National Report
On
Integrating The
Management of
Watersheds and Coastal
Areas in St. Kitts and Nevis
APRIL 2001
Department of Environment
Ministry of Health and Environment
Church Street
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis.
1.0
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 5
1.1 GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION ....................................................................................5
1.2 CLIMATE.....................................................................................................................5
1.3 TOPOGRAPHY ...........................................................................................................9
1.4 GEOLOGY .................................................................................................................10
1.5 DRAINAGE AND WATER RESOURCES.........................................................10
2.0
CURRENT WATERSHED/ WATER RESOURSES MANAGEMENT ISSUES. ... 13
2.1 WATERSHED MANAGEMENT.............................................................................13
2.2 THE WINGFIELD WATERSHED.......................................................................14
2.3 WATER RESOURCES............................................................................................14
2.3.1
Supply and Demand .............................................................................................. 14
2.3.2 Water Resources Management Strategy .................................................................. 21
2.4 LAND POLICY AND WATERSHED MANAGEMENT..............................21
3.0 CURRENT COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ISSUES ........................................... 24
3.1 COASTAL HABITATS AND ECOSYSTEMS...................................................24
3.1.2
Significant Coastal Habitats & Ecosystems Their Management Issues ............... 25
3.2 LIVING AND NON-LIVING MARINE RESOURCE EXPLOITATION....26
3.2.1 Aquaculture ................................................................................................................ 27
3.3 CLIMATE CHANGE AND NATURAL DISASTERS .....................................28
3.3.1
Impacts of Sea level Rise....................................................................................... 28
3.3.2
Impacts of Flood on Marine Ecosystem................................................................ 29
3.3.3 Trans-boundary Threats............................................................................................... 30
3.4 LAND-BASED POLLUTION ...............................................................................30
3.4.1
Sources and Impacts of Land-Based Pollution ..................................................... 31
3.5 CONCERNS OF TOURISM COASTAL AREAS ..............................................32
3.6
CONCERNS OF HEALTH IN COASTAL AREAS......................................32
3.7 DATA INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND RESEARCH........................32
3.7.1 Monitoring Programmes............................................................................................ 32
3.7.2 Availability of Equipment........................................................................................... 33
3.7.3
External Data Collection ...................................................................................... 33
3.7.4 Specific Roles Of Some Agencies. .............................................................................. 33
3.7.5
Additional Needs Required to Improving Watershed Management...................... 34
3.8 STAKE HOLDER PARTICIPATION...................................................................35
3.9 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK........................................................................35
3.9.1
Characteristics and Mandates of Government...................................................... 35
3.9.2
Legislation Governing the Agencies ..................................................................... 37
3.9.3 Policy
Formulation ............................................................................................... 37
4.0 INTEGRATING WATERSHED AND COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ............. 39
4.1 LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY ISSUES................................................................39
4.1.1
Watershed Management........................................................................................ 39
4.1.2 Waste Disposal........................................................................................................... 39
4.1.3 Water Quality Monitoring.......................................................................................... 40
4.2 INSTITUTIONAL.......................................................................................................40
4.2.1 Capacity Building......................................................................................................... 40
4.2.2 Research .................................................................................................................... 40
4.3 FINANCIAL ................................................................................................................41
4.4 MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL AGREEMENTS................................41
4.5 PUBLIC OUTREACH. ............................................................................................41
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 42
CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Geographic Location
St. Kitts and Nevis is a twin island country with a total landmass of just 269 square kilometers,
and is part of the Eastern Caribbean chain of islands (Fig.1) The island of St. Kitts, the larger of
the two, is 176 square kilometers (68 sq. mi) in size and is located at Latitude 17 degrees 15
minutes North and Longitude 62 degrees 45 minutes West. Nevis is 93 square kilometers (36
sq. mi) and located at Latitude 17 degrees 10 minutes North, Longitude 62 degrees 35 minutes
West. The islands are separated by a channel, The Narrows, 3 kilometers wide. (Fig. 2)
The island of St. Kitts is roughly oval in shape with a narrow neck of land extending like a
handle from the southeastern end. This handle like extension is usually referred to as the South
East Peninsular (SEP). Nevis on the other hand is just roughly circular.
The country attained full political independence from Britain in 1983. The national capital is
Basseterre located on St. Kitts.
1.2 Climate
The climate of St Kitts and Nevis is classified as tropical marine. Generally, steady northeast
trade winds and tropical oceanic cyclonic movements influence it. Furthermore, the islands enjoy
warm even temperatures with a mean of approximately 27O Celsius. Seasonal and diurnal
variations in temperature are small. Average minimum and maximum temperatures in
Basseterre Valley stand at 22 and 29 degrees C in January, increasing to 25 and 32 degrees C in
July (Kennedy and Robbins, 1988). Nevis temperatures and seasonal variations are similar
(Darby, et al., 1987).
At lower elevations, maxima above 32 degrees C and minima below 18 degrees C are extremely
rare. Only at higher elevations, where the rule of thumb is one degree Celsius ambient
temperature drop per 100 meters in altitude above sea level, do temperatures drop below 17
degrees C. Halcrow (1966) computed the minimum temperature at Mt. Liamuiga at 7 degrees C.
However, the near perpetual cloud cover, high humidity and wind chill factor at the peak would
tend to make it feel much colder.
Rainfall is mainly orographic and increases in amount and frequency with altitude. On the
island of St. Kitts, except for the Southeast Peninsula (SEP) which is very dry, mean annual
rainfall ranges from about 16 cm in the coastal areas, to about 160 cm in the central mountain
ranges. The situation at the SEP is quite different, with mean annual precipitation varying from
15.6 cm on the peaks to 13.6 cm at Cockleshell Bay, while on Nevis the average annual rainfall
is 117cm. Mean annual on that island varies from 75cm. at New River on the windward side
to131cm. at Hamilton estate on the slope of Nevis Peak.
