Adams Creek (C84) is sampled bi-weekly from April 1st from October 1st.

The N.C. Recreational Water Quality Program's staff monitor water quality at over 200 testing sites across the North Carolina. Monitoring locations are divided into 3 tiers based on their location and average public use. The more popular a beach is, the more strict the water quality standard will be. The swimming season is from May - September, with April and October being considered shoulder months. All locations are sampled biweekly in October and once a month from November - March. Tier 1 beaches default to Tier 2 standards during the shoulder months and off season.

Tier 1 beaches are sampled weekly during the swimming season. All ocean beaches as well as brackish and freshwater beaches that average daily use during the swimming season will be marked Green when the geometric mean of 5 samples collected within 30 days contain less than 35 units / 100ml of water and when single sample test results are below 104 units / 100 ml of water. When water quality results fail to meet this standard, Swim Guide will show these beaches as "Red". Tier 2 monitoring locations are sampled every two weeks April - October. These beaches will be marked "Green" when single sample results show enterococci levels below 276 untis / 100mL of water. When water quality results fail to meet this standard, Swim Guide will show these beaches as "Red".A beach is marked Grey when there is no current or reliable monitoring information available.Please note: Warning signs are only posted at beaches when a single sample results are above 500 units / 100 ml of water, however the press is notified to an alert when results show enterococci levels above 104 units / 100 ml of water for Tier 1 beaches and 276 units / 100 ml for Tier 2 beaches. Tier 3 beaches are in a separate region as boating is the primary use. Recreational fishing permits are required for people over the age of 16 in North Carolina. Swim Guide checks water quality results daily April - October.