Beach · Carteret County · NC
Is Radio Island Public Beach Access 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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What's in the water at Radio Island Public Beach Access right now
As of July 19, 2026, Radio Island Public Beach Access in Carteret 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 5.3 in, which can wash bacteria and nutrients into the water.
Blue-green algae at Radio Island Public Beach Access
Radio Island Public Beach Access is a lake in Carteret 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 Radio Island Public Beach Access
- Is it safe to swim in Radio Island Public Beach Access right now?
- Radio Island Public Beach Access 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 Radio Island Public Beach Access have blue-green algae (cyanobacteria)?
- Blue-green algae are not currently monitored at Radio Island Public Beach Access. Watch for green, blue-green, or paint-like scum and avoid the water if you see it.
- Can dogs swim in Radio Island Public Beach Access?
- No bloom is detected at Radio Island Public Beach Access 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 Radio Island Public Beach Access'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 Radio Island Public Beach Access, and a recent-rainfall overlay, all refreshed daily. It was last updated July 19, 2026.