Generally, rainfall is unevenly distributed between years and between months with a reliable wet
period from August to November and driest months January to April. The relative humidity level
is usually low in the dry season and high in the wet season. The mean value is 76 percent but
ranges from 70 percent in March to 78 percent in September, October and November.
The prevailing wind is northeast trade with mean speeds ranging from 15- 30 kilometers per hour
(kph). They hold fairly steady swinging seasonally between northeast and southeast The periods
of seasonal low pressure from July to September have wind speeds of 30 45 kph. Land and sea
breezes locally modify the regional pattern. The hurricane season extends June to November, and
at this time there is a higher frequency of tropical disturbances that generate squalls and high
wind velocities. With the exception of hurricanes the months with the higher wind speeds are
the dry months from January to march. Cloud cover is more common than would be expected,
averaging between 40 and 50%, which helps account for the relatively low evapo-transpiration
rate of around 101cm. per year (Halcrow, 1966).
FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
1.3 Topography
St Kitts is oriented northwest southeast, about 80 km long and 16 km wide. Generally it rises
from the coastline towards its mountain cluster in the center.
The highest point is Mount Liamuiga, rising with a pronounced crater to 1,156 meters (m).
Southeast of Mt. Liamuiga, the now dormant volcanic chain continues with the middle range and
the southeast range. The summit of Verchild's Mountain is the highest point of the middle range
with more than 976 m above sea level. A broad gently sloping saddle of about 457 m high
known as Phillips, and Wingfield levels separate the middle range from the southeast range. The
highest point of the southeast range is 900 m. Both ranges consist of a number of irregular
related peaks, and their glacis slopes are steeper and shorter towards the leeward coast after
which the land descends into the Basseterre valley. The Canada hills on the northeastern part of
the island, rising to about 335 m are separated by a deep depression from the Morne and Conaree
hills, which terminate in the neck of the Southeastern Peninsula (SEP).
Tied islands largely characterize the SEP; about one third of a mile wide and with peaks of up to
180- 213 m. The southern extremity has hills with elevation up to 335 m. The peaks of all of
these mountains are less than seven kilometers from the sea, an indication of the island's high
relief which in turn, has had and will continue to have an important orographic influence on the
climate, on land use, and on the general physical development of the island.
The terrain slopes down steeply from the central peaks, flattening out to gentle slopes and low
cliffs towards the coastal fringe. Thus, most flat or moderately sloped land occurs near the
coastal area, so most urban and agricultural developments have occurred on these areas. Minor
domes protrude from these lower slopes at Brimstone Hill, Ottley's Mountain, Sandy Point Hill
and Monkey Hill. Furthermore, the slopes are characterized by deeply incised ghauts with steep
sides. These act as the primary channels for drainage.
Nevis lies on the inner volcanic arc of the Lesser Antilles and is comprised of nine distinct
volcanic centers strung out southwest to northwest along a parallel of the inner volcanic arc. The
central Nevis Peak is the most imposing of these centers, rising to 985 meters in altitude, giving
the island a conical appearance. Mount Lily (Windy Hill) to the north climbs to 309 meters with
Saddle Hill in the south rising to 381 meters. The other subsidiary peak of note is Butlers
Mountain (578 meters), which thickens the range in the central east of the island.
The terrain slopes down steeply from these peaks, at approximately 40%, but it flattens out to
gentle slopes and low cliffs towards the coastal fringe. These slopes are characterized by deeply
incised ghauts with steep sides, which act as primary channels for drainage. Most of the runoff
through these ghauts end up in the near-shore marine area, the rest either infiltrates downward to
recharge the underground aquifers or collects in coastal lagoons.
1.4 Geology
A comprehensive literature review of the geology of St Kitts and Nevis was compiled by Lang
and Carroll (1964) and appears in their publications "Soil and Land Use Survey," and by
Granger (1995) under the Agricultural Diversification Project. Modified extracts of those
reviews are presented below.
The island of St Kitts is composed almost exclusively of volcanic rocks of andesite or dacite
mineralogy. Its geology is similar to that of other volcanic islands in the Lesser Antillean
Archipelago. The islands are the summits of a submerged mountain range that forms the eastern
boundary of what is known as the Caribbean Tectonic Plate. The entire island archipelago is
geologically young, having begun to form probably less than 50 million years ago, during the
Miocene era and has continued since.
St Kitts had since undergone numerous and considerable changes in elevation but is now
relatively stable. Newer volcanics rest on a basement of older rocks, now only exposed where the
newer deposits have been denuded. Evidence of older volcanic basement rocks can be seen on
the face of the SEP and its extension to the Morne, Conaree and Canada hills. These volcanics
are generally course agglomerate and intrusive andesites with subsidiary turfs. More recent
volcanic centers along the island's central spine. Middle range and Mount Olivees range appear
similar in age. Mt. Liamuiga, the most northerly volcano has a youth appearance and was active
in recent (geologic) time.
Nevis is a volcanic island that began its formation in mid-Pliocene times (approximately 3.45
million years ago). However, the island comprises a number of discrete eruptive centers that
range in age from mid-Pliocene to Pleistocene. These prevent any single model of the island's
geological evolution. The geology of Nevis can be subdivided into four informal units: Volcanic
of the eruptive centers, volcanigenic rocks pyroclastics and lahars, fluviatile and lacustrine
deposits, and raised beaches.
