Posted on September 8, 2026
ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCIV) — After 35 days of construction, Reach 1 of the Isle of Palms Beach Renourishment Project has been completed two weeks ahead of schedule.
According to a Wednesday release from the city, nearly 900,000 cubic yards of sand was moved and placed along Reach 1, extending from Mariner’s Walk to Dewees Inlet. For perspective, that is enough sand to fill roughly 275 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
Crews have moved to work on Reach 2, and not even after 24 hours of completion on Reach 1, crews already have began pumping sand near the Wild Dunes Property Owners Beach House. During this next phase, approximately 800,000 cubic yards of sand will be placed between the Beach House and 56th Avenue.
The city’s coastal engineers expect this next step to take approximately 45 days, although the dredging schedule reminds highly subject to weather conditions and active equipment maintenance. Once Reach 2 is complete, crews will move on to Reach 3 on the south end of the island, extending from the Isle of Palms Pier to Breach Inlet.
Project officials state that by the end of the effort, approximately 2.5 million cubic yards of sand will have been placed along the Isle of Palms shoreline, creating a wider beach and restored dune system. Together the restored beach and dunes provide a natural barrier against storm surge, erosion and flooding as well as expanded habitat for sea turtles, shorebirds, plants and other coastal species that call the Isle of Palms home.
