Cane Garden Bay Wetland Restoration
A Climate-Resilient Marine Spatial Plan will guide the protection and sustainable use of the Virgin Islands’ marine environment. It will define key zones for conservation, fisheries, recreation, and development—supporting climate resilience while enabling a balanced blue economy.
Introduction
Cane Garden Bay is a highly flood prone, low-lying, tourism-dependent coastal community on the north shore of the main island - Tortola.
Historic filling of a series of coastal wetlands (salt ponds) contributed to the elevated flood risk which is now at a critical level due to climate change, threatening lives and livelihoods.
A hydrologic and hydraulic study of the Cane Garden Bay watershed in 2016 resulted in recommendations to remediate flooding, with restoration of salt ponds being among the priority actions. The Cane Garden Bay community is now committed to restoring the historic salt ponds to alleviate the flood risk.
The Impact
This project will implement detailed designs already developed for restoration of a major historic salt pond in Cane Garden Bay – Ross Pond.
The project scope includes:
Land acquisition to facilitate the salt pond’s restoration;
Salt pond restoration, including removal of landfill, re-contouring of the land, rehydration of the soil, mangrove replanting and reintroduction of bird species; and
Boardwalk construction around the salt pond’s parameter with connections to the beachfront to facilitate eco-tourism activities.
This project is expected to result in significant reduction of flood risk in Cane Garden Bay, reduction of sedimentation of the Bay leading to improved coastal water quality and reef health, and enhanced ecotourism attractions to diversify the tourism product.
The Problem
Flooding in Cane Garden Bay
The Solution
Plan for restoration of Cane Garden Bay Ross Pond
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