1.5 Drainage and Water Resources
In St. Kitts, water drains in a radial pattern from the central mountain range to the ocean,
interrupted only by the relatively minor volcanic cones at Brimstone Hill, Ottley's mountain,
Sandy Point Hill and Monkey Hill. Most of the water channels are deep and steep-sided, and are
usually dry along all or most of their stretches. Only the relatively large Wingfield and Cayon
rivers flow almost to the sea for much of the wettest part of the year.
Water also drains in a radial pattern from Nevis Peak to the ocean through ten (10) major
drainage basins and is interrupted only by the smaller volcanic cones of Hurricane, Saddle and
Round Hills. These basins comprise ephemeral ghauts that may consist of up to three streams
orders namely Camps River, Barns Ghaut and Kitt Ghaut. In some basins water is channeled
from 457 m above sea level through relatively straight ghauts with steep but not extended sides
of the ghauts and these favor rapid run-off that causes a quick flow of water to the island's
coastal areas. This is coupled with the fact that the rain forest is very small and readily exposes
any run-off to open evaporation, thereby reducing the amount of available recharge. In addition,
the gently sloping peripheral coastal section of Nevis is not extensive enough to allow for
substantial recharge. Almost all of the ghauts are ephemeral except the Bath Stream, which flow
year-round to the sea from springs less than 1.6 km inland. Most of the other ghauts flow
intermittently, about 3 to 4 times annually, but more extensively after rainfall.
The primary source of fresh water in the islands is rainfall. St Kitts is the recipient of an average
of about 1625mm of rainfall annually ranging from an estimated 2000mm in the higher
elevations with arid conditions in the SEP. Annual average rainfall on Nevis is about 1170mm.
CHAPTER 2
CURRENT WATERSHED/WATER
RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
ISSUES
2.0 CURRENT WATERSHED/ WATER RESOURSES
MANAGEMENT ISSUES.
2.1 Watershed Management
In St. Kitts and Nevis there is no single agency that has overall responsibility for the
management of Watersheds. Traditionally, there is a sort of division of labour whereby several
governmental departments are responsible for the management of their respective sectors. These
include the following:
· Water department which is responsible for the identification, upkeep and protection of
water supply sources for human consumption
· The Environmental Health Department - has responsibility to monitor the quality of
water harnessed for human consumption.
· The department of Agriculture - traditionally held responsibility for the preservation of
the forest which serves for the protection of surface and ground water resources.
· The department of planning - is responsible for regulating land use practices.
· Public Works Department responsible for building and maintaining roads roads.
On the island of St Kitts most of the arable land is owned and utilized by the St Kitts Sugar
Manufacturing Corporation (SSMC) for sugar cane cultivation. SSMC has the responsibility for
managing these lands. Sugar cane cultivation takes place in most of the watersheds on the
island. Thus, the management of these lands, which includes conservation practices,
complements the aforementioned government agencies in the management of watersheds on the
island.
A legal framework has been in place and has functioned as a useful tool for the respective bodies
that manage the watersheds. However, it is recognized that some of the laws are currently
outdated. Others need to be improved and to be amended to be more effective. Some are current
but need to be enforced. These include:
· Water Courses and Water Works Ordinance 1956
· Public Health Act , 1969.
· Agricultural Development Act No. 18 of 1973
· Watercourses and Water Works Regulations, 1973
· Fisheries Act 1984
· National Conservation and Environment Protection Act (NCEPA), 1987
· Litter (Abatement) Act,1989
· Fisheries Regulations, 1995
· Physical Planning Act 2000.
· Pesticides Act 2000.
· Litter (Abatement) Amendment Act 2001
Although the NCEPA Act makes allowances for important watersheds to be legally protected
areas no watershed in St Kitts and Nevis currently has such status. The 1956 Water Courses and
Water Works Ordinance, however gives authority to the Water Department to protect certain
fresh water supply sources or intake areas within watersheds. These water intake areas are
declared out of bounds to the public by the water department.
Proper mechanisms for guaranteeing absolute protection of these fresh water habitats are not in
place. Currently, members of the public, including tourists visit these areas regularly and in most
cases without the knowledge of officials of the water department. The potential for severe
pollution therefore exists.
2.2 The Wingfield Watershed
Potable water resources in Wingfield supplies water to more people than that of resources from
any other watershed in the Federation. Water from Wingfield is supplied to Old Road town
through Sandy Point in the West; and as far afield east to that relatively urban sprawl,
Basseterre.
The Department of Environment, supported by the O.E.C.S. (Organisation of Eastern Caribbean
States) Natural Resource Management Unit(N.R.M.U.) has initiated a pilot project in the
management of the Wingfield watershed. It started with a study of the said watershed in which
the status was determined. Strengths and deficiencies in the watershed were identified and a plan
was put in place to manage it. Programs of activities with resultant effects, carried out there
would serve as strong teaching points for persons, organizations, governmental departments in
St. Kitts and Nevis and in other O.E.C.S. territories.
Some of the objectives of this pilot project include:
! Building capacity for managing watersheds
! Regulate access into sensitive ecological areas.
! Promote sustainable use of resources in watershed.
! Sensitize the public to the need for protecting resources in the watershed.
! Protection of forests which in turn protects the water resources.
2.3 Water Resources
2.3.1 Supply and Demand
Rainfall is the only source of water in St. Kitts and Nevis. This water is retrieved via three water
resource types namely, surface water, ground water and direct rainfall. Surface water is tapped
into at six intake areas in St. Kitts and four on Nevis. On St. Kitts these water intake areas are at
Wingfield, Frankland, Stonefort, Lodge, Phillip's and Greenhill. On Nevis the intake areas are at
Nevis Peak, Prison Farm, Camps Spring and Jessups.
