This presentation was given at the 2011 Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It summarized the Town of Hilton Head Island's beach management program, which includes regular beach monitoring, renourishment projects using nearby sand sources, and stabilizing structures. The program has widened beaches, increased recreation areas, and protected development from erosion at a total cost of $40 million. Future projects aim to maintain current beach conditions with smaller volumes of sand rather than continual widening.

1. This presentation was presented at the Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Conference 2011 (ESTC 2011), held in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, USA, from September 19th-21st. Organized by The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), the ESTC is a unique annual conference providing practical solutions to advance sustainability goals for the tourism industry.Learn more about the ESTC: http://www.ecotourismconference.orgESTC on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ESTC_TourismESTC on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ESTC.TourismThe International Ecotourism Society | web www.ecotourism.orgemail info@ecotourism.org | tel +1 202 506 5033

2. BEACH RENOURISHMENT & MARINE ENVIRONMENTScott P. Liggett, P.E.ScottL@hiltonheadislandsc.govEcotourism and Sustainable Tourism ConferenceSeptember 19-21, 2011 – Hilton Head Island, SC

3. Presentation OverviewTown’s Beach Management Program

4. Overview

5. Project History

6. Funding

7. Port Royal Sound Shoreline Restoration and Stabilization ProjectTown of Hilton Head Island, SCIncorporated in 198354 square milesApproximately 1200 acres of Town Property – 144 Parcels13 miles of beach8 beach access parks56 miles of pathwaysPopulation – 40,000 (approx.) Visitors 2,235,000 annually

8. Atlantic Coast (Beach Processes)Port Royal Sound (Beach and Inlet Processes)South Beach (Beach and Inlet Processes)Island’s Sandy Shorelines

9. Early PlanningIncorporated Town immediately identified the need for a beach management strategy

10. 1986 - Shore Protection Task Group was created

11. Semi-annual beach monitoring initiatedMid-1980 Beach Conditions/IssuesAreas of Highly Erosional Shoreline

12. Chronic Sediment Deficit (northern 2/3)

13. Need for Comprehensive Protection of Upland

14. Minimal Dry Beach (over 9,000 feet of oceanfront armoring)

15. Potential impacts from Port Royal Sound Federal Navigation Project Typical Pre-Project Conditions - North Forest Beach

16. (1995)Typical Pre-Project Conditions - The Folly

17. 1995Typical Pre-Project Conditions – Port Royal Sound

18. Alternatives for Long-Term Strategy (1986)(Initial Program Philosophy)No Action

19. Encourage Individuals to Protect Themselves (walls, limited sand placement, etc.)

20. Restore and Maintain Entire Beach System with Comprehensive Approach

21. Program FoundationComprehensive Beach Restoration

22. Comprehensive Beach Monitoring

23. Strategic use of shore-stabilizing structures to improve performance/increase longevity of beach nourishment

24. Use of near-island sand sources, as available

25. Attempt to control seaward advancement of development and protect beach/dune resourcesBenefits of Comprehensive Beach Management ProgramRecreational – Provides/maintains recreational amenity for tourists and residentsStorm/Erosion Protection – Provides/maintains bufferbetween ocean and uplandEnvironmental – Maintain beach habitat for turtles, birds, etc.FEMA Benefits - Increase in “open space”BeachMonitoringIsland-wide Beach Monitoring Program51 Beach Monitoring Stations (32 original)

26. Semi-annual survey data dating back to 1986

27. Annual Aerial PhotographyOverall Beach ConditionsShoreline Position Change Rates

28. Beach volume status/change ratesComprehensive Project Planning

29. Hilton Head IslandBeach Monitoring StationsAugust 20, 2008

30. HiltonHeadIslandBeachFillProjectHistory1990 - Initial Restoration of Atlantic Shorefront1997 - Renourishment of Atlantic Shorefront - Channel Relocation (Port Royal Plantation) - Restoration of a Portion of the Port Royal Shoreline - Terminal Groin at the Folly1999 - South Beach Emergency Beach Fill Project2006/07 – Renourishment of Atlantic Shorefront- Renourishment of Port Royal Plantation - Renourishment of South Beach - Restoration of Fish Haul/Spa - Six Detached Breakwaters at the Folly

31. 1990 – Atlantic Restoration/ Channel Relocation1997 – Atlantic Renourishment/Port Royal Restoration1999 – South Beach Restoration/220,000 cy2006/07-Atlantic-Port Royal-South Beach Renourishment / Fish Haul RestorationProject History

32. Program SummaryApproximately 7.5 MCY placed

33. Approximately 5.5 MCY remain

34. Atlantic shorefront is ~ 200 wider, on average, than pre-1990 conditions