Transcript Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center JICMS

Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and
Education Center
Planning a World Class, Sustainable Marine
Laboratory in the United States Virgin Islands
JICMS
Project Update
February 2011
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Concept
 Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center
(MREC) will be:

A world-class, sustainable facility serving many partners
through programs in:
 Collaborative marine research
 Caribbean studies, history, archeology and related fields
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
The MREC also will create
opportunities to:
 Demonstrate emerging
technologies in green building
design, and sustainable energy
systems in the tropics
 Showcase the unique concept
of “research in a park”
including:
 “Ridge-to-Reef”
environmental education
programs
 Local educational programs
(K-12/adult)
 Museum collections facility
and archeological field school
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Salt River Bay MREC
 The Office of Insular Affairs, NPS and four
university partners are working together to create
a state-of-the-art, sustainable marine lab on St.
Croix
 Much of work focuses on efforts in research and
education, but one very important element is
ensuring the MREC engages the local Virgin
Islands community and provides for education
and research opportunities for Virgin Islanders,
especially the people of St. Croix, within its
broader mission
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Joint Institute for Caribbean Marine Studies
Consortium of four universities:
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University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of the Virgin Islands
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
University of South Carolina
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Federal and Territorial Partners
MREC brings together long-term support of:
Department of the Interior
 Office of Insular Affairs
 National Park Service
 Government of the Virgin Islands

Project
Partners
Salt River Bay Marine Research and Education Center
Joint Institute for
Caribbean Marine Studies
Department of the Interior
National Park Service
Joel Tutein, SARI Superintendent
SARI NHP & EP
Joel Tutein, Superintendent
Zandy Hillis-Starr, Chief of
Resource Management
Government of the Virgin
Islands
Office of Insular Affairs
Karen Koltes, Coral Reef Program
Manager
Denver Service Center
Design and Construction
David Aitken
Todd Alexander
Amy Sebring, Project Manager
Andrea Lind, Project Coordinator
(Co-manager of SARI)
John deJongh Jr., Governor
Karl Knight, Policy Advisor
Cultural Resources and
Collections
Mary Troy, SERO
Dan Scheidt, SERO
Southeast Region
Dennis McCarthy,
DAB Coordinator
NOAA
Other universities
Technical Partners
Executive Leadership Team
(deans of the four universities)
Robert Roer, UNCW
Robert Goodman, Rutgers
Camille McKayle, UVI
Mary Ann Fitzpatrick, USC
DOE
EPA
Labs21
ERM
Michael Bayer, Project
Manager for JICMS
Lord Aeck Sargent
Design Lead
Partnerships
Chris Abbett, SERO
Linda Neal, WASO
Karyn Ferro, WASO
Southeast Archeological
Center
Meredith Hardy
Potential
Partners
University of North Carolina Wilmington
University of the Virgin Islands
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey
University of South Carolina
Archeological
Field School
(USC)
David Goldstein
Landscape
Architecture
Studio
(Rutgers)
JeanMarie Hartman
Holly Nelson
David Tulloch
Seawater
(UNCW)
Bob Wicklund
Management and Operations
Team
Steve Meinhold, UNCW (JICMS liaison)
Bob Wicklund, UNCW
Cisco Werner, Rutgers
Charlene Glascock, Rutgers
James Morris, USC
Sonya Brown, USC
Jay Pinckney, USC
LaVerne Ragster, UVI
Nasseer Idrisi, UVI
Curriculum
(USC)
Sonya Brown
Research
(UNCW)
Steve Meinhold
FEMP
I2SL
NREL
ACSA
Charrettes?
International
Student
Design
Competition
Industry
Alliance?
Outreach
(UVI)
Camille McKayle
Fundraising
(JICMS ELT)
JICMS Work Teams
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Salt River Bay NHP & EP
Proposed Marine
Research & Education
Center
Buck Island Reef NM
Christiansted NHS - HQ
East End Marine Park
(Territorial)
Proposed Castle Nugent Farms NHS
11,500 acres from Ridge to Reef
St. Croix Heritage Area (HR 1594), 2003
SRS Alexander Hamilton Boyhood Home & Associated Sites, 2009
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Significant Marine Resources
PARK UNIT
Buck Island Reef NM (BUIS)
Salt River Bay NHP & EP (SARI)
Castle Nugent NHS (CANU)
Virgin Islands National Park (VIIS)
Virgin Islands Coral Reef NM (VICR)
East End Marine Park (STX EEMP)
TOTAL
SUBMERGED ACRES
19,015
612 (co-managed with GVI)
8,600 (plus 4 to 5 miles of shoreline)
5,650
12,708
38,400 (incl. 5 sq. mi. of “no take”)
84,985
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
History of Partnership in Marine Research
1960s Fairleigh Dickinson
University’s West
Indies Laboratory
1970s NOAA’s NURP
Underwater Habitats
at Salt River Bay
1989 Hurricane Hugo
1999
MOU among JICMS, DOI
and NOAA establishes the
MREC Concept
Former West Indies Laboratory, East End, St. Croix, VI
Unique, long-term studies led to expansion of BUIS and
establishment of SARI and East End Marine Park; MREC will
build upon historic data to deal with current resource threats
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Perfect Site for the MREC
SARI was created to “preserve, protect and interpret … nationally
significant historical, cultural and natural sites and resources …
with particular emphasis on the preservation of both the cultural
and natural resources and long-term scientific study of terrestrial,
marine and archeological resources”
(Public Law 102-247)
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
MREC Planning Efforts
2001
NPS acquires 73 acres
at Salt River Bay
2004 Feasibility Study
2006 Environmental
Assessment
2009 FONSI signed for
East Site location
MREC East Site:
Preliminary Concept
Plan
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Significant Progress Has Been Made
2008
JICMS launches Strategic
Business Plan
2009
Cooperative Agreement
with GVI signed
Park access road cleared
OIA provides additional
$1.25 million for design
(OIA total > $2 million)
DOD/National Guard
provides $1.4 million for
site restoration/road work
MOI signed with NPS
2009
2009
2010
2010
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Planning the MREC: Parallel Tracks
Goal: Get the MREC concept and JICMS in
position for design/partnership/fundraising
to move forward
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
JICMS Mission
To establish a multidisciplinary partnership
of academic, government and private
institutions to better understand the
sustainability and health of tropical and
subtropical marine ecosystems in the waters
of the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean
regions through scientific studies, student
education and public awareness of the
economic and cultural heritage associated
with coral reef systems.
