All the territory’s beaches tested by the Department of Planning and Natural Resources this week were safe, except Frank Bay in St. John, which did not meet water quality standards considered safe because it exceeded the established enterococci bacteria threshold, according to a release D.P.N.R. issued Friday.
Yet even as the government dept./agency confirmed the safe beaches, it also warned that due to heavy rains throughout the latter part of the week, the Division of Environmental Protection (DEP) anticipates that negative environmental impacts will be caused by storm-water runoff. Therefore, D.P.N.R. advised the public to use additional caution when using any coastal waters throughout the territory.
D.P.N.R. is also advising parents to instruct their children to keep away from storm water-impacted beaches as well as areas with manholes and storm water flooding. There may be an elevated health risk to anyone swimming in storm water-impacted areas as a result of increased concentrations of bacteria, D.P.N.R. said.
On St. Croix, they are: Stoney Ground, Protestant Cay, Buccaneer, Cramer Park, New Fort (Ft. Louise Augusta), Dorsch, Frederiksted Public Beach, Pelican Cove (Comorant), Shoy’s, Rainbow, Cane Bay, Chenay Bay, Princess (Condo Row), A – Mill Harbour, Halfpenny, Princess (Condo Row) and B – Breezez Grapetree Bay.
On St. Thomas, they include: Lindquist, Coki Point, Vessup Bay, Brewer’s Bay, Bluebeards, Secret Harbor, Bolongo Bay, Sapphire, Water Bay, Frenchman’s Bay, Hull Bay, Lindbergh Bay and Magen’s Bay.
And on St. John, the safe beaches are: Oppenhiemer, Johnson Bay, Cruz Bay and Great Cruz Bay.
Tags: beach advisory, us virgin islands
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