Beach Renourishment Efforts Along the Grand Strand Have Begun. What it Means for our Community?
Beach renourishment has officially begun with work beginning in the Cherry Grove area of North Myrtle Beach. The United States Army Corps of Engineers started offshore equipment mobilization on Nov. 15 through Dec. 15 when work is set to begin. For the next three months, crews will move south, eventually ending in Garden City Beach in mid 2026. Please note all dates are subject to slight modifications.
Beach renourishment is more than a shoreline project. This is an investment in the long-term health of the entire Grand Strand community and the strength of the region’s vital tourism economy. The Grand Strand’s beaches are our number-one asset, supporting thousands of jobs, protecting billions in coastal property, and serving as the foundation for a visitor economy that fuels small businesses, hospitality operators and local tax revenues.
By restoring storm-damaged dunes and reinforcing the natural buffer between the ocean and our neighborhoods, renourishment helps safeguard residents, wildlife and infrastructure while ensuring that visitors can continue enjoying clean, wide and safe beaches. Preserving this essential resource is critical not only for today’s tourism industry but for the generations who will depend on a resilient and well-protected coastline.
Community Resource Page from Visit Myrtle Beach: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/beaches/beach-renourishment
Information Page from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: https://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Myrtle-Beach-Renourishment/fbclid/
Tracking Map: https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/266cbf20d5f84dec969d1e943cdbf618/page/Myrtle?org=cesac
Fast Facts:
- Purpose: Protect life, property, and wildlife along 60 miles of the Grand Strand.
- Cause: Severe erosion from Hurricanes Ian (2022) and Debby (2024).
- Scope: 2 million cubic yards of sand (≈200,000 dump trucks) placed across 26 miles of shoreline in Horry County.
- Schedule: Begins December 2025, wrapping by mid-summer 2026.
- Cherry Grove/North Myrtle Beach - starts December 2025
- City of Myrtle Beach - starts February 2026
- Surfside Beach & Garden City - starts April 2026
- Impact: Minimal. Each 1,000-foot work zone closed only 2–3 days; rest of beach remains open.
- Cost: $72 million, 100% federally funded.
- Environmental Protections: Daily monitoring for sea turtles and shorebirds; nests relocated; work halts if wildlife is present.
- Last Project: 2019; renourishment needed every 7–10 years depending on storms.
Work is limited to small, clearly marked sections of the beach at a time, and barriers, signage and sand crossovers are in place to guide you around equipment and pipelines. Crews operate 24/7, so heavy machinery and noise will be present, but you can still enjoy the beach safely by staying out of closed zones and crossing only where designated.
- Avoid closed areas
- Keep a wide distance from machinery
- Never disturb marked nests
Environmental monitors are also on site daily to ensure wildlife protection, making the project safe not only for people but for sea turtles, birds and marine life as well. The project is led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District in collaboration with North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, and Garden City.
FAQs, more information and access to a real-time tracking map can be found here: https://www.visitmyrtlebeach.com/things-to-do/beaches/beach-renourishment