It was in 1987 that a thorough analysis of the water sector was carried out by Ker, Priestman and
Associates, under the sponsorship of CIDA (KPA, 1987). This analysis looked into a variety of
factors relevant to water resources management and planning, such as per capita consumption,
population growth and distribution, industrial development and tourism. A water supply balance
up to the year 2010 was calculated.
Until the early 1970's, groundwater on St. Kittswas "virtually a virgin resource" as the island's
needs were satisfied entirely by surface water from springs and streams (Christmas, 1977).
Attention was turned increasingly to the island's groundwater resources as a source of supply,
necessitated, according to Oelsner (1986), by a then growing water deficit and because surface
water resources were fully developed. Stanley (1985) points out, however, that surface water
sources could provide the island with all of its water , but that these sources are susceptible to
hurricane damage.
It was claimed that ground water sources were developed then on reliability grounds. Table 1
shows water consumption for St. Kitts by type of source. It was from 1993 that groundwater
consumption overtook surface water consumption. A CIDA sponsored exploratory drilling
project in 1988 confirmed that the coastal aquifer which contains seven major groundwater
basins, is the location of the island's best yielding potential wells. The aquifer materials belong
to two main geological deposits the Basseterre Tuffs and the Later Tuffs of Mount Liamuiga.
The aquifer occurs where these two deposits exist within a zone approximately between sea level
and 15 meters below mean sea level. The main untapped reserve is located beneath the north
flank of Mount Liamuiga, between Sandy Point and Saddlers (Ker, Priestman and Associates,
1988).
Because of its high recharge rates and high transmissivity, the coastal aquifer is a favorable unit
for wells. An estimated 20% of all rainfall on the island becomes groundwater flow (Ker,
Priestman and Associates, 1988). Some 11.75 million gallons per day (MGD) is the estimated
total amount of water that ultimately can be tapped by tube wells (Ker, Priestman and
Associates, 1988). No wonder that the primary conclusion of the CIDA sponsored drilling study
in the 1980's was that "St. Kitts possesses a good groundwater resource for a small Caribbean
island, with the capacity to meet present and projected future domestic demand, in conjunction
with the surface sources." (Ker, Priestman and Associates, 1988).
Nevis is somewhat drier than its sister island of St. Kitts and this is primarily a function of the
lower elevation of its central mountain. In addition at least three quarters of the land area is
covered by very shallow clay soils underlain by a silica pan that severely limits infiltration. This
is in stark contrast to the St. Kitts soils which are predominantly sandy loam.
Nevis draws heavily on rain and groundwater as well as some surface water for its water
supply.Up until the 1980's surface water , in the form of high elevation springs (carrying off
water from the peak) constituted the major source of fresh water for domestic, agricultural and
industrial purposes. This was inadequate. The CIDA sponsored project referred to earlier resulted
in the identification of three coastal aquifers.This is highlighted in Fig2. Data showing domestic
water demand for Nevis in 1990 is shown in Table 2.
TABLE 1 WATER CONSUMPTION FOR ST.KITTS BY TYPE OF SOURCE 1977-
1995
Year
Ground Water Surface Water 000 Total 000 gals
000 gals
gals
1977
128641
361957
490598
1978
91623
419734
511357
1979
83906
602292
686198
1980
77611
596496
674107
1981
62225
600945
663170
1982
97645
655040
752785
1983
160948
676933
837881
1984
171686
645086
816772
1985
187234
595507
782741
1986
286734
463522
750256
1987
280560
698423
978983
1988
242288
599969
842257
1989
362990
584188
947178
1990
361459
597879
959338
1991
423353
500963
924316
1992
522261
535667
1057928
1993
537756
498200
1035956
1994
570454
433733
1004187
1995
754875
463375
1218250
Source: Statistics division (June 1997)
FIGURE 4
TABLE 2 Nevis Water Supply System
System
Period
GPM
GPD
Maddens System
Maddens Spring
1990
13
18720
Maddens' Well #1
125
180000
Current Total 198720
Maddens Well #2
By 1991
50
72000
Butler's Well
70
100800
1991 Total
371520
Camp's Spring-Jessup System
Camp's Spring
Current
50
72000
Jessup's Spring
3
4320
Current Total 76320
Paradise Well
By 1991
25
36000
1991 Total
112320
Nevis Peak-New River System
Nevis Peak Spring
1990
40
57600
Zion Well
150
216000
Current Total 273600
Padlock Well
80
115200
*Hickman's Well
By 1991
48
69120
388800 (*457920)
Charlestown System
CSS Well
50
72000
Government Road Well
1990
70
100000
Current Total 172800
Hospital Well
By 1991
45
64800
1991 Total
237600
Current supply for entire island ............ ................. 721440
1991 projected supply for entire island 1110240
Note:* Undetermined operation date
TABLE 3
Source: Nevis Water Department,1990
FIGURE 5
TABLE 4
2.3.2 Water Resources Management Strategy
Water Departments on St. Kitts and on Nevis manage the water resources on the respective
islands. Rates on St. Kitts are different from rates on the island of Nevis. On St. Kitts there are
two categories for the purpose of affixing rates namely metered and unmetered clients.
Metered are divided into two groups, domestic and non domestic. The non domestic subscribers
pay at a rate of 20 cents per hundred gallons.
There are two categories of domestic subscribers. The category dwelling house/church pays at a
rate of 12 cents per gallon for the first 5000 gallons, 16 cents per 100 gallons for 5001 gals.
7000 gals., 20 cents per 100 gals. For 7001 8000 gals. And there is a minimum monthly charge
of $3.00
The other domestic category, any school, house, office, store, shop or building other than a
dwelling house or church is 20 cents per 100 gals.
