SAIPAN — Several marine water quality monitoring sites along Saipan’s East Beaches remain temporarily inaccessible after Super Typhoon Sinlaku, the Bureau of Environmental and Coastal Quality said.
The bureau’s Division of Environmental Quality, through its Water Quality Surveillance and Nonpoint Source Program, said damaging winds, debris, erosion and unsafe access conditions have affected four beach monitoring locations: Jeffery’s Beach, Bird Island Beach, North Lau Lau Beach and Old Man by the Sea.
The sites are monitored on a monthly and annual basis as part of the CNMI Marine Water Quality Monitoring Program. Data collected from them is reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to support public health notifications, environmental protection efforts and long-term coastal resource management.
BECQ-DEQ said field access to the locations remains limited because of storm-related damage and safety concerns, and that it is coordinating recovery and assessment efforts while exploring support for clearing and restoring safe access to the areas.
The bureau advised the public to exercise caution when visiting affected coastal areas, especially near unstable ground, fallen debris or damaged access routes. It said additional information on site restoration and monitoring updates will be released as it becomes available.