National Park Service Makes Progress Repopulating Native Plants

Native plants introduced to the area in 2012 have grown. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Native plants introduced to the area in 2012 have grown. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)

Starting in 2012, the National Park Service and federal partners with staff and volunteers have reintroduced native plants to about 72 acres of more than 1,000 owned by the local and federal governments along with a few private landowners, eventually increasing public park space.

The parcel contains a 14-acre bird sanctuary.

The replanting zone is on the east side of the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve that borders Estate Judith’s Fancy and includes the foundation for a hotel built in the 1960’s and abandoned in the early ’70s, probably due to a lack of permits complying with the newly enacted Clean Water and Wetlands Protection Acts, according to Zandi Hillis-Starr, NPS Resource Management chief. The current work zone is around 40 acres.

The original stakeholders who initiated the 2012 exotic plant control program were the NPS, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Florida Caribbean Exotic Plant Management team and the NPS Youth Conservation Corps high school students.

Aerial photos show – Left: Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in the 1950s, left, and – Right: The Salt River Bay Park after surveying and construction in the 1970s. (National Park Service photos)
Aerial photos show – Left: Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve in the 1950s, and – Right: The Salt River Bay Park after surveying and construction in the 1970s. (National Park Service photos)

To begin the restoration process, the Art Farm on St. Croix’s south shore was awarded a grant to grow more than 20 species and 1,000 plants, Hillis-Starr said.

Before planting could begin, non-native invasive plants had to be brought under control and/or removed. The biggest offenders were tan-tan and African guinea grass. The first was brought to the islands by the Danes, according to Hillis-Starr, and the second was transported on boats, probably slave ships.

Native plants overshadow invasive species overlooking Triton and Mangrove Bays. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Native plants overshadow invasive species overlooking Triton and Mangrove Bays. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)

Tan-tan and guinea grass can rejuvenate after a fire unlike most native species, and are hard to eradicate. To beat them back, the areas were mowed, plants uprooted when possible, and then broadleaf, target specific herbicides are applied after two to three weeks. Guinea grass doesn’t like shade, so once native plants grow tall enough, the grass dies back. No herbicides are used near roads or within 100 feet of the water’s edge, Hillis-Star said.

“We return and restore it from being the type of habitat where fire can sweep through and destroy an area,” she said.

The refurbished land now supports native species of various sizes including Jamaican caper, man jack, black olive, pink cedar, agave, sage, cinnamon, bread and cheese, pigeon berry, buttonwood and sea grape. Cassia is also a native bush but is not encouraged to grow.

Now some of the native plants are growing from seed dropped by birds or delivered by the wind. The “volunteers” are welcome and help crowd out the non-native invasive species.

Zandy Hillis-Starr walks through some of the latest planting of native species. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)
Zandy Hillis-Starr walks through some of the latest planting of native species. (Source photo by Susan Ellis)

Remediation of the hotel, called the Virgin Grand at one point, began with demolition of the three story, 23,000 square foot building. In 2009 – 2010, the V.I. National Guard along with several stateside units tore brick, concrete and pilings down with tractors and manpower.

No explosives were used, according to Hillis-Starr. Some of the pilings and rubble from the Christiansted Bypass were used as road base in the preserve.

“When doing compliance, you do your best to know the environment. We assumed we could do a full restoration,” even after discovering the hotel’s deep foundation that will always be part of the preserve.

The hotel’s two and a half foot thick concrete foundation remains, and touches the bioluminescent bay, officially named Mangrove Lagoon. A building for education, the Coastal Stages Outpost, was built and used first for the first Youth Ocean Explorers in July. Hillis-Starr said the area will be used for a variety of activities and hopes to engage high school and college students.