Unmetered dwelling house/church category pays at a rate of 70 cents on every $5.00 of the
annual assessed rental value of the premises , with a minimum monthly charge of $3.00 The
other domestic category pays $1.15 on every $5.00 of the annual assessed rental value of the
premises, with a minimum charge of $3.30 Non domestic unmetered category pays $1.15 on
every $5.00 of the annual assessed rental value of the premises with a minimum monthly charge
of $3.30
On Nevis there are 9 categories of paying subscribers. (Note that in both St. Kitts and Nevis
Government departments are not charged). Domestic pays $8.00 for the first 3000 gals. And
$10.00 per 3000 gals. thereafter. There is a category of domestic who gets the first 2000 gals.
free while another pays a flat $3.00 fee. A category known as domestic farming pays $5.00 for
1000 10000 gals. and $10.00 for more than 10000 gals. Hotels pay $25.00 per 1000 gals.,
ships $20.00 per 1000 gals. and $20.00 per 1000 gals for non domestic.
2.4 Land Policy And Watershed Management
There is no formal national land use plan. The department of planning indicates that there is a
draft land use plan which has not yet reached the public. This has resulted in problems.
Most of the lands within a mile from the coast is relatively flat and is utilized by the sugar
industry. Over the years and even currently lands are taken out of sugarcane and utilized for a
variety of developmental projects without the guidance of a scientific land use plan.
In some cases, however, the following land use situations do occur, namely
The forest is restricted to avoid deforestation by the public
The management and extraction of ground water is under the control of the water department.
Bay Sand mining on beaches is prohibited on Nevis. On St. Kitts it is also illegal unless
permission is sought to mine only at Belle Tete, Sandy Point.
Local tour guide entrepreneurs take tourists through the rainforest on tours.
There is need for the following to be in place:
The need to preserve and reforest watersheds to ensure the recharge of aquifers.
The need to manage ghauts, include the revegetation of their sides, to reduce erosion and the
resulting turbidity in the near sure marine environs.
The institution of programs, to eliminate the pollution of groundwater by pesticides, and other
pollutants.
Preservation of vegetation and/or revegetation of dunes along the coast.
CHAPTER 3
CURRENT COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ISSUES
3.0 CURRENT COASTAL AREA MANAGEMENT ISSUES
3.1 Coastal Habitats and Ecosystems
The Federation's coastal areas comprise several ecosystems both marine and land based. Marine
ecosystems are chiefly reefs and sea grass beds while land based systems are made up of
mangroves and salt marsh. There are no marine protected areas; however there are several
proposed protected areas that are managed to minimize adverse impacts from development
activities.
St. Kitts:
Proposed Protected Area
Impact
Frigate Bay
· Sand mining which results in damages to the primary dune
· Pollution caused by improper disposal sewage, oils and
agrochemicals
Nags head
· Pollution caused by improper waste disposal from
recreational activities
Sandy Point (specific areas)
· Damages to reefs caused by the anchoring of vessels
· Over fishing and the trauma of poor management of
recreational dives.
· Pollution caused by improper disposal sewage and oils
along with the excessive use of agrochemicals
South East Peninsula (SEP)
· Pollution caused by improper disposal waste from
recreational activities
Black Rock Natural Monument
None noted
Nevis:
Area
Impacts
Cades Bay
· Pollution caused by improper disposal of sewage and the
excessive use of agrochemicals
· Damages to reefs caused by the anchoring of vessels
· Over fishing and the trauma caused by poor management of
recreational dives.
Longhaul
· Over fishing along with trauma caused by poor management
of recreational dives
· Increased turbidity due to the poor development activities
which result in soil erosion
New Castle Marine Park
· Over fishing along with trauma caused by poor management
of recreational dives
· Increased turbidity due to the poor development activities
which result in soil erosion
· Damages to reefs caused by the anchoring of vessels
3.1.2 Significant Coastal Habitats & Ecosystems Their Management Issues
Coastal habitats and ecosystems are generally three types namely reef, sea grass meadows and
wetlands. These systems support to a variety organism such as fin & shellfish as well as
nurseries for juvenile fish. The following management threats have been identified for coastal
systems in St. Kitts and Nevis
·
Inadequate institutionalization of coastal area management
·
Inadequate legislation and enforcement of existing laws
·
Limited financial resources and poor prioritization in financial planning
·
Minimal public interest and familiarity with coastal management issues
·
Increase in the intensity and frequency of hurricane
·
Poor country development planning
·
Pollution from land based and marine activities
·
Absence of legally designated protected areas and management plans
Significant coastal habitats and
Significant coastal habitats and
ecosystems in St. Kitts
ecosystems in Nevis
Dieppe Bay Reef
Cades Bay reef
Belle Tete
Bath Boggs mangrove system
Frigate Bay sand Dune
Nisbett's pond
Salt Ponds
Nelson spring salt marsh
Black Rock natural monument
Newcastle reef
Conaree mangrove system
3.2 Living and Non-Living Marine Resource Exploitation
The predominant marine resources exploited in St. Kitts and Nevis are reef fish, pelagic species,
turtles, conch, sea moss, lobsters mangrove plants, beach sand and beaches. Despite regulations
and policies to manage the hunting of turtles and conchs and to prevent the unmanaged mining of
beach sand, illegal activities continue. The absence of regulatory measures to manage the trapping
of lobsters and the accidental potting and netting of juvenile reef fish is a serious concern.
