In the aftermath of three hurricanes in three years, the Environmental Rangers Science, Education, Exploration and Research (SEER) program is filming a feature-length documentary of recent severe storm effects on two tropical wetland Eco-systems. The … Continue reading →
Observations of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle
The American Oystercatcher at Mandahl Bay
Camp Umoja’s Environmental Rangers regularly engage in observational wildlife tracking at Mandahl Bay. These studies tell us how many of a species are in the area during the different seasons. By setting up at a … Continue reading →
Bearded Fireworm – VI Wildlife Flashcard
Smooth Billed Ani – VI Wildlife Flash Card
Post Tropical Storm Karen Eco-system Impacts Drone Flight – 09-25-2019
MISSION TIME: 7:00 a.m., September 25, 2019 As soon as the weather began to clear and it was safe for flight operations, a Post-Storm Impacts drone surveillance flight was launched over Mandahl Bay. Tropical Storm … Continue reading →
SUMMER SOLSTICE 2019: Quarterly Mandahl Bay APC/APR Aerial Drone Mission
These images and videos, taken during Summer Solstice 2019, are part of ClimateChangeVI.org’s Quarterly Aerial Survey of the Mandahl Bay Area of Particular Concern and Area for Preservation and Restoration’s beach, salt pond and lagoon. … Continue reading →
30 Years Ago Today ‘A Voice in the Dark’ Saved Us from Hurricane Hugo …
HURRICANE HUGO: VI IMPACT SEPT. 17-18, 1989 Download: A Friend In the Dark: The Hurricane Hugo WSTA Appreciation Day Booklet As the sun set over the Virgin Islands on September 17, 1989, the long night … Continue reading →
Hurricane Dorian Mandahl Drone Flight
[smartslider3 slider=7] ~ August 29, 2019 The eye of Hurricane Dorian passed over St. Thomas on August 28, 2019 as a Category 1 storm. The following day, ClimateChangeVI.org launched drone flights over the Mandahl Bay … Continue reading →
RANGERS TACKLE SARGASSUM
Science Question: Do large sargassum masses have a long-term positive, negative or nuetral impact on near-shore wildlife populations? Saturday, August 17, 2019 On Saturday, excited Environmental Rangers took to the air using drones … Continue reading →
Rangers Get ‘Vested for Life’
Saturday August 10, 2019 – Mandahl Bay, St. Thomas VI Camp Umoja’s Environmental Rangers became ‘Vested for Life’ Saturday as the youth citizen scientists received brand new marine life vests through the affiliated ClimateChangeVI.org’s S.E.E.R. … Continue reading →
2019 Vernal Equinox
The Sand Diver: A Lizardfish!
Sand Diver (Lizardfish) Scientific Name: Synodus intermedius • Common throughout Virgin Islands Waters • Thought to be the most abundant of local lizardfishes SIZE4 inches to 18 inches DEPTHI have most commonly observed them … Continue reading →
23 1/2 Acres – No Development Needed
“The ‘Save Mandahl Bay’ Video“ This video is an oldie, but goodie, republished here by request as there are always new visitors to this fabulous Eco-system. Mandahl Bay has been designated by the Legislature of … Continue reading →
Public Comment Period Ending for Hurricane Task Force Report
The USVI Hurricane Recovery and Resilience (Resiliency) Task Force* will close the public comment period for its draft 2018 report on Monday, July 30, 2018. *EDITOR’S NOTE: The V.I. Government uses both the words ‘Resilience’ … Continue reading →
Mandahl Nights: Ragged Sea Hares Mating Aggregation
Behold, the mighty Ragged Sea Hare of Mandahl Bay! These attractive little beauties are responsible for the lives of practically all creatures in the Mandahl lagoon. Without them, the lagoon would be an algae-covered stench … Continue reading →
Be Mesmerized by Howard Hall’s “Wild Window – Whales”
Wild Window – Whales from Howard Hall on Vimeo. Whales is one of five hour-long “ambience” videos created as part of our Wild Window Series. Wild Window was originally created to demonstrate Sony 4K technologies … Continue reading →
Are Rats Destroying our Coral Reefs?
