Landscapers Working to Remove Dead Trees and Debris From St. John Beaches

Hawksnest Bay Beach, St. John

Over the past few weeks, work has begun to remove the standing dead trees and downed debris at our North Shore beaches on St. John. With support from the new concession at Cinnamon Bay and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and in coordination with Virgin Islands National Park, the Friends of Virgin Islands National Park have contracted with St. John-based, B & C Transport LLC to clean up storm debris on beaches from Hawksnest to Francis Bay.

The experienced crew of landscapers are working beach by beach to remove standing dead trees that pose hazards to beachgoers and clean up downed debris that poses risks to the coral reefs if it is washed off shore. The work is intended to leave underground root wads intact to minimize beach erosion. The root wads will aid future replanting efforts planned by the Friends and V.I. National Park for valuable coastal plants like sea grape and other native trees.

Francis Bay, St. John

All work is being done using hand tools with heavy equipment being kept off beaches to minimize impacts to the beaches and visitors.

The work is being overseen by natural resource staff at V.I. National Park and will be completed by late December. Replanting efforts will begin soon and will progress as each beach is cleared.

Volunteers interested in helping with replanting efforts should contact the Friends office at 779-4940 or mgestwicki@friendsvinp.org.