Lower Lockwood Folly Inlet Crossing Navigation Maintenance Project

The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to fund the local share of a project to dredge the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway at Lockwood Folly Inlet Crossing and place the dredged sand on Holden Beach. The Corps of Engineers contracted with a private dredging company to conduct the project.

The nourishment of Holden Beach's east end resulting from dredging the inner bar has exceeded all expectations in terms of quantity and quality of sand. Progress to date has reached westward to Avenue A from its start at Avenue E. This is primarily due to the consistency and composition of the dredged material being very dense with a low water content which causes the sand to "stack"; meaning that the sand is not as susceptible to washing away as easily as other materials with a higher water content. According to the dredge boat captain, "the high yield of this extremely beach compatible sand will enable the project to possibly extend up to an additional one thousand feet westward from Avenue A if the material holds out." This is one thousand feet further than the project was expected to reach.