CSE is currently managing the Arcadian Shores Beach Renourishment Project (USACE P/N 2018-00319), which consists of the placement of ~475,000 cubic yards (cy) of beach-quality sediment along ~6,000 linear feet (lf) of shoreline between Apache Pier and Singleton Swash, and the realignment of the main channel in Singleton Swash. CSE is managing this project on behalf of the client, Horry County, with the contractor, Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company (GLDD). The anticipated start date for construction of this project is 20 December, with the majority of work completed by 15 January. After project completion, the dry high-tide beach between Apache Pier and Singleton Swash will be >100 ft seaward of its current position. This offers numerous benefits, including storm protection, recreation enhancement, and habitat creation for endangered species like Leatherback Sea Turtles.
The realignment portion of the project will place the primary outlet channel of Singleton Swash ~500-600 lf southwest of the Sands Beach Club using excavation equipment. The new channel will be ~20 ft wide at its base, and the northeastern bank will remain >450 lf from the Sands Beach Club. As of 14 December 2018, the outlet channel is located >1,000 lf southwest of the Sands Beach Club. The renourishment portion of the project encompasses three reaches (or lengths) of shoreline with Reach “1” beginning ~1,000 lf south of Singleton Swash and extending north ~2,000 lf. Reach “2” will extend 3,000 lf from Brigadune Condominiums to approximately Lake Arrowhead Road. Reach “3” will extend 1,000 lf north to Apache Family Campground Pier.
Sand will be obtained from an offshore borrow area within South Carolina state waters, excavated by ocean-certified hopper dredge, transported to a submerged pumpout line, then discharged onto the beach. The slurry will dewater naturally, then will be shaped and graded to slopes and elevations similar to the existing beach. No material will be placed landward of existing native beach vegetation. The majority of the nourishment volume will be placed along Reach “2” which has experienced above-average erosion in recent years.
For the duration of the project, GLDD will operate two active construction zones along Arcadian Shores. The first, known as the “landing point,” will be the location where the submerged pumpout line lands on the dry beach. The landing point will be located in front of the Sands Ocean Club Resort. The second construction zone will be the location at which equipment is shaping and grading the slurry delivered via pipeline, and will be known as the “discharge point.” This point will move throughout the project, beginning at the landing point, moving southwestward until reaching the project limit, then flipping back to the landing point and moving northeastward until project completion.
Annoyances like noise and disruption to access will be present but limited to the discharge point area as this will be the primary work zone within the project area. Given the project design, and history working with the contractors, we do not expect the discharge point to remain in front of any particular property for more than 2 days. Access to the beach will be restricted within ~200 lf of the discharge point in either direction, but pedestrians will be able to bypass the work site and walk along the beach. The landing point will not move but is simply a pipeline on the beach as opposed to an active construction zone. Pedestrians are asked to not approach or play on the pipeline, as it may contain flowing slurry and is part of the ongoing work.
CSE is an award-winning team of scientists and engineers who specialize in solving problems in the coastal zone. We have successfully completed over 40 beach restoration projects involving 70 miles of shoreline and over 30 million cy of sand. Collectively these projects have added ~800 acres of beach from New York to Antigua and protected over $10 billion in property. Three CSE projects (Isle of Palms SC, Nags Head NC, Folly Beach County Park SC) have received the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s (ASBPA) Best Restored Beach Award, and the Nags Head (NC) renourishment was the largest locally funded nourishment project ever constructed in the United States at 4.6 million cy.
In 2008, CSE managed the second Arcadian Shores beach renourishment project and realignment of Singleton Swash. This project is the third at this location (1998, 2008, 2018) and is modeled after the 2008 project; for more information on that project, see http://coastalscience.com/project-item/arcadian-shores-sc-renourishment/ or contact our Columbia office to speak with a project manager
