The Department of Planning and Natural Resources tested the water quality of 30 beaches this week, and it has deemed all 30 to be safe for swimming and fishing. The department said it did not sample Grapetree Bay, Stoney Ground and Frenchman’s Bay, and therefore could not give guidance on the quality of those waters.
All other beaches were good to go:
St. Croix: Cramer Park, Pelican Cove (Comorant), Rainbow (Prosperity), Chenay Bay, Cane Bay, Frederiksted Public Beach, Dorsch Beach, Princess, Condo Row, Shoy’s, Halfpenny, Buccaneer, New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta), and Protestant Cay.
St. Thomas: Bolongo Bay, Lindquist, Magen’s Bay, Vessup Bay, Bluebeards, Secret Harbor, Brewer’s Bay, Sapphire, Lindbergh Bay, Hull Bay, Coki Point and Water Bay.
St. John: Cruz Bay, Oppenheimer, Great Cruz Bay, Johnson Bay and Frank Bay.
D.P.N.R. said all persons should be aware that storm water runoff due to hurricanes and tropical storms may contain contaminants or pollutants harmful to human health due to storm debris, and therefore all persons should avoid areas of storm water runoff (i.e. guts, puddles, and drainage basins). The government agency said it 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.
