Coastal Environment |
Acronyms |
Click on the numbers in the image above or scroll down for more Coastal information.
 | Advisories: Swimming, Rip Tide/Current, Shellfish, Weather, Fish... |
Advisories can provide vital information that is sure to enhance your visit to our Coast. From weather to beach water quality, you’ll be informed of conditions upfront as you plan your stay. Here are topics dealing with information about current advisories.
 | Water Quality: Swimming Advisories, Runoff, Real-time and Historical Data... |
Our coast is all about water quality. From animals to humans, our activities can have a negative impact on them. Maintaining pristine conditions as well as improving vulnerable environments can only benefit all who enjoy our coasts. Learn more about water quality on the coast.
 | Weather: Real-time Weather, Storm Information and Activities... |
Weather contributes to the quality of your time spent on the coast. Planning around weather patterns as well as knowing how to prepare for adverse conditions is an important element of your coastal experience. Discover topics dealing with weather on the coast.
 | Air Quality: Pollen Count Index, Ozone Index, Emissions... |
Air is all around us and the quality of the air can affect your planned activities, especially if allergies are an issue or if you have general pulmonary concerns. Explore topics dealing with current air quality conditions.
 | Fishing/Shellfish: Fish Advisoiries, Fish Watch, Tidal Creeks... |
Sport fishing is both a recreational and commercial activity in South Carolina. There are a number of regulatory agencies that are responsible for some aspect of fishing in our coastal waters. A fishing license is required when fishing in public waters. Learn more about fishing and shellfish harvesting.
 | Seafood: Advantages of Eating Seafood, Safe Handling of Seafood... |
Dining on seafood is a typical outing while visiting our coast. Discover the benefits of eating seafood as well as health and environmental considerations to avoid any unwanted encounters with the quality of your seafood experience.
 | Tidal Creeks: Tidal Creek, SC Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program... |
Tidal creeks are part of an overall transitional zone known as estuaries where fresh surface water bodies mix with ocean salt water. The inflow of both seawater and freshwater provides high levels of nutrients in the water and the sediment making estuaries vitally important to seafood quality and a productive habitat for many wildlife species. Here are topics dealing with tidal creeks and estuaries.
 | Life on the Coast: Advisories, SC Data, Tide Tables... |
Life on the coast involves human, animal, and environmental interaction. All three depend upon the other to ensure a safe and secure life experience on our coast. Learn more about life on the coast.
- (NOAA) Rip Current Safety/Break the Grip of the Rip! - Learn the warning signs of these deadly currents as well as safety tips to help you swim out of one.
- (SC DHEC) Tide Tables - Daily high and low tide information for the South Carolina coast.
- (SC DHEC) Beach Monitoring/Stay Well in the Water - Learn more about staying safe and healthy while visiting South Carolina's beaches.
- (SC DHEC) Smart Choices for Healthy Swimming - Information on swimming advisories, being safe, and staying healthy in lakes and streams near the coast.
- (SC DNR) Boating Safety - Learn how to have a safe boating experience.
- (EPA) SunWise Program – An environmental/health program that teaches adults and kids how to be safe in the sun.
- (NLM-NIH)Tox Town/Cruise Ships - Explore the impacts of the large ship industry and how other human interactions can affect human health and the environment.
- (USCG) United States Coastguard-Charleston, SC - Learn more about the Coast Guard and SC’s Coast Guard Station.
- (SC DNR) Sea Science/Sea Turtles - General information relative to sea turtle habitats.
- (SC DHEC) Safe in the Sun - An activity guide for children focused on how to enjoy outdoor activities all year long while being safe from the sun’s harmful rays.
 | Marine Life Health: Dolphins, Mussel Watch, Sentinel Species Research... |
Marine life plays a vital role in our coastal ecosystem. Studying the health of marine animals, sustaining their health and enhancing their overall quality yields invaluable benefits for humans and the environment. Explore topics dealing with marine life.
