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Objectives
This characterization was conducted to synthesize all relevant historical
information on the ecology of the Salt River Bay National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve
(hereafter, SARI or the park). A comprehensive inventory of the parks ecosystems is required for
successful management. To meet this need, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) Biogeography Branch, in consultation with the National Park Service (NPS) and the Government
of the Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources (VIDPNR), conducted a spatially
explicit ecological characterization.
Project Summary
SARI was created in 1992 to preserve, protect, and interpret nationally
significant natural, historical, and cultural resources (United States Congress 1992). The diverse
ecosystem within it includes a large mangrove forest, a submarine canyon, coral reefs, seagrass
beds, coastal forests, and many other natural and developed landscape elements. These ecosystem
components are, in turn, utilized by a great diversity of flora and fauna. The characterization of
the park's ecological resources consists of three complementary components: a text report, digital
habitat maps, and a collection of historical aerial photographs.
The text report is divided into sections based on physical characteristics
(e.g. geology, water quality, currents), habitat types (e.g. land cover, coral reefs, mangroves),
and major faunal groups (e.g. fish, birds). Each section includes an overview, methods, results,
and a discussion of linkages with other components of the SARI ecosystem and surrounding
environment.
A collection 184 aerial photographs of the Salt River area from the 1970's to
2000 were obtained from several federal agencies for this assessment (individual photos are
available from NPS). Photographs from selected years were orthorectified and then used to create
several habitat maps of the park. The most current photographs, from year 2000, were used to
create a map of fifty terrestrial and marine habitat types visible in the imagery. This map covers
the entire land (145 hectares) and mangrove area (19 hectares) within the park, all of the benthic
habitat within Triton, Sugar, and Salt River Bays , and much of the offshore benthic habitats (250
hectares). This map, created with a minimum feature size of 10 by 10 meters, is the first detailed
spatial characterization of the SARI ecosystem. The time series of photographs were used to create
maps of changes to seagrass and mangrove distributions that have occurred over the last three
decades. This group of maps and images were used to frame the discussion of each major habitat
type, faunal group, or environmental category in the text report for this ecological
characterization.
The aerial imagery, habitat maps, and text report that make up this assessment
are complimentary, together providing research, monitoring, and management tools for the park. The
images can be used to map additional ground features, document historical changes, and serve as a
baseline against which future imagery may be compared. Habitat and land cover maps will assist
with the design of monitoring schemes, selection of research sites, and identification of
potential habitat for species of interest. The discussion and analyses contained in the text
highlight established knowledge, explore spatial aspects of prior research, and identify
information gaps and threats that may guide future monitoring and research. Together, these
components provide a variety of information that will facilitate the current and future
stewardship of the diverse resources contained within SARI.
The image above is based on geographic information system shapefiles
representing benthic and land cover classifications for SARI in 2000. The park is located along
the north-central shore of the St.Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Products
Product Overview
- An overview of the results, products and additional reference links are at this web page
Reports and Publications
Data
Maps
Credits
Order the DVD
- To learn more about and order the DVD with above-listed products, visit this web page.
Tools
Partners
Relevant Links
Time Frame
Completed: April 2004 - April 2005
For More Information
Administrative and Technical Contact:
Matt Kendall
1305 East West Highway
SSMC-IV, N/SCI-1
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-713-3028 x144