COLUMBIA, S.C. — The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) is closing Habersham Creek and Wallace Creek shellfish harvesting beds in Beaufort County due to excessive rainfall, the agency announced today.

"This closure goes into effect at sunset today, October 16, and affects all shellfish harvesting in the Conditional Management Areas of Habersham Creek and Wallace Creek," said Mike Pearson, manager of DHEC's Shellfish Sanitation Section. "The harvesting areas will reopen once water quality data indicate bacteria levels are once again suitable for shellfish harvesting."

For more information on clam and oyster harvesting areas in Beaufort County, call DHEC's Beaufort Environmental Affairs Office at 843-846-1030 or visit www.scdhec.gov/shellfish.

###