UPDATE – SAT, 2:45PM – DHEC has lifted the swim advisory for Edingsville Beach near the access point on Lost Village Trail.

State health officials say bacteria levels have returned to normal.

—

EDISTO ISLAND, S.C. (WCBD) – A temporary swimming advisory was issued Friday for a section of beach on Edisto Island and could last for a few days, according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

The advisory is in place for water at Edingsville Beach near the access point on Lost Village Trail (station LC-075) in Colleton County.

State health officials said bacteria levels above state and federal standards were detected in that area of water, and swimming is not advised until levels return to normal.

The beach is not closed, and the advisory is not affecting the entire beach.

“It’s safe to wade, collect shells and fish within this swimming advisory area. However, it’s advised that people entering the water in this area refrain from swallowing it, and that people with open wounds or compromised immune systems avoid contact with the water,” said health officials.

DHEC tests water quality along the oceanfront in accordance with federal and state laws. The water is tested for enterococci bacteria, which are naturally found in warm-blooded animals, including humans.

High levels of enterococci bacteria in water indicate the potential risk for other organisms that may cause disease in humans, such as gastrointestinal illness or skin infections.

“This advisory only affects the area noted above. Short-term swimming advisories typically last just a few days and are lifted once follow-up water sampling shows bacteria levels have returned to normal,” officials said.

DHEC said it routinely collects water samples at more than 120 locations along South Carolina’s beaches to monitor bacteria levels. You can visit scdhec.gov/BeachMonitoring for more information and to view recent water sampling results along the coast.

Cullowhee, N.C. – It's right back in the saddle for the Western Carolina women's golf team as the Catamounts head to the Lowcountry of South Carolina for the Edisto Invitational, hosted by the College of Charleston at the par-71, 5,980-yard Plantation Course at Edisto.

WCU is coming off its second top-five finish of the season with a runner-up showing at the Jupiter Women's Invitational last weekend. It marked the fourth top-five finish over its last five events – and the 10th dating back to last fall.

The practice round for the Edisto Invitational is slated for Sunday, Oct. 15, with the teams to play 36 holes with continuous play on Monday, Oct. 16, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The final round is scheduled for a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start on Tues., Oct. 17. Live scoring through GolfStat will be available through a link at CatamountSports.com.

In addition to the host Cougars and the Catamounts, WCU is joined in the field by fellow SoCon foes The Citadel and Wofford. Rounding out the field are golfers from Appalachian State, Charleston Southern, East Carolina, Elon, Georgia Southern, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, Longwood, Rollins, Towson, UAB, and William & Mary.

The last two event champions – Charleston Southern in 2022 and CofC in 2021 – as well as the runner-up from the same events – Georgia Southern in 2021 and the Cougars in 2022 – are in this year's field.

Western Carolina's scoring five is led by sophomore Brie Mapanao who is coming off a runner-up finish at the Jupiter Women's Invitational. The Quakers Hill, New South Wales, Australia, currently ranks tied for ninth in the SoCon in seasonal scoring average at 72.67. She is flanked by redshirt junior Kayleigh Baker in the No. 2 position with junior Elizabeth Lohbauer playing as the third seed. Baker enters the week after tallying a career-best third-place showing in Florida.

Rounding out WCU's scoring five are fifth-year senior Victoria Ladd and sophomore Sadler Miller as the No. 5 seed. Competing unattached for a second-consecutive event is junior Kaitlyn Wingnean.

The Catamounts are paired with golfers from Elon and Lipscomb in Monday's first two rounds, slated to begin the shotgun start between the fourth and sixth holes on the front nine.

Following this week's tournament, WCU concludes the fall portion of its schedule on Oct. 23-24 at the Terrier Intercollegiate in Spartanburg, S.C.

Keep track of everything related to Catamount women's golf and WCU Athletics through its social media outlets on Facebook (fb.com/catamountsports), Instagram (@wcu_catamounts), and Twitter (@catamounts, @CatamountWGolf).

WALTERBORO, S.C. (WCSC) - State regulators recently signed off on Santee Cooper’s long-term plan, including the approval of a new gas-fired power plant that would sit on the Edisto River.

The rumored plant location would be at the retired coal-fired plant Canadys Station between Walterboro and St. George.

The proposed power plant would be jointly financed and owned by both Dominion Energy and Santee Cooper.

It would also require a new natural gas pipeline, which is raising some concerns about how it could impact the nearby river and homeowners.

Southern Environmental Law Center Senior Attorney Frank Holleman says the plant would have a tremendous impact on communities, waterways and clean water on the ground.

“What really is at stake here is the property, the claim water and the power bills of the people of South Carolina. It’s really our air, our clean water and our land are all at risk,” Holleman says.

South Carolina Public Service Commission approved the project on Feb. 15 as part of Santee Cooper’s integrated resource plan.

The approval of the plant ties into the recently introduced House Bill 5118, also introduced on Feb. 15, which is an economic development and utility monitor modernization bill.

