DPNR Clears 13 St. Thomas Beaches; Data Gaps Persist as St. Croix Testing Blackout Enters New Week
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun News
ST. THOMAS — Fresh off the heels of releasing a heavily delayed report following intense media scrutiny, the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) has issued its weekly Beach Water Quality Monitoring results for June 22 through June 26, 2026. While 13 popular swimming locations on St. Thomas and Water Island have been cleared, environmental officials confirmed a total failure to collect samples for St. Croix and St. John, leaving water safety parameters completely unknown heading into the weekend.
The latest advisory comes just days after a Virgin Islands Free Press investigation forced DPNR to finally cough up its missing June 19 water quality report, exposing a multi-week testing blackout on St. Croix. Today’s data confirms that despite releasing the historical files under pressure, DPNR’s monitoring apparatus has failed to resume actual field testing for the largest island in the territory.
According to the government advisory, DPNR's Division of Environmental Protection performed laboratory analysis on samples tracking Enterococci bacteria and turbidity (water clarity). The analytical results confirm that the following 13 beaches met territorial water quality standards and are officially deemed safe for swimming and fishing:
St. Thomas: Secret Harbor, Lindbergh Bay, Bolongo Bay, Lindqvist Beach, Brewers Bay, Magens Bay, Coki Point, Hull Bay, Sapphire Beach, Frenchman's Bay, Bluebeards Beach, and Vessup Bay.
Water Island: Honeymoon Beach.
Systemic Monitoring Gaps: A Pattern of Environmental Silence
Because field technicians failed to collect water samples from St. Croix, St. John, or Water Bay on St. Thomas, environmental officials are warning residents and visitors that the safety of these coastal waters cannot be verified.
Cross-referencing this week's data with the hard-won June 19 report paints a troubling picture of territorial oversight. While DPNR's public relations office successfully closed a historical paperwork gap under media pressure, the actual field-testing machinery remains stalled for St. Croix residents. This continued lack of data leaves local fishermen and swimmers completely blind to current coastal conditions.
DPNR continues to urge the public to exercise extreme caution across the territory. Swimming in waters recently impacted by heavy stormwater runoff, localized guts, drainage basins, or pockets containing large accumulations of sargassum sea-oak carries an elevated risk of bacterial infection and skin irritation. Swimmers are strictly advised to avoid any coastal area that exhibits significant water discoloration or foul odors.
For real-time inquiries regarding localized environmental testing or to report potential contamination, residents can contact the Division of Environmental Protection directly at 340-773-1082 on St. Croix or 340-774-3320 on St. Thomas.
