Strategy for floodplain management for the U.S. Virgin Islands

The U.S. Virgin Islands is an unincorporated Territory of the United States located about 1,200 miles southeast of Miami, Florida. The Territory cponsists of three major islands plus about 50 smaller islands and cays. The islands have a total area of about 135 square miles and a population of approximately 100,000. The steep slopes, clayey soils, and intense rainstorms in the islands tend to create runoff with very high but short duration peak flows. Before major development occurred on the islands, these flows created few problems, since the runoff generally occurred in the cane fields, forests, or bush areas. Additionally, the towns and villages were heavily guttered or located on higher areas.(AU)