The County is sponsoring a Build-A-Dune day on Folly Beach on April 26, and they need volunteers. Dunes are a barrier island’s lifeline in a hurricane. The bigger they are, the more vegetation, the more roots, and the more protection for the rest of the island.

Here’s the release if you want to help…

Charleston County’s Project Impact initiative is sponsoring a Build-a-Dune Project at the Folly Beach County Park. Volunteers are being asked to help install sand dune fencing on Saturday, April 26, beginning at 9 a.m. near the far end of the park’s parking lot.

“The enhanced dune system provides protection for the barrier islands and inland areas against coastal storm-related flood losses,” said Joni Rennhack, who coordinates Charleston County’s Project Impact initiative. “The first part of the project will be the sand fencing, which is installed in a pattern that is conducive to sea turtle nesting.”

The Build-a-Dune Project will cover approximately 875 linear feet with a new dune system.

There are several steps to building the dune:
-        Site location selection
-        Permitting process
-        Installation of posts in proper locations
-        Installation of sand fencing
-        Sign placement by dunes to advise the public to stay away from the area under construction
-        Sea oat planting

Sea oats are planted on the dune system to stabilize the new dunes. The sea oat planting typically occurs approximately a year after the sand fencing is installed and the sand has had a chance to accumulate from the wind on the fencing units.

Anyone interested in volunteering may contact Joni Rennhack with Project Impact at (843) 202-6940 or jrennhack@charlestoncounty.org.