Myrtle Beach Notebook | Withers Swash is focus of new study

Withers Swash, which drains about a third of all the stormwater in Myrtle Beach, has been chosen as the focus of a yearlong study regarding low oxygen levels in coastal waters.

Representatives from the North Inlet Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve presented a plan for the study to city staff members, and will be at Tuesday’s City Council workshop to answer questions about the plan.

Oxygen depletion is a sign of pollution -- whether it’s manmade or natural -- and leads to fish kills. Myrtle Beach has already been told it has a floating dead zone during certain parts of the year, and researchers want to find out why and what to do about it.

There are a variety of factors that contribute to hypoxia, or low oxygen levels, including warm water, upwellings and stimulated bacterial activity, but little is known about what roles the nutrients and organic matter that wash into the water play in the hypoxia riddle.

During the study, researchers plan to measure the concentration and forms of matter getting into the swash -- and out to sea -- from stormwater runoff and groundwater seepage, to see if they can answer questions and find solutions to keep the Long Bay area cleaner and safer for sea life and humans.

The scientists also plan to study Dogwood Swash in Surfside Beach.

There is no information in the presentation to indicate a cost to the city -- if any -- but the Coastal Alliance and Myrtle Beach have already said they support Coastal Carolina University efforts to monitor coastal water quality, and have been working on funding those efforts.

Withers Swash has long been the subject of interest among area environmentalists, scientists and others because it drains so much of the city’s stormwater. Everything that goes into the Swash eventually goes out to the ocean, including the manmade pollution that runs off the streets and is poured into or left on the ground, bacteria from sewer leaks and animal waste, and other organic materials that feed the bacteria that use up oxygen.

The Swash used to be a pristine pond where locals often caught their suppers, and has, in the past few years, begun to be rehabilitated and rejuvenated with new oysters to regrow colonies that will help filter the water and other cleanup efforts along the banks and around the Swash basin.

Celebrating The King

Even now, almost 35 years after his death, there’s still a lot of love out there for Elvis Presley. The Elvis Fan Club of Myrtle Beach-Grand Strand has a bunch of events over the coming holiday season.

The group’s Christmas party, the New Year’s Eve Party with The King, and the Elvis Birthday Party are all open to everyone who wants to attend, and will feature karaoke, tuneful tributes to Elvis and “guest appearances” by other celebrities, some of who have gone to Rock-n-Roll Heaven.

People who attend are welcome to -- no, encouraged to -- dress up as Elvis and sing along.

Here’s a list of Elvis-centric events

• Christmas party | 6 p.m. Dec. 20, Barefoot Resort Sports Bar & Grill. People must use Water Tower Road, off S.C. 31, to access the restaurant, because the bridge from U.S. 17 will be closed for repairs. For more information, call 390-3227.

• New Year’s Eve party with The King | 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31, Beach Colony Resort, 5308 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach. Tickets are $15.95 per person and include music, dancing, food and a champagne toast led by The King. A cash bar will be open. Call Beach Colony for information, tickets and reservations at 449-4010.

• Elvis’s 77th Birthday Party | 6 p.m. Jan. 7 (Elvis’s birthday is actually Jan. 8) at Lulu’s Cafe, 1903 N. Ocean Blvd., Myrtle Beach. There will be Elvis-themed food, and all kinds of entertainment. All tribute artists are welcome to sing.

For more information about the group and its activities, visit www.kingshazaam.com, e-mail king@kingshazaam.com or call 424-9124.