Surveying for Folly Beach Renourishment

GEL’s surveys and photographs are being used to evaluate erosion/accretion values as well as potential impacts associated with the beach renourishment and terminal groin project.

The Client

Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission

The Challenge

Beach renourishment and construction of a terminal groin was completed at Folly Beach County Park in June 2013.  Approximately 415,000 cubic yards of sand were placed on the beach.  These activities were conducted in accordance with permits issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (SCDES). 

Special and General Conditions contained in the SCDES Critical Area and Water Quality Certification Permit Number 2012-237-21G issued on March 27, 2013, which include requirements to conduct routine surveys for 10 years following construction of the groin to document shoreline conditions.  The requirements include erosion monitoring surveys, aerial photographic reviews, sand compaction surveys, and borrow area surveys.

Gel Engineering Services Provided

GEL has been contracted by Charleston County Parks & Recreation Commission (CCPRC) to conduct the required surveys.  GEL provides the following services:


• Erosion monitoring surveys
• Aerial photograph reviews
• Annual sand compaction surveys
• Annual borrow area surveys

The Results

The data collected to date document how erosion and accretion occur at Folly Beach County Park.  Where sand erodes at one location, it accretes at another. This migration occurs naturally and is to be expected.  The monitoring surveys will track this migration of sand and document the effects from the recent (2014) renourishment operations up-drift of the park, and the terminal groin.

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