16 East Garrison

Town of Hilton Head Island Beach
Renourishment Project 

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. 

This Week’s Progress (May 2-8)

Marinex crews pumped sand on the stretch of beach along Belted Kingfisher Road, Green Wing Teal Road and Seaside Sparrow Road.

The sea turtle nesting season started on May 1. The Sea Turtle Patrol of Hilton Head Island monitored the area, checking to see if any nests were built. None were discovered this week. We value our partnership with this organization and appreciate its efforts to protect sea turtles and their eggs, especially during this phase of beach renourishment.

Looking Ahead (May 9-15)

Marinex will continue pumping sand on South Beach. The crew will keep moving north and focus on the section of the beach from Green Wing Teal Road to Surf Scoter Road.

Tilling work, which loosens compacted sand, takes place at Pine Island on Wednesday, May 13, and at Central Atlantic Beach between Coligny Beach and the Hilton Beachfront Resort and Spa in Palmetto Dunes on Thursday, May 14. The beach will remain open, but beachgoers should follow posted work signs in these areas and exercise caution.

The beach renourishment project has an anticipated completion date of May 2026. 

• Central Island, South Island, and South Beach 
• Weeks of March 28, 2026 thru May 31, 2026 - South Island and South Beach areas.

As there are many factors that can impact the project schedule, particularly weather and marine conditions, the public is encouraged to stay updated on the project’s progress—including location schedules, an interactive map, photos, FAQs, and more. More information can be found as follows:

• Town website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/beachrenourish2025/

• Town e-subscription: Sign up to get email and text notifications through the Town’s free e-subscription service at hiltonheadislandsc.gov. Click subscribe & select “Beach Renourishment Project Updates” under topic categories.

• Town Facebook: www.facebook.com/townofhhi

For more information or answers to questions regarding beach renourishment, please reach out to communications@hiltonheadislandsc.gov.

“It’s a priority to preserve, protect and cherish our beaches – one of our greatest assets. Our Island depends on their ongoing vitality. The Town’s role is to carry out the community’s collective dedication to this environmental core value through our investment in restoration and maintenance,” said Mayor Alan Perry. “And fortunately, due to the foresight of Town leaders before us and thanks to our millions of visitors, this project is funded through our beach preservation fund and capital improvement program.”

Beach renourishment is a moving work zone that typically progresses at about 1,000 feet per section-just 2% of the Island’s total beach area. On average, only 300 feet of beach will be impacted per day. Temporary beach access ramps and clear signage will help direct beachgoers safely around active work areas to open areas of the beach. As soon as an active site is completed, the equipment will move down the beach and the newly renourished section will open.

Special protection has been made for wildlife that may be impacted because of the project. All work will be supervised by consultant teams under contract to monitor sea turtles and migratory shorebirds. Additionally, per a requirement of the beach renourishment permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Town amended its municipal code to restrict animal/dog activity in an area adjacent to Fish Haul Creek beach park. This requirement protects endangered shorebird species that migrate and nest there. Signage is posted and no other beach areas will be affected. Dogs are still allowed per the Town’s seasonal rules – only a small section of the creek area adjacent to the beach park is restricted.

Marinex Construction, Inc., the contractor for the project, began mobilizing equipment this month in preparation for the work. This includes positioning their offshore barges and staging miles of steel pipes to pump sand from ocean shoals back to beaches. Crews will be working around the clock daily.

The beach renourishment process helps to:

• Preserve a healthy shoreline ecosystem for wildlife such as sea turtles and shorebirds.
• Protect beachfront properties and infrastructure from storms.
• Provide wider, more enjoyable beaches for residents and visitors alike.