ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — Sand pumping began Sunday in the Mariner’s Walk area as Isle of Palms launched the first phase of a major beach renourishment project aimed at fighting erosion and protecting the island’s shoreline. The work is part of a long-term beach management plan that will place up to 2.5 million cubic yards of sand along nearly 19,200 feet of beachfront.
Residents and visitors can expect to see heavy equipment, pipelines and active construction zones on the beach as the project develops, officials said. While work areas will be fenced off, the beach will remain open, with pedestrians generally able to walk around construction zones. Sand ramps will be installed to provide safe access across dredge pipelines and to the ocean.
The project comes as Isle of Palms continues to address chronic erosion along portions of its coast, particularly in the Wild Dunes area and near Breach Inlet. Sand for the project is being dredged from an offshore borrow area about two miles southeast of the island…