MARIGOT--Bird spotter Binkie van Es has raised the alarm about the state of the ponds in French Cul-de-Sac, particularly Etang du Barriere near the ferry landing for Pinel Island, and says the whole area is on the verge of dying due to the drought.
“On a recent visit to Etang du Barriere I noticed a disturbing degradation of the mangroves,” he wrote in a letter to The Daily Herald. “This week, however, the deterioration went into overdrive. The pond is a blood-red colour, probably from algae bloom, and the mangroves are nearly dead. I do know the connection of the pond to the ocean was closed to provide access for the annual Fish Day, but it was never reopened and now this whole natural area is on the brink of death.
“This place is also a bird sanctuary and not a bird is left there. We have precious little left in St. Maarten/St. Martin. Let us please protect it, care for it, nurse it and love it, not destroy it.”
Van Es suggested new mangroves be planted to make up for those already lost and the pond be opened up again. However, that will not be possible for the time being due to the Sargassum weed threat, according to Réserve Naturelle.
“It’s an unprecedented natural phenomenon caused by El Nio effect that is responsible for the most severe drought in the last 15 years, according to some experts,” a Réserve spokesperson explained. “This deficit in rainfall generates a significant reduction of water levels in our ponds due to lack of permanent water input. Rainwater normally feeds these ponds.
“But this is temporary and things will naturally return to normal with the return of rainfall. Some ponds are so dry and at such low levels leading to substantial physiochemical changes in the water; increase in temperature, salinity; and significant decrease in oxygenated water. These new conditions may contribute to the development of a different flora and fauna.
“Water colour can change and the red tint is the result of important development of micro-algae (usually Dunaliella Salina) and usually Arthemia Salina. Bacteria may also contribute to this tint. This colouration is therefore totally natural and will change as soon as the weather conditions change.
“For now the opening of Cul-de-Sac’s pond is not possible due to the large amounts of Sargassum in the bay. Any opening of the pond to the sea would lead to a massive entry of Sargassum which would then get into the pond (hot and stagnant water) accelerating degradation and production of H2S [hydrogen sulphide – Ed.] gas next to two schools. A similar case has been observed in St. Barths.”
