Hunting Island after nourishment, Jun 2006
Hunting Island before nourishment, Feb 2006
Hunting Island has been a poster beach for opponents of nourishment because of the frequency and number of projects attempted. It is one of the places where one can truly say “this project will only last about three years.” But after all, should more longevity be expected for a beach that has lost up to 25 feet per year (ft/yr) since the 1940s?
Hunting Island’s erosion rate is ten times faster than Myrtle Beach’s and much of South Carolina’s developed coast. For years, it was the only beach in South Carolina receiving regular infusions of sand. Eight projects in 38 years added nearly 5.5 million cubic yards. Yet even with all this sand concentrated along the 4-mile-long island, today’s shoreline is hundreds of feet landward of the 1960 foredune.
Hunting Island before nourishment, Feb 2006
Hunting Island after nourishment, Jun 2006
The 2006 project differs from previous nourishments because it will be followed by construction of up to six groins. Strategic areas where groins will be placed are the campground, North Beach at the lighthouse, and the South Beach recreation area which received all the 2006 nourishment sand. In some places, the new dry beach is 175 ft wide. Like projects before it, these nourished areas will erode rapidly until groins are constructed (expected in fall 2006). With groins in place, the erosion rates will lessen significantly, but will not stop completely. Hunting Island will require future nourishment even with groins in place – just not as much or as often.
Turtles were among the beneficiaries of the 2006 nourishment project. Through July, 59 nests were recorded with 2 more recorded the first week of August compared with 90 nests recorded during all of the 2005 nesting season.