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
JICMS Objectives
o To foster understanding and proper management of coral
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reef and other tropical and subtropical marine ecosystems
by initiating a comprehensive long-term research and
education program in the U.S. Virgin Islands
To foster public awareness of the importance of coral reefs
and other marine ecosystems from economic, esthetic and
global health standpoints through educational programs
for students and the general public
To share information and research and to form
partnerships with other nations within the Caribbean and
adjacent regions with common interests and problems in
the marine environment.
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Why St. Croix?
o A large array of base-line data on marine
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ecosystems and organisms available
(NOAA, FDU, UVI, UPRSG, VIG)
National Park Service partnership/interest
Only English speaking U.S. territory in the
Caribbean
U.S. Laws, technology capacity and access
Located in the international Caribbean
proximate to nearby nations
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Synergies and Linkages
Improved collaboration among GVI, UVI, DOI (NPS,
USGS, FWS), NOAA
A capacity building project for VI
More data and information for local resource management
 Strengthening K-12 environmental sciences & discovery
experiences
 Increased opportunities for research for VI students & faculty
 Facility example of “green-construction” and sustainability
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Increased opportunities for collaborative research with
JICMS partners
Additional revenue for Territory
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Broadening the Concept
Marine and Non-Marine Components
 Museum
Collections Facility (NPS)
 Archeological Field School
 Program to kick off in May 2011
 Opportunities
for students to take full semester class
loads, including courses taught at UVI
 Visiting faculty/use of other facilities integrated into
facility design
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Entering the Next Phase
Programming/Conceptual Design
 Refine
building program and design facility to secure
NPS approval and create vision to share with funders
 Lord Aeck Sargent of Atlanta selected as contractor
 Process kicked off in December 2010, wraps up in
May for presentation to NPS in July 2011
 JICMS component: Students from landscape
architecture studio completed site design analyses
and presented concepts to the JICMS (demonstrating
partnership before facilities built)
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Site Programming/Master Planning
Master Plan Considerations
Sustainability goals lead to important considerations:
 Carrying capacity of park: what is it?
 Gateway to project on UVI campus?
 Integrating other UVI sites into the plan
 Providing a mechanism to support UVI’s St. Croix
campus needs/planning
 Implications for transportation systems/connections
on island
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
JICMS Work Teams
Seawater Team
Designing the Optimal System
 Water quality monitoring in Salt River Bay
 Interaction with NPS on site/park issues; may affect design
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Curriculum Committee
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Designing program components; examining fee and revenue
model as input to the Strategic Business Plan
Local Outreach
Engaging students, local educators, environmental groups,
and the public as the facility is being designed
 Local JICMS/UVI presence on St. Croix
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Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Design Team Schedule
December 2010: Kickoff at Rutgers
January 10-14: Workshop on St. Croix
Feb. 3: Lab follow up webinar
Feb. 7-11: Eco Charrette (in Atlanta)
March 7-11: Programming II (in Atlanta)
April: Preliminary Design Workshop (on site at
SARI)
May 9-13: Final Design Workshop and CBA (in
Atlanta)
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Preliminary MREC Building Program
6 buildings: All owned by NPS, 2 operated by NPS;
4 will be operated by JICMS, including the marine lab facility
Building
Marine Operations Facility and
Wet Labs*
Research Building
Dormitories
Maintenance Building
Education Building
Museum Collections Facility/
Archeological Field School*
Owner
NPS
(Federal)
NPS
(Federal)
NPS
(Federal)
NPS
(Federal)
NPS
(Federal)
NPS
(Federal)
Operator Estimated Cost
JICMS
$15 million
JICMS
$15 million
JICMS
$7 million
JICMS
$2 million
NPS
$7 million
NPS
$3 million
(*) Marine Operations and Museum Collections facilities could function independently of MREC
Estimated Cost for Site Preparation & Construction: $54M
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Initial Architectural Program
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Lab and Lab Support Components
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Accommodations
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
JICMS Input into Lab Spaces
1. How many researchers working at a bench at the same time should be accommodated; based on the
“business plan”? based on institutional needs?
