IslandVibesIOP.com 3 The outcome of any IOP beach renourishment is about as predictable as the next location of a rip current. But based on the momentum of the island’s ongoing $21.47 million project, engineers and city leaders think this one might end up as the premier effort by which all future ones will be measured. “We have had really good progress so far, and to date the weather has been cooperating,” said Mayor Phillip Pounds. “There has been great coordination between the city, Wild Dunes and the state agencies that oversee our beaches.” This is mainly because of the on-schedule speed by project contractor Marinex Construction of North Charleston to place 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 since the project began in June. Once completed, this placement will cover three of the island’s seven reaches, or sections. Beach consultant Steven Traynum, president of Coastal Science Engineering in Columbia, presented an update at the city council’s Aug. 25 meeting, in which he explained area volume gains and progress of the three reaches: • Reach 1. Stretching from Mariner’s Walk past Ocean Club, and tapering off towards Dewees Inlet, this section of beach was completed in 35 days, more than two weeks ahead of schedule. Work crews deposited 900,000 cubic yards of sand, about the size of 275 Olympic-sized swimming pools. • Reach 2. Running from the western edge of Wild Dunes to 55th Avenue, Marinex began pumping in sand on Sept. 1, placing more than 170,000 cubic yards and progressing 900 feet south to Dunecrest Lane. • Reach 3. Later this year, crews will renourish the third and final reach on the south end of the island, stretching from the pier to Breach Inlet. “The city has developed a forecasting map so residents, visitors and business owners can see when beach construction will be near their home or business and plan accordingly,” said IOP Public Information Officer Joshua Uys. “For Reaches 1 and 2, the city is contributing 47% of the cost, with the Wild Dunes Community Association contributing the remainder. For Reach 3, the city is covering the complete cost with some help from a state grant.” As for volume gains, Traynum pointed out that while island erosion has been at its most critical each year since 2018, the tide may be turning at least a little, as the island gained an overall net total of 229,675 cubic yards in the past year. “Volume gains were highest along the south end, in Reaches 1 and 2,” Traynum told the council. “The area south of the pier gained 317,725 cubic yards – with 152,875 cubic yards of that total being gained over the past four months.” He further explained that while Reach 3 also gained 1,750 cubic yards in the past year, erosion has started to increase in other areas in the past four months with the disruption in the upcoast sand supply. For example, from August 2025 to June 2026, Reach 4 – which is not part of the current nourishment effort – lost a total of 62,100 cubic yards. But directly following the completion of the 2026 nourishment project, Traynum said he expects the sand supply to Reach 4 to increase, resulting in “a new accretional wave that propagates south,” with Reaches 5 and 6 standing to get additional sand as well. “Reaches 5 and 6 are the most dynamic, highly developed shoreline in South Carolina,” he said. “The current shoal attachment (in front of Wild Dunes) is toward the end of its cycle but NEWS Beach Nourishment Progressing in Record Time Latest effort looking to set future standard By L. C. Leach III “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 is still bringing sand to the center portions of Wild Dunes. Sand has started to spread along other areas of the reaches, slowing down some of the erosion rates that were present in recent years.” Uys added that city leaders have issued a request for bids to install dune vegetation and sand fencing throughout the renourished areas. This reinforcement would include two phases of planting about 500,000 square feet of sea oats, bitter panic grass and beach morning glory, as well as installing approximately 10,000 feet of sand fencing. “Together, these measures will help capture windblown sand, promote dune growth and stabilize the restored dune system,” Uys said. “Because planting conditions are generally less favorable after Dec. 1, planting in Reach 3 may be postponed until spring 2027, depending on when Marinex completes renourishment in that area.” Of course, the lingering question is always how long these efforts will last. But so far, the island’s beaches seem to be in better shape to last for the long haul than ever before. “The first time we did this it lasted about 10 years, and the last one in 2018 lasted only eight years,” Pounds said. “Our project and financial forecasts assume an eight-year cycle. And this year, the state put $10 million in their budget for beach renourishment, and we are hopeful IOP will receive about 4 to $5 million of this after receiving about $1.5 million last year.”
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