At low tide, Charleston’s shorelines reveal the machinery of a living estuary. Oyster reefs filter the water, fiddler crabs stitch tiny trails through the mud, and spartina grass steadies the marsh against wind and waves.
Unfortunately, the tide also reveals what we leave behind.
Fishing line, food wrappers, plastic bottles, cigarette filters, abandoned gear and other debris can travel from streets and storm drains into creeks, marshes and Charleston Harbor. Once there, even a small piece of trash can become a much larger problem.
This September, volunteers across the state will have an opportunity to help turn that tide.
South Carolina’s Largest Volunteer Waterway Cleanup
Beach Sweep/River Sweep is South Carolina’s largest one-day volunteer waterway cleanup. Since 1988, thousands of residents have gathered on the third Saturday of September to remove debris from beaches, rivers, lakes, marshes, creeks and swamps.
The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium coordinates the coastal cleanup effort, while the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources leads inland cleanups. The event is also held in conjunction with the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup. This year’s main Beach Sweep/River Sweep will take place on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
For Charleston residents, however, the opportunity to help extends across several days and dozens of locations.
Upcoming 2026 Beach Sweep/River Sweep Dates
The following dates are currently included in the official 2026 cleanup listings:
Saturday, September 12, 2026
An early cleanup is scheduled at East Bay Park in Georgetown. Volunteers interested in participating should contact the listed site captain for the meeting time and instructions.
Friday, September 18, 2026
A cleanup is scheduled in the marsh beneath the Harborview Road exit on James Island. The official listing does not currently provide a starting time, so volunteers should contact the site captain before arriving.
Saturday, September 19, 2026
This is the main statewide Beach Sweep/River Sweep date. Most cleanups begin at 9:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted
Monday, September 21, 2026
A separate land-based cleanup is currently listed for Gadsden Creek, meeting near the corner of Fishburne and Hagood streets. The cleanup is scheduled from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Charleston-area opportunities include Sullivan’s Island, Mount Pleasant Waterfront Memorial Park, Shem Creek, Ben Sawyer Causeway, Bulls Bay and Awendaw, Brittlebank Park, Waterfront Park, Wagener Terrace and Halsey Creek, Vardell’s Creek, James Island, Fort Lamar Heritage Preserve, the SCDNR Fort Johnson campus, Northbridge Park, the Stono River, the upper Wando River, Folly Island and Kiawah Island.
Schedules and locations may be updated as the event approaches, so participants should review the official cleanup-site directory and contact their site captain before heading out.
Why One Morning Matters
Marine debris does not simply disappear when it washes beyond our view.
Animals can become entangled in discarded fishing line, plastic bands, nets and other debris. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals may also mistake plastic for food. NOAA reports that marine debris has been documented to affect more than 700 species through ingestion, entanglement, habitat damage and other impacts.
In an estuary such as Charleston Harbor, the connection between land and water is especially close. A bottle dropped beside a road can enter a storm drain, move into a tidal creek and eventually reach the harbor or ocean. Removing it before that journey continues is a small action with consequences that ripple far beyond the cleanup site.
How to Get Involved
The easiest way to participate is to select a nearby location from the official cleanup-site directory and contact its volunteer coordinator. Site captains can provide meeting instructions, parking information, supplies, age recommendations and details about whether the cleanup will take place on land or water.
Businesses, churches, civic organizations, schools, scout troops and community groups may also organize their own cleanup location. Groups interested in cleaning an area that is not currently listed can contact the following coordinators:
Inland Coordinator (for inland counties): Bill Marshall at 803-734-9096 or marshallb@dnr.sc.gov
Coastal Coordinator (for coastal counties): Susan Ferris Hill at 843-953-2092 or susan.ferris.hill@seagrant.org
Protecting Charleston’s waterways takes more than willing hands. Cleanup crews also need gloves, bags, tools, safety equipment and dependable support to get the job done. The Hampton Wildlife Fund helps provide the supplies and resources that turn volunteer energy into meaningful results, while businesses and community organizations can strengthen the effort through sponsorship opportunities.
Stewardship Starts at the Water’s Edge
Public education and responsible management of South Carolina’s wildlife and marine resources are central to the mission of the Hampton Wildlife Fund. Beach Sweep/River Sweep offers families and communities a hands-on way to put those principles into practice.
You do not need to be a scientist, boat captain or lifelong conservationist to make a difference. You only need a willingness to show up, work alongside your neighbors and leave one stretch of shoreline healthier than you found it.
One bottle removed. One length of fishing line collected. One step toward a clean waterway.
That is how a cleaner Charleston begins, one pair of hands and one small piece of shoreline at a time.
