Isle of Palms to hear from community members on shoal management project on Wednesday

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. (WCBD) – Isle of Palms residents will have the chance to meet with local leaders on Wednesday to discuss a possible shoal management project that could relocate sand across the shoreline.

The island has applied for permits to move sand to the northwest side of the island, but local leaders say sand is needed in front of some of the houses at the Wild Dunes Resort. But, where they get that sand is why residents and officials are meeting Wednesday.

With hurricane season approaching, Isle of Palms city leaders say this project is working to prevent erosional issues along the shoreline.

According to the Isle of Palms city council, there are two main options on where sand is pulled from that would be added to parts of the beach surrounding the Wild Dunes.

The first would be from a shoal or sandbank right in front of Wild Dunes. Still, if there’s not enough sand to do that, Isle of Palms leaders say the second option would look at taking sand from a healthier part of the shoreline, possibly between 44th and 53rd Ave, and moving it in front of the needed location.

News 2 heard from Isle of Palms City Councilmember Blair Hahn, who says Wednesday’s meeting is important before any decisions are made surrounding this project’s permits.

“The permits are not without controversy and that’s why we’re having a meeting to get public opinion,” he said. “I think it’s an educational meeting, people need to understand what the permit process is and what the permits are asking for, and once they understand that, they can make their own decisions and can then be vocal through the permitting process.,” said Hahn.

If you want to join in on Wednesday’s community meeting for Isle of Palms residents, it begins at 5 pm at the recreation center on 28th Ave.

Officials say if the shoal management project is approved construction could begin as early as the end of 2024 and early 2025.