Pee Dee River, L.H. Siau Bridges — live webcam from Georgetown

Where This Online Camera Is Located

The camera is installed in the city of Georgetown, Georgetown County, South Carolina, USA. It is one of the oldest cities in the state, founded back in 1729. Georgetown sits on the coastal plain where several rivers converge into the Winyah Bay estuary before flowing into the Atlantic Ocean. The camera is aimed at the Pee Dee River and the L.H. Siau Bridges spanning it — a key transportation artery of the region.

L.H. Siau Bridges: A Crossing Over Three Rivers

The L.H. Siau Bridges are not a single structure but rather multiple bridge crossings that span the Pee Dee, Black, and Waccamou Rivers along with the Intracoastal Waterway. They carry US Highway 17 — the main highway of the eastern seaboard, connecting Georgetown with Charleston to the south and Wilmington to the north. The official name is the L.H. Siau Memorial Bridge, and they were originally built in the 1930s, during the active construction of the Intracoastal Waterway along the US Atlantic coast.

From a navigational standpoint, this is an important stretch: the bridges span not just a single river but an entire water system where the channels of several major rivers meet before emptying into Winyah Bay. For drivers, it's a long bridge crossing with characteristic rows of piers stretching toward the river horizon.

Pee Dee River: From the Mountains of North Carolina to the Atlantic

The Pee Dee River is one of the largest waterways in the southeastern United States. It originates in the mountains of North Carolina (where its upper reaches are known as the Yadkin River), flows through both Carolinas, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean via Winyah Bay. The river is approximately 370 kilometers long, and its basin covers thousands of square kilometers of territory.

In the Georgetown area, the river already takes on the character of a tidal estuary — here you can feel the influence of ocean tides. The water in the river at this point is brackish, and the banks are low-lying with characteristic coastal vegetation. That's why the camera shows a shallow nearshore zone with a sandy-silt bottom — a typical estuarine environment.

Winyah Bay: Where Four Rivers Converge

Georgetown sits on the shore of Winyah Bay — a coastal estuary formed by the confluence of four rivers: the Sampit, Waccamou, Pee Dee, and Black. The bay's name comes from the Winyah people, who inhabited these lands during the colonial period. Interestingly, the names of all the rivers except the Black River are of Native American origin.

Winyah Bay is the second-largest estuary on the US East Coast north of Charleston. It is a critical ecological area, home to the North Inlet-Winyah Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve — one of 29 national coastal reserves in the country. Waterfowl nest here, fish spawn, and in the coastal marshes you can spot olive ridley sea turtles and dolphins.

Tidal Patterns and Navigation

Since Georgetown lies within the zone of ocean tides, the water level in the Pee Dee River and Winyah Bay changes throughout the day. The city has tide stations whose data are used by both mariners and fishermen. The difference between high and low water can be significant, exposing or flooding the shallow nearshore areas.

The Pee Dee River has historically served as a transportation route for shipping timber and agricultural products. In the 1930s, the Intracoastal Waterway was constructed here, connecting a system of protected water routes along the Atlantic coast. Today, cargo barges, fishing vessels, and private yachts travel along the river. On the camera, you can watch vessel traffic passing under the bridge spans.

On the west bank of the Pee Dee River, approximately 0.25 miles south of the US 17 bridge, is located the United States Coast Guard station in Georgetown. This further underscores the navigational significance of this stretch of the river.

Georgetown: Colonial Heritage and "Black Rivers"

Georgetown itself is a city with a rich history. Founded in 1729, it was a center of rice plantations in the 18th and 19th centuries, and its historic district still preserves colonial architecture. The city sits on the Waccamou River, but it is the Pee Dee River and Winyah Bay that form its western water boundary.

Georgetown County is known for its "black rivers" — unique waterways with dark, almost tea-colored water, stained by tannins from decomposing vegetation in coastal swamps. The Black River, one of these rivers, empties into Winyah Bay near the L.H. Siau Bridges. The county features the Black River Water Trail — a 70-mile paddling route for canoes and kayaks, the state's first linear park.

When to Watch the Stream

The camera operates around the clock, but the viewing experience depends heavily on the time of day and tidal conditions. During the day with good visibility, you can make out details of the bridge structure, vehicle traffic on US 17, vessels on the river, and the outline of the opposite shore with its coastal infrastructure. At high tide, the water level rises, the shallows in the foreground flood, and the river looks significantly fuller.

At sunset, the Pee Dee River takes on a completely different appearance — the water reflects the sky, and the silhouettes of the bridge piers are set against the sunset horizon. This is perhaps the most photogenic time to watch. At night, you can observe the bridge lights, navigation lights of vessels, and the glow of urban development on the far bank.

In winter, the Pee Dee River looks different than in summer: the water level may be lower, exposing coastal shallows, and the vegetation on the banks takes on brownish hues. In spring, conversely, floodwaters raise the river level and carry plant debris downstream — a characteristic sight for coastal rivers of South Carolina.

What You Can See on the Camera

The camera provides a wide-angle view of the Pee Dee River in Georgetown. In the center of the frame is the long L.H. Siau highway bridge with its characteristic rows of piers stretching into the distance. The bridge carries US Highway 17 and connects the two riverbanks. On the far (right) bank, you can see coastal development — buildings, vegetation, and infrastructure including dock facilities. In the foreground is a shallow nearshore zone with a sandy-silt bottom, which depending on the tides may be partially exposed or flooded. Above the river is open sky, which in clear weather provides excellent visibility across the entire width of the waterway. In the upper-left corner of the frame, technical camera information is displayed.