Save the Beach at Hunting Island

Save the Hunting Island Lighthouse

Mission:Friends of Hunting Island State Park, Inc. (FOHI) is a non-profit,

independent volunteer organization. FOHI preserves,

protects and enhances the natural and cultural resources of Hunting Island by educating the public and promoting a variety of programs.Founded 1993

501 ©(3)

History of Hunting Island Beach Nourishment Projects

• Since 1935, when the park was established there have been 8 nourishment projects:– 1969, 1971, 1975, 1980, 1991, 1999, 2003, 2006– 1991/2006 projects funded entirely by SC the rest

by Corps of Engineers with partial State funding• Since 1985, HISP has received $1.8M in

Federal and $8.8M State Funding which is 5% of total local, state, and federal funding to beach nourishment during that time period

History Continued

• In 2007, 6 of 9 planned groins were constructed to stabilize eroding beaches

• The groins have proven to be effective in diminishing the rate of erosion

• Beach areas that were supposed to be covered by the 3 unfunded groins have eroded at an alarming rate.

• The permit to construct the groins mandated that the groins must be maintained

Looking South in 2008

Groin just north of the lighthouse

This groin needs sand!

No longer stopping the sand

Sea oats help to build dunes by diminishing wind erosion

Sea oats have not stopped wave and surf erosion

Why Action Is Needed Now To Save Our Beach and Lighthouse

• Edisto Beach (to include part of Edisto State Park) plans to renourish their beach in 2016 and a joint effort with HISP will reduce costs for both beaches

• Fripp Island is considering an effort to remove sand bars blocking Fripp inlet

• 2016 funding requires State and Federal funds appropriated in 2015

• Estimated cost for HISP renourishment is $8M

What Happens if $8M is Not Allocated in 2015?

• Possible loss of opportunity to coordinate efforts to reduce transportation costs with Edisto and Fripp Islands.

• Funding effort shifts to 2016 for 2017 implementation• If the beach is not renourished in 2017, the groins

may have to be moved or removed at an estimated cost of $2M

• If the lighthouse groin is not maintained, the lighthouse will be threatened in less than 5 years – cost of moving the lighthouse again ????

What Happens ….?

• If the beach continues to erode and the lighthouse is lost, will over 1 million visitors continue to visit what remains of the park?

• Will the beaches continue to be rated highly by the travel magazines/websites?

• Will Port Royal’s Sands be the only public access beach in Northern Beaufort County?

What Can You Do to Save the Beach and Lighthouse?

• $8M cannot be raised by car washes and bake sales – only governments can raise that amount of funding for public parks

• $8M must come from Federal and State budgets with possible help from county and city ATAX revenues.

• Now is the time to insure candidates are made aware of the problem prior to this November’s elections

What Can You Do…?

• Contact your elected representatives and candidates with cards, letters, e-mails, phone calls and get their support to save the beach and the lighthouse

• Talk to local service clubs and other public gatherings and make them aware of the problem

• Send letters to the editor of all our local publications to inform and seek public support to save our beach and lighthouse.

Questions?