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N.C., S.C. beaches among nation's dirtiest

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Thursday, July 29, 2010

(Updated 12:52 pm)

By The Charlotte Observer

CHARLOTTE (MCT) — Some of the most popular beaches in the Carolinas are among the dirtiest in the country, according to a report released this week by an environmental watchdog group.

The Natural Resources Defense Council's ratings of 200 popular beaches in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes gave the lowest rating — one star — to five Carolinas' beaches.

The Grand Strand took a hit, with four beaches getting low ratings. Only North Myrtle Beach fared well, with three stars.

No Carolinas beaches got the highest rating of five stars. Nor were there any four-star beaches in the two states.

The NRDC's ratings were based on the number of alerts for high bacteria counts in the water, the frequency of water testing, and the speed in which officials inform the public of dirty water. High bacteria counts usually are due to human and animal fecal material.

The ratings were based on results over the past three years.

Not all of the most popular beaches are included. For example, the NRDC did not include Brunswick County sites, such as Holden, Sunset and Ocean Isle beaches. Huntington Beach State Park in South Carolina also was not included.

But one-star ratings were handed to a beach at Nags Head in North Carolina; and in South Carolina to three Myrtle Beach sites — the main beach area, the South Carolina State Park and Campground, and Springmaid Beach — and to nearby Surfside Beach.

If you're looking for a five-star beach, you'll have to travel to Gulf Shores, Ala. Most Virginia Beach sites and several Georgia beaches got four-star ratings.

Here's how the NRDC's rankings came out for the Carolinas, with some comments where available:

NORTH CAROLINA

Cape Hatteras lighthouse area — 3 stars

Carteret County, at ocean end of Central Drive — 2 stars

Emerald Isle — 3 stars

Kure Beach — 3 stars

Nags Head bathhouse area — 3 stars

Nags Head, near the 7500 block of Dare Trail — 1 star (it was scored low for what the NRDC said was slow communication with the public; it also tested high for bacteria 7 percent of the time in 2007 and 5 percent last year)

Nags Head, near Little Bridge — 2 stars

Surf City — 3 stars

Topsail Beach — 3 stars

Wrightsville Beach — 3 stars

SOUTH CAROLINA

Arcardia Beach (Horry County) — 2 stars

Edisto Island — 3 stars

Folly Beach — 3 stars

Hilton Head Island — 3 stars

Hunting Island Beach (Beaufort County) — 3 stars

Myrtle Beach main beach area — 1 star (tested high for bacteria 15 percent of the time in 2008 and 12 percent in 2007; improved to 7 percent last year; also considered slow in informing the public).

North Myrtle Beach — 3 stars

South Carolina State Park and Campground — 1 star (tested high for bacteria 15 percent of the time last year; also rated slow in informing the public).

Springmaid Beach — 1 star (had a perfect score for bacteria in 2008 but tested high 9 percent of the time last year and in 2007; also considered slow in informing the public).

Surfside Beach — 1 star (scored high for bacteria at least 10 percent of the time each of the last three years; also rated slow in informing the public).

READ THE REPORT

Testing the Waters 2010: At nrdc.org

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osprey

July 29, 2010 - 1:45 pm EDT

As someone who owns a house in OBX, I have some firsthand knowledge of the matter. Fact is, there are three contributing groups. First group is a bunch of disrespectful weekenders and vacationers from VA and above who come to OBX and treat the place like a frat house. (I used to lament the summers, when we were faced with wall-to-wall vehicle traffic. Cars driven by people who left their brains at home when they went on vacation, causing wrecks and traffic jams out of sheer stupidity.)

Second group are the dumb fishmongers who live there.

Third group are the North Carolinians who go there. Ever drive along our roads, state-wide? They are a mess compared to places like Texas.

Oh, well. At least we aren't as trashed out as Philly.

Kid A

July 29, 2010 - 2:38 pm EDT

Nice rant. So you hate the natives, both there and throughout NC. Care to elaborate, beyond the spittle on your chin? I've been to Texas -- no thanks. I was at Hatteras a couple months ago and it was beautiful.

