Winyah Rivers Alliance

SWIM GUIDE UPDATE: ALL GREEN THIS WEEK! 💚

Great news from across the Winyah Bay Watershed — every site sampled this week received a GREEN result!

Every Wednesday, Winyah Rivers Alliance tests popular recreation sites throughout the watershed to help keep YOU informed and safe while enjoying our beautiful waterways. Results are posted every Friday through Swim Guide, social media, in the WRA Newsletter, and in the all-new Swim Guide Dashboard!

Please click this link to see our incredible dashboard courtesy of Avalon, WRA's Water Quality Field Specialist!
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f6a561742b604b92bce8b4ccd82e4a73?blm_aid=76604416

Caution: Low river levels can affect recreation, fish and wildlife habitat, and water quality, so please use extra caution if you're heading out on the water.

Swim Guide results use EPA Beach Action Values (BAVs) as a precautionary tool to inform the public about water quality. While we do not issue official swim advisories, we share current f***l indicator bacteria levels to help you make informed decisions before heading out on the water.

A site receives a passing result when:
• E. coli levels are below 235 MPN/100 mL in freshwater
• Enterococcus levels are below 104 MPN/100 mL in saltwater

Remember: We recommend avoiding swimming for 24–48 hours after heavy rain, as runoff can increase bacteria levels and carry pollutants into our waterways.

A huge THANK YOU to our dedicated volunteers who collect samples each week. Your commitment helps keep our communities informed and makes this program possible.

Special thanks to Coastal Carolina University and the Waccamaw Watershed Academy for helping gather data on the Waccamaw River, and to Lake Waccamaw State Park Friends for all you do for our rivers!

June is National Rivers Month! There's no better time to get outside, explore our rivers, and help protect the waterways that make our region so special.

Stay safe, stay informed, and enjoy our rivers responsibly!

*eDeeRiver *eDeeRiver Waterkeeper Alliance Waterkeepers Carolina

A Look Around the Watershed This Week 💙

A few snapshots from around our rivers this week.

Every stretch of river has its own personality, from the quiet blackwater creeks to the river bends and towering cypress trees. Whether you're paddling, fishing, birdwatching, or just enjoying the view, these places are part of what makes our corner of the world special.

We're lucky to have so many beautiful rivers flowing through our watershed, and we're grateful for everyone who helps care for them.

Which river have you spent time on lately?

Swipe through for scenes from around the watershed this week!

Waterkeeper Alliance Waterkeepers Carolina

Rivers tell the story of Horry County’s severe drought. How are residents affected?

“Preston Kelly, Waccamaw Riverkeeper for Winyah Rivers Alliance, said these levels are comparable to the period between 1998 and 2002 when Horry County faced an extreme drought.”

Read more at: https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/weather-news/article315963684.html =cpy

https://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/news/weather-news/article315963684.html

The Sun News

Rivers tell the story of Horry County’s severe drought. How are residents affected? Eastern portions of North and South Carolina are facing the most severe and widespread drought in nearly 20 years, meteorologists say.

UPDATE:
Project Liberty Will Not Move Forward In Marion County

Stream Data Centers has announced that Project Liberty, the proposed data center campus in Marion County, will not move forward due to utility timing constraints that prevented the project from meeting development deadlines.

While opinions on the project varied, the proposal sparked important conversations throughout our region about water resources, energy demand, infrastructure capacity, land use, and long-term community planning.

At Winyah Rivers Alliance, we believe that informed public engagement is essential whenever large-scale developments are proposed within our watershed.

Thoughtful planning and transparency help ensure that economic growth and natural resource protection can move forward TOGETHER.

As our region continues to attract interest from major industries and developers, we encourage residents to stay engaged, ask questions, and participate in local decision-making processes that affect our rivers, wetlands, drinking water supplies, and communities.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to learn about the project and engage in respectful dialogue about the future of Marion County and the P*e Dee region!

https://www.streamdatacenters.com/project-liberty/