Volunteers Will Finish South Carolina Shoreline Project

A 2,000-foot living shoreline near Beaufort is set for completion during a final volunteer event on October 24, 2026.

Updated on Sept. 28, 2026 in Environmental

Concrete oyster castle modules stacked in tidal mud near green marsh grass, depicting coastal erosion control efforts. — Volunteers and The Nature Conservancy are nearing completion of a 2,000-foot living shoreline near the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort to combat coastal erosion. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Do you believe natural materials are an effective way to protect local shorelines from erosion?

Volunteers and The Nature Conservancy are nearing the end of a two-year effort to build a 2,000-foot living shoreline near the Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort. The project, which concludes on October 24, 2026, uses oyster castles to combat significant coastal erosion.

Why it matters

The project addresses severe erosion threatening the coastline near the Laurel Bay housing complex. By using wave-resistant materials like limestone and concrete, the reef aims to stabilize the area and promote new marsh grass growth in the Broad River.

The reef is composed of oyster castles made from a blend of shell, concrete, and limestone. These structures span 2,000 feet and are specifically designed to withstand the strong wave action found in the Broad River.

The players

The Nature Conservancy

This global environmental organization works to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends.

Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort

This is a United States Marine Corps base located in South Carolina that serves as the site for this erosion control initiative.

The details

Volunteers construct the reef by moving heavy oyster castle structures along a human chain to the shoreline site. As the project stabilizes the coast, researchers have observed sediment accumulating behind the reef and the natural growth of new marsh grass.

Construction on the living shoreline began in 2024.
The final volunteer event will take place on October 24, 2026.

The Big Picture

This project follows the regulatory guidelines established by the 2021 South Carolina living shoreline permitting rules. These standards encourage the use of natural and modular reef systems over traditional concrete sea walls to manage coastal erosion.

Residents near the Broad River may see immediate stabilization of the shoreline and increased marsh health near the housing complex. The success of these oyster castles provides a model for private homeowners and local agencies seeking low-cost, wave-resistant erosion control.

The takeaway

This initiative demonstrates how modular, volunteer-led efforts can provide practical solutions for coastal protection. Maintaining these structures requires ongoing community involvement to ensure long-term stability against changing tidal forces.