(c) 2009 Erik Gauger http://www.notesfromtheroad.com Rough roads, bottles of rum, sleezy golf course developers, strange animals and funny humans. Should travel writing be anything else? en-us http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#hubris Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:01:01 GMT I just received this image of Great Guana Cay taken at 24,000 feet. It is the best image yet explaining the unbelievable hubris of Discovery Land Company and the University of Miami scientists who, in their EIA for the development, wrote, "The Developers believe that good environmental stewardship will add value to the community, as well as protect property from storm damage and erosion. The Project is compatible with the pattern of development of second homes and vacation homes throughout the cays and mainland of Abaco." For those of you who are not that familiar with Great Guana Cay's development issue, let me explain a few things. The orientation of this image is not exactly north to south. You can visit my Guana Cay map to compare. In the upper edge of this photo is the Atlantic Ocean. Hugging the Atlantic side of the ocean is the Guana Cay coral reef, which is part of the Abaco Barrier Reef. The swolen end of the island is where you can see a golf course and home lots being constructed. This area is where the Guana Cay coral reef is its most magnificent, and may be the best or second best reef - in terms of sheer diversity, coral sizes and overall reef size, that exists. The rest of the denuded areas are the rest of Baker's Bay Club; more home lots and the marina itself. This marina was dug from porous limestone. Pollutants from the marina will have a quick path to the reef. The sedimentation, nutrient, pollutant and silting issues being created by this development are very clear by the scope and size of land removal occuring at a fast pace. It is in the interest of global conservation and the preservation of reef ecosystems to have construction at Baker's Bay halted as soon as possible. Today is Day 2 in the Privy Council court. Godspeed, reef defenders. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#golfmarina Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:01:01 GMT Today is the first day of court in the Privy Council for the residents of Great Guana Cay versus Discovery Land Company and the Bahamian government. I thought this would be a good time to review some of the primary concerns about the golf course and the marina. First, however, I just received this photograph which shows the construction of lots on the Sea of Abaco side of the island. Note that palms are being used between the tiny lots. The sheer amount of denuded land is incredible: silting and sedimentation are ground one for reef destruction, and the photos coming in are revealing an entire island side that has been stripped of vegetation. Baker's Bay Club Golf Course The main environmental concerns for the golf course are stressors to coral reefs and other elements of the marine environment adjacent to the project from (1) sedimentation from construction activities during the major reworking of the landscape required to construct the golf course, and (2) runoff of pollutants into the groundwater or the adjacent sea water areas on either side of the golf course during the initial seeding of the golf course and the subsequent maintenance of the golf course if it is completed. These pollutants include fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, and nutrients from waste water treated to "irrigation" standards. The Baker's Bay Club development highlights its championship quality "Tom Fazio" brand name golf course, so one would presume that a high priority would be placed on keeping the grass on that course very green and free from weeds. Page 90 0f the EIA acknowledges these concerns as follows: "The location of golf courses near the coastline causes concern about nonpoint source (NPS) pollution effects on the water quality of surrounding marine and wetland environments. Of particular interest is the impact of herbicides, fungicides and fertilizers on groundwater quality. Golf courses are intensive production systems, and the frequent mowing and application of fertilizers or pesticides requires careful management to avoid damage to the surrounding environment. Nitrogen, phosphorus and many pesticides are potential pollutants of groundwater, and monitoring of their movement from turf grass areas to receiving waters is needed." The developer's Frequently Asked Questions document states the following regarding the golf course concerns: "The course will be grassed with Seashore Paspalum, a grass variety requiring little or no fertilizer and more tolerant to brackish and re-use water. The design intent is to limit the amount of irrigated turfgrass in favor of non-irrigated native plants. Further, the golf course grading plans are designed to slope into the island's interior into lined man-made wetlands, which act as a natural water filtration system. The drainage water is then re-circulated into the irrigation system, as opposed to running off into the ocean. A secondary safeguard is an area of native vegetation between the golf course and the ocean." The developer has stressed the planned use of paspalum grass to minimize the need for fertilizers.Our friends at the Winding Bay golf course on mainland Abaco also reports that the salinity of the water used on that golf course minimizes or eliminates the need for herbicides. Although the developer speaks of minimal amounts of fertilizers, and pesticides, no scientist or conservationist has been able to obtain estimates from the developer of the actual amounts planned for use even during the construction phase of the project. Nutrients, especially nitrogen, reaching coral reefs have the potential to increase the growth of algae, which in turn can smother live coral. The fertilizers used on golf courses contain nitrogen and phosphorous, among other chemicals. Waste water treated to "irrigation" standards also contains nitrogen. So, while it may be true that "minimal" amounts of chemical fertilizers might be applied, the waste water used for irrigation is another form of fertilizer. The developer states that Seashore Paspalum requires "little or no fertilizer." The EIA does not contain any quantitative