1. Rehabilitation and Management of the Basseterre Valley as a Protection Measure for the Underlying Aquifer
Halla Sahely, Ph.D, P.Eng
Water Services Department
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
GEF-IWCAM PSC-3 October 6, 2008 Montego Bay, Jamaica

2. Outline Facts about groundwater in St. Kitts
Importance of Basseterre Valley Aquifer (BVA)
Threats to the aquifer
Objectives of demo project
Status Report
Start up
Stress indicators
Significance to GEF and IWCAM approach

3. St. Kitts - Groundwater
Over 70% of public water supply is from groundwater
Network of 29 shallow wells
Groundwater supply approximately 4 MGD
2 MGD from the Basseterre Valley Aquifer
Coastal aquifers are sensitive and need protection
Threats from agricultural activities especially livestock farming and fertilizer use
Threats from domestic wastewater
Threats from inappropriate land use
Inefficient use of water pumped out the aquifer
K ~ 70 to 170 sq.m/d
Aquifers made up of mixed volcanics (andesite and pyroclastics)
Levels from 2 m near the coast (groundwater/salt water m) to 70 m in mountainous areas

4. 4

5. 5

6. 6

7. 7

8. Objectives
Demonstrate proper management and protection of critical aquifer
Three-pronged approach
Mitigation of Threats from Contaminants
Protection of Aquifer
Improvement to the User-Resource Interface
Outputs
IWRM plan for the Basseterre Valley Aquifer
Liamigua National Park Management Plan

9. IWRM Plan for the BVA Comprehensive hydrogeological survey
Updated sustainable yield and water budget
Identification of sensitive recharge zones
Baseline water quality monitoring
Computer simulation
Threats assessment
Review of all types of land use
Agricultural activities
Wastewater disposal

10. IWRM Plan for the BVA
Survey of water losses/wastage from the well field
Options for recovery and recycling
More efficient use of pumped water
Review of current policy and legislative framework
Development of incentives schemes to encourage appropriate land and water usage

11. Liamigua National Park Management Plan
Review of policy, legislative and institutional capacity
Our environmental legislative gives power to establish protected areas
OPAAL project
Development of policy statement and goals
Continual stakeholder input
Create diverse range of recreational opportunities while achieving environmental and financial sustainability

12. Liamigua National Park Management Plan
SWOT analysis (Strengths/Weaknesses – Opportunities/Threats)
Primary benefit to protect a major recharge areas from improper land use encroachment
Potential for uniquely reinstating coastal valley habitat
Conducted with stakeholder inputs
Workshops, interviews, town hall style meetings
Development of a set of programmatic strategies
In line with IWRM plan and indicators

13. Outputs vs. outcomes Foundational outputs – management plans
Necessary for success
Will take up the first year of the project
Outcomes – implementation
How much can we implement in the lifetime of this project? This will be our MAIN challenge in the reduced timeline
Relates directly to stress indicators chosen by PMU

14. Stress indicators
Increase of total land area in the Basseterre Valley placed under a protective management plan that ensures its proper utilization and appropriate development.
Increase in well-head protection zones for the underlying aquifer in the Basseterre Valley.
Reduction of livestock farming (cattle, pigs and goats) in the Basseterre Valley

15. Stress indicators
Increase in the number of water loss prevention/water use efficiency initiatives adopted by the Water Services Department
Reduction of pollution from fertilizer applications through revision of agricultural practices in the Basseterre Valley.

16. Status report Project scaled down from 3 years to 2 years
Project manager started on August 6, 2008
Permanent Secretary
Experience in managing externally funded projects
RFP sent out in early August
Deadline for submittal was September 15, 2008
8 proposals received
Evaluation committee formed (3 members)
Final decision to be made on October 17, 2008
Contract signed by November 15, 2008

17. Status report First workplan and budget submitted
September 22, 2008
IWCAM video shorts aired several times
Poster presented at Agricultural Fair
Local PMU office opened October 1, 2008
Amount expended 2008: ~ 18,500 USD
Amount committed 2008: ~ 85,000 USD
Includes 15% start-up for consultancy

18. Status report – Milestones
Signing of contract for consultancy work
NOVEMBER 15, 2008
First public stakeholder consultations for Liamigua National Park
APRIL 15, 2009
Draft management plans for Basseterre Valley Aquifer and Liamigua National Park
JUNE 30, 2009
Designation of Liamigua National Park
JANUARY 30, 2010

19. Significance of project
Unique proposal in that historically cultivated land will be returned to its pre-colonial state
Establishment of a protected area near to main urban area, tourist area on prime real estate
Balance between protection and economic activity in the park
Only project that deals directly with the interaction between watershed and aquifer
Our experience will be useful to other islands that utilize groundwater significantly

20. Thank you! Questions?