More than 1.6 million tons of sand dumped in the US to hold back the sea, restore beaches and protect homes and roads

Sometimes, people are forced to confront the sheer power of nature. Along the South Carolina coast, the relentless advance of the sea has pushed local authorities to find ways to hold back the water, restore beaches and, above all, protect homes, roads and other infrastructure increasingly threatened by the encroaching ocean.

The $72 million project will cover roughly 45 kilometers of coastline, including North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach and Garden City. These areas suffered extensive damage and significant sand loss following Hurricanes Ian in 2022 and Debby in 2024, accelerating the sea’s advance along the coast.

How authorities expanded the beaches to hold back the sea

To protect homes, businesses and roads, authorities used specialized machinery to pump sand from the seabed directly onto the shore through large pipes. Once the sand reached the coast, excavators spread it across the beaches.

In total, 2.15 million cubic yards of sand were used from late 2025 through August 2026, when the project was completed. The new protective barrier not only helps restore the beaches to their former appearance, but also provides protection against future storms and helps reduce the impact of waves.

Today, homes, roads and businesses in the area are better protected, allowing normal activity to resume without the constant concern of the encroaching sea. The water had been getting increasingly close as the natural sand barrier gradually disappeared.