Posted on November 28, 2022
For generations, families have visited South Carolina to enjoy its southern charm and historical coastal cities.
But according to a new “State of the Beach” report, which grades how each state is maintaining its coastlines, South Carolina has earned a “C” grade, meaning their is some room for improvement.
The state, according to the report, is doing a “decent job” of coastal management and continues to implement strong policies mitigating beach nourishment and restricting coastal armoring.
The report also claims that “despite having good policies in place to manage sand and erosion, the state needs to limit all new development in flood zones and advance sea level rise planning work.”
Listed below is how the report detailed the Palmetto state’s ranking, by section.
Beach grade according to the State of the Beach report for 2022.
Sediment Management: OK
South Carolina requires that coastal municipalities complete beach management plans. These plans include monitoring requirements and analysis of nourishment projects.
The state does an effective job of analyzing physical and ecological implications of beach nourishment, including protecting critical turtle habitat, spawning seasons and migratory movements of important marine species.
Coastal Armoring: OK
South Carolina has included living shorelines in its coastal management strategies for 20 years and has solid policies restricting armoring.
Regarding living shorelines, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control issued new regulations defining and setting performance standards for living shorelines to help support their effective implementation.
The state completely prohibits the use of new seawalls and mandates that coastal towns adopt a ‘40-year retreat policy’ in their local management plans. In addition, the state prohibits rebuilding or increasing previously built seawalls. Severely damaged seawalls must be removed at the owners’ expense. Unfortunately, groins are allowed, detailed the report.
Development: BAD
The state has good setback standards, which are 40 times the average annual erosion rate and no less than 20 feet from the top of the main sand dune at ocean coastlines.
Setback lines are also revisited every seven to 10 years.
The report details that, “Unfortunately, the rebuilding of structures located seaward of setback lines that are destroyed due to natural hazards is allowed. The state recognizes the coastal dunes as important buffers for development; however, the state would benefit from codified policies to ensure the protection of these buffers.”
Sea Level Rise: OK
Within the past few years, the state has worked to improve sea level rise planning.
While the state has a sea level rise vulnerability assessment, it is fairly broad.
The ‘Climate Change Impacts to Natural Resources in South Carolina’ contains good adaptation methods.
However, none of these adaptation recommendations have been implemented or codified. In addition, the report claims that there is minimal community awareness or educational resources about climate change and sea level rise are provided on state websites.
Recommendations listed below are according to the report
- Prohibit the rebuilding of coastal structures seaward of the setback line that were destroyed due to natural hazards.
- Remove coastal armoring exceptions currently in place.
- Develop and implement an adaptation plan using outlined policies and management recommendations in the Adapting to Shoreline Change report.
- Establish stronger restrictions on developments in coastal hazard areas and locations seaward of the baseline.
- Conduct a thorough sea level rise vulnerability assessment.
- Require that repairs of coastal structures from storms are restricted, retreated or built to higher standards.
- Develop state websites with educational resources and guidelines for coastal communities to prepare for climate change and sea level rise.
- Remove exemptions for golf courses to build in coastal hazard areas.
- ensure that management agencies have jurisdiction to adequately enforce regulations.
