Simpson Bay:---EPIC, St. Maarten Pride Foundation, St. Maarten members of the Emerging GlobalLeaders Program, St. Maarten Academy students and staff members of Saratoga
Restaurant carried out a very successful joint clean-up of the area of the Simpson Bay
Lagoon adjacent to Saratoga restaurant on Saturday February 7th 2009.
The area cleaned by volunteers was covered in a large amount of algae. These
Ecologically harmful algal blooms are the result of an excess of nutrients in the lagoon
caused by overflowing septic tanks, overflowing sewage systems and free flowing
untreated sewage which enters the Lagoon from surrounding districts and boats. Aside
from algae, volunteers removed soda cans, bottles, and countless cigarette butts, sanitary
material, Styrofoam, plastic bags and a variety of other garbage from the lagoon.
EPIC interns discovered a significant amount of oil flowing into the street from the generator room at Casino Royale in Maho on Sunday February 8th, 2009 . Foundation representatives took pictures and contacted the relevant authorities.