The Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) announces that the Beach Water Quality Monitoring Program, which evaluates weekly water quality at popular swimming beaches throughout the territory by sampling for enterococci bacteria and turbidity, which is a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following:
DPNR performed water quality analysis at 33 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Dec. 9-13, 2019. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Shoy’s
Rainbow
Cane Bay
New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta)
Protestant Cay
Cramer’s Park
Stony Ground
Gentle Winds
Buccaneer
Pelican Cove (Cormorant)
Ha ‘penny
Frederiksted Public Beach
St. Thomas
Hull Bay
Lindqvist
Sapphire
Brewers Bay
Coki Point
Lindbergh Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
Magens Bay
Water Bay
Bluebeard’s
Secret Harbor
Vessup Bay
St. John
Cruz Bay
Johnson Bay
Frank Bay
Great Cruz Bay
The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established enterococci bacteria threshold and therefore are not considered to be safe for swimming or fishing:
St. Croix
Dorsch Beach
Chenay Bay
St. Thomas
Secret Harbor
Bolongo Bay
St. John
Oppenheimer
Please Note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:
• Princess (Condo Row) and Grapetree Bay on St. Croix;
• Limetree Bay and Morningstar on St. Thomas;
Therefore, the water quality of these beaches is unknown.
All persons should also be aware that storm water runoff may also contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health and therefore all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles and drainage basins) or if any area appears discolored or has foul odors. DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted areas and waters.
For additional information regarding water quality, call the Division of Environmental Protection at 773-1082 on St. Croix or 774-3320 on St. Thomas.