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Volume 20 • Issue 17
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January 24, 2025
The South Carolina Beach Advocates held their 11th annual meeting at Wild Dunes on January 16th and 17th. From left to right, they areCrawford Moore (Mayor of Edisto Beach and incoming Vice Chair), Angela Christian (Administrator of Georgetown County), Phillip Pounds (Mayor of Isle of Palms), Alan Perry (Mayor of Hilton Head), Marilyn Hatley (Mayor of North Myrtle Beach and outgoing Vice Chair), Governor Henry McMaster, Stephanie Tillerson (Administrator of the Town of Kiawah Island), Brian Henry (Mayor of Pawleys Island), and Pat O’Neill ( Mayor of Sullivan’s Island). Look for full coverage in our February 7 issue.
Mitigating Storm and Sea Damage L O N G V I E W V S . D AY O F I N S TA L L AT I O N F I X E S
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BY CLAUDIE BENJAMIN
hen Rebecca Fanning, Sullivan’s Island director of resilience and natural resource management, discusses drainage improvements, she emphasizes the distinction between gray and green stormwater infrastructure. Gray infrastructure, she explains, relies on pipes and pumps, while green infrastructure leverages wetlands, forests, sand and earth to mitigate flooding. “Gray infrastructure like diesel pumps and pipes works best the day it is installed and weakens over time, whereas
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green infrastructure tends to grow stronger,” Fanning said. Green solutions can be as simple as planting a tree or leaving leaves in your yard. “We have so much water to contend with on the island; even a square foot of planted ground makes a difference,” she added. Sullivan’s Island, while beautiful, is highly vulnerable to climate change effects like intense rainfall and rising temperatures. Fanning cited Hurricane Debbie and Helene as examples, noting that “together, they eliminated about 100 feet of beach in certain (continued on page 2)
Safeguarding IOP
COMMITTEE CHARTS PROACTIVE POLICIES FOR SHORELINE PRESERVATION
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n January 2024, the Isle of Palms established the Beach Preservation Ad Hoc Committee to evaluate existing beach policies and propose strategic recommendations to the City Council. After a year of research, collaboration with coastal engineers, and analysis of neighboring communities’ practices, the committee presented its findings at a workshop on Tuesday, Jan. 14. Cindi Solomon, a committee representative, highlighted the economic benefits of beach renourishment. “For every dollar spent on beach renourishment, the state sees $1,200 in economic development generated by tourists,” she said. “Additionally,
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BY JOSHUA UYS federal, state, and local governments collectively gain nearly $130 in tax revenue per dollar spent.” The committee recommended a proactive, data-driven approach to managing beach conditions. It proposed biannual reviews of beach health and conditional triggers to prompt council action. For example, if 1,500 feet of beach is projected to reach critical thresholds for minimum healthy beach volume or dune width within the next 12 months, the council should consider midscale solutions such as shoal management or sand recycling. Large-scale interventions, such as offshore dredging and renourishment, should be (continued on page 2)
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