DID YOU KNOW?Rats and mice were introduced to the Virgin Islands by European ships. Prior to Columbus, bats and humans were the only mammals present. Newly published research in Nature: International Journal of Science suggests … Continue reading →
Preliminary Catch Reports – Atlantic Swordfish Landings Down 17.2% for first half of 2018.
2017 Reduced Landings Trend Continues … Atlantic Swordfish Landings Update:Commercial and RecreationalJanuary 1 – June 30, 2018 The table below provides preliminary landings estimates and remaining quotas as of June 30, 2018, for the Atlantic … Continue reading →
Autonomous ocean gliders deploying in VI this week for improved hurricane forecasting
FLEET OF OCEAN GLIDERS COMING TO THE US VIRGIN ISLANDS Data-collecting underwater drones will support improved hurricane forecasting. Ocean gliders will be plying the waters of the US Virgin Islands this summer to help improve … Continue reading →
Congress Members Support Senator Blyden’s Emergency Housing & Safe Waste Summit Leadership
MEDIA ADVISORY Contact: Sheraine Brewster-Spivey (340) 513-4624 Email: [email protected] SENATOR MARVIN A. BLYDEN GAINS SUPPORT OF U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS CONGRESSWOMAN STACEY PLASKETT AND U.S. CONGRESSMAN JAMES E. CLYBURN TO FOCUS ON EMERGENCY HOUSING & SAFE … Continue reading →
Atlantic Swordfish Landings Through May 31, 2018
June, 11 2018 Atlantic Swordfish Landings Update: Commercial and Recreational Through May 31st The table below provides preliminary landings estimates and remaining quotas as of May 31, 2018, for the Atlantic swordfish fisheries for the … Continue reading →
Public Meeting on the Definition of Fish Aggregating Devices
NOAA Fisheries will hold a public meeting on Friday June 29, 2018, from 9:00am to 1:00pm PDT to seek input on the definition of fish aggregating devices (FADs) that could be applied for conservation measures by international … Continue reading →
Environmental Rangers SEER Disaster Hardship Scholarships Available
Through the generosity of several local families, Hurricanes Irma & Maria Disaster Hardship Scholarships are available for the Environmental Rangers Environmental Heritage S.E.E.R. Program 2018 summer session. These scholarships (valued at $250 per youth) … Continue reading →
Environmental Rangers Seeking Youth for Weekend Eco-Science & Exploration Program
April 21, 2018 ~ St. Thomas, Virgin Islands The Environmental Rangers, an Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Quality Award-winning youth group, has expanded its scope to add STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) approaches to youth … Continue reading →
NOAA Fisheries Announces a New Online System For Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Tournament Registration and Reporting
NOAA Fisheries sent this bulletin at 08/30/2017 12:02 PM EDT AUGUST 30, 2017 NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA Fisheries) is offering an online option to register Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) tournaments and … Continue reading →
VI Sand Bag Distribution Begins Monday in Preparation for Hurricane Irma
PLEASE NOTE: This article’s dates have been corrected and are different than in the official government release which has a typo in the date. The VITEMA release states Monday as September 3. CCVI has corrected … Continue reading →
Hurricane Tracking Maps Now Available
The Virgin Islands Territorial Management Agency (VITEMA) has announced that 2017-2018 Hurricane Tracking maps are now available throughout the Virgin Islands. Do not rely on having electrical power or batteries to connect cell phones and … Continue reading →
NOAA Seeking Public Comments for the 2018 Atlantic Shark Commercial Fishing Season
NOAA Fisheries sent this bulletin at 08/21/2017 09:49 AM EDT NOAA Fisheries Announces a Proposed Rule to Establish the Quotas, Opening Dates, and Retention Limits for the 2018 Atlantic Shark Commercial Fishing Season … Continue reading →
Volunteer for National Public Lands Day
Tips from the U.S. Department of Interior on ways to volunteer and enjoy National Public Lands Day. National Public Lands Day is the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Held every year on … Continue reading →