Coastal Storm Risk Management

For thousands of years, the forces of wind, water, storms, sea level changes, and other natural processes have moved the sediments that shape and reshape our coastlines and beaches. These sediments, which range from fine, white sand to coarse gravel and cobblestones, continuously build up, or accrete, only to drift away, or erode, again and again over time in complex and sometimes unpredictable ways. Wind, tides, currents, and waves constantly keep sediment on the move to build up and wear down natural features such as bluffs, dunes, beaches, sand bars, and inlets. Under normal conditions, wind shapes the dry beach and its dunes while tides, currents, and waves shape the “wet” part of the beach.  It is natural for hurricanes and coastal storms – which move huge volumes of sediment through the system – to erode beaches.

Charleston District has been involved in coastal storm risk management since the 1980s. The goal of storm risk management projects is to reduce the amount of damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure caused by coastal erosion from storm events. There are many ways to provide coastal storm risk management – from breakwater installation to sea walls to beach nourishment.

Within South Carolina, Myrtle Beach and Folly Beach both have Coastal Storm Risk Management projects in place that utilize beach nourishment as the mechanism for providing damage reduction. The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2007 authorized a project for the southern end of Pawleys Island. The District is currently in our last year of study for Edisto Island. In order for a beach area to be eligible for the USACE’s storm damage reduction program, it must provide public beach access every one half mile and provide for adequate parking to support the use of the public access areas.

Charleston Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Study

The Charleston Peninsula Study is a federal study investigating coastal storm impacts on the Charleston peninsula and — in partnership with the City of Charleston and its stakeholders  exploring effective, economically-viable and environmentally-sound solutions to mitigate risks and build enduring coastal storm resiliency. This four-year feasibility study began in 2018 and will conclude with submission of a final detailed report to Congress in the summer of 2022. The study is 100 percent federally-funded through the Emergency Supplemental funds appropriated by Congress. Learn more about the Charleston Peninsula Coastal Storm Risk Management Study here.

The Basics of Beach Nourishment

Contact Information

Civil Works Project Management
69A Hagood Ave
Charleston, SC 29405
CESAC-PM@sac.usace.army.mil

Call the Charleston District: (866) 329-8187

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