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Natural Disasters
Opposition to the MREC at Salt River Bay
About Save Salt River Bay
With any substantial government-funded project, there is bound to be opposition. Save Salt River Bay (SSRB), an organization started by those who live in the residential area adjacent to the proposed MREC known as Judith’s Fancy, has provided the most vocal opposition to the MREC project. SSRB is determined to prevent construction of the MREC at Salt River Bay. St. Croix residents initiated the organization a few years after the National Park Service held its first few public meetings concerning the MREC project. SSRB would receive more attention in the coming years, especially after the creation of its website by Margaret Boller in the Spring of 2014.
SSRB is opposed to the project for several reasons, but their biggest concern is that the center would cause damage to the bay. Other than protecting the wildlife and plants, SSRB wants to make sure the bioluminescence in Salt River Bay doesn’t disappear. Bioluminescence, simply meaning “living light”, is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which organisms make the water appear as if it is glowing during the night. Although natural, the concentration of these organisms is actually quite rare, and only seven of these bays exist in the world, one of which is in Salt River Bay. Though the bioluminescent bay itself is man-made, it is becoming a growing factor in St. Croix’s tourism.
The area is also said to have been the place Christopher Columbus first landed and the bylaws created at the time said that “the view shed should not be destroyed in the area”. Along with the area being a National Park, a National Natural Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, SSRB argues that Salt River Bay is a poor site for the MREC.
Above: SSRB's website
The Website
When SSRB first began in 2011, they had trouble getting the word out about their cause. This changed when Margaret Boller, a member of SSRB, began to promote the efforts of SSRB through a website she created for the group, http://www.savesaltriverbay.com/. Through this website, Boller’s goal was to provide information for those who were unaware of the MREC project including details on the individuals and organizations involved in MREC and the environmental, cultural and economic impacts of the project. Since SSRB wants to prevent the project from being undertaken, the website also hosts an online petition to be sent to U.S. government representatives and university officials affiliated with the project, urging them to not construct the MREC.
Alternatives Proposed
On the website, SSRB proposes alternatives to the Salt River location. Among other possibilities, SSRB suggests that a research center might be well suited to the town of Christiansted, where it could help boost local businesses, save money on building costs and leave Salt River Bay unchanged. SSRB believes that the research center could then work more closely with schools and the surrounding community
Opposition outside of SSRB
Though SSRB is the only organized effort against the MREC at Salt River Bay, there are still those who oppose the project that are not a part of SSRB. During the trip in St. Croix, some individuals agreed that the MREC could be in a better location than Salt River Bay. However, because of delays within the project and no visual signs of progress, some of these individuals are not sure if the project will be completed any time soon or at all. Because of this, the National Park Service has opposition from many different sides.