The ongoing study to deepen Charleston Harbor was boosted Wedneday with the news that the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has set aside $2.5 million for the project.
Senator Lindsey Graham says the federal share will be matched by an equal contribution from the South Carolina State Ports Authority.
“This is the most significant federal contribution made thus far to the Charleston Harbor deepening effort,” said Graham. “It is a significant victory given the fact President Obama’s budget for Fiscal Year 2012 had nothing allocated for Charleston.”
“As a result of language we were able to include in last year’s spending bill, Charleston was eligible to receive funding to continue its deepening study,” said Graham. “These funds are being awarded under a more merit-based system. We have always known that Charleston will fare well under that standard as harbor deepening is a worthwhile investment.”
“Today, about one out of every five jobs in South Carolina is tied directly and indirectly to the operation of the Port,” said Graham. “Deepening the port will allow us to keep these jobs in our state and also create more jobs in the future.”
Graham noted President Obama will release his Fiscal Year 2013 budget next week. He said he was hopeful funds to deepen Charleston Harbor will be included.
Graham also said he would also continue to work with the Army Corps of Engineers and South Carolina State Ports Authority to explore avenues to help expedite the harbor deepening project from its estimated 2024 completion date.
“Deepening Charleston Harbor is the number-one issue for South Carolina’s economy,” said Graham. "The Port of Charleston is our economic gateway to the world. We have to ensure the harbor deepening process moves forward in an efficient and cost-effective manner. This is good news we’ll celebrate today, b
Stonoman tend to agree with you. But as we all know there are tree huggers out there who will complain it will kill fish and change the rest of the coast line some how. I will also hurt our historic downtown with more and bigger ships coming into our harbor. This is the same thing that is going on with the cruise ship issue. At what point do we realize our state needs more tax dollars (which both will provide) to provide the basic needs, police, fire, trash pick up, upgrades roads etc. People we need to give a little to get a little. If it creates 100 jobs and brings in 1/2 of the dollars to the economy good for us. It’s also a bonus for those 100 people who need work. Sounds like a win win to me.
A wise man once said “Do as I say not as I do” Good advice when I tell you that.
The only way to save Folly is remove the Jetties. And that wont happen.
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you are absolutely correct…but this is why the Army Corps of Engineers and the Feds pony up money continually for renourishment of Folly, because they know THEY created the problem in the first place…
Just got back from a vacation in Panama and had lunch outside one of the locks. Saw some large ships carry huge containers, and in 2014 they’ll be even bigger, saving on fuel costs. I read the proposal was dredging another 5 feet, and the corp of engineers has been dredging for decades, just to maintain the depth. So, again, why the 8 year study??? PETA came down hard on a local college huge into research. Apparently the college was not correctly disposing of the lab mice. Not convinced we’re gonna miss a few mice and mud minnows, certainly worth the price of feeding a few thousand families.
Many go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
They have dredged Folly twice in the past 10(?) years and neither one lasted and both times the sandbars were completely ruined=terrible surfing. I am the first one to understand that these are peoples home and houses that are in danger, and I also understand that the people/companies who own these homes have/put a little more money into Folly Beach than the surfers. I believe the last time they dredged, they dredged silt not sand (I could be completely wrong btw) which is why it eroded so quickly. I will say this though, unless you can stop the weather than that sand is going to leave no matter what and god forbid a storm, aka hurricane, does make landfall here because we all know the result of their power. I just feel like the owners of these beachfront homes are fighting a losing battle with the erosion, and a lot of money and effort is being wasted on this issue. If the beach gets renourished, which is inevitable I believe, surfers will have to wait a year or two before they sandbars and the sand starts leaving again. I guess I just believe they should try something else besides renourishment because we have seen it’s just too temporary of a fix considering how much it costs. If they come up with a new fix and the sandbars are removed BUT the sand stays in front of the houses than so-be-it, but I think it’s just too temporary for the costs. I can’t wait to hear the hate responses to this one!