Hilton Head Island, August 12, 2025

News Summary

Hilton Head Island is initiating a $47.5 million beach renourishment project to tackle coastal erosion caused by rising sea levels. Scheduled to begin in September 2025, the project aims to deposit 2.2 million cubic yards of sand along 15 miles of public beach. Funding will primarily stem from local accommodations tax revenue, reflecting the island’s commitment to preserving its shoreline amid increasing environmental challenges and rising costs.

Hilton Head Island Prepares for $47.5 Million Beach Renourishment Project Amid Rising Costs and Environmental Challenges

Hilton Head Island is set to embark on a significant beach renourishment project costing $47.5 million, aimed at countering the effects of coastal squeeze driven by rising sea levels and beach erosion. The project, which is slated to start on September 2, 2025, and conclude by May 2026, will place approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of sand on the island’s beaches.

This upcoming effort builds upon the town’s substantial investments in coastal preservation, which have totaled $83.6 million since the early 1980s. The growing costs of beach renourishment are a pressing concern, with prices rising from around $5 per cubic yard in the 1980s to $15 per cubic yard today. Factors driving these increases include heightened demand, competitive contractor bidding, and rising expenses associated with labor and environmental regulations.

Funding for the beach renourishment project will primarily come from the local accommodations tax program, which is collected from hotel and rental fees. Approximately two-thirds of the beach preservation fee is generated through this tax. The last beach renourishment initiative, which totaled $31.9 million, included $3 million from FEMA, while the collections from the beach preservation fee nearly doubled from $7 million in 2020 to $14 million in 2022.

Project Details and Timeline

The upcoming renourishment project will be executed in three phases, spanning along 15 miles of public beach. Construction will affect 200-300 feet of beach at a time, managed by bulldozers that will relocate sand sourced from offshore dredging. The first phase will commence at Fish Haul Beach, which will be temporarily closed for approximately five days as construction activities get underway.

Delays related to adverse weather and marine conditions have postponed the project start date from August 6 to September 2. To ensure efficiency and effectiveness, a consultant will monitor the project to assess and guide the necessary sand replacement areas throughout the construction period.

Addressing Environmental Challenges and Future Impact

Experts have projected that future beach renourishment efforts will need to occur more frequently as Hilton Head Island continues to face challenges from rising coastal waters and ongoing erosion. Previous projects have involved significant amounts of sand, with the initial renourishment effort bringing 2.3 million cubic yards of sand to the beaches at a cost of $24.6 million, when adjusted for inflation.

While experts argue that beach renourishment represents a worthy investment considering the rising value of coastal properties, many other South Carolina beaches struggle with a lack of federal funding for similar projects.

The beach renourishment initiative reflects Hilton Head Island’s commitment to preserving its natural coastline, enabling local communities to thrive amid the challenges posed by climate change.

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Additional Resources

• Dredging Today
• Wikipedia: Beach Renourishment
• Island Packet
• Google Search: Hilton Head Beach Renourishment
• AOL News
• Google Scholar: Hilton Head Beach Renourishment
• Baird Maritime
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Beach Erosion
• WSAV News
• Google News: Hilton Head Beach Renourishment

Author: STAFF HERE HILTON HEAD

The HILTON HEAD STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHiltonHead.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the RBC Heritage golf tournament, Hilton Head Island Wine & Food Festival, and the Gullah Celebration. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce and Community Foundation of the Lowcountry, plus leading businesses in tourism and hospitality that power the local economy such as Sea Pines Resort and Sonesta Resort Hilton Head Island. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAiken.com, HEREBeaufort.com, HEREChapin.com, HERECharleston.com, HEREClinton.com, HEREColumbia.com, HEREGeorgetown.com, HEREGreenwood.com, HEREGreenville.com, HEREHiltonHead.com, HEREIrmo.com, HEREMyrtleBeach.com, HERENewberry.com, HERERockHill.com, and HERESpartanburg.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into South Carolina's dynamic landscape.