Exploitation of Marine Resources and Their Impacts
Resources
Use
Impacts
Beach Sand
Building construction
Beach degradation and increased erosion
Beaches
- Recreational activities such as
- Beach degradation due to unmanaged use and
sun bathing and volleyball.
possible overload
- Landing site for fishermen
- User conflicts caused by the difference in
- Hotels and beach bars for tourist
recreational practices between user groups i.e.
accommodation
nationals vs. tourists
- Pollution caused by the improper disposal of
garbage from campsites and beach bars, the
introduction of agrochemicals tainted runoff
from lawns and gulf courses as well as the
inadequate disposal and of sewage from
development facilities.
Shell and finfish
Foreign and domestic trade, a
- Over fishing of reef fish hence a marked
significant portion of the
decrease in their availability
domestic trade is done within the
hotel industry.
Mangrove plants
Cutting of mangroves for fence
- Loss of habitat and sediment trapping systems
posts.
hence increased turbidity in coastal waters.
Sea moss
Sea moss is harvested to support
- Specie reduction
growing demand for health
drinks, though they are only
prepared in micro industries the
increase in number of producers
is a concern
Coral reefs
Mooring of vessels and dive
- Deterioration of reef caused by the dropping
tours.
of anchor
3.2.1 Aquaculture
There are no existing aquaculture facilities on the islands.
3.3 Climate Change and Natural Disasters
St. Kitts & Nevis are signatories to the United Nation Frame Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and are members of Caribbean Planning for the Adaptation to Climate Change
(CPACC), however, despite these initiatives there is no comprehensive plan aimed at dealing with
the impacts, which are considered to be a product of climate change. The post George Mitigation
Project being introduced (funded by USAID) attempts to deal with the preparedness and response
to disasters caused by hurricanes, through the improvement of techniques for building
construction and inspection as well as the identification and management of shelters. The
Proposed Post Lenny Mitigation Projects (OECS-NRMU) is aimed at improving stakeholder
participation in planning initiatives for specific location and to provide measures through which
informed decisions can be made. Rushed / inadequately planned development is being
discouraged to ensure human safety, however development which were introduced a decade ago
did not respond to coastal setbacks and so still pose threats to human safety and the economic
viability of their area.
3.3.1 Impacts of Sea level Rise
Sea level rise has had significant impacts on the coastline and bordering land based ecosystems.
Impacts which are generally caused by extreme weather occurrences includes beach erosion and
the changing of beach profile, loss of coastal vegetation, intrusion of salt water into low lying
aquifers, damage to coastal infrastructure, temporary loss of economic base and marine
degradation.
Occurrences
Measures
Beach erosion and the changing of
- Beach profiling on a quarterly basis (a UNESCO
beach profile
project)
- The legislation of development setbacks from high-
water mark
- Introduction of guidelines for development setbacks
for specific beaches, cliffs and the mouth of ghauts.
(This was only done for Nevis)
- Proposed development plan to incorporate hotspots on
the northwest coasts.
Collaborative efforts among NGOs and Government
agencies for beach profiling initiatives.
Loss of coastal vegetation
None
Intrusion of salt water into low lying
None
aquifers
Damage to coastal infrastructure
- Proposed development plan for the northwest coast
- Passage of St. Kitts & Nevis Physical Planning Act
Physical Planning Act
- Introduction of an informal EIA procedures
- Installation of weather station at Coast Guard base in
St. Kitts - 1998
- Collaborative efforts between Coast Guards, Met
Office and Department of Environment where data
collection is concerned
Temporary loss of economic base
Introduction of an informal EIA procedures
Marine degradation
None
3.3.2 Impacts of Flood on Marine Ecosystem
Though 9% and 4% of St. Kitts and Nevis respectively is classified as < 20 in slope flooding is a
rear occurrence. In 1998 a flash flood caused by five inches of rainfall in two days buried
Basseterre under five feet of mud. Due to the location of Basseterre away from significant coastal
marine and ecosystems impacts were expected to be minimal. However it should be noted that no
assessment of marine systems was done after the flood to determine possible impacts of:
·
Pesticides (herbicides, biocides) in storm water run-offs
·
Increased siltation - turbidity (torrent effect)
·
Fresh water intrusion
·
Loss of marine life
·
Introduction of other chemicals from storm water run-off (torrent effects)
3.3.3 Trans-boundary Threats
Trans-boundary threats to coastal areas are usually caused by the movement of debris to the east
coast of Nevis and the contamination of coastal waters with bilge from contiguous waters. Wastes
washed ashore on the east coast in Nevis are predominantly fishermen's gear and refuse. Though
no research has been done in this area it was deduced from reporting made by fishermen and
Fisheries Officers that current occurrences pose the following threats to the islands:
· Pollution of coastal and marine ecosystems
· Loss of biodiversity
3.4 Land-based Pollution
Increased development activity and the growth of the tourism industry have significant cumulative
adverse impacts on coastal areas. Among these are the over sedimentation of estuarine mangrove
systems and increased turbidity in coastal waters caused by poor development practices at high
elevation and deforestation of land, point source pollution from industrial activities and none point
source pollution from urban settings, large agricultural holdings and gulf courses. The cost of
managing coastal areas is a primary concern as management measures required to deal with these
issues are generally above the skills of resource persons on the islands.
3.4.1 Sources and Impacts of Land-Based Pollution
Sources of pollution
Areas affected
Impacts
Unregulated building and road
Nevis
Over sedimentation
construction on steep slopes.
All coastal areas fed by ghauts or channel
of mangroves and
zed out falls
increased turbidity in
St. Kitts
bays. (Not
South East Peninsular an
monitored but
observed)
None point source pollution from
St. Kitts
Scientific research
Basseterre port, South East Peninsular and
agricultural activities, gulf courses,
not done
Frigate Bay area.
urban runoff
Nevis
While testing of coastal waters is not
undertaken in Nevis concerns are for
Scientific research
Charlestown, Mosquito bay, Gallows Bay
not done
and Pinneys Beach.