Mick

July 29, 2010 - 3:36 pm EDT

You hate the tourists and the locals. Glad you dont rent your house out... who is left to rent to? Fishmongers?! ... I guess you dont like shrimp or crabs or fish and you dont go fishing with live or dead bait either. Mean ol rednecks using YOUR beach. How dare they. I'll wager you are one of the "no driving on my beach crowd too". Nice

123mlynn

July 29, 2010 - 4:43 pm EDT

Well, gee, you've ruled out everyone but yourself. Enjoy your privacy.

Get Real

July 29, 2010 - 9:05 pm EDT

Texas roads are the WORST.

osprey

July 29, 2010 - 3:44 pm EDT

The only spittle sounds like it's coming from you. Obviously you're oblivious to the trash strewn along our roads, and you don't live there so you have no clue who's responsible for it. Typical flaming retard liberal.

And as for hating the "natives" in "it was beautiful" Hatteras and OBX in general, I AM an OBX native. Ever been through 1CHZ? Cruised the Virginia Dare Trail? I doubt you know what they are, and if you do I'd lay a week's pay you haven't spent more than a couple of hours at either one. I LIVE there.

Obviously, you don't live there. If you did, you wouldn't have beer goggles. You only saw what you wanted to see...like failing to see the scratches and dings on a prettied-up car on a used car lot. When it's a factor of daily life, it's a lot easier to recognize the problems.

Kid A, you live up to your name. You are a kid, and definitely an A.

Kid A

July 30, 2010 - 8:33 am EDT

Time to refill your meds, birdie.

osprey

July 29, 2010 - 3:48 pm EDT

Out to lunch, Mick. I'm all for beach driving. And since I live in OBX, I sure don't rent my house out.

Don't give me the seafood whine, heard it all before. Run down to One Cheese sometime and take a good look at the crap that just gets dumped all over. But you'll just eat at Tale of the Whale and call yourself a good ol' NC native.

Clueless. I'm a native, too, but I'm not like a stupid Texan where everything's bigger and better and Texas can do no wrong. I have more sense than that.

Mick

July 29, 2010 - 4:58 pm EDT

I am glad you are for beach driving. But did you or did you not bash pretty much everyone who goes to OBX? I am sure you're property is very expensive but you are gonna have to spend a bit more to get a private island! Everyone so far has the same opinion of your post. What few times I get to hit OBX I definitely turn right and head south.

Didnt really amswer the question about the fishmongers. Do you eat local seafood or not? Do you use local bait or not. If so, where do you think it comes from? Save your holierr than thou stuff for your circle of "natives".

Do you think local taxes are enough to cover the new bridge, rebuilding 12 every couple of years, the ferry systme, etc??? Without all those you bashed, including me, you would need a really big boat to get to your place now wouldn',t you? Get a grip.

osprey

July 30, 2010 - 9:02 am EDT

Mick, I'd hardly call a house in Wright Shores, slap in the middle of KDH, "expensive". I live in a working locals neighborhood because that's what I am. And hell yes, I stand by my comment "fishmongers." If I don't catch it myself, then I eat the seafood that's out here whether it's from the sound or frickin' Thailand. Doesn't change the fact that a large number (but not all) of the fisher-folk out here do a wonderful job of trashing their village and the part of the sound where they tie up. When someone acts like a dirtbag, I call 'em a dirtbag.

What needs to take place (state-wide, from the look of things) is a serious crack-down on people throwing crap on our highways and out in the backwoods. I understand completely if you don't support that; you'd have some 'splaining to do about that pile of garbage in the trees behind your house, wouldn't you? And sorry that the tourists might get nipped with fines, but that's the OBX way...come on vacation, leave on probation.

As for taxes, I'd be happy to see them actually go to fixing up things that need maintaining instead of being applied in the nespotic, "Marc Basnight rules the world" fashion that exists out here. Projects that were needed a lot less than fixing the bridge have gone up all over for years, while the infrastructure that serves this area crumbled. And stop whining about NC 12. Build an asphalt strip on a sandbar, OF COURSE it's gonna need repairs. Hell, pushing all the drifting sand off of it is practically an on-going project. THAT'S why I support beach driving. I live here, that's the only way we have to get around sometime - and it's the ONLY way to get to Carova.

I've got a grip, on REALITY. Move out here and live a few years before you wade into this debate. And while we're at it, why not realize that the survey ratings in this article speak a helluva lot more eloquently in support of my complaints than your pie-in-the-sky, clueless commentary.