Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004VI37B

Virgin Islands Water Conference and Sixth Caribbean Islands Water Resources Congress

Institute: Virgin Islands
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-03-01 End Date: 2005-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $55,036 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Henry Smith

Project Summary: Provision of a sufficient and safe water supply to the growing population in the U. S. Virgin Islands is the responsibility of many agencies. Additionally, there are many other groups that that concern themselves with the water resources of this environmentally sensitive area whose economy is tourism based. Currently, there is no mechanism in place for systematic sharing of information between all of these entities. The result is that some efficiencies are lost and synergy that may result from the sharing of experiences and the lessons learned is not realized. A similar situation exists among water managers and researchers throughout the Caribbean region - there is a profound lack of the communication that would be expected among regional water resources interests that share common concerns. A two-day activity will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and sharing of experiences among persons with water resources interests in the Virgin Islands and those in the Caribbean region. This will take place through focusing for one day on Virgin Islands water resources issues and on the second day of the meeting, the Sixth Caribbean Islands Water Resources Congress will be convened. The desired outcomes of these meetings will not only be the immediate sharing of information but particularly for the USVI, a mechanism will be developed and implemented to facilitate the continuous sharing of ideas and exchange of information.