Dozens of state representatives are behind the bill, including Rep. Marvin Pendarvis (D-Charleston).

“It’s a bill that’s going to get South Carolina to a place where we’re going to be able to fulfill the energy needs of our state, especially with all the manufacturers that are coming here,” Pendarvis says.

The Southern Environmental Law Center is one organization opposing the plant and bill.

“One big impact is this large industrial pipeline will come barreling through the Edisto watershed. That will have impacts on the streams, wetlands, swamps, the waterways that flow into the Edisto and secure its health,” Holleman says. “We will not have the normal protections in place to minimize those impacts.”

Holleman says many of the nearby residents do not even know about the need for a pipeline and the impact it could have on them.

“What’s going to happen when these pipelines come through in this big plan, which is going to be five times the size of the prior one. When that gets put right there beside the Edisto River?” Holleman says.

They say the bill would rush the environmental review process and make it easier for utilities to influence the Public Service Commission.

“Normally when you have impact on wetlands, there’s a thorough review by the state and by the environmental agencies to be sure the water impacts are minimized, and that they are avoided, when at all possible,” Holleman says. “Those kinds of protections are weakened.”

Addressing environmental concerns, Pendarvis says he is continuing to have conversations and listen to environmental groups.

“What I will tell you is, it’s certainly a work in progress,” Pendarvis says. “A lot of those concerns have been heard, and those are things that I am taking with me as we go throughout the committee process and certainly debate this bill on the floor to make sure that it is as good a bill as possible.”

Pendarvis adds he signed on to the bill because it is important to look at the long-term impact of the state of South Carolina from an economic development perspective.

“In order for us to fully realize the potential where we can be, it’s going to be important for us to be able to attract the kind of industry, and to support the kind of industry that wants to come here,” Pendarvis says.

“In order for us to do that, we have to make sure that we’re doing everything that we can from an energy standpoint, to provide them with enough energy to actually operate here in the state,” he says.

It’s important to note that the proposed power plant would need permits and approvals before being finalized.

A spokesperson for Santee Cooper provided the following statement:

Santee Cooper submitted an IRP for review that includes a balanced portfolio shown by our analysis to be the least-cost, least-risk option for meeting customer energy needs. Its combination of proven natural gas technology (1,020 MW) and solar power (2,100 MW) will provide strong reliability and flexibility, allow integration of more solar power, and allow us to reduce emissions by over 50%, all while meeting continued customer growth and supporting economic development across South Carolina. And as an additional benefit to customers, we are planning to jointly build a natural gas unit with Dominion Energy SC, which will provide economies of scale that we would not get if we each built units separately.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

DORCHESTER COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — UPDATE (5/16/23) -- The Dorchester County coroner has identified the 19-year-old whose body was recovered from the Edisto River Monday.

Luis Rodriguez-Garcia, of North Charleston, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the recovery at 1:15 p.m. on Monday, May 15.

MORE: Coroner identifies 19-year-old who drowned in Edisto River Sunday

A teenager was found dead in the water at Givhans Ferry State Park at around 12:30 p.m. Monday afternoon.

Officials said a young man was swimming with his friends Sunday in the Edisto River when he went underwater.

Officials searched for nine hours along the Edisto River. Dorchester County, Colleton County, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources worked together to find the young man.

"We had divers, we had boats," said Lt. Rick Carson with the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office.

Officials got the call about the swimmer around 2:45 on Sunday afternoon. They searched until 8 p.m.

Read More: Coroner identifies 6-year-old found dead in Edisto River

Then, Monday morning crews started searching again, starting near where the teen went missing. They found his body using Sonar Technology.

Lt. Carson said he was found in about 12-feet deep water.

"He was about 75 to 100 yards from where we believe or people with him believe he went under," said Lt. Carson.

Dorchester County officials said it can be dangerous to swim in the Edisto River. From the current, to what lies beneath the water, it can change wherever you are along the river.

Read More: Boating safety bill pushed to S.C. General Assembly's overtime session

"Edisto changes every quarter of a mile, every eighth of a mile. It changes. Not only the width but the depth changes, current changes, and bottom changes. And the bottom is what is really treacherous. You never know one step you may see ankle, next step you’re down," said Lt. Carson.

SCDNR said the Edisto River is a black water river, meaning there's a lot of leaf litter and vegetation that could contribute to challenges for swimmers.

"When you have current and tide like that the depth of water is going to change constantly," said Greg Lucas with SCDNR.

They want to remind everyone to take every precaution when swimming in freshwater.

"Always have people looking out after other swimmers have people posted. Family members, and friends keeping an eye," said Lucas.

Read More: Coast Guard rescues 6 people from sinking boat off Charleston shore

"There's nothing wrong with wearing a life jacket when it comes to your own personal safety," he added.

The coroner's office has not yet identified the deceased.

Earlier this month, officials said 6-year-old Aria Moody drowned after falling into the river near the Mars Old Field boat landing area.