statement as to the amount of fertilizer they plan to use. We have been unable so far to obtain such estimates from other sources. According to an article published by the University of Florida, however, Seashore Paspalum is described as having "minimal fertility requirements," and "excellent tolerance to saline or recycled water," as well as "good insect and disease resistance." So, we would agree that this appears to be a good choice of grass for the golf course. We are left with the question, however, as to what "minimal" amounts of fertilizers really means, and how much of a threat they pose to the marine environment, coral reefs especially, given the close proximity of the golf course to the reefs. NUTRIENTS FROM WASTE WATER IRRIGATION The use of waste water for irrigating the golf course is a key element of the developer's proposal. The waste water would be treated to "irrigation" standards, which the chart on Page 65 of the EIA describes as "nutrient rich water for irrigation." Although in many places the EIA mentions the need for detailed water quality monitoring, no parameters are provided regarding the expected water quality, nitrogen content in particular, of the waste water effluent to be applied to the golf course. PESTICIDES (INCLUDING FUNGICIDES) AND HERBICIDES The following statement EIA on Page 137 acknowledges that pesticides can impact coral reefs: "Therefore, coral colonies may be particularly susceptible to pesticides (Rawlins BG et al. 1998) and heavy metals (Morgan MB et al. 2001). Chemical pollutants may have negative impacts at the population level since coral reproduction and recruitment are chemically mediated processes sensitive to coastal pollution and changes in water quality (Richmond RH 1993)." The EIA mentions the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers on Page 99, along with recommendations for their use and encouragement of minimal usage. As noted previously, the statements are recommendations of actions that should be taken, but there are no listings of the expected types and quantities of the chemicals that will be applied. "5. Advanced technology/monitoring equipment should be used to insure minimal application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. 6. Use of the slow-release, less soluble, and least mobile chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides available is encouraged. These products should be used at the smallest rates of active ingredient to accomplish the desired result." The golf course will be primarily irrigated with water from a reverse osmosis desalinization plant. The EIA on page 65 indicates that effluent from the plant would be at 10 parts per thousand saline content. This may act to reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides, as has been the experience cited for Winding Bay, but the EIA provides no quantitative basis for that assumption. In his study Dr. Risk noted that: "It is, however, impossible to grow grass without water, and impossible to grow golf course grass without fertilizer. No matter how well the use of these two is monitored, some will inevitably escape to the sea. The use of organic fertilizers will delay but not halt the nutrient release." He reached the overall conclusion that: "Because of the extraordinarily high porosity and permeability of the carbonate sands on the island, any runoff from the golf course will be transmitted rapidly down the length of the island. At the site of the proposed golf course, there are excellent reefs a few 10's of metres from the shore-this is a situation not found in many areas. Nutrient effects on reefs have been traced for more than 15 km. Runoff from the golf course will likely be a death sentence to the adjacent reefs, and a threat to reefs the length of the Cay". Baker's Bay Club Marina: SEDIMENTATION FROM CONSTRUCTION PHASE AND POST-CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE DREDGING Dredging would take place during the construction of the marina, posing hazards to the coral reefs and bonefish flats due to siltation. If the marina is constructed, the "second channel" will also require periodic dredging, with attendant risks to the reefs IMPACTS FROM OCCUPANTS OF MARINA AND ASSOCIATED MARINA OPERATIONS Whether or not the Baker's Bay Club marina would ever be occupied at the ambitious levels of the current plan, there will be numerous threats to the marine environment from any yachts berthed in the marina, from the occupants of the vessels, and from the operations of the marina. Pollutants from the vessels include toxic chemicals used as anti-fouling paint, as well as the more obvious sources of pollutants from fuels, lubricants, materials washed from the decks, and various items of trash. Here are some observations regarding the Environmental Management Plan as described in the EIA. There is no public monitoring phase of the EMP being implemented as described in the EIA. The Great Guana Cay Foundation website supposedly established to provide "transparent" reporting, but there is no pre-construction data relating to coral reefs, fish, and related marine species. Regarding the REA for the marine environment, including the coral reefs, Dr. Risk commented: "The EIA is strangely lacking in detail on the marine environment. There are species lists of the fish seen during surveys conducted using the Roving Diver Technique, RDT (www.reef.org), and a species list of corals. I was provided with no information as to sites, site selection, methods for coral ID." "There are plans in the EIA for progressive monitoring of groundwater (this section of the EIA is quite good), and the innovative use of on-site web-cams. There seems to be no process-response model, no system of checks and balances via which construction may be halted should part of the system break down. In fact, there is a statement in the EIA to the effect that the worst environmental damage would be done if this project were not completed. This seems like a veiled threat, and carries the implication that, once begun, the process cannot be stopped. Given this situation, it is absolutely essential that research-grade baseline monitoring of the reef resources be undertaken, before the project commences." No research-grade baseline assessment or monitoring of the reef resources has been performed under the auspices of the