While waiting for The Gleaner to publish the letter-to-the-editor version of Drake Wilson's report, it occurs to me it may be useful to post his more formal report here. Feel free please to pass it along to anyone who may be able to implement the suggestions:
PS: "Gabions" are wire boxes filled with rock and stone. At one stage they may look a little like the familiar fishing trap.
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1 March 2007
Treasure Beach, Jamaica
My name is Drake Wilson. My wife and I were invited to spend a week at Don and Brad Noel's Hikaru on Jamaica's South Coast.
Don knew that I had spent thirty years in the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, so he asked if I would spend some time looking at the Great Pond drainage project now about 50% complete. I had written an e-mail to him earlier, before we arrived. Then on 26 February we spent about two hours walking around the site, including visiting the box culvert nearly complete, the entrance to the canal from Great Pond, and the outlet into the ocean. We did not have plans for the project as designed, nor did we have accurate elevations of points along the route of the canal.
There are four points I would make after my short inspection:
1. I could not establish what we call a "cost-benefit ratio". By this we mean an adding up of all the potential damages in the event of flooding, compared to the cost of construction design to prevent those damages. Generally the costs should be less than the benefits. I had no access to prior flooding records, so could not determine how much damage had been sustained in prior years. Considering the progress on the project to date, it probably makes more sense to go ahead to completion rather than start the planning over again.
2. An entry structure needs to be built where the canal meets Great Pond. This should be of concrete, and needs to be some few meters wider than the canal at that point. This is to prevent erosion as the rising floodwaters begin to flow into the canal. The elevation of the bottom of this structure will determine the degree of protection provided. In other words, shops that are below this elevation would still flood.
3. The canal as excavated must be protected from erosion. From my experience and from studies performed by the Corps of Engineers, a 10 centimeter leveling course of sand, followed by filter cloth properly sewn together, followed by another 10 centimeters of sand, followed by gabions, would offer the most cost effective solution. The gabions should be constructed from plastic coated chicken wire to inhibit rust. These gabions should line the entire bottom of the canal, but need be only 50 centimeters high on the bottom. On the sides of the canal, filter cloth is again required behind the gabions, and the gabions need to be in total at least 2 meters high. After construction, indigenous vegetation should be encouraged
4. Storm surge can be contained by constructing flood gates that can be placed on the ocean side of the box culvert.
I hope these thoughts are of some benefit.
Sincerely,
Drake Wilson
Major General, U S Army (Retired)
While I am not an engineer, what Drake Wilson has to say about the canal all makes good sense. Controlling erosion is essential, and the advice Drake gives seems sound, all around. If erosion is not controlled, by sound engineering techiques, then the effort will have been in vain. Can you say Great Big Mud Pie when the rains come, with sides caving in, etc?
Just a Pilot thought;
Major: In your expert opinion, would the Great Pond site be suitable for a small Air Port for the T/Beach and surrounding area? (Facilitating small plains and a helipad) oppose to the present canal project.
Growing up in TB, it’s always been a dream of mine to become a Pilot and construct a small Air Port in the area. Now that I’ve fulfill my dream I would like to contribute back to T/Beach, with a flight school and other services.
Insights are welcome, if not for Great Pond any other sites?
Thx.
I am glad some work is being done on the Great Pond to curb the effects of flood water on the road and nearby buildings. The thoughts of Major General appear to contain some sailent points expecially that they appear to be low cost, require fairly easily available materials and are overall environmentally friendly. Without prejudice to the plan being implemented it would be good if it contains some of the same basic ideas. My good English friend Keith who has made Treasure Beach his home is one of the many people that would be happy if the flood waters are controlled.
Son Son - as visitors to TB, we would be appalled to hear the drone of planes, large or small, over TB. Ugh! Why do some people seem eager to screw up what we love about TB? We who love TB are in search of maximum peace and quiet - we seek to escape from the racket and other trappings of the industrialized world, and that is what we pay for when we vacation in TB. And do you figure to pave? the more impervious surfaces you lay down, the more you interfere with wetlands, etc. and where water naturally wants to go.
I think its important to remember that everyone has a different perspective on what 'positive growth' means.
Some want the area to retain its 'small town' feel.
Some want better transportation alternatives. (Imagine if the airport that you always fly out of was never built. How far would you have to go to get on a flight? How big of an inconvenience would that be?)
And other just want to fly planes. :-)
I have my opinion. Let's respect other's opinions.
Sorry for this taking so long, but every day I say I will take the pictures and every day I promptly forget.
Bridge before Women's Group
Starting to dig on the other side of the road from bridge.
Temporary road to Butler's and Marblue.
Canal so far to the sea
I took this picture today of an incredible gabion basket structure at Laughlands River in St. Ann.
HI
TO THE PERSON WHO WROTE ABOUT AN AIRPORT IN GREAT POND, UNLESS YOU ARE GOING TO LAND ON WATER THE ANSWER IS NO, AND HAVE YOU SEEN HOW CLOSE PEOPLE LIVE TO THE POND I DO NOT THINK THEY WOULD BE VERY HAPPY ABOUT THE NOISE AN AIRPORT WOULD BRING .
Silence is a part of the Treasure here.
We discussed the love of Jamaicans for constant sound and came to the conclusion that some cannot tolerate their internal thought flow.
Any other theories on this?
turey the quite.
Turey - Right on! I'd say it's a safe bet that most of us visitors to TB are after peace and quiet, and not the "constant sound" (barking dogs, boomboxes, and, heaven forbid, an airport!) most Jamaicans do seem to love. Problem with noise is, it doesn't respect the rights of those who love peace and quiet and seek it in TB. After all, what do peace-and-quiet lovers have to reply to the noise-lover with, except silence? Not a fair exchange, seems to me.
Has someone called this thread to the attention of our MP? Or can someone give me an address and I'll write?
Thanks
Just a thought...
shouldn't development be decided by the Jamaicans that LIVE in the area, and not by 'quiet' seeking tourists?
The views of our visitors should be welcomed as the tourism product of an area determines the kind of guest that visit a particular area. Obviously, one of the reasons some tourists visit Treasure Beach is to enjoy the natural peace and spleandour of the area.Therefore it is important to bear in mind what our visitors value and try to preserve it for sustained quality.Let us also bear in mind that we have people of other nationalities who live here and its good to get views from different angles.
A question - how does the airstrip in Negril add to the noise? I never hear small planes in that area...on the other hand, T. Beach is truly a "nature lover's spot" and the more development that inevitably comes to the area, the less it becomes a nature lover's spot. Tourism officials needs to sit down and discuss together with all the hoteliers, villa owners and residents, where and how to stop certain developments so that the true "Branding" of Treasure Beach is not spoilt.
My opinion is that Treasure Beach is a brand in itself and an airstrip may open up a new "Negril" brand...
I have a reply from someone in Portia Simpson-Miller's office, responding to my urging that she have the relevant officials have a look at this and related threads, and especially Drake Wilson's recommendations. She says:
Both the MP Minister Buchanan and the Minister with responsibility for the NWA have been informed about the situation and we will monitor to ensure action.
Let us all know please if there are signs of action!