Managed IT Servicesin Folly Beach, SC

FOLLY BEACH, S.C. (WCBD) – A dredging project led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to restore a crucial habitat for birds near Folly Beach.

Bird Key-Stono Seabird Sanctuary is home to a variety of colonial nesting seabirds and shore birds. However, the animals are facing what the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources calls “coastal squeeze.”

“There’s people coming in, living on the coast, and there’s water rising up. So, that’s a major threat that we have for all coastal birds,” explained Cami Duquet, a member of the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Bird Program. She said these factors contribute to loss of habitat.

News 2 traveled by boat out to the island on Friday to see firsthand how the project is building the birds’ habitat up.

“We’re dredging the material out of the Folly River right here, and as part of the project, we’re putting material up here on Bird Key-Stono because it’s an important seabird sanctuary for the state of South Carolina,” said Alan Shirey, an environmental engineer with the Army Corps.

Sand and water are pumped from the channel onto the island through a pipeline. Army Corps officials said the water flows back out to sea, while the sand settles and is leveled with bulldozers.

“Once everything’s surveyed, it’s flattened out and surveyed, it’s going to be undulated so that it provides a natural habitat,” Jim Brooks said. He is a quality assurance representative for the Army Corps.

The work began about a week and a half ago and will need to be completed by March 15 which is the same day the island will close until October for nesting season.

“In order for them to be able to contribute to their population, they need to have a suitable nesting habitat to be able to lay their eggs, to raise their chick, and then have those chicks then contribute to their population,” Duquet said.

By the end of the project, officials said about 40,000 cubic yards of material will have been placed onto Bird Key-Stono. They said the work is associated with the Folly Beach Renourishment Project.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — After heavy rain, wind, and waves along the shores on Sunday, beaches are still recovering.

One Folly Beach staff member said, on average, about 20 feet of sand dunes were pushed back to land. Thursday, the Coastal Science and Engineering team visited FollyBeach for a scheduled data collection trip.

“If you go down to the Isle of Palms or to Folly Beach portions of those communities that, before the storm, had a high dune or had a lot of sand in front of the houses, actually faired relatively well," Patrick Barrineau said.

Barrineau is the vice president of Coastal Science and Engineering, a group that collects data and studies coastal zones. They are headquartered in Columbia.

Read more: "USS Yorktown shifts due to Nor'easter storm, Patriots Point Museum temporarily closes."

"Portions of the beach that had a relatively narrow beach or had relatively low dunes did not [fair well],” Barrineau added. “We ended up seeing some damage. So it's a mixed bag. It depends on the recent project history.”

Barrineau said the Coastal Science team has been collecting data for the state for about a decade.

“We're ultimately looking at the elevation of the beach surface, how it changes over time," he said. "We're measuring it from where it doesn't change. So, landward of the dune out to 20, 30, 40 feet deep waterway offshore. And using those elevation data, we can sort of group certain profiles together that are adjacent to one another and keep track of the volume of the beach over time."

The goal is to provide helpful information to protect land and property during storms like the Nor'easter.

Read more: "Edisto Beach feels impact of Sunday Nor'easter."

"And there are pretty strong relationships between the amount of storm damage you see after an event like what we saw on Sunday and the volume of a beach," Barrineau said. "So, if you can maintain a certain threshold, minimum ideal volume, then you can sort of guarantee your community that storms up to a certain intensity will not cause substantial damage."

The United States Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District said they plan to award a construction contract to an upcoming renourishment project, aimed to be completed before the 2024 hurricane season.

CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — After heavy rain, wind, and waves along the shores on Sunday, beaches are still recovering.

One Folly Beach staff member said, on average, about 20 feet of sand dunes were pushed back to land. Thursday, the Coastal Science and Engineering team visited FollyBeach for a scheduled data collection trip.

“If you go down to the Isle of Palms or to Folly Beach portions of those communities that, before the storm, had a high dune or had a lot of sand in front of the houses, actually faired relatively well," Patrick Barrineau said.

Barrineau is the vice president of Coastal Science and Engineering, a group that collects data and studies coastal zones. They are headquartered in Columbia.

Read more: "USS Yorktown shifts due to Nor'easter storm, Patriots Point Museum temporarily closes."

"Portions of the beach that had a relatively narrow beach or had relatively low dunes did not [fair well],” Barrineau added. “We ended up seeing some damage. So it's a mixed bag. It depends on the recent project history.”

Barrineau said the Coastal Science team has been collecting data for the state for about a decade.

“We're ultimately looking at the elevation of the beach surface, how it changes over time," he said. "We're measuring it from where it doesn't change. So, landward of the dune out to 20, 30, 40 feet deep waterway offshore. And using those elevation data, we can sort of group certain profiles together that are adjacent to one another and keep track of the volume of the beach over time."

