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:

SAFE FOR SWIMMING OR FISHING

DPNR performed water quality analysis at 35 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of January 18-22, 2021 .

The following beaches meet water quality standards and are safe for swimming or fishing:

St. Croix

• Buccaneer
• Cane Bay
• Chenay Bay
• Cramer’s Park
• Dorsch Beach
• Frederiksted Public Beach
• Halfpenny Beach
• New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
• Pelican Cove (Cormorant)
• Princess (Condo Row)
• Protestant Cay
• Rainbow Beach
• Shoy’s

St. Thomas

• Bluebeard’s Beach
• Bolongo Bay
• Brewer’s Bay
• Coki Point
• Frenchman’s Bay
• Hull Bay
• Limetree
• Lindbergh Bay
• Lindquist Beach
• Magen’s Bay
• Morningstar
• Sapphire Beach
• Secret Harbor
• Vessup Bay
• Water Bay

Water Island

• Honeymoon Beach (Druif)

St. John

• Cruz Bay
• Frank Bay
• Great Cruz Bay
• Johnson Bay
• Oppenheimer

NOT CONSIDERED TO BE SAFE FOR SWIMMING OR FISHING

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:

• Stony Ground on St. Croix.

WATER QUALITY UNKNOWN

Please Note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches:

• Sprat Hall, Grapetree Bay, and Gentle Winds on St. Croix (due to Sargassum Seaweed).

Therefore, the water quality of these beaches, is unknown.

NOTES

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). 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 in St. Croix or 774-3320 in St. Thomas.