Beach Advisory for December 2-6

Sunset at Ha'penny Beach. (Source file photo)
Sunset at Ha’ penny Beach. (Source file photo)

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 32 designated beaches throughout the territory during the week of Dec. 2-6, 2019. The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:

St. Croix
Shoy’s
New Fort (Fort Louise Augusta)
Stony Ground
Buccaneer
Rainbow
Protestant Cay
Gentle Winds
Pelican Cove (Cormorant)
Frederiksted Public Beach
Cramer’s Park
Dorsch Beach
Chenay Bay
Ha ‘penny
Cane Bay
St. Thomas
Hull Bay
Brewers Bay
Frenchman’s Bay
Bolongo Bay
Lindqvist
Coki Point
Magens Bay
St. John
Oppenheimer
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. Thomas
Sapphire
Lindbergh Bay
Water Bay
Vessup Bay
Bluebeard’s
Secret Harbor

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.