What you need to know about the current project underway at Folly

If you have been to Folly this spring, then you may have noticed some unusual activity. Maybe a beach access closed or large machines and pipes on the beach. Seems strange. What is this all about? Well, it is all due to the beach nourishment that is underway.

What is beach nourishment?

Beach nourishment is the processing in which sediment that has eroded due to storm activity or other features of a beach is replaced by way of pumping it back. The goal of beach nourishment is to build up a higher and wider beach that can withstand storms and erosion better and also provides more space for recreational use of the beach.

Why does beach erosion occur.

Beach erosion is natural. Typically beaches lose sand each year due to storms and long shore drift where the sand and beach sediment slowly work their way down the beach.

Why does Folly Beach need nourishment?

Folly Beach has a unique situation. Due to the construction of the harbor jetty, the long shore drift that should naturally make its way to Folly and help minimize eroding sand is blocked. The jetty blocks the drift from Sullivans Island and Isle of Palms which fans out around Folly and straight to Kiawah Island. This creates a situation where Folly Beach not only is losing sand, but is also blocked from gaining any new sand. Beach nourishment is the only way to remedy this problem and unfortunately is only a temporary fix.

The Army Corp of Engineers is one of the world’s top tier design and construction agencies with thousands of projects under their belt. They are responsible for maintaining our national water resources. They have their hands in seawalls, harbors, beach groins to name a few types of projects and have also been responsible for unintentionally making some quirky and amazing man made set ups for waves. While this process can feel intrusive and somewhat frustrating when you are trying to enjoy a beach day, it is most necessary in order to preserve our beach community. These men and women are working 24 hours a day if conditions allow and it has the potential to shape the sand bars for some epic days of surfing!

What is next for Folly?

Here are some highlights from the city’s website. They have done a great job explaining the process that is currently underway and for what we can expect to see over the next months after the project is complete. It’s fascinating and we strongly recommend you check it out.

Per The City of Folly Beach’s website, the project will be 5 miles in length, will cost 18 million dollars, and is Federally funded. The project is expected to finish in September of 2024.

This nourishment will take sediment from the Folly River using 1,200,000 cubic yards of sediment to complete the project.

They are currently operating two separate pumps which will operate in areas of 1000 feet in length for 5-7 days at a time before moving up the beach. This is a great way to accomplish the process and means your favorite stretch of beach will only be closed for a week.

A big thanks to everyone working days and nights on the project and fingers crossed for some epic sand bars in then coming years!