Case Study

Pollution and Coral Health in the Virgin Islands

Coral communities are under pressure from land-based pollutants and sediments. Now, coastal managers now can access an effective tool to correlate human land-use activity with coral reef condition. Resource managers can use this information to increase resilience for corals—and the people who depend on them.

Year

2021

Details

Hazards Addressed

Assets

Aquatic and Marine Resources

Click the link below to read the case study and learn about the project in the NOAA Digital Coast Stories from the Field.

Identifying Sources of Pollution That Impact Coral Reef Communities in the Virgin Islands »

Tools & Data

Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP) Land Cover Atlas

Additional Resources

Oliver LM, et al, (2011) Marine Ecology Progress Series 427: 293–302, 2011

Stony Coral Rapid Bio-Assessment Protocol

NOAA Coastal Change Analysis Program (C-CAP)

Organizations to Contact

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Gulf Ecology Division

NOAA Digital Coast

Relevant Options

Ensure consistency in water resource scenarios used for planning. Incentivize private property owners to implement green infrastructure (GI) and stormwater best practices through a reduced stormwater fee incentive program, zoning or other mechanisms. Encourage GI installations Increase the promotion of water quality resources and programs.

Steps to Resilience

Understand Exposure

Assess Vulnerability & Risk

Investigate Options

Prioritize & Plan

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Image Credit

Healthy coral reef in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Courtesy of NOAA.