EMP as of now. The International Year of the Reef website summarizes marinas and reefs this way; "Sensitive habitats can be destroyed or disturbed by dredging activities to make deep-water channels or marinas, and through the dumping of waste materials. Where land development alters the natural flow of water, greater amounts of fresh water, nutrients and sediment can reach the reefs causing further degradation. Within the last 20 years, once prolific mangrove forests, which absorb massive amounts of nutrients and sediment from runoff caused by farming and construction, have been destroyed. Nutrient-rich water causes fleshy algae and phytoplankton to thrive in coastal areas in suffocating amounts known as algal blooms. Coral reefs are biological assemblages adapted to waters with low nutrient content, and the addition of nutrients favours species that disrupt the balance of the reef communities." http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#reporting Sat, 04 Jul 2009 13:01:01 GMT In an earlier post, we discussed how all of the local's concerns about Baker's Bay Club's harm to the local environment, culture and economy have either actually happened or we are beginning to see the signs of them. As the Guana Cay residents are only a few days away from their court date at Privy Council, I thought we should take a look at Discovery Land Company's early promises of environmental monitoring and reporting. Have they followed through with monitoring and reporting as established by early promises and references in the EIA? Was the promise of environmental monitoring and reporting a sham? What is Environmental Monitoring and Reporting? Environmental monitoring is the act of having an independent team of scientists monitor the quality of an environment; ultimately the review and publication of monitoring results is to satisfy some objective. When a developer who is engaged in practices that could harm a local environment is required or volunteers to have their practices monitored, the idea is that this monitoring and reporting serves to make the affected community aware of potential incidents, to keep them involved in the development process, and ultimately, to provide a check and balance, a motivator, to keep the developer's development practices in check. What were the Guana Cay Locals Promised? According to the developer's EIA, this quote summarizes what Discovery Land Company promised: With the Great Guana Cay Foundation, the Environmental management team will work to develop strategies and scope of work for implementing: . Educational outreach programs and training programs . Clear management and project communications and reporting . Independent reporting and verification The course of development, the results of the monitoring programs and any incidental occurrences will be documented on a regular basis. Information gained and processed will be reported directly to all necessary government agencies and stakeholders. A defined liaison will be identified with this responsibility. Unfortuantely, none of the above has happened. If there was a monitoring team on site, there no longer is. Kathleen Sealey, who was once in charge of the project, is no longer involved, and Earthwatch, which once helped with environmental monitoring, has not visited the island since about 2006. Locals have been denied any reporting whatsoever. Guana Cay residents have never seen any incident reporting, and they have been denied all the monitoring and reporting activities the developer promised. Shenique Albury Discovery Land Company stated that a Ms. Shenique Albury was the representative between Discovery Land Company and the locals, but few people know who this person is, and she has not been on Great Guana Cay since 2005, at which time she left to complete her studies. Great Guana Cay Foundation was Developer's Invention Discovery Land Company created a website that was designed to look like the developer was gearing up for an extensive monitoring and reporting function. Non-functioning links to environmental reports and web cams would allow all affected parties the opportunity to be involved and notified of construction practices and their consequences onsite. The website was designed to look independent of the developer themselves, as if a third party was responsible for independent monitoring. The website, which has not been updated since November 24, 2005, or almost four years ago, was a complete sham, designed as marketing tool to make it look like Discovery Land Company intended to provide incident monitoring and reporting to the local community. Without Monitoring Without monitoring, it is all but certain that Baker's Bay is covering up oil spills, driving over sea turtle nesting grounds, planting exotic plant species, dumping pesticides into the coral reef and so forth. It is a shame, but hopefully the lesson will serve other local groups throughout the Caribbean basin that promises are often just tools to make megadevelopments more palatable. All too often, when the developer is unethical, monitoring and reporting promises are just gateways to getting the development approved by required authorities. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#hermajesty Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:01:01 GMT In one week from today, Save Guana Cay Reef will appear as the appelant at Privy Council in London. This 'court of last resorts' is the highest court in the Bahamian judicial system. SGCR will argue that the government and developers pursued a deliberate policy of non-consultation with the residents of Great Guana Cay, in order to fast-track a development that would harm the island's ecosystem, culture and environment. Her Majesty's Honourable Privy Counil began in the year 895, when King Alfred's group of advisor's were known as the King's Privy Council. Historically, the King and Queen heard final appeals, but since they could not take on every appeal, the Privy Council took on a role similar to the United States' Supreme Court... http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#tribune2 Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT An important article from Neil Hartnell, Freeport Tribune, on the Guana Cay case. