Tybee Island Beach Erosion Threatens Tourism and Infrastructure

Tybee Island, a popular barrier island off the coast of Georgia, is experiencing significant beach erosion, a persistent problem exacerbated by human development and natural processes. Barrier islands typically accumulate sand naturally from areas further north, but human interventions such as coastal development, the construction of seawalls and jetties, and the creation of shipping channels have disrupted this natural sand transport. This disruption leads to a constant loss of sand, with beaches being washed away by tides. To combat this, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been engaged in beach renourishment projects along the East Coast since the 1970s, including Tybee Island, where sand is dredged and deposited onto the beaches. On Tybee Island, located south of the Savannah River's mouth, this renourishment process typically occurs every seven years. The natural sand-sharing mechanism is further complicated by the shipping channel that separates Tybee from neighboring islands to its north. During the winter of 2019-2020, the Army Corps of Engineers deposited 1.3 million cubic yards of sand onto Tybee Island's beach. However, a significant portion of this sand has already eroded. Evidence of the severe erosion is starkly visible; in some areas, the dune line appears to have been cut in half, creating a five-foot cliff where a gradual slope once existed. City Manager Bret Bell described the scene as "extremely stark and startling," noting that vegetation and dune grasses are bisected, with exposed roots visible. The erosion is not only affecting the natural landscape but also impacting wildlife, as storms and tides have cut into sea turtle nests buried within the dunes. Businesses on the island are also feeling the economic consequences. The dramatic loss of beach has forced some chair and umbrella rental operations to relocate, and hotels like the DeSoto Beach Hotel have reported a decline in bookings due to the diminished state of the beach frontage. Beyond the immediate impacts on tourism and local businesses, the ongoing erosion poses a broader risk to the island's infrastructure and its ability to protect the mainland from coastal threats. The situation is further compounded by rising sea levels, which are increasing at a rate of approximately half an inch per year due to climate change. Bell emphasized the critical role of the beach and dunes in providing protection against rising oceans and mitigating the impact of storm surges, stating, "It is really our only protection against the encroaching oceans."