Posted on July 21, 2025
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FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCSC) – Folly Beach is looking better than ever; at least, that’s the CliffsNotes version of the most recent post-renourishment monitoring report.
Nicole Elko and her coastal consulting business released the report on Wednesday, detailing the conditions of the beachfront after a year since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers brought in sand to rebuild the beach following years of erosion.
“There are 1.4 million cubic yards of sand along Folly Beach, and normally, a project is between 1.2 and 1.4 million. So, that means that we didn’t really lose a lot of sand. We experienced very little erosion on Folly over the last year,” Elko said.
A wide, sandy beach makes a great barrier against storms, but it is also being noticed by beachgoers as well.
“You notice a difference. You notice a difference in energy with people and how they treat the beach. It’s more respectful, and it just looks healthy,” said beachgoer Kyle Johnson. “It’s gorgeous. We love coming down here.”
Hurricane Ian and Tropical Storm Nicole swept through Folly Beach in 2022, leaving the beach heavily eroded. The storm exposed buried beach infrastructure at the time and prompted the renourishment program.
Elko says Folly Beach gets a renourishment program every five to seven years. Not only does the new sand shore up the beach environment and protect property, but it also provides for the beach industry.
“There’s no other industry out here. People don’t come to Folly Beach to work at a textile plant, right? The beach is the main attraction, and it drives their tourism industry,” Elko said. “So, without the beach, the City of Folly Beach would cease to exist. So, it’s critically important not just for storm protection but for economic benefits.”
The latest renourishment started in the spring of last year and brought in 1.2 million cubic yards of sand in total, costing $18 million. That cost was picked up by the federal government through the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
While renourishment directly benefits Folly Beach, the success of the barrier island is just as important for inland communities.
“So, the barriers are our first line of defense along our coast, protecting larger inland communities like the City of Charleston, like Georgetown, farther to the north,” Elko said. “The barrier islands really do take the brunt of the storm energy so that the inland communities receive less.”
Elko says the dunes you see on the beach are higher and more robust than ever.
