Surfers’ favorite Outer Banks spot has been added to state water quality regulators’ precautionary swimming advisory list.
The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality reports pumping polluted floods into the ocean in Corolla.
In a release, the government claimed recent rains flooded streets, yards, and homes in Corolla and adjacent areas. To reduce flooding damage and make emergency roadways accessible, the town is dumping floodwater into the ocean near Crown Point Circle and Myrtlewood Court.
Corolla Beach surfers and swimmers should avoid the ocean.
The tropical cyclone that dropped rain across North Carolina has sent flooding into many more beaches, prompting precautionary swimming advisories. A broad stretch of shoreline from Wrightsville Beach in New Hanover County to Holden Beach in Brunswick County was under advisories in the southeast.
NC beaches and coastal areas under swimming advisories due to floodwater pumping
- Wrightsville Beach (New Hanover County)
- Carolina Beach (New Hanover County)
- Kure Beach (New Hanover County)
- Bald Head Island (Brunswick County)
- Southport (Brunswick County)
- Caswell Beach (Brunswick County)
- Oak Island (Brunswick County)
- Long Beach (Brunswick County)
- Holden Beach (Brunswick County)
- Emerald Isle (Carteret County)
- Corolla (Currituck County)
Water samples over state and federal enterococci bacteria standards have also prompted swimming advisories at other Dare County and Carteret County sites where the state evaluates water quality. Although this bacteria does not cause illness, the state noted “enterococci may indicate the presence of other disease-causing organisms.”
Water samples from the test site at East Hollowell Street in Nags Head “indicated a running monthly average of 41 enterococci per 100 milliliters of water,” over the standard of 35. The state noted this caution only applies to seas within 200 feet of the sign and does not close beaches on Nags Head.
Two Morehead City Bogue Sound sites reported enterococci levels exceeding state and federal guidelines. Sunset Drive and 16th Street public accesses are advised. Only waters within 200 feet of signs are affected.
The Recreational Water Quality Program includes 221 coastal testing locations in North Carolina. Officials gather samples at these sites weekly from April to October and less often when the seas are cooler.