Beach Renourishment Begins Along the Grand Strand: What Visitors Need to Know

NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — Major beach renourishment operations along the Grand Strand officially began on November 15, 2026, marking the start of a multi-month effort to strengthen the region’s coastline from Cherry Grove to Garden City Beach. The project, coordinated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in partnership with local municipalities, aims to restore areas damaged by Hurricanes Ian (2022) and Debby (2024) and reinforce the shoreline for long-term coastal resilience.

Staging is currently underway in Cherry Grove, where the former Pelican Motel property at Sea Mountain Highway has been designated as a primary mobilization point for equipment and materials. Additional equipment will be stored at the 7th Avenue South street end in North Myrtle Beach. Active sand placement in Cherry Grove is scheduled to begin December 15, with work continuing southward through mid-2026.

The $72 million project is fully federally funded and will place approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand across 26 miles of shoreline in Horry County. Offshore and onshore mobilization began in mid-November, with dredge setup running December 11–15. Future phases are scheduled to begin in the City of Myrtle Beach in February 2026 and in Surfside Beach and Garden City in April 2026.

According to available project documentation, visitor impact is expected to be minimal. Work zones are limited to roughly 1,000-foot sections of beach at a time, each typically active for only two to three days before moving further down the shoreline. Beaches outside the active zone remain open for normal use.

Safety remains a central priority. Visitors are urged to follow all posted signage, avoid closed areas, and be aware of heavy machinery operating around the clock. Environmental protections are also in place, including daily monitoring for sea turtles and shorebirds. If wildlife is detected in a work area, operations pause until the site is cleared.

Beach renourishment is conducted on a periodic cycle of approximately seven to ten years, depending on storm activity. The last Grand Strand-wide renourishment took place in 2019.

Local hospitality providers are being supplied with updated talking points, FAQs, and communication guidance. Additional resources—including real-time progress tracked through an interactive map—are available through Visit Myrtle Beach and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project page.

The work is expected to continue through mid-summer 2026, ultimately replenishing sand, stabilizing dunes, and helping protect coastal communities, wildlife habitat, and public infrastructure along the Grand Strand.