Following the recent approval of state and federal permits to begin reconstruction, the Folly Beach County Park Shore Stabilization Project is now in progress. While the park remains closed to the public at this time: the goal of the stabilization project is to replenish the beach and provide beach access for public use in the future, while carefully taking into account the site’s many environmental factors.
After a comprehensive study on the property and its habitats by Coastal Science and Engineering in 2012, CCPRC applied for permits with the Army Corps of Engineers to renourish the beach at Folly Beach County Park (FBCP) and build a structure called a groin that would extend 745 feet out to sea. Based on results from the study, the construction of the terminal groin will help retain the beach of FBCP over time.
In March and April of 2013, these permits were approved at the state and federal level. Contractors were selected and work has begun on the site, following a detailed timetable. In order to avoid interfering with the turtle habitat and nesting season, this timetable must be closely followed. To stay on track and for safety reasons, perimeter fencing now surrounds the parkland in order to keep visitors off of the property.
At its core, the project recommended by Coastal Science and Engineering involves renourishing the beach using sand excavated from a shoal in the Folly River, and building a terminal groin at the south end of the southernmost parking area.
Specifically, the beach will be renourished with up to 415,000 cubic yards of sand excavated from a borrow area in the river, which contains approximately 450,000 cubic yards of sand. Material will be piped from the borrow, following an easement established under the federal Folly River navigation project. Groin construction will take place coinciding with renourishment so that the newly constructed berm will provide a platform on which to build the groin. It will trap and hold sand until it has reached capacity, at which time the southerly flowing sand will bypass the structure. The groin will be built from steel sheet piles, with a protective concrete cap and armor-stone toe protection.
Two days ago, the crews have begun working around the clock dredging sand from the Folly River. Over 40,000 cubic yards of sand has been pumped since 4 p.m. on Sunday (25,000 cubic yards just from the project start through Monday at midnight). The goal this week is to establish a dry, longer beach on which the construction for the terminal groin can begin. Later this week, contractors working on building the terminal groin plan to begin mobilizing equipment, with plans for mid-next week to include bringing in the first loads of steel sheet piles and eventually driving the piles for the groin.
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Press Release, May 10, 2013