There are few natural freshwater ponds in the USVI; on the northern islands this is due to shallow non-porous soils and steep topography that offer no opportunities for water to collect, except in guts. Freshwater ponds are much more numerous on St Croix (n>130) largely due to the greater amount of relatively flat land and agriculture. Most of these ponds have been built either through the damming of guts or by excavating a large depression, and are used to provide water for livestock or crops. During the plantation era the guts were often dammed and water was channeled along terraces built into the slope to irrigate crops. These dams tended to be small and result in pools alongside guts. More recently, large earthen berms have been created that effectively create freshwater ponds in depressions in a basin or slope. These ponds are often stocked with fish (e.g., Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus). A significant number of freshwater ponds have also been created as features in resorts and on golf courses. The large Granard Pond on the South Shore of St. Croix was created specifically to provide habitat to wildlife, particularly birds.
Man-made ponds in the USVI reduce the amount of non-point source pollution entering the marine environment by increasing the retention of runoff water and sediment in ponds and increasing biodegradation of pesticides and other pollutants (DEP 2004). Freshwater ponds provide valuable habitat for many species, including landbirds, indigenous and migratory waterbirds that prefer nonsaline ponds, such as the Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus; McNair et al. 2008), and those that use both fresh and brackish ponds (e.g., Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors, White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis, and Green Heron Butorides virescens).. Freshwater ponds have, to some degree, compensated for the loss of salt pond habitat (McNair et al. 2005), particularly on St. Croix, which has lost at least 50% of its saline habitat through coastal development. Bats rely on these ponds as a rare source of freshwater, and are frequented by the Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus), The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), and the Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), as do non-native mammals, including deer and mongoose. Invertebrates, particularly dragonflies, also utilize this habitat.
Man-made ponds in the USVI reduce the amount of non-point source pollution entering the marine environment by increasing the retention of runoff water and sediment in ponds and increasing biodegradation of pesticides and other pollutants (DEP 2004). Freshwater ponds provide valuable habitat for many species, including landbirds, indigenous and migratory waterbirds that prefer nonsaline ponds, such as the Least Grebe (Tachybaptus dominicus; McNair et al. 2008), and those that use both fresh and brackish ponds (e.g., Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors, White-cheeked Pintail Anas bahamensis, and Green Heron Butorides virescens).. Freshwater ponds have, to some degree, compensated for the loss of salt pond habitat (McNair et al. 2005), particularly on St. Croix, which has lost at least 50% of its saline habitat through coastal development. Bats rely on these ponds as a rare source of freshwater, and are frequented by the Greater Bulldog Bat (Noctilio leporinus), The Antillean Fruit-eating Bat (Brachyphylla cavernarum), and the Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat (Artibeus jamaicensis), as do non-native mammals, including deer and mongoose. Invertebrates, particularly dragonflies, also utilize this habitat.