Industrial activities draining of oily Nevis
Scientific research
Areas observed are Charlestown and long
water into coastal waters by bulk
not done
point
storage facilities.
St. Kitts
-
Indiscriminate dumping of Solid
Along ghauts in St. Kitts and Nevis
Scientific research
Waste
not done
Indiscriminate disposal of sewage
Nevis
Scientific research
Charlestown, Mosquito bay, Gallows Bay
though continued monitoring of
not done
and Pinney's Beach.
coastal waters for chemical pollution
St. Kitts
in the waters of St. Kitts and Nevis is
Basseterre port, South East Peninsular and
not done, the introduction of
Frigate Bay area
inadequate septic systems makes this
Scientific research
a serious concern
not done
Deforestation of land by unmitigated
Nevis
Thorough scientific
quarrying and agricultural activities
Increased sedimentation of ghauts
research is not done,
boarding quarries, and the subsequent
reef degradation
siltation of reef offshore from ghauts
observed on east
mouth. Agricultural activities are minimal
coast.
St. Kitts
Over sedimentation of Basseterre harbor.
Quarrying is minimal
Research not done
3.5 Concerns of Tourism Coastal areas
Concerns related to tourism developments are as follows
·
Building too close to high water mark, which affects beach stability
·
Mooring of vessels on reefs and sea-grass beds destroying ecosystems
·
Crowding of visitors which causes deterioration and loss of vegetation
·
Lack of clear definition, demarcations of roles and responsibility of stakeholders
3.6 Concerns of Health in Coastal Areas
Health concerns include lack of proper sanitary facilities and the indiscriminate disposal of solid
waste from beach bars and campsites, and the absence of lifeguards on popular beaches. Food
safety issues linked to coastal areas include human resource /staff constraint for the monitoring
food handling practices at beach bars, the unavailability of potable water at some beach bars and
occasional poisoning by the ingestion of toxic fish.
3.7 Data Information Management and Research
3.7.1 Monitoring Programmes
Monitoring programs are executed by various agencies. Greater collaboration among these
agencies is necessary:
· Bacteriological analysis (water quality) the environmental health department in
collaboration with the Bureau of standards
· Rainfall SSMC, Meteorological Department and Department of Agriculture (Nevis).
· Beach profiling Department of Environment, Department of Planning (Nevis) and an
N.G.O.
· Sea level rise - Meteorological Department and Department of Environment.
3.7.2 Availability of Equipment
· Laboratory equipment - multi-purpose lab
· SSMC and Agriculture Department 41 rainfall gauges
· Weather station at Coast Guard
3.7.3 External Data Collection
· UPRC Programme
· CPACC Programme
· OECS/NRMU quarterly reports
· CEHI/OECS
Existing Data and Information on Watershed Management
· Inventory of Flora and Fauna
· Studies/reports on Wingfield watershed
· Biodiversity profile for St. Kitts and Nevis
· Development of GIS at the Department of Planning.
3.7.4 Specific Roles Of Some Agencies.
Agencies
Role
St. Kitts, Nevis Fisheries Department
Manage fishing industry through the enforcement of
St. Kitts & Nevis Fisheries Act and its supporting
regulation
St. Kitts & Nevis Department of
Enforce National Conservation Environmental and
Environment
Protection Act of Kitts and Nevis
Nevis Department of Planning
Management of development according to St. National
Conservation Environmental and Protection Act of
Kitts and Nevis and Nevis Zoning Plan Ordinance of
1991
St. Kitts, Nevis Public Health
Monitoring of waste disposal according to Health Act
(Environmental Health)
of 1959
St. Kitts & Nevis Multi-purpose Lab
Research and testing
St. Kitts, Nevis Department of
Area management according to National Conservation
Agriculture
Environmental and Protection Act of Kitts and Nevis
St. Christopher Heritage Society
Research and educational center
Nevis Historical and Conservation
Research and educational center
Society
Jessups Community Improvement Club Polling and managing interest of general public
(Nevis)
St. Kitts & Nevis Conservation
Enforcement of National Conservation Environmental
Commission
and Protection Act of Kitts and Nevis
3.7.5 Additional Needs Required to Improving Watershed Management
· Watershed monitoring equipment/system
· Vehicles for appropriate and efficient monitoring
· Training at all levels - new and advanced technology
· Institutional strengthening
· Strengthening of linkages between CBOs, NGOs, Pos and GOs
· Effective legislation and enforcement
· Introduction and updating land use maps
· Exchanging of experts and technical expertise
· Continued public awareness and education programmes
· Effective dissemination of available information
· Effective and efficient development plan
Main research needs includes additional collection of data on biodiversity, economic valuation of
coastal and marine resources and the environment impacts of activities on watersheds.
3.8 Stake Holder Participation
Agency Involved In Public Education
Responsibility
Department of Development and Planning,
Educational initiatives targeting specific
Nevis
groups, manage development, foster
stakeholder participation in environmental
management
St. Kitts & Nevis Department of Environment
Institutionalization of environmental polices,
watershed management, management of
protected areas, public education.
St. Christopher Heritage Society NGO
Beach clean-up, public awareness, beach
profiling, research
Anglican young People association (St. Kitts)
Beach cleanup
Nevis Historical and Conservation Society
Beach cleanup, public awareness, beach
profiling, research
Fisheries Department
Beach cleanup
3.9 Institutional Framework
3.9.1 Characteristics and Mandates of Government
The Government makes the major decision on the negotiation of loan agreements with
international donor agencies, the making of policies, design tariff structure and draft legislation.
