By HEATHER RUPPE
Mother Nature’s constant swells and punches thrown at the barrier island town of Edisto Beach has prompted its leaders to begin an exhaustive and detailed plan to help protect the town from rising sea waters, erosion and flooding.
Edisto Beach Town Council is asking for public input about flooding problems during a meeting, being held on Tuesday, Sept. 28th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Edisto Beach Town Hall. Town leaders are asking residents for pictures of flooding, details of flooding problems and any observations they might have. The town flooded on Monday of this week from heavy rains. The town also flooded last week from heavy rains from thunderstorms.
“Residents are welcome to come by any time between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. and can expect to spend about 15-20 minutes speaking with researchers,” according to information posted by the town on its social media sites.
This input is needed as town leaders continue to work with the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, the College of Charleston Lowcountry Hazards Center and the Carolina Integrated Sciences and Assessments to build a plan that could stop future flooding problems.
Town leaders began working on this plan in February of 2020, when Edisto Beach elected leaders said the town is “vulnerable” because of its position along the South Carolina coast. The town is on a barrier island, meaning adjacent islands next to it in the Atlantic Ocean also impact Edisto’s shoreline and flooding woes. This flooding project is taking a hard look at how sea levels are impacting groundwater within the town.
So far, the data has shown a steady increase in flooding events at Edisto Beach.
According to information presented from this project, Edisto Beach had one “minor” recorded flood in the 1980s: a minor flood is listed as being 7.0 to 7.49-feet.
Through the 1990s, these floods increased, with gauges showing the waters rising above the minor flood stage at least three times. Then, in the 2000’s, the waters steadily increased, staying almost at the minor flood level for the majority of the recorded time.
In the 2010 decade, waters continued to stay stead at the minor flood stage, with floods surpassing the minor flood stage at least seven recorded times.
Then, in 2019, major flooding events were recorded. A major flood event is when waters 8-feet-tall or higher come into the town.
These rising waters are eroding the beach. The waters are also causing stormwater drainage problems.
“Sea level rise is impacting Edisto Beach. We are experiencing more episodes of repetitive, persistent flooding and King Tides,” said Edisto Beach Town Administrator Iris Hill, who is encouraging as many residents as possible to attend the upcoming September meeting. “Residential input is critical in helping us plan for the future,” she said.
