2023 Edisto Beach Renourishment - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Edisto Town Council and members of their political representation were invited to downtown Charleston on February 27, to sign a Project Partnership with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Though the beach renourishment agreement will not be actionable until 2025, this press conference included local TV media coverage, since beach projects represent tourism interests. Town administrator Mark Aakhus signed the documents before passing them to Mayor Crawford Moore and Lt. Col. Andrew Johannes. The window for implementation of this project is defined as not during any part of turtle nesting season, and will last three weeks.

Lt. Col. Johanness, Bubba Trippe, Edisto Town Council, Chip Campsen, Crawford Moore and Mark Aakus on Feb. 27

Johannes is District Commander for the Charleston District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). “We’ve been working with the Town of Edisto to reduce the chance for coastal storm flooding risks, with a plan that is feasible from an engineering standpoint,” said Johannes. “The plan is economically sound as well with USACE providing 65% funding and Town of Edisto 35%. USACE will be building a sand burn approximately 15-feet high, but only 5-feet of that will be visible in relativity to the existing beach. Charleston District civil projects include sand renourishment projects at other places like Pawley’s Island and Folly Beach too.”

Mayor Crawford Moore spoke next and thanked Johannes. “We are very excited about this project, because ultimately the beaches belong to the public and Edisto is a small family beach that welcomes partners like USACE,” said Crawford. State Senator Chip Campsen was present and commented that he is always happy to help Edisto. Colleton County Council member Bubba Trippe was in attendance. “The Edisto Beach Coastal Storm Risk Management Project will greatly benefits residents and visitors alike,” said Trippe.

The breakdown in funding is approximately $20 million dollars from USACE, and 10-million dollars from Town of Edisto Beach. “Approximately 3-million dollars will come from an in-kind credit the Town has from completion of past groin projects on the beach, and 7.5-million from S.C. Parks Department.,” said Moore. “The Accommodations Tax (ATAX) dollars the Town puts aside annually totals $250,000 to use towards future renourishment bills like this one. This agreement with USACE is a good deal for the Town of Edisto and we’ll be thinking of creative ways to partner with them again for future sand renourishment."

To view past blog entries from 2023 at Edisto click on Horseshoe Crab Awareness - Deer Herd Management - Botany Bay Volunteer Supper - Christmas Bird Count

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2022 click  #WhoYouWhit Benefit - Land Trust Oyster Roast - Edisto Belles Beach Walk - Edisto Billfish Tourney - I Love Edisto Auction - Botany Bay WMA Birding - Edisto Dolphin Slam 

To view past blog entries from Edisto in 2023 click  #WhoYouWhit Benefit- Edisto Water Sports Redfish Tourney - Edisto Beach Sweep - Manatee Sightings- Edisto River Sweep - CCA Barge Sunk off Edisto - Belles Beach Walk - Vacasa Purchases Atwood-  Gullah Blessing for Hutchinson House - Town Budget - Town Turtle Patrol - Edisto Billfish Tourney