Public Works To Embark on Major Flood Mitigation Project: Cleaning and Rebuilding Swales in Historic Charlotte Amalie

Major drainage project by V.I. Department of Public Works to clean and rebuild historic swales, aiming to significantly reduce flooding in Charlotte Amalie

“Hooray! Hippy hippy hooray!” State Historic Preservation Office Director Sean Krigger exclaimed, overjoyed to receive an application from the V.I. Department of Public Works for the cleaning and rebuilding of swales throughout the historic district.

HPC-26-2024 was presented at Tuesday’s meeting of the St. Thomas/St. John Historic Preservation Committee by Paul Ferreras. Ferreras, who is working for Public Works via Island Roads and Custom Builders, told committee members, “Our project is to improve the drainage in town, and we’re going to do that by means of cleaning out the swales.” He noted that many of the rubble stone swales in the historic district of Charlotte Amalie are clogged. After clearing them, several swales will be rebuilt.

The swales on Back Street, and Garden Street will be addressed, as will those on several streets behind Market Square. “We’re going to just rebuild them to improve drainage, to get rid of all the flooding problems in town,” Mr. Ferreras noted. Cleaned and repaired, they will then be able to fulfill their function of routing water “downhill into the major catchment areas and out to the harbor,” he said. Major work will also be done on rebuilding the culverts “behind the ball field,” but because that location is outside the historic district, the aspect of the project was not covered in Tuesday’s application.‌