IslandVibesIOP.com 3 NEWS Summer beach renourishment: retaining sand for the long-term By L. C. Leach III Isle of Palms' largest beach renourishment project is set to run the entire summer through September. Image courtesy of IOP City Isle of Palms is currently undergoing its biggest beach renourishment project to date, with work crews under the direction of Marinex Construction of North Charleston placing 2.5 million cubic yards of beach-quality sediment along up to 19,200 linear feet of shoreline on the two ends of the island. But the persistent question regarding this project and many previous ones continues to be: Once the sand is in place, how do we keep it from washing away? Members of the IOP Beach Preservation Committee (BPC) are not only studying the issue but hope to have some specific recommendations to the city council later in the year, preferably before the project ends this autumn. “IOP cannot do the same thing we have done for the last 30 years and expect a different outcome,” said committee chairman Dietmar Ostermann. “We need to change the erosion trajectory and seriously consider constructing hard structures to slow the devastating erosion on the island.” To this end, city leaders, committee members and professional advisors are discussing viable vegetation planting and fencing options, especially for added dunes that will be part of the current project. “It is very important that the newly created dunes be protected with both vegetation and fencing,” said Ostermann, “as this will slow down the erosion of our dunes and, to some degree, even assist in accumulating sand on them.” Major discussion over the last few months has centered on these four items: • Project Summary and Schedule. At the council’s June 24 meeting, principal consultant Steven Traynum, president of Coastal Science Engineering in Columbia, made a presentation regarding the renourishment project’s overview and timeline. Indicating that the project will add more habitat for flora and fauna, he also pointed out that after this renourishment, the beach will be significantly wider. “But erosion of the construction berm and scarping can be expected directly after nourishment as the constructed profile adjusts to a natural beach shape,” Traynum showed in the presentation. • Beach Alternatives. On June 4, BPC members met to hear an alternatives analysis progress update from Chris Creed, a senior coastal engineer and client manger with science and engineering firm Foth Olsen of Jacksonville, Florida. Creed discussed minimum healthy beach conditions and recommended that hard structures be considered for the ‘hot spots’ to maintain those areas between renourishment projects. • State Funding. BPC members also heard discussion of state support for beach nourishment from representatives of Tompkins, Thompson & Brown Government Affairs in Columbia. Firm partner Warren Tompkins informed the committee that between $7.5 million and $10 million will be set aside in the next state budget for beach issues, and that the firm would “continue to seek funds for beach maintenance while also working to secure a permanent funding source for beach-related concerns.” • Dune Reinforcing. Dr. Nicole Elko, president of Elko Coastal Consulting in Folly Beach, also joined the BPC meeting to discuss the benefits of sand fencing and vegetation. She explained that the intent of the fencing is to disappear into the dune as it grows while the vegetation will continue to grow up through the dune. She recommended that the fencing and vegetation be implemented immediately. Ostermann said that while sand fencing and vegetation are not included in the authorized budget for the beach renourishment project, he is hoping these items will be appended at some point as they will “slow down the erosion of our dunes and, to some degree, even assist in accumulating sand on them.” City Councilman David Cohen added that his long-term preference is maintaining a dune system that protects the island from potential storm surge of a Category 3 hurricane. “Currently, the city has budgeted approximately $30 million for a beach renourishment effort in 2036 – we have a 10-year budget projected out,” Cohen said. “This amount does not include potential state grants or funding from Wild Dunes Association. This plan should support a renourishment effort in 2036 similar in scope to the current effort.” He is further anticipating that the Foth Olsen alternative study will reveal how hard or soft structures will offer “better protection at a lower cost in the future.” “At this time I do not feel any options are off the table,” Cohen said. “There are a lot of variables, primarily weather-related, that could impact this plan. For me, it really comes down to cost versus the probability of successful results.” The current project began in July on IOP’s north end and is scheduled to be completed in September on the south end. Contractor work crews are expected to move at a pace of 100 feet per day. As the project progresses, Mayor Phillip Pounds said that input regarding all beach preservation options will be considered before council determines a final course of action. “The hard structures on our beach would be a very different look for us,” he said. “But that will be a council decision at some point maybe later this year or early next year.” “Very knowledgeable, responsive and honest. We have bought and sold over 20 homes and never experienced the quality of service that Andrea provided” “...extremely helpful in making recommendations to get our house market-ready. With her suggestions for home improvements, our house sold in a week at the high end of market value.” 843.532.3010 - AndreaRogers1@gmail.com CALL ANDREA ROGERS SOUTHERN PROFESSIONALISM A way of life, The way to be
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