Sandbars 2/3

South Folly Beach / Stono River Sandbars

Mac
Oct 29, 2024
3 min read

I've been remiss in updating the aerial photo/video documentation of the Stono River and South Folly Island sandbars. The last time (and only time until now) I did it was May 2023, well over one year ago.

Of course, we've had some interesting weather in that time. And of course, the sandbars have indeed shifted around. Aside from weather impacts, there has been a recent beach renourishment effort along South Folly Beach. Bird Key at the mouth of the Stono River looks large and in charge...appearing very healthy with lots of greenery and with more sand than the year before.

Why is this relevant to Charleston Ocean Athletes? Because South Folly is a playground for many of us. Those sandbars dictate where we have flat water, bump and jump, and wave conditions.

I last took drone photos and video of the Stono River / South Folly sandbars on May 30, 2023 at dead low tide. That day, it was a low tide of 0.5'.

I flew the drone again during a recent king tides period, on October 18th, 2024 at dead low tide, this time with a negative low tide of -0.3'. So the comparisons aren't quite the same, off by approximately 10". Next year, I'll try to capture images on a negative low tide again for better comparisons.

Its also a challenge to get the exact same angle and altitude each time I fly the drone. Notice some of the angles and altitude are a little different in the comparison photos below, so take that into account.

Nevertheless, the comparison images below are interesting...

South Folly Beach, looking north at Folly Beach County Park

South of Bird Key, looking north at Bird Key and South Folly Beach in the distance

North of Bird Key, looking south towards the tip of Kiawah Island

East of Bird Key, looking west at the Kiawah River (top left) and the mouth of the Stono River (top center)

North of Bird Key, looking south towards Kiawah Island

Just over Bird Key looking north towards South Folly Beach

East of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island (mouth of Stono River is to the left, and Folly River to the right)

The following are from October 18, 2024 at dead low tide of -0.3'

360 degree video, from just west of Bird Key

view from just over Bird Key looking north towards South Folly Beach

East of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, Kiawah Island, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River

Just east of Bird Key (lower left), looking north towards Snake Island (mouth of the Stono River to the left, Folly River to the right)

Further out, east of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island. The tip of South Folly Beach is on the right.

Further out, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

A little closer in, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

Closer in a little more, east of Bird Key, looking west towards Bird Key, the Kiawah River, and the mouth of the Stono River.

North of Bird Key, looking south towards the south tip of Bird Key and the eastern tip of Kiawah Island in the distance

East of Bird Key, looking west towards the south tip of Bird Key and Kiawah Island in the distance

Just south of South Folly Beach, looking west towards (from left to right) Kiawah Island, Bird Key, the Kiawah River, the mouth of the Stono River, and Snake Island

Just south of South Folly Beach, looking north towards Snake Island (tip of South Folly Beach on the right)

West of Bird Key, looking east at Bird Key and the Atlantic Ocean beyond

West of Bird Key, looking northeast towards western tip of Bird Key and South Folly Beach in the distance

Same view as above, just a little more to the left

Just north of Bird Key, looking west towards Kiawah Island and the Kiawah River. Western tip of Bird Key is to the right, Snake Island is to the right.

Just north of Bird Key, looking north towards Snake Island. Kiawah River is top left, Stono River is top center and top right.

Same view as above, just a little more to the right, looking north at Snake Island

Same view as above, looking more to the right at the mouth of the Folly River. South Folly Beach is top right.

North of Bird Key, looking north at South Folly Beach

Looking north at South Folly Beach and Folly County Park

Sullivan's Island Sandbars Update

Mac
Sep 22, 2024
2 min read

Well, it's that time of year again. It's been six months since I last documented the sandbars off Sullivan's Island. Par for the course, we've had some interesting weather in that time. And of course, the sandbars have indeed shifted around.

Why is this relevant to Charleston Ocean Athletes? Because Sullivan's Island is a major playground for many of us. Those sandbars dictate where we have flat water, bump and jump, and wave conditions.

I last took drone photos and video of the Sullivan's Island sandbars on March 14, 2024 at dead low tide. It was a negative low tide of -0.5'.

I flew the drone again this past week during this recent king tides period, on September 18th at dead low tide, again with a negative low tide of -0.5'. So the comparisons should be apt.

Its a challenge to get the exact same angle and altitude each time I fly the drone. Notice some of the angles and altitude are a little different in the comparison photos below, so take that into account.

I'm way overdue on doing a time lapse photo comparison of the south Folly Beach sandbars. I intend to get down there as soon as possible for some new photos and video. Stay tuned for that.

Here's looking north at Breach Inlet. The sandbar mass to the right has split up into sections. The area around Station 29 and Station 30 seems to have lost some sand. It slopes to the water differently. Even walking in that area, you can tell sand has been lost compared to earlier this year.

Another comparison view of the Breach Inlet sandbars

A closer view of Station 30

Station 28.5 - the pond is bigger, and it's interesting to see how that little canal to the ocean has straightened out

Outside of Station 28.5, looking south towards the lighthouse. Sand has been lost along this stretch. Notice there's more of a slope of the beach towards the water along that long stretch of the beach.

Another view towards the lighthouse, just from further out. The altitude (and bad lighting) in the March 2024 photo is definitely higher than the September 2024 photo, so this comparison may a little skewed.

Now...check out these quad comparison photos dating back a year and a half to April 2023...

Breach Inlet

Breach Inlet sandbars

Station 30

Station 28.5

Looking south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

360 degree video view from outside Station 28.5 - September 18th, 2024 - negative low tide -0.5'

More photos from September 18, 2024...

Outside Station 28.5 looking north towards Breach Inlet

Station 28.5 and slight view to the south

Station 28.5 and slight view to the north

Breach Inlet sandbars

Breach Inlet sandbars looking towards Isle of Palms

Another view of the Breach Inlet sandbars looking towards Isle of Palms

Further outside Station 28.5 looking towards Breach Inlet

Longer view of the sandbars outside Breach Inlet

Station 28.5 close-up

Station 28.5 and looking south towards the lighthouse

Looking south towards the lighthouse and harbor entrance

Further outside looking south towards the lighthouse and the harbor entrance

How Did The December 17th Nor'easter Affect The Breach Inlet Sandbars?

Mac
Mar 16, 2024
2 min read

I last documented the Sullivan's Island and Breach Inlet sandbars on November 29th, 2023. Right after that on December 17th, a fierce nor'easter storm walloped our coast. Isle of Palms famously (or perhaps, infamously) lost a ton of sand from the south side. Approximately 20 ocean front homes' swimming pools were washed out and damaged beyond repair. Many wooden walkways and stairs were washed away into Breach Inlet. There were more minor storms since then that took even more sand away. You've probably seen the excavators and bulldozers working overtime from the Breach Inlet parking lot on Isle of Palms.

All that lost sand? Not surprisingly, it's in Breach Inlet and off Sullivan's Island. Many of our local Charleston Ocean Athletes play in these waters, so hopefully the following documented changes help give everyone an idea of where the sandbars are. This affects where and how we launch and where to play given the tide conditions. Boaters will also find this information helpful.

I wanted to document the sandbar changes but wanted to wait a bit closer to spring. I finally went back out with my drone on Thursday, March 14th at dead low tide.

Following are the results. The comparison photos are at dead low tide November 29th, 2023 and March 14th, 2024. As always, the changes are fascinating.