Miles of sand fences going up at Folly to build new dunes

Debbie and Bobby Pinckney of North Carolina comb the sand for seashells Monday on Folly Beach. Construction is underway to build 5 miles of fencing designed to capture windblown sand and help build new dunes. Grace Beahm/Staff

FOLLY BEACH Construction is underway on nearly 5 miles of fencing designed to capture wind-blown sand and help build new dunes on the erosion-scarred island.

The work is the final phase of the $30 million renourishment project that pumped 1.5 million cubic yards of offshore sand onto the beach.

The sand-trapping system includes about 800 V-shaped structures made of wooden slats anchored by three posts. The open end of the V faces the beach. The design has proven very effective at growing a sand dune, officials said, and new dunes up to 2 feet tall can be seen in about a month. The west end of the island where the Charleston County park is located is an example of where fencing has built new dunes. Its really tremendous how quickly it works, said David Warren, project manager for the Army Corps of Engineers.

More than 100,000 sea oats and bitter panicum will be planted behind the fencing to help stabilize dune growth.

The sand catchers are built just in front of the existing dune line.

Mayor Tim Goodwin said new dunes may grow 2 to 3 feet above the height of a sand fence. By this summer, the benefits will be apparent. Thats the plan, if nature cooperates, he said.

Some 26,000 linear feet of sand fences will be constructed from 10th Street East to the islands west end at the county park. Completion is expected by the end of March. The same system was used in 2005 when Folly was last renourished, Goodwin said.

Sand fencing has proved its worth in Myrtle Beach, too, Warren said.

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Miles of sand fences going up at Folly to build new dunes