Holden Beach is immediately south of Lockwoods Folly Inlet. This warning comes in an article by Adam Wagner of StarNewsOnline in Wilmington, NC. The affected area is small and should be lifted within a day or two.

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.

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