Savan Gut Phase II VI (I)

May 2023

FACT SHEET

Savan Gut Phase II, VI 
Construction (C)
Congressional District: U.S. Virgin Islands

1. DESCRIPTION

The Savan Gut, Phase II project is a flood risk management project that was originally authorized under the Continuing Authorities Program (CAP) Section 205 and approved by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) in 1982. Phase I of the project was completed in April 1989 under CAP. Phase II of the project is now being planned under the authority of Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1966 which authorizes studies for flood control in the United States and its territories, and Title IV, Division B of the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, Public Law 115-123, enacted February 9, 2018 (BBA18), authorized the Government to conduct a study at full federal expense. As a result, a CAP Conversion Feasibility report was completed in August 2020, and a Chief’s Report was signed in August 2020 recommending the project move forward for Congressional Authorization. The project was later authorized for construction under Section 401(2)(13) of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2020 which allows it to move directly into Preconstruction, Engineering, and Design Phase (PED).

The Savan Gut area is in the capital of Charlotte Amalie, on the south side of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and is within the 100-year flood plain. The project’s purpose is to reduce flood damages to the Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School and the Central Business District, which includes approximately 400 structures (a 3:1 ratio of commercial/public structures to residential structures). The project consists of a covered box culvert through the central business district to St. Thomas Harbor. The authorized project was divided into two phases for preparation of plans and specifications and construction. Phase I consisted of improving and increasing conveyance of the existing Savan Gut by providing a covered concrete box culvert 12 to 16 feet wide by 6 to 8 feet deep beneath a paved street (Cutters Gade) from St. Thomas Harbor to Back Street for a total length of 844 feet. Phase II consists of constructing a covered concrete channel 10 to 12 feet wide and generally 5 to 7 feet deep which will extend about 1,500 feet from Back Street to just upstream of Jane E. Tuitt Elementary School. A retention area will be provided at the upstream end of the covered channel. Three existing bridges will be replaced with new bridges.

2. FUNDING

a. Regular Civil Works Funds:

b. P.L. 115-123: Bi-Partisan Budget Act of 2018, Supplemental:

c. P.L. 117-58: Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law:

3. SPONSOR

U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Public Works
8244 Sub Base
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands 00802

4. STATUS

The Chief’s Report and Environmental Assessment were signed on August 24, 2020. Congress authorized the project with a total project cost of $74,114,000 ($48,658,100 Federal) under Section 401 of WRDA 2020.

The project was allocated $2.0M under the FY21 workplan with $100K initially provided to execute the Design Agreement (DA) and Review Plan.

The Review Plan was approved by SAD on September 28, 2021, and the DA was executed by the Jacksonville District on October 8, 2021. $1.9M in federal funds were received following the execution of the DA. The sponsor recently provided $1.1M in Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) on January 20, 2023. With receipt of the sponsor’s initial funding, USACE is proceeding with the design phase of the project. USACE is awaiting additional sponsor funds in the amount of $2M.

A Construction New Start to initiate construction phase was granted and federal cost share was fully funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL). A Project Partnership Agreement (PPA) will be executed when PED phase is completed.