The long awaited beach renourishment project is finally underway. It is phenomenal to watch. I headed to the beach Wednesday afternoon to see the process and progress. It looks like a huge movie set. Tons of slurry is being pumped in from off shore, then spewed all over the beach where bulldozers work around the clock spreading it out. ( the slurry will settle out after a couple of days, leaving behind a beautiful sandy beach)
If you remember earlier pictures, there were mountains of sandbags stretching from Shipwatch Villas to Ocean Club Villas. The bags are now gone and the "new" beach is rapidly taking shape. There is still a lot to be done, but the sheer size and scope of the work is incredible. The entire job has to be completed by July 31, 2008, just as the Loggerhead Turtles begin to come ashore to lay their eggs (an equally exciting show) To see current pictures (June 3, 2008) click here.
So far so good for what state Sen. Chip Campsen describes as a "creative way" to finance beach renourishment at the Isle of Palms as well as four other beaches in the state that are rated as the most endangered. The senator's legislation, which passed its first crucial test last week, doesn't involve either state or federal taxpayer funding. Instead, his Beachfront Finance Act would allow the five beach communities rated as having the worst erosion problems to keep all of their locally-generated accommodations tax dollars at home rather than sharing them with other parts of the state.
The senator tells us that he came up with the idea after being contacted by Isle of Palms officials about introducing legislation aimed at making the public beach inside the gates of the Wild Dunes resort eligible for state and federal funding. Sen. Campsen tells us he has since advised island officials that the bill, which would make changes to the definition of public beach access, stands no chance of passing.
The senator tells us he had qualms about the first bill from the outset, but felt it was his duty as the senator from the area to try to assist with the island's critical erosion problem. Meanwhile, he said, he began considering other ways to help the island save its erosion-threatened northern end that includes the Wild Dunes properties. The result was the Beachfront Finance Act that got a unanimous nod from a Senate Finance subcommittee Tuesday. Basically, the bill removes the so-called "Robin Hood" provision from the state accommodations tax for the five beach communities that are rated as having the most critical erosion problem. That annual rating would be done by the state Office of Coastal Resource Management.
The state's accommodations tax has a complex "Robin Hood" formula that guarantees those counties with virtually no public accommodations a minimum rebate that comes from the "donor" counties that bring in the most funds. The Campsen legislation would allow the top five endangered beach communities to keep all of their accommodations tax to combat beach erosion. Sen. Campsen estimated that would mean an estimated $95,000 annually for the Isle of Palms. Those funds, he said, are critical to finance the proposed $2 million bond issue island officials hope to issue to deal primarily with the beach problem at Wild Dunes.
Sen. Campsen convincingly argues that it is only fair to allow the island communities that face the worse erosion problems to keep all the accommodations tax their facilities generate. To require those communities to share some of their funds with other counties would be equivalent to asking New Orleans to send some of the money it needs for hurricane relief elsewhere, he said.
The senator tells us that he was particularly encouraged by the reception the bill got from the subcommittee that was composed of Upstate senators, including some whose counties would lose some of the "Robin Hood" funds. He advised Isle of Palms Mayor Mike Sottille by letter that those senators "understood the dire predicament many coastal communities are in, and the equity contained in the bill." He also cautioned, however, that the legislation "still has a long way to go" before it becomes law.
The legislation certainly has equity on its side. Clearly the accommodations tax is an appropriate source of funding for beach renourishment since it is paid by those who come to visit the communities in question primarily because of their location and access to the water. Sen. Campsen now is on the right course.
Isle of Palms aims to get rolling on beach renourishment by spring By Prentiss Findlay (Contact) The Post and Courier Tuesday, January 15, 2008
ISLE OF PALMS — Construction of a new beach that would offer protection to dozens of condominiums threatened by tides at the erosion-scarred northeast end of the island is likely to begin six months earlier than projected, officials said Monday.
"Obviously, time is of the essence. We were advised that we should request an earlier start time if possible," said Tim Kana, president of Coastal Science & Engineering of Columbia.
Kana said regulatory agencies suggested moving the project start time up to spring. "I think it's doable," he said. The city on Monday asked state Ocean and Coastal Resource Management and the Army Corps of Engineers to approve pumping up to 885,000 cubic yards of sand on 2.6 miles of beach from 47th Avenue to Dewees Inlet, according to a copy of the new application. The endangered homes are at the northern reach of the project, toward the inlet. Previously, the project was expected to start in November.
