IslandVibesIOP.com 7 Breach Inlet renourishment project proving to be beneficial By L. C. Leach III To combat beach erosion on Isle of Palms, city leaders and engineers have tried a variety of measures over the past 40 years such as sandbag placement, sand scraping, dune restoration and planting native vegetation. One effort that seems to be gaining ground is an ongoing project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to dredge excess sand from an Intracoastal Waterway shoal around the IOP Connector and transfer it to much-needed areas between 10th Avenue and 2nd Avenue on the western part of the island. The shoal runs for approximately 17,800 linear feet (3.3 miles), and the project is not only making for a safer and more navigable waterway, but right now it also appears to offer the best chance to keep area beaches intact for the long-term without costing the city millions. “The sediment is being excavated from the placement areas and transported hydraulically via dredge to the beaches adjacent to Breach Inlet on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island,” said project acting chief Dylan Burnell with USACE, Charleston District. “We also conducted emergency dredging in the navigation channel to address shoaling that was impacting safe passage.” USACE project manager Jacob Kyzar added that once finished, the two projects will have placed approximately 850,000 cubic yards of sand on the beach – at no cost to the city “for either the dredging or the placement.” “The beneficial use placement sites on Isle of Palms and Sullivan’s Island were selected based on their proximity to the dredged material placement areas and predominant shoaling areas along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway,” Kyzar said. “We plan to continue partnering with the City of Isle of Palms to use the beach as a beneficial use placement site.” NEWS The project began in fall of 2024 and is scheduled for completion by early spring of 2026. Funding will come from USACE’s Operation & Maintenance funds for the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. While the work has required a certain amount of resident adjustment to the extra noise, lights at night, loss of parking and closed portions of the beach, IOP City Administrator Douglas Kerr pointed out that the potential offsetting benefit in cost is far worth the temporary inconvenience. “To do this ourselves would cost about $4.5 million,” Kerr previously noted. “And because beach restoration work is so expensive, it would be an enormous benefit if the project is successful and can be replicated in the future.” So far, both Kyzar and Burnell see all signs pointing to a long-range positive outcome and anticipate future partnering efforts to keep IOP beaches as protected as possible from the constant threat of erosion. “We do believe the beneficial use of sediment placement by the Charleston District has significantly supported the island,” Burnell said. “It has provided valuable sediment to the dynamic coastal system, contributing to wave attenuation and increased resilience during storm events. The project has enhanced the island’s natural coastal defense, regardless of any additional interventions.” The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is rehandling sediment from four existing placement areas to make room for future Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway dredging
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