Charleston County, SC – The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is pleased to announce it will receive a $209,400 grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) National Coastal Resilience Fund (NCRF). Combined with $25,000 in matching funds from the Coastal Expeditions Foundation, the award will fund a sediment study of Deveaux Bank near Seabrook Island in Charleston County, SC.

Deveaux Bank emerged in its current state in the 1980s and reached a maximum size of 220 acres. Significant weather events, however, have constantly changed its shape and size. In 2023, two major storm events significantly reduced the island’s size. The recent erosion events have highlighted the need to better understand sediment movement on and around the bank. This is especially important because changes to the island may have effects on the resilience of surrounding communities and resident bird populations to current and future coastal hazards.

The study will include a comprehensive survey of the underwater landscape and analysis of historical shoreline and habitat changes. These activities will provide crucial data for understanding the systems, assist in identifying nature-based solutions (NBS) for an effective restoration plan, and inform local resilience planning efforts to protect nearby coastal communities and improve the seabird habitat on Deveaux Bank.

“In fragile coastal ecosystems, it is important to thoroughly study their characteristics and conditions,” explains Chief Resilience Officer Ben Duncan. “Once we understand how the island affects the resilience of its surroundings, we can begin developing ways to increase those potential benefits for the local communities and wildlife.”

Led by the Office of Resilience, the project team consists of local and state agencies with experience in coastal land restoration and conservation. The team includes the Coastal Expeditions Foundation, Town of Rockville (Wadmalaw Island), Town of Seabrook Island & the Seabrook Property Owners Association, Wadmalaw Island Land Use Planning Committee, and the Coastal Conservation League. These organizations will weigh in on the study’s conclusions and offer recommendations based on the project’s findings. “We value the extensive experience in responsible and sustainable land use and revitalization that our project partners bring to the table; we look forward to fruitful collaboration as we study Deveaux Bank,” says Alex Butler, Resilience Planning Director at SCOR.

The Office also extends its gratitude to Congresswoman Nancy Mace (SC 1st District) for her support during the application process. In response to the award announcement, she states, “Congratulations to the South Carolina Office of Resilience on receiving the NFWF award for their ongoing efforts to protect Deveaux Bank, a critical ecological asset in the Lowcountry. We have long supported their work, and without hesitation wrote a letter of support for SCOR to secure this grant. We look forward to the impact of this study and will continue to advocate for initiatives protecting South Carolina's natural resources.”

About the National Coastal Resilience Fund: According to NFWF, “the NCRF, established in 2018, invests in nature-based solutions that protect coastal communities while enhancing habitats for fish and wildlife. The National Coastal Resilience Fund invests in conservation projects that restore, increase and strengthen natural infrastructure such as coastal marshes and wetlands, dune and beach systems, oyster and coral reefs, rivers and floodplains, coastal forest, and barrier islands that mitigate the impacts of storms and other coastal hazards to communities.”

About SCOR: The South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) is committed to enhancing the state's ability to anticipate, absorb, recover, and thrive when presented with environmental changes and natural hazards by planning and coordinating statewide resilience, long-term disaster recovery, and hazard mitigation. In addition to serving 3,459 homes in our Disaster Recovery Program, SCOR has 81 active flood mitigation projects, including voluntary buyouts, stormwater infrastructure, and plans and studies, across the State. SCOR continues to implement and maintain the Strategic Statewide Resilience and Risk Reduction Plan, which provides a framework to guide investment in projects, programs, and policies to protect the people and property of South Carolina from the damage and destruction of extreme weather events.