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Savan Gut Phase II CAP Conversion project

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 STUDY PURPOSE & OVERVIEW

The project purpose is to reduce flood damages in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI).  The current study will review the approved project and validate the path forward to implement Phase II.  The non-Federal sponsor (NFS) is the USVI Department of Public Works. 

The Savan Gut Section 205 Project was initially authorized under Continuing Authorities Program (CAP), Section 205 of the Flood Control Act of 1948, Public Law 80-858, as amended.  Phase I was completed in 1989. Phase II of the project was advertised in 1999 with bids exceeding the government estimate and the capacity of the statutory CAP budget limits. The project is now being planned under the Authority of Section 209 of the Flood Control Act of 1966, Public Law 89-789, authorizing studies for flood control in the United States and its territories. 

Division B, Subdivision 1, Title IV of the Bipartisan Budget Act (BBA) of 2018 (Public Law 115-123), authorizes the Government to conduct the study at full federal expense to the extent that appropriations provided under the Investigations heading of the 2018 BBA are available and used for such purpose.

 EXISTING CONDITIONS

White map of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands with a black rectangle outlining the project location.

Existing conditions along Savan Gut include eroding shorelines, sediment and debris accumulation, low-water crossings, and damage to the channel walls.

 RECOMMENDED PLAN

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, proposes to construct 2,300 feet of covered concrete channel, a velocity check dam, and a debris trap, and to replace three bridges with sections of covered channel.

PROJECT FEATURES

PHASE I

  • ~ 800-ft Covered Concrete Channel (completed in 1989)

PHASE II

  • ~1,500-ft Covered Concrete Channel
  • Gabion Channel (328-ft)
  • Drop Structure into Catchment Basin (240-ft)
  • Velocity Check Dam and Debris Barrier

New Highway Bridges:

  1. Inte Gade
  2. Near Intersection of Strand and Lille Gades
  3. Near Intersection of Gamle and Norre Gades
 PROJECT ELEMENTS

Work associated with the project construction includes:

  • Creation of recreational areas (greenways) along the canal
  • Documentation of historical properties and associated mitigation
  • Utility relocation

Project costs are estimated at $68.9 million, with a Benefit Cost Ratio of 3.94

 PROJECT SCHEDULE

Graphical Representation of the Project Schedule

  • January to March 2019 - Environmental Assessment
  • May 2020 - Chief's Report
  • 2022 (Approximately two years after Chief's Report) - Final Design
  • TBD - Construction: Funding for the project is 100% federal and is subject to the availability of funds.
 TREE BOA PROTECTION MEASURES

Measures will be implemented to protect the Virgin Islands Tree Boa during construction.  The Jacksonville District is coordinating a programmatic agreement with U.S. Virgin Islands State Historic Preservation Officer, and a phased evaluation of historic properties will be conducted during the Final Design phase.

Project Documents

CAP Links