Federal ruling a go-ahead for Folly Beach county park groin
FOLLY BEACH — The sands of the severely eroded county park here
are now sweeping across what was marsh behind it. The beach
park, in other words, isn’t disappearing, but it’s moving the
other way. The science of shifting sands The phenomenon is
called “island roll over.” The seas push barrier beach sand over
what were trees and marsh, moving the beach inland.Because of
that sand, the closed, eroding Folly Beach County Park isn’t
losing ground for facilities. But flat sand covers what used to
be wildlife habitats of marsh reeds and a maritime grove.
Protecting dunes, even scarps, are gone.New research: The
Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission has asked
College of Charleston researchers to document what’s happening,
to provide data to assess its proposed groin project, said
Director Tom O’Rourke. Leslie Sautter, associate geology
professor, who is doing the work along with colleague Scott
Harris and students, said they are establishing base