The Water Department carries out the policies of Government in that they implement the
designed tariffs, install and manage water systems, construct service reservoirs, conduits and
maintain the same. They are also responsible for the implementation of water restrictions,
rationing, disconnections and reconnections of service, the making of necessary
recommendations to Government and also to provide adequate water supply.
The Public Health Department is the monitoring agency for water quality. It conducts
bacteriological analysis of the water supply.
The Agriculture and Planning Departments are responsible for land conservation and prevention
of deforestation.
The Physical Planning Units are responsible for the zoning of development to prevent the
encroachment of human settlements/habitation on water shed areas.
The Department of Environment is responsible for protection and preservation of the natural
environment, which would include watersheds and ground water supply.
3.9.2 Legislation Governing the Agencies
· Watercourses and Water works Ordinance 1956
· Public Health Act Chapter 226
· Agriculture Department Act No. 18 of 1973
· Physical Planning Act 2000
· Department of Environment - National Conservation and Environment Protection
Act No. 5 of 1987
3.9.3 Policy Formulation
Policies are formulated by Government Departments in consultation with stakeholder
groups and Permanent Secretaries, after which they are taken to Cabinet. If necessary
they are taken to the house of assembly for passage. Upon completion of the policy it is
the responsibility of the Permanent Secretary to initiate its administration.
CHAPTER 4
INTEGRATING WATERSHED AND COASTAL AREA
MANAGEMENT
4.0 Integrating Watershed and Coastal Area Management
The status of coastal areas is influenced by the way the watersheds are managed. Sound
management practices in the watershed usually result in quality coastal areas, while poor
watershed management leads to degraded coasts and coastal resources.
From the overview of current issues related to watersheds and coastal areas in St. Kitts
and Nevis it is quite apparent that there are serious weaknesses. These make significant
implications for human health and the sustainable use of limited natural resources.
Specific problems are hereby identified. These are integral to the management of coastal
areas by virtue of the direct relationship of the management of watersheds and the status
of their coastal zones.
4.1 Legislative and Policy Issues
4.1.1 Watershed Management
The National Conservation and Environmental Protection Act (NCEPA) 1987, makes
provisions for the efficient management of watersheds in St. Kitts and Nevis. It must be
appreciated, however, that additional regulations must be drafted and enacted to "give
teeth " to the said Act. These have not yet been forthcoming. A recurring explanation
from the legal department is that there are insufficient legal draftspersons to take care of
overwhelming volumes of work in timely manner.
A pilot watershed management project is currently underway at the Wingfield watershed
in St. Kitts. This is facilitated by the Department of Environment and the Natural
Resource Management Unit (NRMU) of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(O.E.C.S.) The local island team leader for that project is a member of staff of the
department of environment who does not have formal training in natural resource
management or forestry. In fact he is just a high school graduate who later acquired a
certificate in teacher training.
In this pilot project laboring work is supplied by workers from the Parks and Beaches
unit. This unit is part of the Department of Environment. There is also an awful lack of
training in this unit.
4.1.2 Waste Disposal
There is a serious problem with regards to waste disposal and its deleterious effect on the
St. Kitts and Nevis environment. Many ghauts, through which rainwater drains to the sea
or absorbed into underground aquifers, are littered with waste. Most of these wastes are
solid wastes but chemical wastes are also part of the problem. There is thus the threat to
human health as well as the sustainable use of terrestrial, as well as, marine resources.
Updated legislation plus the devising of mechanisms for enforcement are necessary for
resolving this problem. Public outreach, awareness and sensitization must be an integral
component of the suggested mechanism.
4.1.3 Water Quality Monitoring
Monitoring of water quality is carried out by the environmental health department and the
water department. Inadequacies in this area have been identified. Firstly there is a lack of
data showing regular adequate monitoring and testing. There is evidence too that the
piece meal data collected by one agency are not always readily available to other
agencies for a variety of reasons. Lack of proper management of relevant data then is a
serious deficiency.
4.2 Institutional
4.2.1 Capacity Building
There is a severe shortage of trained technical staff among the various agencies that
contribute towards the management of various sectors of the watershed water resources
management, water quality monitoring, coastal areas management - This in itself
contributes to deficiencies in the management of related resources.
4.2.2 Research
Very limited scientific studies have been undertaken to determine the effect of decades of
chemical herbicide use on the water quality in the Basseterre aquifer. Sugarcane has
been cultivated for four hundred years on top of an important aquifer that supplies water
to most of the people in the Federation.
Waste water flows into the near shore marine environment and there is no reliable
scientific data on the effects on the marine environ. These are essential for proper
planning.
Adequate financing and trained personnel are essential for capacity building, research and
institutional development.
4.3 Financial
It should be noted that international lending agencies such as the World Bank and
Caribbean Development Bank view utility cost recovery as critical to the sustainability of
capital works and as a major indicator of institutional capacity. Annual estimates to date
have shown that the water department is operating at a deficit. (Maxim, 1996). This
means that added financing to improve efficiency could only be accessed from lending
institutions if cost recovery rates are increased.
4.4 Multilateral Environmental Agreements
St. Kitts and Nevis is party to several environmental conventions. Among some of the
requirements as party are the framing of various environmental regulations and the
enforcement of such would contribute tremendously to effective management of
watersheds, water resources and coastal areas. Many of these required legislations are
not yet in place.
4.5 Public Outreach.
There is a serious deficiency with regards to public awareness. Creative programs need
to be designed to educate the public. Financing would also be required for this.
REFERENCES
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Valley, St. Kitts. Ph. D. thesis, Univ. of West Indies.
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Washington, DC.
Halcrow, Sir William and Partners, 1983. Report on the water resources of St. Kitts,
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