Office of the Commissioner 
 
 
CONTACT: Jamal Nielsen, Media Relations Coordinator 
jamal.nielsen@dpnr.vi.gov 
 
Saturday, March 21, 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 24 designated beaches throughout the Territory 
during the week of March 16, 2026– March 20, 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 
Protestant Cay 
Cane Bay 
Grapetree Bay Beach 
Rainbow Beach 
Chenay Bay 
Ha’Penny Beach 
Shoys Beach 
Cramers Park 
New Ft. Louisa Augusta 
Sprat Hall 
Dorsch Beach 
Pelican Cove (Comorant) 
Stony Ground 
Frederiksted Public Beach 
Princess Condo Row 
Prosperity Beach 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
St. John 
Frank Bay 
Great Cruz Bay 
Johnson Bay 
Oppenheimer Beach 
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 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The following beach does not meet water quality standards because it exceeds the 
established Enterococci bacteria threshold and is therefore, considered unsafe for swimming 
or fishing:   
 
• Cruz Bay on St. John. 
 
Samples were collected on St. Thomas however due to a delay in transport, the samples 
exceeded their holding time and therefore were not analyzed. 
 
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.  
 
 
 
Water Island 
Honeymoon Beach 
(Druif)