South River is a tributary estuary that empties into the Neuse River. It is part of the North Carolina estuary system, which is the second largest in the United States.

In 1995 over 5 million fish died as a result of harmful algae blooms along the Neuse River. As a result stricter environmental regulations were implemented and a Senate Select Committee on Water Quality and Fish Kills was created. The Department of Environmental Education also launched a campaign to make people more aware of the Neuse River Basin in order to reconnect locals with their watershed.

Horton Bay, located at the mouth of South River, is on the EPA list of impaired waters for shellfish harvesting due to large amount of toxins found in the waters.

The description above was copied from or heavily based on Swim Guide, with permission.

More Information

• Swim Guide - Weather and water quality for Neuse River - Mouth of South River (C85) and 8,000 other beaches.