South Carolina Beach Advocacy hosts 10th Annual Beach Conference

SULLIVAN’S ISLAND S.C. (WCBD)– Recent storms and high tides highlight the continued erosion problem on Lowcountry beaches.

Local governments and beach communities have taken steps to mitigate the issue, but they say more action is needed. Advocates around the state met at the South Carolina Beach Advocates Conference in Myrtle Beach this week to discuss possible solutions.

The goal is to create a long-term plan to renourish and protect South Carolina’s beaches, which have recently suffered from significant erosion.

While renourishment projects are underway in many areas – leaders are hoping for more support from state and federal agencies. During his State of the State address, Governor Henry McMaster promised that protecting our beaches would be a priority this year.

“I’m recommending $33 million be appropriated to identify and preserve culturally or environmentally significant properties provide disaster recovery and flooding litigations and efforts as well as beach renourishment projects along our coast,” said McMaster.

The process is ongoing, and officials hope to start working on the renourishment project in the year’s second quarter.