The goal is to provide helpful information to protect land and property during storms like the Nor'easter.

Read more: "Edisto Beach feels impact of Sunday Nor'easter."

"And there are pretty strong relationships between the amount of storm damage you see after an event like what we saw on Sunday and the volume of a beach," Barrineau said. "So, if you can maintain a certain threshold, minimum ideal volume, then you can sort of guarantee your community that storms up to a certain intensity will not cause substantial damage."

The United States Army Corps of Engineers Charleston District said they plan to award a construction contract to an upcoming renourishment project, aimed to be completed before the 2024 hurricane season.

Folly Beach, the self-titled “Edge of America” greets you with an easy-going vibe that has a colorful hue of charming restaurants and souvenir shops. Palmetto trees gently shade the edges of Center Street. The town is widely regarded as South Carolina’s quintessential fun and funky beach community.

With a population just over 2,000 people, this tight-knit town and surrounding area defines its unique essence with its laid-back demeanor and inclusive atmosphere.

A notable transformation for Folly Beach has been the frequent reconstruction of its pier. In the 1960s, the pier emerged as a musical hub, attracting crowds from across the country who developed a fondness for the community, leading to its title as “the people’s beach.” Since then, Folly Beach has become a safe haven for surf enthusiasts and beach lovers alike.

The town’s inherent charm draws visitors from all over. But what truly anchors many locals is its reputation for offering some of the finest waves in Charleston, especially catering to beginners. Shane Granigan became the first employee of Isla Surf School in 2015, working alongside founder Peter Melhado to create a welcoming and secure, yet fun, atmosphere for learning to surf on Folly Beach.

“People who surf on Folly come from all different backgrounds,” Graingan said. “You get people riding their first waves, all the way to people who have been surfing their entire life and have based their life around it. So it’s a fun mix of people.”

What sets Folly apart from other beaches is that you can tailor your experience to exactly what you’re looking for, Graingan said. It’s spread out, which allows you to find a little nook or cranny for yourself or some friends. If you prefer, you can join a whole crowd to surf with.

“The community and the vibe out there is what really keeps people coming back,” he said. “It’s got a little bit of something for everyone. Whether it’s surfing and then going and grabbing a beer at Chico Feo, there’s always people around.”

Nadia Klincewicz and Liz Wolfe co-founded she’s on edge, a Charleston-based women’s surf and skate collection. They host meet-ups and events on Folly Beach, creating a space for women of all ages to thrive and receive support within the community.

Wolfe describes Folly as “a really magical place for women surfing.” When she isn’t surfing or arranging the next paddle, you can find her working at McKelvin’s Surf Shop, South Carolina’s longest-established surf shop.

Wolfe said she loves the dead of the winter when she can sit and catch up with locals who come into the shop. She says summer is crazy as hundreds of people come into the shop daily. During the colder months, it’s nice to have a moment to breathe.

“Driving down any given street on Folly is really representative of the kookiness of Folly,” she said. “Not one house is the same. You’ve got massive, built-up, four-story homes, and then you’ve got little beach shanties and everything in between. I feel like that is a good metaphor for the people on Folly.

“There’s no type of person, It’s just characters. Even when there is dysfunction, it is a family dysfunction — there’s still love there.”

Klincewicz lives on Folly and describes it as “a really dynamic place to live because it changes throughout the season, like being a snowbird but in your own home.”

During morning walks, she said she enjoys bumping into her neighbors and taking a moment to say, “Hey.”

“You just feel like you have such a strong support system,” she said. “If you ever need anything, there’s 12 neighbors that you can call and everyone will be jumping to help you.”

Locals often come together at locally owned bars, unique restaurants and watering holes where they unwind and socialize.

“People are a bit more down to have an experience that’s more authentic and a little less polished,” said Ian Condon, bar manager at Jack of Cups Saloon on Center Street.

Other parts of Charleston haven’t quite matched the innovative concept offered by Jack of Cups, which is praised for its fusion of global comfort food with influences from Asian and Indian cuisines. The interior is welcoming and cozy, with the perfect touch of quirkiness that seamlessly integrates with the authentic feel of Folly.

“I always laugh with people, we literally have a hole in our one wall at Jack of Cups,” Condon said. “It’s where the beer lines used to come in before they switched the bar around and we cover it with a sticker. Like, we’re literally a hole in the wall and people love that about us.”

Reflecting on his time working in the restaurant industry, he said he’s never encountered anyone like the local regulars who come in nearly everyday — the people who generously offer him parking in front of a house or use of an outdoor shower if he wishes to take a quick ocean dip before heading to work.

“Folly Beach doesn’t pretend to be anything other than itself. That kind of authenticity I think is one reason why the business thrives,” Condon said.