The city's estimated 20 percent share of the cost of the $9.7 million project could change after the project is bid and a contractor selected, said City Manager Linda Lovvorn Tucker. Wild Dunes, where the worst erosion threatens condos, would pay $6.8 million through its affected property owners, the Wild Dunes Community Association and Wild Dunes Resort.
"We're very confident that we will be able to obtain the balance of the full amount of the project," said Dave Kynoski, association general manager.
Meanwhile, a temporary restraining order is set to expire today that was won by Wild Dunes property owners to keep OCRM from removing sandbags from in front of six condominium complexes and two other properties. Lawyers have scheduled a conference for Thursday, and the regulatory agency won't take any action before then, Dan Burger, OCRM communications director, said in an e-mail.
The city met with Charleston County Council and sent a letter to OCRM regarding their possible funding of the effort to address the erosion problem, but it hasn't gotten a response from, Tucker said.
City Council on Thursday approved a plan to borrow $2,013,500 for the project using hospitality and accommodations tax revenue. Mayor Mike Sottile said OCRM is providing guidance to the town on the accelerated schedule for the beach renourishment project. Although much of the erosion-scarred beach up for replenishment is at gated Wild Dunes, the beach renourishment is an important effort for the entire island, he said.
"Two years from now, we could have erosion at Breach Inlet. We're breaking new ground here as far as what we're doing. We're setting a precedent," he said.
The S.C. Department of Natural Resources made recommendations regarding the depth and location of the underwater digging that have been incorporated in the revised application, which also includes U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service draft recommendations that the beach renourishment project happen outside the main turtle nesting and hatching season. The agency also suggests that contributions be made to the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge Turtle Project to offset impacts to loggerhead sea turtles. The USFWS says the contractor can put sand on the affected area of beach only once during the project.
The Isle of Palms recently held a contentious election for four City Council seats. For weeks there was quite a bit of mudslinging, recanting of promises, a lot of he said, she said, and then...the vote. Three incumbents were ousted and one retained his seat. The elected are: Ryan Buckhannon (the sole incumbent), Brian Duffy, Michael Loftus and Ralph Piening. All four of the winners have pledged to do something about the erosion that plagues the north end of the island.
A City of Isle of Palms beach management plan is now in front of the Corps of Engineers for approval, and the engineers hired by the The Wild Dunes Community Association have submitted their report to the CA, outlining both a short term and long term solution to the erosion. My hope is that a permit request will be forthcoming.
I'll keep you posted so keep checking here or give me a call.
As we look harder and serve better buyers, we've found that video is one of the tools buyers want to see more. No more previewing from the back seat of an SUV - at least not so much.
Here's a quick video on 57 Grand Pavilion in Wild Dunes. Enjoy.
... and it's a divisive issue in the coming Town Council elections here on the Isle of Palms.
I'm a lifelong resident here on the IOP, so my long view is that the beach changes every few years. Much like real estate activity in general, I expect the beach to improve in the coming months and years. But some are pretty nervous, understandably.
Everyone loves the beach, and Mother Nature is no exception. Over the past few years she has been taking her normal "bite" at our sand dunes in the winter and, unfortunately, continuing her feast on our shoreline in the summer. The result is that Wild Dunes has experienced severe erosion at the north end of the island, affecting the Links golf course, condominiums and homes. It is not a pretty picture.
As always, there are at least two sides to every situation, and this is no exception. Do we renourish the beach and protect owners' and Destinations Wild Dunes' properties, or let Mother Nature have her way? This question is hotly debated, and whatever the decision, Mother Nature is not waiting around to hear it.
Well, summer may just be behind us. Mark and I have shut down the AC today, opened up the windows and have a strong breeze blowing through the house. It is wonderful and hopefully here to stay.
However, the stong northeast wind has not been kind to our beach. As many of you know, the north end of the island has been experiencing erosion that has affected some of the condominimum neighborhoods at Wild Dunes and the 18th fairway of the Links course. There has been a lot of discussion and information...and as it happens hearing something 3rd or 4th hand, some misinformation. With that in mind, I am including this link to the best information I have seen recently. Please give me a call if you have any questions after you read through it.
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