- (NOAA) “Dolphins at the Doctor” - Watch this short video about Dolphin Health and research.
- (TOS) The Oceanography Society’s Case Study/Marine Mammals as Sentinel Species for Oceans and Human Health.
- One Health Commission (Supported by Iowa State University) - Learn more on the collaborative efforts to improve the health of people, animals and the environment.
- (NOAA) State of the Coast - This pollutant monitoring program analyzes trends in oysters and mussels for coastal waters.
- (NOAA-NCCOS) Pollution-Marine Animal Health - Knowing the health of certain species can be a key indicator relative to the conditions of our coastline.
 | Litter Prevention: Pet Waste, Garbage, Adopt-a-Beach, Clean Marina... |
South Carolina beaches are a beautiful resource and it is important that we work together to keep them clean for all to enjoy. Not only is litter an eyesore, it can become an additional source of pollution as well. Find more information on how you can help us keep the beaches clean and safe.
 | Beach Preservation: Protection, Erosion and Re-Nourishment... |
Sand dunes are a familiar part of the coastal landscape and they serve an invaluable purpose: protection of beachfront property, resources and reducing destructive erosion. Sand dunes are protected by law in South Carolina so it is important to become familiar with the type of outdoor activities you can conduct around them. Learn more about beach preservation.
 | Wildlife Conservation: Sea Turtles, Birds, Mammals, Jellyfish... |
Many varieties of wildlife inhabit our coast. Learning about their habits and diseases that affect their quality of life is important to understand so we can respect their habitat while interacting with them. Discover topics dealing with coastal wildlife.
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Our Coast The Coast is one of our state’s most valuable resources consisting of 187 miles of coastline and 2,876 miles of tidal shoreline. This website gives our residents as well as visitors easier access to envrionmental data that may impact their health or the health of the coastal environment. SC EPHT hopes that this information not only provides education about South Carolina's coastal environment but also enhances your experience along our coast. |
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Related Resources
- The State of the Coast - A NOAA website with information about coastal communities, economy, ecosystems, and climate.
- Coastal County Snapshots - The Coastal County Snapshots tool provides local officials and citizens with a quick look at a county’s demographics, infrastructure, and environment within the flood zone.
- Oceans and Human Health - NOAA’s Oceans and Human Health Initiative homepage. Their mission is “To improve the understanding and management of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes to enhance benefits to human health and reduce public health risks”.
- One Health Commission - A report from the NOAA Science Advisory Board (April 2010). This report identifies opportunities to enhance NOAA’s ongoing health related efforts, including all relationships between the ocean and the health of the organisms in it as well as their links to human health.
- SC Coastal Information Network - The Network is an ongoing partnership to enhance coordination of the coastal community outreach efforts in South Carolina. The site provides a calendar of outreach events, links to collaborating partners, and links to event publications for further information.
Acronyms
- COAST - Coastal Ocean Assessments, Status, and Trends
- EPA – Environmental Protection Agency
- FDA – US Food and Drug Administration
- IOOC – Interagency Ocean Observation Committee
- IOOS - Integrated Ocean Observation Summit
- ISSC - Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference
- NCCOS - National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science
- NERRS - National Estuarine Research Reserve
- NIH – National Institutes of Health
- NLM- National Library of Medicine
- NMLC - National Marine Life Center
- NOAA – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- NWS – National Weather Service
- RCOOS - Carolinas Regional Coastal Ocean Observing System
- SC DHEC – South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- SC DNR – South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
- SC OCRM - South Carolina Ocean Coastal and Resource Management
- SCECAP – South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program
- SCORE - South Carolina Oyster Restoration and Enhancement
- TOS - The Oceanography Society
- USCG – United States Coast Guard
- USGS –United States Geological Survey
- SCSGC - South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium
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This coastal page was created in partnership with the Hollings Marine Laboratory and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) |
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