Folly Beach stands out as a cherished gem along the South Carolina coast. Whether it’s the vibrant community spirit or eccentric nature, locals and visitors find themselves drawn back time and again.

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Folly Beach, the self-titled “Edge of America” greets you with an easy-going vibe that has a colorful hue of charming restaurants and souvenir shops. Palmetto trees gently shade the edges of Center Street. The town is widely regarded as South Carolina’s quintessential fun and funky beach community.

With a population just over 2,000 people, this tight-knit town and surrounding area defines its unique essence with its laid-back demeanor and inclusive atmosphere.

A notable transformation for Folly Beach has been the frequent reconstruction of its pier. In the 1960s, the pier emerged as a musical hub, attracting crowds from across the country who developed a fondness for the community, leading to its title as “the people’s beach.” Since then, Folly Beach has become a safe haven for surf enthusiasts and beach lovers alike.

The town’s inherent charm draws visitors from all over. But what truly anchors many locals is its reputation for offering some of the finest waves in Charleston, especially catering to beginners. Shane Granigan became the first employee of Isla Surf School in 2015, working alongside founder Peter Melhado to create a welcoming and secure, yet fun, atmosphere for learning to surf on Folly Beach.

“People who surf on Folly come from all different backgrounds,” Graingan said. “You get people riding their first waves, all the way to people who have been surfing their entire life and have based their life around it. So it’s a fun mix of people.”

What sets Folly apart from other beaches is that you can tailor your experience to exactly what you’re looking for, Graingan said. It’s spread out, which allows you to find a little nook or cranny for yourself or some friends. If you prefer, you can join a whole crowd to surf with.

“The community and the vibe out there is what really keeps people coming back,” he said. “It’s got a little bit of something for everyone. Whether it’s surfing and then going and grabbing a beer at Chico Feo, there’s always people around.”

Nadia Klincewicz and Liz Wolfe co-founded she’s on edge, a Charleston-based women’s surf and skate collection. They host meet-ups and events on Folly Beach, creating a space for women of all ages to thrive and receive support within the community.

Wolfe describes Folly as “a really magical place for women surfing.” When she isn’t surfing or arranging the next paddle, you can find her working at McKelvin’s Surf Shop, South Carolina’s longest-established surf shop.

Wolfe said she loves the dead of the winter when she can sit and catch up with locals who come into the shop. She says summer is crazy as hundreds of people come into the shop daily. During the colder months, it’s nice to have a moment to breathe.

“Driving down any given street on Folly is really representative of the kookiness of Folly,” she said. “Not one house is the same. You’ve got massive, built-up, four-story homes, and then you’ve got little beach shanties and everything in between. I feel like that is a good metaphor for the people on Folly.

“There’s no type of person, It’s just characters. Even when there is dysfunction, it is a family dysfunction — there’s still love there.”

Klincewicz lives on Folly and describes it as “a really dynamic place to live because it changes throughout the season, like being a snowbird but in your own home.”

During morning walks, she said she enjoys bumping into her neighbors and taking a moment to say, “Hey.”

“You just feel like you have such a strong support system,” she said. “If you ever need anything, there’s 12 neighbors that you can call and everyone will be jumping to help you.”

Locals often come together at locally owned bars, unique restaurants and watering holes where they unwind and socialize.

“People are a bit more down to have an experience that’s more authentic and a little less polished,” said Ian Condon, bar manager at Jack of Cups Saloon on Center Street.

Other parts of Charleston haven’t quite matched the innovative concept offered by Jack of Cups, which is praised for its fusion of global comfort food with influences from Asian and Indian cuisines. The interior is welcoming and cozy, with the perfect touch of quirkiness that seamlessly integrates with the authentic feel of Folly.

“I always laugh with people, we literally have a hole in our one wall at Jack of Cups,” Condon said. “It’s where the beer lines used to come in before they switched the bar around and we cover it with a sticker. Like, we’re literally a hole in the wall and people love that about us.”

Reflecting on his time working in the restaurant industry, he said he’s never encountered anyone like the local regulars who come in nearly everyday — the people who generously offer him parking in front of a house or use of an outdoor shower if he wishes to take a quick ocean dip before heading to work.

“Folly Beach doesn’t pretend to be anything other than itself. That kind of authenticity I think is one reason why the business thrives,” Condon said.

Folly Beach stands out as a cherished gem along the South Carolina coast. Whether it’s the vibrant community spirit or eccentric nature, locals and visitors find themselves drawn back time and again.

Help keep the City Paper free.

No paywalls.No newspaper subscription cost.Free delivery at 800 locations from downtown to North Charleston to Johns Island to Summerville to Mount Pleasant.

Help support independent journalism by donating today.