U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District

06/16/2026

This is why beach renourishment in Myrtle Beach is so important!

You can see how much wider the beach is in the renourished section (where all the pipes are set up) compared to the section that has not yet been renourished (above the pipes).

This photo was taken Friday, June 12 looking south from 12th Avenue South. It’s important to remember most of the beach in Myrtle Beach is open.

This project is adding sand to our beach, and it's much needed. Erosion from previous hurricanes and tropical storms have taken dozens of feet of sand from the beach, so this project brings new sand from permitted areas in the ocean.

The project is paid for entirely by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. It closes 1,000-foot sections of the beach for construction. Those sections are closed to the public for a few days at a time as the work continues.

You can follow the project with a live tracker here: https://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Missions/Civil-Works/Myrtle-Beach-Renourishment/fbclid/IwY2xjawSWUT9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF3cVZzekFrZnRncDZsaHdjc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnBciBFPuK30wsUYev53hrD04vo_T6AbDZFjoGeNkFvsxWk36kxRf7R7h_K9_aem_imjXUaHcWRfMUPrWMRvJEQ/

The tracker shows open areas, completed areas, forecasted closures and current closures.

The Myrtle Beach section of the project is expected to wrap up in July. It will then move south to Surfside Beach and Garden City.

The current timeline is not what was originally planned. Due to unforeseen equipment issues, the project in Myrtle Beach is on time for completion in early July instead of by Memorial Day.

06/16/2026

Today we celebrate our 251st anniversary!

George Washington appointed the first engineer officers of the Army on June 16, 1775, during the American Revolution, and engineers have served in combat in all subsequent American wars. The Army established the Corps of Engineers as a separate, permanent branch on March 16, 1802, and gave the engineers responsibility for founding and operating the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Since then the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has responded to changing defense requirements and played an integral part in the development of the country. Happy birthday to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Army Engineer Regiment, and thank you to all who have contributed to our efforts for the Nation.

If you are near one of our recreation sites, today we are also waiving day use fees at more than 2,800 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide: https://www.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/News-Release-Article-View/Article/4512066/us-army-corps-of-engineers-waives-day-use-fees-at-recreation-areas-in-observanc/

Shown: File photo of a towboat navigating the Ohio River at sunrise in Pittsburgh. Navigation is the US Army Corps of Engineers’ earliest Civil Works mission, dating to Federal laws in 1824 authorizing and funding the USACE to improve safety on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers and several ports. (Photo by Michel Sauret)

06/03/2026

Great news, Grand Strand! Work on our Grand Strand Renourishment project has officially resumed in Myrtle Beach to ensure our coastline remains strong, resilient, and ready.

Here is our current operational schedule:

Myrtle Beach: Work resumed on May 29 and is anticipated to wrap up by early July.

Surfside Beach & Garden City: Crews will transition to these areas and begin working by early July.

Project Completion: Sand placement is expected to finish by the end of August. Sand fencing and other finish work will take place through September. We expect the entire project to be completed by the end of September—just in time for the peak of hurricane season.

Please note, factors such as weather, mechanical issues, or other unforeseen delays can affect the construction schedule and impact the timeline.

For your safety, please respect all marked construction zones, signage, and barriers while our crews are hard at work. You can track our real-time progress on our interactive GIS tracker here: https://arcg.is/1bbrfr3

The primary purpose of beach renourishment is coastal storm risk management. By building a wider, higher beach and dune system, we can absorb the energy of powerful storm waves. This crucial engineering work protects oceanfront homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure like roads and utilities from flooding and structural damage. While a wide, sandy beach is also a wonderful asset for our tourists and local community, storm protection remains our main mission.

06/01/2026

We will host one in-person and two virtual public meetings to discuss the EIS. The recently published Notice of Intent can be found here: https://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Missions/Navigation/Charleston-Harbor-O-M-Dredging-EIS/

The primary purpose of these meetings is to engage with the community regarding the long-term strategy for maintaining safe, efficient navigation in Charleston’s federal harbor channel. The EIS will evaluate the reasonably foreseeable impacts to the environment related to proposed updates to operation and maintenance (O&M) dredging and associated activities. Staff expect updates to O&M activities to improve operational flexibility by updating avoidance and minimization measures, including adjusting the timing of dredging operations. This EIS will not consider or assess any changes in channel dimensions, dredged material volumes, or dredged material placement options.

