IslandVibesIOP.com 5 NEWS About the Cover Lovely Lovebirds By Zach Giroux Judge sets deadline for deconstruction of illegal seawall By L. C. Leach III The case of the illegally constructed seawall built by Isle of Palms resident Rom Reddy has at last reached a point of no return. On Dec. 30, 2025, two months after ruling that the seawall had to be removed, but without specifying a time frame, Court Judge Ralph Anderson handed down an order requiring Reddy to deconstruct the seawall, with removal potentially beginning as early as mid-summer 2026. The order came more than seven months after a court hearing in May 2025 in Columbia, and more than There’s a lot at stake on both sides.We are trying to protect the integrity of the public beach, and he is trying to protect his property. — SCELP Executive Director Amy Armstrong two-and-a-half years after officials with the state’s Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) first became aware of the structure. Legal representatives associated with the Department of Environmental Services (DES), the Coastal Conservation League (CCL) and OCRM argued in court that Reddy not only violated a state law per the 1977 Coastal Tidelines and Wetlands Act, but that hard erosion control devices on the beachfront contribute to the deterioration of the beach, which is a public trust resource. Reddy has 30 days from the date of the order to file an appeal. But Lauren Megill Milton, attorney with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project (SCELP) in Columbia, which represented the Coastal Conservation League in the court case, pointed out that the removal of the seawall will have to take place regardless of further action Reddy may take. “An appeal does not automatically stay enforcement of an Administrative Law Court decision,” Milton said. “Until and unless a court acts, the order remains enforceable as written.” The order specifically requires Reddy to comply with the following: To submit a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) for the seawall’s removal and restoration of the affected beach area within 60 days of the Dec. 30 order. Following DES review and approval of the plan and sand samples, removal of the seawall must commence within 90 days of CAP approval and be completed within 30 days thereafter. “If the respondent (Reddy) fails to comply with the court-ordered schedule, the department would likely pursue a contempt of court citation or further enforcement actions to compel the work,” Milton said. “At this point, we are hopeful that all parties will focus on doing the right thing by getting the beach restored as quickly as possible.” Despite the order and the apparent victory, SCELP Executive Director Amy Armstrong is preparing for the matter to continue on appeal. “Cases like this often take quite a while to resolve, sometimes years, and this matter is still far from over,” Armstrong said. “There’s a lot at stake on both sides. We are trying to protect the integrity of the public beach, and he is trying to protect his property.” Nothing quite says Valentine’s Day like two lovebirds, roseate spoonbills to be avian appropriate, floating along on a romantic date in the coastal waters on Isle of Palms. In honor of February being Love Month, we inquired where we could capture such a moment. Instead of tracking their migratory patterns or venturing on a bird-watching expedition, we called upon the services of IOP’s finest nature and landscape photographer, Cindy Branscome. Branscome is an Isle of Palmsbased photographer who focuses on the natural beauty of the coastal region through her work in landscape and wildlife photography. She is recognized for her ability to capture the distinct scenery of the Lowcountry, which includes sunrises, sunsets and significant weather events. Her portfolio features close-up images of local wildlife, such as deer on the beach and various bird species, including egrets, herons, bluebirds and painted buntings. Branscome’s work can be found on her social media accounts, including Facebook and Instagram, under the handle @ CindyBranscomePhotography. Roseate spoonbills are one of the most eye-catching birds you’ll ever spot around IOP if you’re lucky. These feathered friends light up the marshes with their flamboyant pink feathers and often get mistaken for flamingos. They get their rosy color from a shrimp-heavy diet and are easy to identify by their unique spoon-shaped bill, which they sweep side to side through shallow water to forage for food. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, they are a rare, uncommon coastal species that visits the state’s marshes, but they don’t typically nest in South Carolina. Plume hunting nearly wiped out roseate spoonbills in the late 1800s, but sightings in the Lowcountry have become more common in recent years. If roseate spoonbills can make a comeback from near extinction, then so can your love life. There are plenty of fish in the sea, but there is not another bird in the sky that better represents love. Cindy Branscome OCRM staff was made aware in January 2024 that unauthorized rip rap was installed at the base of the unauthorized erosion control structure.
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