A new NCCOS study presents baseline information about the ecology and pollution stress in Coral and Fish Bays in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. The information will help support evaluations of the effectiveness of watershed management activities, including those funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The study quantified the biogeographic status of the bays, including how the ecology of an area was affected by how high or low pollutant levels were, as well as the magnitude and extent of contaminants (metals, PAHs, PCBs, pesticides) in sediments. Future studies can be compared to this established baseline to assess the success of conservation projects, such as recent road stabilization projects.
