Since the sand scraping work began on 10/15/26, high winds and wave energy have created challenges. To expedite the placement of sand at Boardwalk 9 ahead of anticipated king tides, an additional sand hauling route is being added over roads.
Beginning today (10/21/26), sand will be hauled from Boardwalk 1 to a beach access path behind Beach Club Villas to be placed at Boardwalk 9. The sand hauling route is shown in the figure below.
Sand will be hauled along this route for 3-4 weeks.
Sand hauling along the beach will resume after this time. Please exercise patience if you encounter sand hauling trucks on the roadway.
The Town has adopted Emergency Ordinance 2026-01 (Amended) to establish temporary beach rules while SIPOA conducts its sand scraping project.
The temporary rules are intended to help protect residents, visitors, wildlife, marine life, and sensitive shorebird and sea turtle habitats while construction vehicles are operating on the beach. The sand transfer project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
All temporary beach rules go into effect on October 15, 2026.
Pet Rules:
A restricted beach area will extend from Boardwalk #1 to the Atlantic Ocean and northeast to Captain Sams Inlet. Pets will not be permitted in this restricted area at any time, whether leashed or unleashed.
In all other areas of the beach, pets must be kept on a leash at all times.
Beach Fires:
Fires, open flames, and propane-fueled grills, cookers, or heating devices will not be permitted during this time.
Nighttime Beach Access:
Public access to Seabrook Island beaches will be prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
Starting today, October 1, off-peak season beach rules are in effect. This means pets may be off a leash at all times, provided they remain effectively controlled while on the beach. For a full map of where pets are allowed on the beach go to our website here.
However, starting October 15, 2026, all temporary beach rules listed below will go into effect.
The Town has adopted Emergency Ordinance 2026-01 (Amended) to establish temporary beach rules while SIPOA conducts its 2026 sand scraping project.
The project is expected to be completed by December 31, 2026.
Pet Rules
A restricted beach area will extend from Boardwalk #1 to the Atlantic Ocean and northeast to Captain Sams Inlet. Pets will not be permitted in this restricted area at any time, whether leashed or unleashed. In all other areas of the beach, pets must be kept on a leash at all times.
Beach Fires
Fires, open flames, and propane-fueled grills, cookers, or heating devices will not be permitted during this project.
Nighttime Beach Access
Public access to Seabrook Island beaches will be prohibited between sunset and sunrise.
These rules will be in effect from October 15 – December 31.The town will put signs on the beach explaining these temporary rules in the next few weeks.
Map of temporary beach pet rules. In effect starting: October 15, 2026.
SIPOA will begin the 2026 sand scraping project on October 15th. A general site layout for the project is shown below. The contractor will begin mobilizing to the site and staging equipment at the end of boardwalk 2 on October 12th. A table outlining the impacts to all SIPOA boardwalks is also provided below.
The project will be completed no later than December 31st
Residents are allowed to use the beach during construction, but should exercise caution when construction equipment is active on the beach.
Dogs will be required to be on leash at all times during construction.
Use this link to access the full Get the Scoop presentation from 9/14/26 that outlines the sand scraping project here.
Thank you for your patience as we work to keep our shoreline in great condition.
SIPOA maintains a wide range of infrastructure on the island including stormwater, roads, beaches, and lakes. In an effort to help educate residents on how SIPOA manages this infrastructure, we have created an Infrastructure Master Plan. This page serves as a dashboard that outlines SIPOA’s infrastructure management practices. Each month we will highlight a different piece of the Infrastructure Master Plan.
SAND TRANSPORT ON SEABROOK ISLAND
Seabrook Island’s shoreline is a dynamic system with sand moving in and out constantly based on a variety of variables. This dynamic nature means that the shape of Seabrook’s shoreline is always changing. More detailed information on how sand moves on and around Seabrook is outlined here.
FUN FACT: Shoal bypassing is how sand transports across tidal inlet from one shoreline to the next. At Seabrook Island, and in SC in general, sand naturally transports from north to south.
