USVI-On-Line

As vaca approacheth I become more and more obsessed with all things STJ including this forum. It's not that I don't stop by the rest of the year but sometimes it's just too painful so I don't spend as much time with you folks as I might enjoy.

Anyhoo, I've always wondered about the body of water (pond) behind what is going to be the new Pond Bay development. Is that the one that appears brown from the hills above? I'm wondering because if so that pond always conjured an image of mosquito heaven. Is that the case or is it so salt laden that nothing lives in it? Is it a healthy part of the ecosystem does anyone know? There is no particular reason for my curiosity....I just always wondered. Discuss....

that is a saly pond it helps filter out the run off the salt content is high enough that mosquitos want reproduce in it. It is what keeps the bay so nice and blue.

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Thanks guys. That makes sense. Since it is an important part of the ecosystem I hope that they don't allow Pond Bay development to mess with it. I must say the proximity makes those places just a little less appealing than they might otherwise be, imo.

Joshie wrote:
In any event, I'm trying to figure out how the Pond Bay crowd is going to convert the existing dark green/brown salt pond into that beautiful body of sparkling turquoise water featured in their brochures and videos.

-j

Ya ever flush on an airplane? They'll use those tidy-bowl things to blue up the water.

Chocolate Hole residents long ago opened up a channel from that pond to the sea, and there is now a strong tidal flow in and out--surprisingly strong, since our tides are usually pretty inconspicuous. I believe they did this to control the very strong aromas associated with the pond. While mosquitoes are not a problem in this particular water, sand flies, which breed in the margins of salt ponds, are....very much. BUT....since the entire biological section of the permitting process was total hogwash (e.g. no birds at the pond) they will "control" heavily with no oversight. I am particularly passionate about ponds and mangroves, because so many of them are gone from the VI. A lot of this happened in the 1960's before there was any appreciation of their importance, but there's no excuse for it continuing. The V. I. government is always happy to ignore their own experts,,,,, (By the way, the north shore areas Josh mentions are not salt ponds per se, but fresh water swamps that may have some wash in from ground seas. Mary Point Pond is the only remaining salt pond in the northwest quarter of the island)

hugo, once again thanks for your perspective--it is indeed a shame to see so much important habitat eliminated--we have much the smae situation up here with our salt marshes (that provide much the same service as slat ponds and mangroves)--although regulations up north were tightened decades ago..-- (still they manage to screw things up......)

Nice thread..

I saw Mangroves in Hurricane Hole, beautiful!

Wakey wrote:Nice thread..

I saw Mangroves in Hurricane Hole, beautiful!

come check out the mangroves in fish bay# they're rad too# ~db~

We stayed right near the pond last month and it didn't smell at all, there were some birds but I don't think that the water attracts them. My husband and I walked down and crossed the small gully to Chocolate Hole Bay Beach (Pond Bay Club)where the water actually meets the pond and there were a few larger stones for us to cross over. The water was probably only 5 inches deep at the time. I like the area near chocolate hole and from pictures it may not look great but we think the area is very convenient to Cruz Bay.
I think Ty D bowl will definitely do the trick!

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Hey Joshie,
I stay at the little green house that sits on that second salt pond in CH. Last week I caught quite a few grunts in there. The pond is teeming with life. Fish, birds. At night, you can shine your flashlight in it and see the eyes of the shrimp shine back at you. This particular salt pond never smells and doesnt breed skeeters. The tide comes thru a tile that is there and raises and lowers the levels enough to keep them from breeding. I would hope this pond never is touched and stays the sanctuary that it is.

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There are some big fish in there too. Don't know what they are but they school and swim in circles and are about 3 feet long.

donkey-boy wrote:

Wakey wrote:Nice thread..

I saw Mangroves in Hurricane Hole, beautiful!

come check out the mangroves in fish bay# they're rad too# ~db~

Where in Fish Bay are you? We have stayed in that area on all our past trips. Sea Turtle, Unicorn (several times) and Daffodil (several times). It's a great part of the island...but, you know that.