Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004VI30B

Water Resources Education at Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station

Institute: Virgin Islands
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-03-01 End Date: 2005-02-28
Total Federal Funds: $30,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: Not available

Principal Investigators: Randy Brown, Katherine Flanagan

Project Summary: The project will focus on developing water conservation information for distribution to U.S. Virgin Islands students, students from other small island communities, and other interested individuals. The project will be conducted on site at Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) and in Virgin Islands classrooms. VIERS, situated on the southside of St. John within the Virgin Islands National Park, is a facility of the University of the Virgin Islands and is operated as a self-supporting environment learning center by Clean Islands International, a nonprofit organization. The project will be conducted by VIERS staff. Five fact sheets and relating lessons will be developed. The fact sheets will focus on water resources, environmental education and water conservation practices. The objectives include providing students with understandable information on the topics. The fact sheets and relating lessons will be provided to students who visit VIERS (approximately 15 groups) and in 10 school classes on St. Thomas and St. John. The VIERS Educator will make 10 presentations as a guest speaker to students in their classrooms. Participants of this project will consist of visitors to VIERS and Virgin Islands students. It is expected that approximately 300 students between the ages of 8 and 14 from VI schools will visit VIERS and receive project information in lessons presented onsite. It is expected that approximately 250 additional students from six St. Thomas schools and four St. John will receive classroom presentations by VIERS staff. The students also have access to the librarys resource materials. There are approximately 350 other visitors to VIERS annually. The visitors have access to the librarys resource materials. They will have the opportunity to review the resource publications and materials at the Library. Extra copies of the fact sheets will be available to interested individuals at the VIERS library. This project will provide opportunities to resolve some of the challenges of 1) providing safe and reliable water supplies and 2) providing safe and healthy waste water disposal on small islands to Virgin Island students and other interested individuals through conservation and alternative practices. The materials developed can be used for any small community with similar water concerns. Water resources is one of the top priorities of any island community. The proper treatment and disposal of wastewater is crucial to the coastal environment not only in the U.S. Virgin Islands but also similar small islands of the Caribbean and elsewhere. By educating students about water resources, water conservation, waste water disposal and treatment alternatives, the community will receive long term benefits such as reduced water usage per person, less water to be treated and disposed, and an appreciation for the limited resource.