn.edu or (860) 345-4511 for information. November 28-30, 2000. EPA Storm Water Training Short Courses. Tampa, FL. Two-day training on the EPA storm water program (Phases I and II) and one-day training on Storm Water Phase II Rule permitting requirements. To register, visit www.epa.gov/owm/sw/training/. VI NPS Update is a quarterly newsletter published by the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, Kwame Garcia, State Director, and produced by the Virgin Islands Nonpoint Source Pollution Committee to inform the public about projects funded by U.S. EPA Nonpoint Source Pollution Management (§319) grants and other NPS pollution control/prevention projects in the territory, and to provide information and material regarding the control/prevention of NPS pollution. No endorsement of products or firms is intended, nor is criticism implied of those not mentioned. Issued by the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture in furtherance of the acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914. Extension programs and policies are consistent with federal and state laws and regulations on non-discrimination regarding race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability or gender preference. Funding for VI NPS Update provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Nonpoint Source Pollution Management Program through the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, Dean C. Plaskett, Esq., Commissioner.