2025 - 2026 Beach Renourishment Project Details

Hilton Head Island's beach is crucial to both residents and the local economy. To preserve this valuable resource, the Town has planned a beach restoration project to begin late Summer 2025, funded primarily by tourism through the local Beach Preservation Fee.

Project Overview

• The 2025-2026 beach renourishment is expected to be similar to the previous projects in 1990, 1997, 2006 and 2016.
• The project will include the placement of approximately 2.2 million cubic yards of beach compatible sand from up to four offshore borrow areas along about 46,500 ft of Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal Sound shoreline.
• This project is part of the Town's ongoing beach management program, with renourishment scheduled every 8 to 10 years, depending on weather and beach conditions.
• Pine Island in Hilton Head Plantation will be included in the 2025-2026 restoration.

Sand Placement

The $47.5 million project will include sand placement along five areas of the island shoreline:

1. South Beach / South Island - Approximately 750,000 cubic yards of sand along approximately 10,230 feet of the southern Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
2. Central Island - Approximately 700,000 cubic yards along 28,860 feet of Atlantic Ocean shoreline.
3. The Heel - Approximately 500,000 cubic yards of sand along 5,280 feet at the northeast point of the island at the intersection of the Atlantic Ocean and Port Royal Sound shoreline.
4. Fish Haul Creek - Approximately 50,000 cubic yards of sand along about 2,130 feet of Port Royal Sound shoreline.
5. Pine Island - Approximately 180,000 cubic yards of beach compatible sand and construction of six rock breakwaters on the Port Royal Sound shoreline of Hilton Head Plantation between Dolphin Head and Pine Island.

Beach Renourishment Progress Tracker Interactive Map

Construction Process

The nourishment sand will be excavated by hydraulic dredge from two offshore shoal features.

• Up to 50,000 feet of pipeline will be trucked or floated to the island by way of large rafts, then moved onto the beach.
• The pipeline will be piled in stacks along the shoreline until needed during construction.
• During construction, many miles of pipeline will be submerged on the ocean floor between the offshore borrow sites and the beach.
• The rest of the pipeline will be laid progressively along the newly constructed beach as the fill sand is pumped on shore.

The dredge will pump a mixture of sand and seawater through the pipeline, and will discharge it onto the beach.

• There, it will flow parallel to the shoreline - allowing the sand to settle out and the water to return to the sea.
• Bulldozers and other heavy construction machinery will constantly shape the sand to meet the design specifications.

Project construction is expected to last approximately six months, operating around the clock.

• On average, the process should move along the shoreline at a rate of about 200 to 300 feet per day.
• As the fill placement progresses, approximately 1,000 foot sections of the beach are closed temporarily to pedestrian access.
• Several days of work activity will occur seaward of any one piece of oceanfront property in the 1,000 foot active work area along the beach.
• Once placed and rough-graded, the new beach is immediately reopened to the public.

Impacts on Residents and Visitors

• Construction noise will primarily involve bulldozers shaping the sand as it is deposited.
• Disruptions at individual properties generally last about three or four days as the renourishment operation progresses.
• Adjacent property owners, or renters, may experience short-term minor inconveniences.

Project Benefits

Preserving Hilton Head Island's beaches supports the local environment, economy, and quality of life for residents and visitors alike

The project is sponsored and funded by the Town of Hilton Head Island and engineered by is Olsen Associates, Inc., and the project construction contactor is Marinex Construction, Inc.

Islanders' Beach Park

Portions of Islanders' Beach Park will be closed to vehicular traffic and parking effective Saturday, October 25, 2025, and is expected to remain in place for the duration of the beach renourishment project.

The partial restriction is required to facilitate the truck delivery of beach renourishment pipeline.

Only those vehicles with a Town issued resident beach parking permit are authorized to park in the remaining available, non-metered spaces.

Alternative nearby beach access and parking is available at Folly Field and Driessen Beach Parks, and the Burkes Beach Road access.