2019 Beach Renourishment Info, Myrtle Beach
May 1, 2019 – Beach renourishment oceanfront of Ocean Lakes Family Campground is complete. Today we confirmed with Sara Corbett, Public Affairs Specialist for the Charleston District, US Army Corps of Engineers, “We aren’t planning to renourish your area [Ocean Lakes] this summer.” Here is the Myrtle Beach Web Mapper.
According to the City of North Myrtle Beach, “The project, which replaces some 280,000 cubic yards of sand eroded by Hurricane Florence, originally was to merge with last year’s Hurricane Irma beach nourishment project but delays in completing the Myrtle Beach segment pushed the North Myrtle Beach segment into spring 2019.”
Additional information can also be found on DredgingToday.com.
The necessary beach renourishment (due to the 2017 storms) occurred Sunday, Aug. 19th – Weds. Aug. 23rd, 2018.
Use this link to track the project in Horry County (the Grand Strand area).
Learn About Beach Renourishment and Know the Facts | Watch our Video
Read our PAST Blogs for details about how Beach Renourishment works and why is it crucial to the preservation of the Grand Strand:
July 10th – Starting | July 11th – When at Ocean Lakes | July 25th – Underway at Surfside Beach
(Tip: enjoy great shell hunting during renourishment.)
How do the keep beaches open during the renourishment process?
Work happened in 2,000-foot sections with each section will be blocked off using plastic orange fencing. The beach by Ocean Lakes Family Campground stretches nearly 5,000 feet, so there was plenty of beach available while crews are working. One concern is often noise due to the heavy equipment (see photo below).
Is it Safe to Swim?
Yes, enjoy the ocean! We recommend swimmers enter the ocean water at least 50-100 yards away from the orange fencing. Why? Depending on the water’s current that day, you can “drift” down the beach while swimming, surfing, etc. An example, you’re swimming in the ocean only to emerge from the water and wonder where you beach stuff is (then you realize it is about 50 yards up the beach where you entered the water).
Use Caution – we don’t want swimmers drifting into the work zone (they cannot fence off the ocean). Be especially mindful of children in the water.
Will there be Enough Room on the Beach?
Yes. Soon there will be more room! Beach Renourishment pumps sand up onto the beach creating a bigger beach area. When all goes well (weather, machinery), crews can complete about 2,000 feet of beach per day. They fence off 2,000+ feet per day.
In most areas, the fencing will be set up to leave walkways near the dunes area. Please note, the timeline evolves based on weather and/or mechanical issues. You can track the progress via this link.