John Farchette
Oral Histories about Great Pond lagoon, St Croix as part of the Great Pond Restoration Action Plan
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.
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.
Scope and Content Note
This interview with John Farchette provides a firsthand account of ecological changes in and community perceptions of the Great Pond Lagoon in St. Croix. Farchette recalls his time spent at Great Pond as a child in the 1960s, when fish were abundant and a key source of food for families living in the region. While the pond was critical for fishermen, Farchette explains how many people on St. Croix did not fully realize the value or functions of Great Pond. Farchette discusses how apathy, along with land use and development, have contributed to the degradation of the pond and its watershed. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining tidal flow and vegetation for restoration. Finally, Farchette offers a brief reflection on the coming consequences of climate change and St. Croix’s precolonial history.
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