Number: 1988-23
WHEREAS, Salt River Bay, St. Croix, Virgin Islands, contains unique and irreplaceable mangrove forests and marine life; and
WHEREAS, Salt River Bay has unique archaeological, cultural, and historical significance as the only known landing site of Columbus’ second voyage to the new world; and
WHEREAS, artifacts still remain from an encounter between Columbus and the indigenous Indians; and
WHEREAS, Salt River Bay is the site of the Christopher Columbus Jubilee Celebration, part of the Quintcentennial Celebration; and
WHEREAS, Salt River Bay has been designated an APC (Area of Particular Concern) by the V.I. government, and has been designated a Natural National Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior; and
WHEREAS, the National Parks and Conservation Association has included Salt River Bay to its proposed list of new national parks; and
WHEREAS, Salt River Bay is a valuable site for research by NOAA scientists, conducted at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Underwater Research Laboratory;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual meeting assembled March 17-20, 1988, in New Orleans, Louisiana supports the inclusion of Salt River Bay and its adjacent shores in the National Park System, and appropriate action by the USNPS to protect the integrity of the site.