Swimming Advisory Issued for AICW, Holden Beach, NC, Statute Mile 323
Swimming advisory issued for part of waterway
By Adam Wagner
StarNews Staff
Published: Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 4:29 p.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 4:29 p.m.
HOLDEN BEACH — State officials Thursday issued an advisory against swimming in the Intracoastal Waterway at the end of Sand Dollar Drive, according to a NC Division of Marine Fisheries release.
Water samples taken Wednesday showed a higher presence of bacteria than normal.
Enterococci, the bacteria that was found in higher-than-normal levels, won’t make swimmers sick directly, but could indicate other organisms in the water. Swimmers there have a higher likelihood of gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.
The advisory only affects a 200-feet area around the sign. It is not a beach closing and won’t affect the rest of Holden Beach.
Thursday’s advisory is the second issued for the Sand Dollar Drive area this summer. The previous advisory was issued on June 4 and canceled one day later.
The Sand Dollar Drive site is one of 204 that is sampled on a weekly basis between April and October, according to the release. Including Thursday’s advisory, there have been 19 in North Carolina in 2015.
Testing will continue on a daily basis, according to the release, until bacteria levels return to normal. At that point, the advisory sign will be removed.
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Holden Beach
Comments from Cruisers (1)
The USACE advice I received from their boat’s Captain for both Lockwoods Folly and Shallotte’s at the ICW crossings was to proceed at about 30 feet off the reds. I’ve seen no less than 11 – 12 feet at low tide following that advice. Following your chartplotter there is a recipe for a grounding.
Wally Moran