Storm Damage Reduction Project

 

Council Meeting Begin Process
Completed: Sep 5, 2014
Dec 31 2001
Reconnaissance Study
Completed: Aug 10, 2019
Feb 12 2004
Feasibility Study
Completed: Mar 20, 2014
Aug 10 2006
Public Hearing
Completed: Oct 29, 2006
Oct 29 2006
Public Hearing
Completed: Aug 26, 2013
Aug 26 2013
Feasibility Study Completed and Presented to Civil Works Board
Completed: Mar 20, 2014
Aug 10 2006
Federally Approved Project
Completed: Sep 5, 2014
Sep 5 2014
Preliminary Design Agreement
Feb 12 2015
Notification Project Funding Appropriated
Completed: Jul 5, 2018
Jul 5 2018
Public Hearing
Completed: Sep 24, 2018
Sep 24 2018
Public Hearing
Completed: Jan 14, 2019
Jan 14 2019
Mtg with USACE/Inlet Reach/PEL
Completed: Jan 30, 2020
Jan 30 2020
Letter to Inlet Reach Homeowners
Completed: Mar 3, 2020
Mar 2 2020
Council Meeting
Completed: May 19, 2020
May 19 2020
Council Meeting (withdraw from project)
Completed: Jun 11, 2020
Jun 11 2020
Council Meeting (Rescind Withdrawal)
Completed: Oct 8, 2020
Oct 8 2020
WRDA 2020 (Provision not included)
Completed: Dec 21, 2020
Dec 21 2020
Obtain State Funding
Completed: Jun 30, 2022
Jun 30 2022
Project Partnership Agreement Executed
Feb 27 2023
Beachfront Owners Public Meeting
Oct 30 2023
General Public Meeting
Nov 8 2023
Project Survey Work
Dec 11 2023

In 2001, the Town began working with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to develop the Town's Hurricane and Storm Damage and Reduction Project which received Congressional approval in 2014.  Even though the project was authorized, it did not receive obligated funds ($22.2 M) until appropriated in 2018.  This project was designed to reduced storm damages and also provide a more secure funding source.  The cost share is 65% fed/35% local on the initial construction and 50%/50% on subsequent nourishments.  The cost share for storm damage is 100% federal. 

This project consists of 16,530 feet long, 15 feet high, 15 feet wide vegetated dune along Atlantic Reaches. It also includes 16,530 feet berm built at the existing berm height (7ft). The berm would start at the Atlantic Reach South (15 ft high dune), and would gradually taper over 1,900 feet into a 50 feet wide berm that would extend 6,330 feet along the Atlantic Reaches. The berm would widen over another 560 feet into a 75 ft wide berm that would extend 7,740 feet to Groin 1.

The initial project included the inlet reach and the Town has asked this be removed.  The groin portion of the project as initially proposed was completed by the Town in 2017. 

 

Mark Aakhus, Project Manager

United States Army Corps of Engineers, Chrissa Waite

Documents

June 11, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes
June 11, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes
October 8, 2020 Council Meeting Minutes

Project Updates

USACE Response to Town's Request for a Time Extension
Friday, June 4, 2021

On June 4, 2021, the Town received the USACE response to the Town's request more time. 

Project Modifications
Monday, April 5, 2021

The modified project removes Inlet Reach 1 and Inlet Reach 2.

 The revised project consists of the following elements: 1) A 15-foot high (elevation), 15-foot wide dune beginning at the northern end of the project (i.e., Reach E15 – the southern end of Edisto Beach State Park) and extending southward along the beach for 16,530 feet.  This dune would be fronted by a 7-foot high (elevation) berm.  The first 7,740 feet of berm length would have a width of 75 feet.  The width would taper to a 50-foot width over the remaining length of the berm.  The width of each end of the berm would taper to match the existing beach profile; 2) Beginning at Reach I4, the dune would transition to a 14-foot high, 15-foot wide dune that extends around the end of the island for 1,046 feet, with appropriate tapers.  No berm would be constructed in front of this dune because the existing beach profile provides an adequate berm

Beachfront Management Committee Supports Project
Monday, October 19, 2020

The Beachfront Management Committee comprised of residents of the Town voted to support continued negotiations with the USACE on October 19, 2020.

Council Rescinded Previous Action
Thursday, October 8, 2020

After discussions with the USACE and legislators Council rescinded the previous action withdrawing from the project as long as negotiations proceed.  The USACE indicated the easement language regarding the word perpetual could be revised which was one of the major concerns from the beachfront owners who commented on the draft easement.  They would not remove public use language.  The Town has been working with legislators regarding obtaining in-kind credit for the previous beach nourishment project.  

Council Meeting
Thursday, September 10, 2020

Update to Council on discussions with USACE in executive session (no minutes).  

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