IslandVibesIOP.com 8 residents to build emergency seawalls on their home property. But despite the measures, Traynum pointed out that the island lost about 100,000 cubic yards of sand in these three sections every year from 20082018 and that the east end of the island alone has lost another “254,000 cubic yards of sand per year since 2018” – a volume equivalent to approximately 78 Olympic-size pools. “While the processes controlling the beach condition are generally understood, they are not always predictable and require continuous monitoring and management, especially when dealing with episodic erosion events like shoal attachments and storm impacts,” Traynum said. “At the north end of the island, a large shoal has fully attached to the beach and is now allowing sand to spread to areas that have been highly erosional, including Beachwood East and the area near the Seascape and Ocean Club condos.” To aid further recovery actions, city council held a special meeting on Oct. 14 to hear an overview from Traynum regarding current beach conditions and how recent storm activity and king tides have impacted both the beach and private property. Based on Traynum’s recommendations, council approved these two items: • $300,000 for approximately 700 additional sandbags to be installed in the three critical areas of Port O’ Call, Beachwood East and the Breach Inlet end of the island. • $225,000 to move approximately 25,000 cubic yards of sand from the 2,500-foot-long shoal attaching to the beach in front of Beachwood East at Wild Dunes. In addition, the city is preparing for another major beach nourishment project that would include placing up to 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. The sand will be obtained from offshore borrow areas approximately 2-3.5 miles from the beach. Pending permit approval from state and federal regulatory agencies, the work for what Councilman John Bogosian said would be “the biggest project the city has ever undertaken” is expected to begin as early as spring 2026. Council also approved $669,508 for Coastal Science & Engineering services for the project’s final design, bidding and construction administration. “We’ve seen mixed outcomes with the available management approaches,” Traynum said, “largely due to natural events such as the two-week nor’easter event that occurred in late September.” But the question remains the same now as at any point in the last 40 years: Will any of these measures make a difference in keeping the island afloat, inhabitable and a continued source of visitor income? The Links Golf Course at Wild Dunes lost its par-5 18th hole twice in the past eight years due to flooding – and course officials eventually converted it into a par-3. And Beachwood East resident Jimmy Bernstein said earlier in 2025 that since moving to Isle of Palms from Chicago in 2011, the tides are now knocking at his door. “I had at least 50 yards of greeneryand then 50 more yards before you got to the ocean,” Bernstein said. “Now that’s all gone.” It’s a scenario Traynum said is far from a desired outcome – but signs are hopeful. “The majority of the island’s 7 miles of beach is healthy and has benefited from prior nourishment efforts,” Traynum added. “The inlet areas of Isle of Palms are one of the most dynamic shoreline environments in South Carolina and the city is also looking into other methods of prolonging nourishment life and maintaining healthy dunes, including the feasibility of sand-retaining structures.” NEWS Beach Erosion Managment From Page 7.
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