We won’t accept comments on this post as formal comments on the EIS.

Find public meeting details here: https://www.sac.usace.army.mil/Media/News-Releases/Article/4502509/us-army-corps-of-engineers-to-host-public-meetings-on-long-term-maintenance-and/

05/18/2026

From Conway to the Charleston Battery, it was a great Friday with Maj. Gen. Jason Kelly!

MG Kelly met with our project teams and local partners, including Horry County reps, City of Charleston Mayor William Cogswell, and Councilman Mike Seekings.

We covered a lot of ground, discussing the final phase of the Waccamaw River flood risk management study and prioritizing synchronization for the $1.3B Charleston Peninsula Project.

Strong partnerships are the key to building resilient communities across South Carolina!

Horry County Government
City of Charleston, SC Government
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters

05/12/2026

246 years ago today, in 1780, the British siege of Charleston ended. During this intense, six week-long siege, both American and British forces relied heavily on the expertise of their engineers to design and construct fortifications that would shape the outcome of the battle.

The American defenders, under the command of Major General Benjamin Lincoln, constructed a formidable defense system that included redans, redoubts, wide ditches, a canal 10 feet wide and 8 feet deep, and cleared landscape.

The last line of the fortified entrance to Charleston contained an enclosure called the Citadel—which had a 2-foot-thick wall made of tabby (a mixture of lime and seashells)—that contained eighteen guns. Behind these formidable defenses, General Lincoln mounted eighty artillery pieces and numerous mortars, showcasing the ingenuity and resourcefulness of early American military engineers.

Though the Americans eventually were forced to surrender on May 12, 1780, after 44 days of fighting, the solutions developed by military engineers during the siege foreshadowed the innovative spirit that continues to define the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) today. For instance, American engineers built a complex canal/moat, complete with a dam to control water levels—a precursor to the sophisticated water management expertise for which USACE is known.

Photo #1 - A depiction of the Siege of Charleston (1780) by Alonzo Chappel.
Photo #2 - Siege of Charleston map

05/06/2026

Resilience requires constant vigilance.

The Charleston District’s Inspection of Completed Works Program provides rigorous annual oversight of flood risk systems across the state.

From coastal renourishment to inland infrastructure, we ensure these projects are mission-ready.

Watch part one of our three-part ICW video series: https://youtu.be/vndpNgQQPNw?
si=fVoLnJqRzregJQZR

05/05/2026

The Charleston District, in coordination with our local partners, is resuming the Grand Strand beach renourishment project following recent mechanical and scheduling delays.

We recognize that construction during the summer months can be disruptive. However, completing this coastal storm risk management project prior to peak hurricane season is imperative to protect oceanfront homes, businesses, and infrastructure from severe storm surge.

Updated Project Timeline:

Reach 1 (North Myrtle Beach): Completed January 31.

Arcadian Shores: Operations begin in early May. (Note: This is a separate, locally funded project undertaken by Horry County and the City of Myrtle Beach).

Reach 2 (Myrtle Beach): Sand placement is scheduled to begin in late May and conclude in July. Crews will maintain safe public access areas and coordinate around the City’s large-scale events.

Reach 3 (Garden City and Surfside Beach): Expected to begin in July and conclude in August 2026.

Environmental Protection:
With the start of sea turtle nesting season, USACE and Horry County are conducting daily migratory shorebird and sea turtle monitoring. If sea turtles are present, construction operations will cease immediately. Nests within the construction area will be actively monitored and protected, or safely relocated if necessary.

To view active construction zones and track daily progress, please utilize our interactive online tracker: https://arcg.is/1bbrfr3

04/30/2026

First episode of three-part series. The Inspection of Completed Works Program (ICW) Program ensures non-federal sponsors maintain federally built infrastructure—such as flood damage reduction projects—according to operation and maintenance manuals. USACE staff conduct annual inspections, identify maintenance deficiencies and operational issues, and work directly with partners to recommend corrective actions. Episode 1 - Folly Beach

(U.S. Army Corps of Engineers video by Francisco G. Hamm)

3 likes. "Inspection of Completed Works Program keeps USACE ready, reliable and resilient for emergencies."