Great Bay Beach

[XXX21XXX]

Is the Great Bay Beach and nice one...is it clean....is there chairs, umbrellas, restrooms etc. Want to go there from the cruise ship if it is ok.

[gtaylor]

In a word, DON'T.

 

Well, if you stay out of the water ...

 

Here is an earlier discussion about Great Bay pollution.

 

gary

[waterdave]

In a word, DON'T.

 

Well, if you stay out of the water ...

 

Here is an earlier discussion about Great Bay pollution.

 

gary

 

Ive asked the nature foundation in sint maarten, and an employee in the islands the minister of health. Both test the water periodically and found it acceptable for swimming and meeting standards.

 

When there is a flash flood or tropical storm situation the government has backhoes cut an opening in the far end of the beach to prevent the smaller salt pond from flooding. This causes some darkened polluted water during and right after a heavy storm and this quickly dissipates into the atlantic oceans currents.

 

Having said all that, great bay beach is not a quiet deserted pristine beach, it bustling with energy and things to do and live music, bars, etc...

[Karysa]

Ive asked the nature foundation in sint maarten, and an employee in the islands the minister of health. Both test the water periodically and found it acceptable for swimming and meeting standards.

 

When there is a flash flood or tropical storm situation the government has backhoes cut an opening in the far end of the beach to prevent the smaller salt pond from flooding. This causes some darkened polluted water during and right after a heavy storm and this quickly dissipates into the atlantic oceans currents.

 

Having said all that, great bay beach is not a quiet deserted pristine beach, it bustling with energy and things to do and live music, bars, etc...

 

I witnessed the "darkened polluted water" in August of 2010. Apparently July was a pretty wet month on the island that year but yhere had not been any significant rainfall for at least a few days prior to our stroll on the boardwalk.

Many islanders live near this beach but even on the days when there is only one ship in port there are not many islanders swimming here at all. I think that this speaks volumes.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

The water is not always clean.

[gtaylor]

Ive asked the nature foundation in sint maarten, and an employee in the islands the minister of health. Both test the water periodically and found it acceptable for swimming and meeting standards.

 

When there is a flash flood or tropical storm situation the government has backhoes cut an opening in the far end of the beach to prevent the smaller salt pond from flooding. This causes some darkened polluted water during and right after a heavy storm and this quickly dissipates into the atlantic oceans currents.

 

Having said all that, great bay beach is not a quiet deserted pristine beach, it bustling with energy and things to do and live music, bars, etc...

Well, The Nature Foundation tested the water.

 

From the local paper, The Daily Herald, last week:

 

The Nature Foundation conducts water testing

 

PHILIPSBURG--Of the sites where St. Maarten Nature Foundation carried out water quality tests, results determined that at Cole Bay Lagoon, Kim Sha Beach, Mullet Pond and Great Bay there was a presence of various types of pollutants and sewage that can cause toxic algal blooms and mortality events (large-scale dying of fish, turtle and crabs) in wetlands and coastal areas.

<snip>

These tests are conducted twice a year to determine the levels of pollutants and other factors affecting wetlands and beaches in St. Maarten. Tests were carried out to determine nitrates, showing that the water is polluted; phosphates, showing the presence of sewage; nitrogen; dissolved oxygen; and the acidity of the water.

<snip>

It was determined that Simpson Bay Lagoon in Cole Bay, Kim Sha Beach, Mullet Pond, and Great Bay had medium levels of both phosphates and nitrates in samples tested. The highest level was recorded in Great Salt Pond, indicating the presence of numerous pollutants and sewage in the tested water.

<snip>

I believe that this proves that Great Bay exhibits pollution.

 

The Salt Pond has the highest test levels of pollution, and that was what was pumped into the 'Fresh Pond' and then through the cuts into Great Bay resulting in this:

 

 

gary

[Spurs Fans]

Thanks for the update Gary. Nice beach to look at, but don't go in the water.