Office of the Commissioner
Office of the Commissioner CONTACT: Jamal Nielsen, Media Relations Coordinator jamal.nielsen@dpnr.vi.gov Friday, January 23, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEACH ADVISORY 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, a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following: DPNR performed water quality analysis at 36 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of January 19, 2026– January 23, 2026. Based on the analytical results, the following beaches met water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing: St. Croix Buccaneer Beach Gentle Winds Prosperity Beach Cane Bay Grapetree Bay Beach Protestant Cay Chenay Bay Ha’Penny Beach Rainbow Beach Cramers Park New Ft. …
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Office of the Commissioner CONTACT: Jamal Nielsen, Media Relations Coordinator jamal.nielsen@dpnr.vi.gov Friday, January 23, 2026 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BEACH ADVISORY 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, a measure of water clarity, advises the public of the following: DPNR performed water quality analysis at 36 designated beaches throughout the Territory during the week of January 19, 2026– January 23, 2026. Based on the analytical results, the following beaches met water quality standards and are considered safe for swimming and fishing: St. Croix Buccaneer Beach Gentle Winds Prosperity Beach Cane Bay Grapetree Bay Beach Protestant Cay Chenay Bay Ha’Penny Beach Rainbow Beach Cramers Park New Ft. Louisa Augusta Shoys Beach Dorsch Beach Pelican Cove (Comorant) Sprat Hall Frederiksted Public Beach Princess Condo Row Stony Ground GOVERNMENT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS OF THE UNITED STATES --------0-------- DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND NATURAL RESOURCES 4611 Tutu Park Mall 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted Suite 300 St. Croix, VI 00840 St. Thomas, VI 00802 (340) 773-1082 (340) 774-3320 dpnr.vi.gov St. Thomas Bluebeards Beach Lindbergh Bay Bolongo Bay Lindqvist Beach Brewers Bay Magens Bay Coki Point Sapphire Beach Frenchman Bay Secret Harbor Hull Bay Vessup Bay Limetree Beach St. John Frank Bay Johnson Bay Oppenheimer Beach The following beaches do not meet water quality standards because they exceed the established Enterococci bacteria threshold and are therefore unsafe for swimming or fishing: • Cruz Bay on St. John • Honeymoon Beach (Druif) on Water Island. Please note: Samples were not collected at the following beaches. • Great Cruz Bay on St. John • Water Bay on St. Thomas • Morningstar Beach on St. Thomas. Therefore, the water quality at these beaches is unknown. Please be advised that anyone swimming in waters contaminated with sewage, stormwater, or with large amounts of sargassum may be at an elevated health risk due to elevated concentrations of bacteria or other contaminants. Waters impacted by sewage, stormwater runoff (i.e., guts, puddles, and drainage basins), large amounts of sargassum, or any area that appears discolored or has foul odors should be avoided. DPNR will continue to monitor the impacted 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.