Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

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  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Hilary Lohmann , Kelcie Troutman

  • St. Croix, USVI has only a handful of coastal lagoons that serve as critical habitats for many commercial marine fish species, as well as providing other ecosystem services for the small island community. Great Pond Lagoon, located in the East End Marine Park, is one such area that contributes to food security and hazard mitigation. As part of restoration planning for this priority site, the territory has included oral histories from community leaders. These perspectives provide historical context and characterization of Great Pond over time and highlight the importance of restoration for the future.

    This project was made possible by principal investigators at the Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management (CZM), including the Coastal Resilience Coordinator Hilary Lohmann and the East End Marine Park Coordinator Kelcie Troutman. The oral histories were funded by NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management and produced by Soundstage VI through an agreement between CZM and Tysam Tech, LLC to host a community charrette and produce a Great Pond Restoration Action Plan. More information can be found on the project website and DPNR’s website.

Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Carlos Farchette Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

Carlos Farchette is a retired Department of Planning and Natural Resources officer and currently serves as the chairman for the Caribbean Fisheries Management Council. He is also a secretary for the St. Croix Fishery Advisory Committee. 

 Kelcie Troutman St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA's Office for Coastal Management
Henry Tonnemacher Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

Henry Tonnemacher is an environmental biologist who moved to St. Croix in 1977. There, he helped initiate the Hydrolab Program and taught scientific diving at the West Indies Laboratory, formerly part of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s campus on the island. 

 Hilary Lohmann St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA's Office for Coastal Management
John Farchette Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

John Farchette is a park ranger for the East End Marine Park on St. Croix. He has served on the Board of Directors for the St. Croix Archaeological Society for over two decades, and he has helped lead educational tours for local schools on the island. 

 Kelcie Troutman St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA's Office for Coastal Management
Olasee Davis Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

Olassie Davis is a prominent environmental advocate and community leader from the island where the Great Pond is located. His deep connection to the area began in his youth, spending time in and around the Great Pond, which was a vibrant ecosystem and a key part of the local community.  He has witnessed significant ecological changes over the decades, from increased erosion to the decline of local wildlife populations. His advocacy has often focused on preserving the natural state of the Great Pond against various development pressures.

 Hilary Lohmann St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA's Office for Coastal Management
Robert Schuster Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

Robert Schuster is an educator and historian. His family has resided on St. Croix for generations, and he has had a deep connection to Great Pond Lagoon since childhood. In recent years, Schuster has also been a witness to substantial environmental change across the island. 

 Kelcie Troutman St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management
William Tobias Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan

William Tobias (“Toby”) worked as a fisheries biologist for the Division of Fish and Wildlife for 31 years until his retirement in 2010. He first arrived in St. Croix in 1972 as a student with the West Indies Laboratory. Since then, Tobias has also served on both the Fisheries Advisory Committee for the island of St. Croix and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. 

 Hilary Lohmann St. Croix, USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Coastal Zone Management , NOAA's Office for Coastal Management
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