Cape Cod Environmental Consulting Group To Continue Project Work In American Samoa

SANDWICH, MA — A Cape Cod-based environmental consulting firm is set to advance to projects in American Samoa this month, focusing on green infrastructure and watershed management training.

Officials with the Horsley Witten Group will build on previous work by collaborating with The Nature Conservancy, the American Samoa Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources (DMWR) and the American Samoa Coral Reef Advisory Group (CRAG) to strengthen local capacity for protecting vulnerable coastal infrastructure and ecosystems, officials said.

Located in the South Pacific, American Samoa is an unincorporated U.S. territory with a land area roughly the size of Washington DC. Most of the population of approximately 49,000 reside on the largest island, Tutuila.

The smaller Manuʻa Islands - Ofu, Olosega, and Taʻu – are located approximately 70 miles to the east. American Samoa has the only US National Park south of the equator.

Officials said they will provide hands-on training to approximately 30-35 agency staff and village leaders on how to use green infrastructure techniques to reduce urban flooding, improve water quality and stabilize streams and shorelines in the Nu’uuli Pala watershed on Tutuila.

This work will result in concept designs for improvements that will complement ongoing efforts by others on critical road protection, flood control and lagoon restoration in this area.

The second project will take place on the Manuʻa Islands, specifically Ofu and Olosega, which are connected by a bridge over the shallow Asaga Strait. HW and DMWR agency staff will conduct field assessments to identify watershed conditions that may threaten existing infrastructure and nearshore marine habitats.

Watershed assessments are crucial for understanding the health of land and water systems, as they identify sources of pollution, infrastructure vulnerabilities and opportunities for restoration, officials said.

“The ultimate goal is to restore watersheds, enhance survivorship of a threatened coral species and associated habitats, and support subsistence fisheries in American Samoa,” said Dr. Domingo Ochavillo, Chief Fisheries Biologist at the Department of Marine and Wildlife Resources.

Geoff Glover, P.E. senior engineer at HW, will lead a four-person team on the initiative.

“Our goal is to equip local agencies with practical tools to manage stormwater and erosion using resources available on the islands,” said Glover. “By combining training with field-based watershed assessments, we’re helping communities proactively address environmental challenges before they escalate.”

These projects are part of HW’s ongoing commitment to supporting Pacific and Caribbean Island communities in restoring ecosystems and building climate resilience, with a focus on strengthening local capacity to manage environmental challenges.