Beach Renourishment Project at Edisto a Success
At Edisto, Smiles Are As Wide as Newly Renourished Beach
From the Charleston Post & Courier; By Andy Paras
EDISTO BEACH - It's been two carefree months since a long-awaited renourishment project more than doubled the width of the town's incredibly shrinking beach.
Beachgoers can now stretch out in their chairs without worrying about kicking a dolphin.
Kids on boogie boards cruise to shore knowing they won't have to dodge traffic on Palmetto Boulevard, and for now the owners of the oceanfront houses can be confident they'll still have a home to accompany their tax bill.
"The beach looks better than I have ever seen the beach look, and I'm an old-timer," said Mayor Burley Lyons. "A healthy beach is a wealthy beach."
Using traffic counts and good old anecdotal evidence, Lyons said the beach is more populated than ever.
"So far, there's been no room at the inn," Lyons said. "Without a question or a doubt, during the Fourth of July weekend and week, there were more people on Edisto Beach than there ever have been, period."
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have room for everyone to stand.
For that to happen, the town collaborated with Colleton County and the state on an $8 million project to renourish the beach.
A dredge spread 850,000 cubic yards of sand over about 3.5 miles of beach in less than three months. The project was finished May 13, on time and within budget.
Lyons said the beach has been widened to about 100 feet during low tide.
"You can now walk down the beach without climbing over groins," Lyons said. "We did the right thing."
Many longtime lovers of Edisto Beach saw and heard about the beach widening for the first time this week when they and their families arrived for their annual vacations.
"It's awesome," said David Konigsberg of Atlanta, one of four brothers who bring their families here from all over the country each year. "We first came here 14 years ago, and this is how I remember it."
The Konigsberg family said they love the beach because of its anti-development attitude. "We love the fact that there's just one pizza parlor that doubles as a video store," David said.
Many people who have been coming to the beach for years described seeing the improved beach like seeing a family member with new cosmetic work; they love her now but they loved her anyway.
"There's no way we'd not come to Edisto," said Steve Konigsberg.
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Edisto, Hunting Island celebrate renewed beaches
Visitors now can enjoy a 100-foot-wide beach on Edisto Island and sea turtles have a huge expanse of sand to lay their eggs at Hunting Island following $16.3 million in renourishment projects....
From the Charleston Post & Courier; By Andy Paras
EDISTO BEACH - It's been two carefree months since a long-awaited renourishment project more than doubled the width of the town's incredibly shrinking beach.
Beachgoers can now stretch out in their chairs without worrying about kicking a dolphin.
Kids on boogie boards cruise to shore knowing they won't have to dodge traffic on Palmetto Boulevard, and for now the owners of the oceanfront houses can be confident they'll still have a home to accompany their tax bill.
"The beach looks better than I have ever seen the beach look, and I'm an old-timer," said Mayor Burley Lyons. "A healthy beach is a wealthy beach."
Using traffic counts and good old anecdotal evidence, Lyons said the beach is more populated than ever.
"So far, there's been no room at the inn," Lyons said. "Without a question or a doubt, during the Fourth of July weekend and week, there were more people on Edisto Beach than there ever have been, period."
Of course, it doesn't hurt to have room for everyone to stand.
For that to happen, the town collaborated with Colleton County and the state on an $8 million project to renourish the beach.
A dredge spread 850,000 cubic yards of sand over about 3.5 miles of beach in less than three months. The project was finished May 13, on time and within budget.
Lyons said the beach has been widened to about 100 feet during low tide.
"You can now walk down the beach without climbing over groins," Lyons said. "We did the right thing."
Many longtime lovers of Edisto Beach saw and heard about the beach widening for the first time this week when they and their families arrived for their annual vacations.
"It's awesome," said David Konigsberg of Atlanta, one of four brothers who bring their families here from all over the country each year. "We first came here 14 years ago, and this is how I remember it."
The Konigsberg family said they love the beach because of its anti-development attitude. "We love the fact that there's just one pizza parlor that doubles as a video store," David said.
Many people who have been coming to the beach for years described seeing the improved beach like seeing a family member with new cosmetic work; they love her now but they loved her anyway.
"There's no way we'd not come to Edisto," said Steve Konigsberg.
*********
Edisto, Hunting Island celebrate renewed beaches
Visitors now can enjoy a 100-foot-wide beach on Edisto Island and sea turtles have a huge expanse of sand to lay their eggs at Hunting Island following $16.3 million in renourishment projects....