2. Will there be a need for chemistry lab/s with fume hood capacity?
3. What specialized facilities are required: environmental chambers? Incubators?
4. What level of microscopy should be provided for: 400 X; 1000 X; greater than 10000 X?
5. What special aquatics features/equipment need to be accommodated? Aquaria? Tanks? Raceways?
6. Should all laboratories be served with salt water? Are their minimum flow rates and or pressures required?
7. What laboratory utilities should be provided? Which need to be centralized and which are point of use needs?
Compressed air? Vacuum? Specialty gasses? 110V, 208V, 480V power? Data?
8. Will there be centralized facilities for all users to share? Analytical testing? Specialized environments?
Microscopy? Growth chambers? Aquatics?
9. What laboratory work will require controlled environments; temperature, humidity, contamination control?
10. What laboratory work can be done in non-controlled or minimally controlled environments?
11. Will the facility need to accommodate regulated animal or plant species?
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Environmental Conditions in Lab Space
ZONE A – The most stringent environments currently being
considered includes:
Temperature: ambient to 78⁰ F (no heating)
 Humidity: ambient to 60% (de-humidification and cooling)
 Pressurization: positive
 Outside air: 15% fresh air (85% recirculated air)
 Utilities: salt water (raw and filtered); 110V and 208V with 1ph
and 3ph service; compressed air; potable water. (Vacuum, lab
grade water, specialty gasses will be provided by the researchers
as point of use systems)
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Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
ZONE B – These environments will meet the
following criteria:
 Temperature:
ambient; (temperature may fluctuate from ambient
due to de-humidification required)
 Humidity: ambient to 60% (dehumidification only)
 Pressurization: neutral (no directional airflow)
 Outside air: 15% outside air (when conditions require dehumidification) 100% natural ventilation when de-humidification
is not required)
 Utilities: salt water (raw and filtered); 110V and 208V with 1ph
and 3ph service; compressed air; potable water. (Vacuum, lab
grade water, specialty gasses will be provided by the researchers
as point of use systems)
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
ZONE C – These environments will meet the
following criteria: these environments will occur
under shade structures and in totally open
environments:
Temperature: ambient;
 Humidity: ambient
 Pressurization: neutral (no directional airflow)
 Outside air: 100% natural ventilation
 Utilities: salt water (raw and filtered); 110V and 208V with 1ph
and 3ph service; compressed air; potable water. (Vacuum, lab
grade water, specialty gasses will be provided by the researchers
as point of use systems

Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and
Education Center
Planning a World Class, Sustainable Marine
Laboratory in the United States Virgin Islands
JICMS
Project Update
February 2011
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
SARI East Side Shoreline Comparison
1958
1982
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
JICMS Seawater Team Scope
Define environmental parameters for location of seawater
intake and discharge points, and need for holding tanks
Establish realistic minimum and maximum quantities of
seawater required for experimental and aquarium
operations
Define the need for redundant piping and pumping
systems
Define the parameters for unfiltered vs. filtered seawater
based on water quality assessments
Define the need for temperature control of seawater based
on ambient measurements
Determine the locations and timeframe to take ambient
water quality samples
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Site Analysis and Selection of Intake Points
The team identified water quality parameters,
frequency of measurements, length of time and sites
to be monitored as part of a study
From hillside vantage points, the team evaluated
potential seawater intake sites by observing:
wave action
 relative depth
 tidal current patterns
 distance to upland staging areas
 proximity to navigational channels
 water clarity
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Inspected sites underwater
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Potential Locations of Seawater Intake
Site
Depth
1
14’
2
12’
3
6’
4
6’
5
15’
6
46’
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Potential Well Point
Site in eastern bay selected
as potential well point
Well point about eight feet
deep in sediment would
eliminate problems with
filtering because of
significant sand cover; also
would eliminate the
problem of constant
maintenance due to biofouling, (to be tested by jet
probe)
Could well-point location
be intake to deliver raw
unfiltered water to the
facility?
Next Steps
Monitoring study to
determine best site for
intake point
Provide future
researchers and NPS
with water quality data
in Salt River Bay
Salt River Bay
Marine Research and Education Center
Research Collections Management
JICMS
Outdoors
Field
prep
Collectrons Process
Zone C
Zone A
Clean
Prep
Catalog
ing and
researc
h copy
area
Existing
Museum
Collections
(on STX)
NH/CR
GVI
Existing
Natural and
Cultural
Collections
Zone M
Archive
(Paper
and
Digital
Storage
)
Natural
History
Specim
en
Storage
JICMS
Generated
Collections
Long-Term
storage
Archeol
ogy &
geology
storage
Other offisland
collections
in jeopardy