Beach · New Hanover County · NC
Is Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island safe to swim?
Recent heavy rain may have spiked bacteria since the last clear sample.
Updated July 19, 2026 · North Carolina beach program (EPA BEACON)
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Know before you get in at Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island.
Get an alert the day a bacteria or algae advisory goes up.
What's in the water at Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island right now
As of July 19, 2026, Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island in New Hanover County, North Carolina carries a swim caution. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. No fecal-bacteria advisory is posted (state beach program). Rainfall over the past week totaled 1.2 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island
Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island is a lake in New Hanover County, North Carolina. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water.
Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) blooms are most common from midsummer into early fall, when the water is warm, calm, and rich in nutrients from runoff. They can produce toxins that make people sick and can be rapidly fatal to dogs, so skip water that looks green, scummy, or like spilled paint, and keep children and pets out of it.
Frequently asked: swimming in Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island
- Is it safe to swim in Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island right now?
- Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island carries a swim caution today. Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at this water. Conditions can change quickly with wind, heat, and rain, so check the posted signs and look at the water before you get in.
- Does Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island?
- No bloom is detected at Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island today, but dogs are much more vulnerable to blue-green algae than people, and blooms can form within hours. Always keep dogs away from water that looks green, scummy, or discolored, and rinse them off after swimming.
- How many North Carolina lakes and beaches have swim advisories today?
- Today, 13 North Carolina waters are under a swim advisory and 113 more warrant caution, out of 255 monitored waters SwimZone tracks in the state.
- How is Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island's water quality measured?
- SwimZone builds this read from EPA CyAN satellite imagery for blue-green algae, official beach and fecal-bacteria advisories where a program monitors Area behind the northern end of Masonboro Island, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.