The SMMA is also engaged in ongoing management activities related to the control and mitigation of impacts from land-based activities. For example, there have been two important incidents in the past two years involving a Soufriere based copra factory which released harmful waste substances into the river just 500 meters upstream the Soufriere Bay. The media was informed and assisted greatly in raising public awareness.
Problems caused by sedimentation are also severe.
In late 1996 an unnamed storm caused flooding and severe sedimentation threatening the reef at Rachette Point. After tropical storm Debbie in 1994, when the town of Soufriere also was flooded, the government attempted to prevent future flooding by straitening the river and constructing retaining walls at both sides. Unfortunately, the natural river bends which before acted as natural sediment traps were removed. Therefore, the problem of sedimentation in the bay of Soufriere during the 1996 flooding became much more intense. The big barrel sponges especially suffered because of the inability to remove the heavy load of sediments that collect inside them.