Environment

Murrells Inlet Environment and Marsh Ecology

Did you know that 90 percent of near-shore marine species use the saltmarsh at one time or another during their lifetime as a nursery, feeding or breeding ground, or as a place of refuge? The Inlet offers much, but respect is what it needs the most. It's up to the residents and visitors who love it to ensure its protection. The creek is Murrells Inlet's most precious resource. Preserving and protecting it is this community's top goal.

There are many ways we all can help keep the creek healthy:
  • Pick up trash.
  • Practice "Plus-One Boating" (What you take out, bring back - Plus One).
  • Don't flip cigarettes into the water or onto the roadway.
  • Recycle your oyster shells.
  • Limit boat wakes because they cause erosion.
  • Avoid running boats into the marsh grass.
  • Use only non-toxic or "phosphate-free" cleaners.
  • Avoid fuel and oil spills into the water.
  • Scoop after your pets. Their waste gets into the creek through storm water runoff and is one of the largest pollutants of the creek.
  • Dispose of used fishing line in a monofilament recycling bin, located at area marinas and boat landings. Keep our pelicans and marine life tangle-free.
  • Educate children.
    CLICK HERE for a Murrells Inlet activity book for kids.
  • Landscape using green buffers to stop fertilizer and pet waste runoff.
As we say in the Inlet, litter makes us crabby!
Area residents and businesses volunteer to help preserve the water quality of the creek and clean up the environment through organized group efforts. Land and water litter clean-ups are conducted regularly. A group of community volunteers staff the inlet water quality monitoring program. Committees help educate the public about the delicate balance of the wetlands ecosystem.
The local Civic Association works with businesses and agencies to ensure that the architectural vision of the fishing village is maintained in new construction. County government enforces stormwater drainage plans implemented to protect the creek. We are an involved community dedicated to preserving the natural beauty of our surroundings for future generations to enjoy.

Spring Tide Clean-Up

2010 marked the 19th annual Spring Tide in Murrells Inlet. Spring Tide, South Carolina's biggest and longest-running one-day community cleanup, has rid the Inlet saltmarsh and roadsides of literally hundreds of tons of debris while bringing the community closer together in appreciation and care of the local environment. Spring Tide, coined "the festival where everybody works," was founded by Chip Smith and a group of like-minded friends in 1992. During that first year, some 600 volunteers hauled away 70-140 tons of debris, much of it left by Hurricane Hugo.

Spring Tide is a community effort from start to finish: from the volunteers who provide and crew watercraft, pick up along the streets, unload boats and trucks, help out at the headquarters, provide and drive pickup trucks; to the companies who provide dump-boxes and soft drinks and canoes; to the 18 restaurants that cook the chowder; to the impressive lineup of local top-drawer entertainers who volunteer their afternoon for the Inlet; to the businesses that donate door-prizes; to the team of nocturnal chefs who cook up 200 pounds of barbecue and 140 pounds of chicken; to the Hot Fish Club which provides the venue and Georgetown County which provides equipment and allows us to use the landing and park and Keep America Beautiful's Georgetown office who donate the trash bags. It's all a labor of love for the creek!

Are you or your business a steward of the inlet environment?

CLICK HERE to download The Golden Oyster Award application.


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4124 Hwy. 17 Business  |  P.O. Box 1357  |  Murrells Inlet, SC 29576  |  (843) 357-2007  |  Follow us on: