Posted on February 16, 2022
MURRELLS INLET — More than $6 million has been allocated from federal infrastructure bill for dredging the channel in Murrells Inlet — ensuring easier navigation for larger boats while also providing beach renourishment to Garden City Beach.
The last time the channel was dredged was in 2017, said Jeff Livasy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ programs and civil works chief in the Charleston District.
“We’re excited for the communities in Georgetown County that federal funding is available to us to complete this round of dredging,” he said.
An added benefit of the project will be the ability to place the dredged material — in this case beach-quality sand — at the south end of Garden City Beach, Livasy said.
With dredging projects, this is not always the case.
“Sometimes we have to put (the material) in upland placement areas, whereas this project will provide some coastal storm protection in terms of being able to put it on the beach,” Livasy said.
At this stage it’s too early to determine a timeline for completion, he said.
“Our project managers are just now going to be able to evaluate what the current conditions are and put together a project schedule that includes the procurement phase, which is actually getting the dredging companies to bid on us and making a contract award,” he said. “It will depend on when we get that solicitation on the street and how the industry responds.”
Whether $6 million cover the complete cost of the project is uncertain, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spokeswoman Glenn Jeffries said.
“We will complete estimates as part of the design process and project costs will be dependent on bids from the dredging industry,” she said.
Rick Baumann, owner of Murrells Inlet Seafood since 1967, said previous dredging projects have always had some benefits to commercial and charter fishing interests, which helps the local economy.
“You must understand that the need for dredging comes along every few years,” he said in an email. “As a result of the altered water flow, areas that were deep became silted in and shallow after the jetties were built.”
Baumann added that after each dredging, there is always some yang to the yin as well.
“Dredging has its obvious positives and eventual negatives — as new areas get silted in after dredging. I don’t think that dredging will improve or damage my business — but dredging is a necessary evil to keep the channel navigational for our fishing community,” he said.
The work is part of a $21 million federal funding package for water projects in South Carolina announced recently by U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia.
The dredging money comes from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed into law by President Joe Biden in November — making available $17.1 billion nationwide for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works program, which focuses on development and management of the nation’s water resources.
“The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding is critical to bringing South Carolina’s infrastructure into the 21st century,” Clyburn said in a statement. “As a coastal state, our economy is highly dependent on our water infrastructure for commerce and recreation.”
As the money arrives and surveys are updated, the agency will determine the scope of the project, he added.
Livasy said the process includes putting together a design that will then be sent out for bids from the dredging industry.
