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 27 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of March 8-12, 2021 .

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

St. Croix

• Buccaneer
• Chenay Bay
• Cramer’s Park
• New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta)
• Princess (Condo Row)
• Protestant Cay
• Shoy’s Beach

St. Thomas

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

St. John

• Cruz Bay
• Great Cruz Bay
• Oppenheimer

Water Island

• Honeymoon Beach

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:

• Grapetree Bay on St. Croix
• Lindberg Bay on St. Thomas
• Frank Bay on St. John.

WATER QUALITY UNKNOWN

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

• Stony Ground, Dorsch Beach, Frederiksted Public Beach, Rainbow Beach, Cane Bay, Gentle Winds, Pelican Cove and Princess (Condo Row) on St. Croix
• Morningstar on St. Thomas
• Johnson Bay on St. John

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.