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Protecting St. Kitts and Nevis’ hidden treasure

GEF-UNEP-UNDP IWEco Project

By IW:LEARN

March 17^th, 2022

GEF IW:LEARN World Water Day 2022 Special Bulletin

On World Water Day 2022, we consider the invisible nature of groundwater and how this hidden treasure enriches our daily lives. On a small island, where land and water are so intimately interconnected, the need to become true stewards of fragile island ecosystems has never been more critical. What actions can we take in small island developing states of the Caribbean to become "Generation Restoration"? The answer lies in unity, integration, and collaboration.

The island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, located in the Eastern Caribbean, has with the help of two different GEF-funded projects over the past ten years, worked to protect groundwater resources; first, through the establishment of a protected area in a vulnerable well-field, then in an indirect, synergistic way through the mitigation of land degradation which greatly enhances groundwater recharge.

St. Kitts and Nevis relies on groundwater for more than 75% of its potable water supply. This underpins the entire island economy which is tourism-based. Most of the islands are covered by highly permeable recent volcanic material which results in high infiltration rates; even though in Nevis, soils tend to have more clay layers than in St. Kitts. As a result, the Federation depends heavily on regularly recharged groundwater resources.

Such resources often exist in the form of freshwater "lenses" that effectively sit on higher density saline water and must be carefully monitored and managed. Water withdrawals at rates that exceed recharge can result in intrusion of saline water into the freshwater lens. The geophysical characteristics of St. Kitts and Nevis leaves it vulnerable not only to climatological and seismic events but more critically to periods of low recharge, drought and adverse environmental impacts including pollution, saline intrusion, and soil erosion.

How have actions taken by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and funded by the GEF since 2009 made a difference in the way groundwater is managed?

From 2009-2011, the GEF funded Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF-IWCAM) project helped stakeholders take practical actions to protect the vulnerable Basseterre Valley Aquifer on three fronts: (1) improved water resources management, (2) mitigation of threats from pollution and (3) designation of the well-field land space as a protected area.

It was first important to understand the groundwater resource itself. A thorough hydrogeological survey was undertaken to investigate the properties and characteristics of the aquifer which would aid in the day-to-day sustainable management of the resource. The information yielded was incredibly useful for managing pumping levels in the aquifer and understanding the likelihood of saltwater intrusion in the future, given climate change impacts such as sea level rise. In fact, the early stages of saltwater intrusion were documented. Other surveys were conducted in conjunction, including: an assessment of land use and zoning, threats from pollution and a review of the legal enabling environment.

These set the stage for crafting on-the-ground interventions to address some of the critical issues identified. Such activities included measures aimed at water use efficiency such as tank level controls and mitigation of pollution through the installation of an oil-water separator at the main power station.

Finally, the sensitive well-field area, including approximately 500 acres of land, of the Basseterre Valley Aquifer was designated as a Protected Area named the Royal Basseterre Valley National Park – a significant achievement. The vision for the National Park is to be an icon of national pride for all and an attraction for visitors to St. Kitts and Nevis.

Fast forward ten years, the lessons learnt from the IWCAM project led directly to the design of a follow-up project - Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF-IWEco). Interventions in the St. Kitts and Nevis national project, referred to as IWEco SKN, started in 2019 and will end in mid-2022. The main project focus is the mitigation of land degradation in the sensitive College Street ghaut (in St. Kitts) and at quarries (both onsite at an abandoned quarry and downstream of active quarries) in Nevis.

While, on the surface, this may seem to not be connected to groundwater resources, many of the restoration activities undertaken under IWEco SKN mitigate land degradation which in turn allow for enhanced groundwater recharge. Since 2015, St. Kitts and Nevis has been experiencing significant rainfall variability and drought which have greatly impacted the amount of water which infiltrates and recharges coastal aquifers. Residents can experience severe water shortages during dry periods. Any activities focused on enhancement of groundwater recharge are therefore critical.

Project interventions have included land degradation controls works in the College Street Ghaut, St. Kitts, including the installation of 300 gabion baskets, repair of weirs and planting of deep-rooted vetiver grass and in Nevis, reforestation and restoration activities across three sites at Coconut Walk, Potworks Estate and Nelson’s Spring wetland. In St. Kitts, over 5 acres of ghaut lands were restored reducing excessive soil erosion, flood risk to neighboring homes, and enhancing groundwater recharge. It is estimated that these actions will prevent annually up to 500 metric tons of soil from entering the nearshore environment thus addressing the serious challenge of land degradation and contamination of the coastal zone.

In Nevis, over 20 acres of degraded lands have been restored with more than 2,685 trees planted and soil conservation actions such as contours, sediment traps, composting and planting of deep-rooted grasses transforming the landscape at three separate sites. These measures have not only restored both natural and modified ecosystems, but significantly improved groundwater recharge in vulnerable areas severely impacted by drought in recent times.

Vetiver grass planted in June 2020 (left) and after one year of growth in May 2021 (right). Photo credit: IWEco

Nationally efforts are underway to upgrade water quality monitoring protocols and strengthen legal instruments and management plans. This will cement sustainable management into daily practice across St. Kitts and Nevis and continue to provide positive impacts into the future and ensure sustainable use and management of groundwater. There is no doubt we are on the path to becoming Generation Restoration!

Contribution by Dr. Halla Sahely (IWEco SKN National Project Coordinator)

Volunteers at a local beach clean up in Nevis wearing Generation Restoration IWEco SKN t-shirts. Photo credits: IWEco

For more information on the project kindly contact the Project Manager, Jan Betlem (jan.betlem@un.org). Additional resources can be found on the project website and project page on iwlearn.net.