Posted on February 20, 2017
By Makenzie Holland, StarNews Online
Holden Beach could be on the receiving end of extra sand as a byproduct of a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredging project in the Lockwood Folly Inlet area.
The corps will be dredging at the intersection of the Lockwood Folly River and Intracoastal Waterway within the next couple of months and placing the beach-quality sand on Holden Beach.
About 60,000 cubic yards of additional sand could be removed, further improving navigation in the area and providing more sand for Holden Beach. Since removing the extra sand is not in the corps’ budget, the cost for the expanded project, about $456,000, would fall on the state, Brunswick County and Holden Beach.
Steve Stone, deputy county manager, said the state has already committed to paying $304,000, leaving a local share of $152,000 that would be split between the county and Holden Beach. The county has already approved $76,000, while Holden Beach will consider its contribution next week.
David Hewett, Holden Beach town manager, said the project would not only benefit Holden Beach, but surrounding areas as well.
“It benefits the entire area because it increases the safety of the waterway,” he said. “The byproduct is the sand.”
Stone said the sand would need to be placed on Holden Beach because, in general, a typical sand management plan dictates sand needs to be placed in the direction the current would take it. Additionally, Holden Beach already has permits in place for receipt of the sand.
Another tentative project to dredge the Lockwood Folly Inlet could benefit Holden Beach and Oak Island, Stone said.
The project would address shoaling that has occurred in the mouth of the inlet, or where the Lockwood Folly River empties into the ocean, and is eligible for state funding. A budget has not been confirmed, but the cost could be around $300,000.
Stone said as of right now a sidecast dredge is planned to be used for the project, which would simply move sand from one part of the ocean floor to another. If the corps uses a hopper dredge, it would capture sand that could replenish beachfronts and be more beneficial to the area.
“We’re going to see if there’s an opportunity in the near future to do that rather than a sidecast dredge,” Stone said.
Source: StarNews Online