Today, SIPOA installed some equipment on the beach above the high tide line near Boardwalk 6. This equipment will allow us to count trucks of sand on the beach during the upcoming sand scraping project. It is currently being tested and will remain in place until the sand scraping project is complete.
Please do not touch or disrupt the equipment if you see it on the beach. Thanks for your help with this!
Next month, SIPOA will begin a sand scraping project to relocate sand from an area of the beach with an abundant sand supply to an area of the beach with a diminished sand supply.
150,000 cubic yards of sand will be moved from the intertidal beach in the area in front of Boardwalk 1 to the area between Boardwalks 7 and 9. Many residents have noticed the erosion at the end of Boardwalk 9 and the recently closed Boardwalk 7. This project will rebuild the dry sand beach in these areas and in front of the seawall.
If you would like to know more about this project and/or other beach management-related topics, please plan to attend the next Get the Scoop Presentationon September 14that 3:00 PM at Oyster Catcher Community Center. Patrick Barrineau (Coastal Science & Engineering) and I will present on the sand scraping project. They will also provide an update on the status of the future Captain Sams Inlet Relocation project.
SIPOA maintains a wide range of infrastructure on the island including stormwater, roads, beaches, and lakes. In an effort to help educate residents on how SIPOA manages this infrastructure, we have created an Infrastructure Master Plan. This page serves as a dashboard that outlines SIPOA’s infrastructure management practices. Each month we will highlight a different piece of the Infrastructure Master Plan.
Managing Seabrook Island’s Dynamic Shoreline
When Seabrook Island was developed in the 1970’s, the beach looked very different than it does today. Several unsuccessful shoreline management strategies were implemented before finally establishing stability through an innovative inlet relocation program.
The history of Seabrook Island’s Shoreline Management Program is outlined here.
FUN FACT: Did you know the 2026 sand scraping project will mark the 12th time SIPOA has completed the work?
Many residents have noticed the erosion that has occurred at Boardwalk 9. In the past several years, erosion has shortened the length of this boardwalk and caused some significant changes to the beach in this area. Currently, the boardwalk is open and accessible, but residents access the beach differently than they have in the past, as shown in the attached photo.
There are plans to improve the condition of the beach in this area. SIPOA plans to conduct a sand scraping project to relocate 150,000 cubic yards of sand along Seabrook Island’s shoreline. The sand scraping permit requires that this work be completed between October 1 and December 31 to avoid impacts to beach habitat. Beginning in October 2026, sand will be collected from the intertidal beach in the area in front of Boardwalk 1, and hauled by truck along the beach to be placed in the area in front of Boardwalk 9. Enough sand will be relocated to create a 100 foot-wide dry sand beach in front of Boardwalk 9. SIPOA is also working to obtain permits to repair the old seawall that has become exposed in this area. If permits are received prior to October 1, the seawall repair may also be completed in 2026.
SIPOA regularly monitors the condition of the Seabrook Island shoreline, and plans for shoreline rehabilitation projects such as these in the annual capital budget. SIPOA also maintains a reserve fund for beach repair and maintenance that can be used to respond to storm damage or other emergencies.
We appreciate your patience as we work to keep the Seabrook Island shoreline in great condition.
The American Shore & Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. To celebrate, they are having a vote to determine the best restored beach among all of the beaches who have received the award. Seabrook Island was awarded the best restored beach in 2016.
For decades, ASBPA has celebrated our nation’s restored beaches to build awareness of their value. The annual Best Restored Beach award honors coastal communities that are both relatively new to the process and those with a long history of successful renourishment projects. In 2023, Coney Island, New York celebrated 100 years of beach nourishment! In many cases, the restoration process is so well established that beachgoers don’t realize they are enjoying a restored beach. In our 100th year, we are hosting a fun competition and invite you to vote for your favorite ASBPA Best Restored Beach. The “Best of the Best” restored beaches will be recognized at our National Coastal Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, from October 5-8, 2026.
