Littoral
Drops
News of the nearshore dredging disposal site off of Murrells Inlet are making the rounds recently and understandably there are major concerns. The permit window for public comment is closed and with it the Army Corp indicated there were not enough requests for a public hearing on the matter. The plan to permit a dump site for dredging spoils out of over16 miles of tidal creeks is alarming. So too is the impact that the massive dredging project will have on the estuary.
Engineers are working hard to bring the dredging project to life while residents concerns grow over how much this project would damage the estuary. Georgetown County Legislative Delegation along with Councilor Clint Elliott called out federal regulators holding up the project.
Making a false argument the federal government was holding up a project where it was the county (applicant) that had not completed the required studies after multiple concerns were raised about the project reveals an interesting lack of seriousness about a project that will forever change the estuary. Exactly what “needle moves” are they asking of Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Tim Scott? Environmental regulations are in place to protect our estuary. No interventions are needed.
If they are requesting a pass on regulations that have been in place for decades, that is a real problem. We already know they are ignoring water quality in the estuary. The fact that some dredging might help improve it remains at odds with the narratives they want us to believe.
What is more troubling is the push for a dredging project in the estuary, does not address the needs for beach placement in Garden City nor does it address the how the problems were created in the first place. There seems to be no concern about the price tag estimated to be $35 million.
The real concern from residents is more about estuary life in the tidal creeks that were recently discussed at the Murrells Inlet Creek Talk.
The ‘serious adverse environmental impacts’ are being ignored by those in the room who created the Master Dredging Plan for Murrells Inlet. Committees have been planning a project while the public remains in the dark about the plan. For permits through the Corps of Engineers, local interests develop these plans and apply for permits.
The problem is nobody seems to know who dreamed up this plan and why. There are tradeoffs that will impact the estuary and our community deserves to understand what they are and to be able to come up with a well thought out plan for the continued health of the estuary. Right now, boating at all tides in tidal creeks is the only concern being addressed by this massive project.
A serious plan for the Murrells Inlet estuary goes well beyond dredging and at this point there is not one. For the time being, decision making bodies can point fingers at other entities lines of authority, while the estuary as we know it, continues to suffer the consequences of unserious actors.
Good stewardship is the key to balance for the estuary.