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#triumph Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT In 2004, then Prime MInister of the Bahamas Perry Christie actively promoted his road to economic success for the Bahamas: entice large-scale developers to Bahamas' quiet out-islands, give them incentives to build massive developments, and these developments will in turn seed the quiet economies into flourishing tourism industries. The small island of Great Guana Cay was to become one of these anchor developments. Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club would be a luxurious golf and marina development, catering to U.S. west coast mega-rich, superstars and aging golfers. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#anchorstatus Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT I compile the status of all anchor developments in the Bahamas, to show that the Guana Cay insistence in 2005 that the anchor development policy was bound for failure has indeed become true. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#tribune Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT Download an article from the Freeport Tribune on the Great Guana Cay court case. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#articles Tue, 23 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT Download a collection of articles on Great Guana Cay from various media sources. This is a great introduction to the conflict for press and other interested parties. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/roam/index.html#fieldbag Mon, 22 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT What's in your field bag? Although I carry a daypack with my large format camera system and some other travel necessities, I also usually keep a smaller bag, which I call my field bag. This is a small, lightweight collection my essentials - whether I'm traveling by plane, in a city cafe, or in the field. Here are the essentials of my field bag: - A lightweight and waterproof Nike 10x25 binoculars, with the strap removed and replaced with much longer Domke straps. This allows me to wear the binoculars around my back. - Moleskine sketchbook, where I keep all of my travel plans, confirmations, notes, interviews, maps and directions, sketches. - A small leather case by Global Art, which houses 24 watercolor pencils, a pencil sharpener, 3 Copic pens and 3 watercolor brushes. - A field guide if necessary. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#privyjuly Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT Save Guana Cay Reef's legal case against Baker's Bay Golf & Ocean Club and the Bahamian government now moves to Privy Council, the highest court in commonwealth countries. This court, whose fascinating history is tied to the United Kingdom's empire, now acts as a 'Supreme Court' for commonwealth countries like the Bahamas. Privy Council will hear the arguments between July 7 and July 9 in London. Meanwhile, back on Great Guana Cay, details of the construction site reveal that many of the promises the developer boasted of are simply not being followed. And project deadlines are slipping off track. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/pacificnorthwest/south_jetty_01.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT Photographs and captions from the mouth of the Columbia. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/greatplains/st_tammany_parish_01.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT Photographs and captions from the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/about/butterflies.html Thu, 11 Jun 2009 13:01:01 GMT I am just adding my butterfly life list to the site. Anybody who can help me i.d. these fellas? http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#emerald Thu, 21 May 2009 13:01:01 GMT Another anchor development fails, as predicted by Notes from the Road. Is Baker's Bay next? http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/roam/index.html#roadside Thu, 21 May 2009 13:01:01 GMT Snapshot of a roadside memorial in Arizona. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm#sailboat Fri, 08 May 2009 13:01:01 GMT This is a guest essay from a sailboat Captain who frequents the Abacos. Fifteen years ago I had the wonderful opportunity to travel through the Abacos with my parents on their sailboat. I spent the entire three weeks of my college Christmas break exploring the Bahamas, sailing from island to island and getting to know the Bahamas for the first time. Something about that trip hooked me for good, the remainder of my days sitting in class were spent daydreaming of the islands and their magical waters. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/roam/index.html Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:01:01 GMT The Venice Chronicles is a graphic travelogue by Enrico Casarosa, a Pixar animator. The read is fast, and the author brilliantly turns his act of sketching while on the road into the plot of the narrative. The effect, in sharing his act of creating the piece we are reading, is to make his story of his travels in Italy close-to-home and believable. The beautifully drawn hardcover book drew my attention to "Sketch Crawling", the act of going out and dedicating an entire day of travel to drawing. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/guana.htm Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:01:01 GMT A landmark environmental case in the British Virgin Islands was inspired by the Great Guana Cay battle. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/index.html Mon, 27 Apr 2009 13:01:01 GMT I am updating the home page look for Notes from the Road. Take a look at the new design. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/isthmus/cuero_09.html Wed, 15 Apr 2009 13:01:01 GMT I am walking with Elmer, a junior guide from the Pico Bonito lodge. We are on the steep slope of a mahogany plantation. We pause because we think we have seen a pair of purple fairies whizzing through. http://www.notesfromtheroad.com/isthmus/cuero_01.html Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:01:01 GMT I am on the coconut train to La Union. I share the second train car with German, my wilderness guide from the Pico Bonito Lodge. In the daytime, you can see how this old track passes over marshes on rotting bridges and through fields of palms and oxen. You can see an abundance of blue blossoms between the palms.