Pressure washing in Kiawah Island, SC

KIAWAH ISLAND — A property owner’s association wants to relocate an environmentally sensitive inlet between Kiawah and Seabrook islands, an area two conservation groups say is a “Holy Grail” habitat for local endangered species.

The Seabrook Island Property Owners Association is asking state and federal regulators for permission to relocate Captain Sams Inlet (which forms Captain Sams Spit) to a position it previously occupied.

The work would require the excavation of 10 acres of sand and the filling of 10 acres of water, according to a public notice for the project.

The peninsular spit is attached to the southern end of Kiawah. The plan calls for excavating a channel through Sams Spit, thus forming a new mouth for the Kiawah River. The current inlet then would be closed off with a berm of excavated sand, according to documents submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The operation could result in the excavating and relocation of close to 300,000 cubic yards of sand.

The goal, according to the Property Owners Association, is to stabilize and maintain the inlet within a set area, and mitigate erosion on the northern end of Seabrook, along which the inlet runs.

“This strategy allows Capt. Sams Inlet and its associated bars and shoals to freely migrate along thousands of feet of ocean-facing shoreline while maintaining space for developed uplands as well as particular habitats,” according to a Property Owners Association flyer for the project. “Using this approach, both Kiawah and Seabrook islands have managed relatively healthy beach ecosystems for decades without needing a large-scale dredge-based project.

Captain Sams Spit erodes and accretes mass, and it’s a “highly mobile piece of land,” according to the Coastal Conservation League.

Similar relocation projects have been undertaken in 1983, 1996 and 2015, according to the Army Corps application. Between the 2015 relocation and 2020, the inlet shifted naturally southwest (towards Seabrook) at a speed of about 100 feet per year. Migration has since sped up, and the inlet’s now moving southwest at about 200 feet annually.

The zone of land created by the relocation of the inlet is protected from development and set aside as habitat for local species, according to Army Corps documents for the new project. It’s also kept empty to account for the river mouth’s natural migration.

Some aren’t buying the group’s conservation claims.

In a public comment submitted in opposition to the project, the Conservation League and South Carolina Environmental Law Project wrote that the beaches and dunes on the northern end of Seabrook are in fine shape, and no structures there are at risk of erosion. They also question why it’s necessary to keep the inlet within a defined area.

They allege the project is an attempt to “stockpile sand to, at some point in the future, replenish the southern parts of (Seabrook) island where structures are experiencing more severe erosion.”

“ The sand tip of the spit that would be cut off would migrate and attach onto the north end of Seabrook,” said Amy Armstrong, the Law Project’s executive director. The longshore current that runs along South Carolina’s coast would then carry the sand southward to Seabrook’s eroding southern tip, Armstrong said.

“It’s free sand for Seabrook,” she said. “ It's very expensive to do a renourishment project where you have to go three miles offshore, identify beach-compatible sand, and then pump it on shore.”

Steve Hirsch, the director of engineering for the Property Owners Association, disputed that claim.

“Any temporarily stockpiled sand during construction will remain within the Captain Sams Inlet system and is not intended for use at other parts of Seabrook Island,” he wrote. Although the Property Owners Association’s flyer does list a “continuous supply of beach sand from Kiawah towards Seabrook” as one of the project’s benefits.

Across coastal South Carolina, communities spend millions of dollars a year to keep their shores sandy — both to support the state’s lucrative tourism industry and protect seaside structures from erosion. From 1979 to 2023, the Department of Environmental Services estimates that the state’s coastal communities spent more than $400 million on beach renourishment, The Post and Courier previously reported.

As sea levels rise and warming waters power a new generation of stronger hurricanes, the cost to keep the Palmetto State’s beaches pristine is rising. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts that water levels in the region will rise roughly a foot by 2050, increasing the reach of the state’s highest tides.

In their letter, the two conservation groups wrote that the shores of the inlet are “the holy grail of habitat for important threatened and endangered species.” In its review of the project, the Army Corps identified 18 species that could be found in the project area that are considered either “threatened” or “endangered,” or have been proposed for inclusion on the federal Endangered Species list.

Hirsch wrote that each previous relocation, and the proposed new one, has included “significant pre- and post-construction habitat and endangered species monitoring which has confirmed increased habit availability for endangered species and more publicly accessible beach.”

The project still needs approval from both the state Department of Environmental Services and the Army Corps.

It’s the latest entry in a complex years-long saga over the unassuming, yet controversial, corridor.

In a separate case, the Town of Kiawah Island, Kiawah Island Community Association and Kiawah Conservancy are suing a private developer to regain ownership of parts of Captain Sams Spit and put other areas under conservation easement.

From 2008 to 2022, Kiawah Partners sought permits to build 50 luxury homes on the property, in addition to infrastructure to protect the area from flooding and erosion, The Post and Courier previously reported. Those plans have been blocked by years of legal wrangling in the state’s courts — including five different rulings by the S.C. Supreme Court.

In a joint statement, the Town of Kiawah Island, Kiawah Island Community Association and Kiawah Conservancy declined to comment on the excavation proposal by their southern neighbors, citing the ongoing litigation.

Follow winding, oak-shaded roads 25 miles southwest of downtown Charleston's cobblestone streets and celebrated restaurant scene, and you'll find yourself on Kiawah Island. Carved by the Kiawah River on one side and fronting the Atlantic Ocean on the other, the barrier island is a true escape.

Here, nature reigns supreme. Ten miles of beaches roll out along the Atlantic; cicadas form their own sort of soundtrack; and lights-out is often determined by the sea turtles' nesting season. Even so, there's plenty to do for travelers who like their time in nature punctuated with good food, luxurious creature comforts, and a frozen drink in hand.

Here are the best things to do in Kiawah Island, South Carolina.

Where To Eat

Built around a lush lawn, Freshfields Village has plenty of restaurants and shops to explore, plus a boutique stay, the Andell Inn. Pick up a beach read at Indigo Books; snag treats for your four-legged friends at Dolittle's; and gear up for island adventures at SeaCoast Sports and Outfitters.

Start the morning with coffee and a breakfast sandwich from Java Java; settle in for grilled cheese and a milkshake at retro Vincent's Drug Store & Soda Fountain; or cap off the day with a glass of wine at FortyEight - Wine Bar & Kitchen. Check their calendar for seasonal events, like summertime's "Music on the Green" concert series and farmer's market.

; 165 Village Green Lane, Kiawah Island, SC 29455

Make the short drive to neighboring Seabrook Island for a taste of the area's salty maritime culture. Snag an umbrella-shaded table on the upper deck at Salty Dog Café for fresh catch, a cold beer, and riverfront views of the boats coming and going from the marina.

; 1882 Andell Bluff Blvd, Johns Island, SC 29455; 843-952-7335

If the Palmetto State had to choose a favorite meal, it'd undoubtedly be oysters and barbecue. Experience the time-honored tradition of a proper oyster roast and pig pickin' at Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Mingo Point Oyster Roast and BBQ.

The family-friendly event is held on major holidays and on Monday nights throughout the summer. Chow down on fresh oysters roasted over an open fire, a classic Lowcountry boil, and barbecue meats ranging from smoked chicken to ribs.

Parking is available at Mingo Point, but spaces are limited, particularly during peak summer events. Resort guests are encouraged to use the property's complimentary on-island transportation, which offers door-to-door service to any resort-owned venue.

; 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455; 800-654-2924

What To Do

On the west end of the island, you'll find Beachwalker Park, Kiawah's only public access beach. It feels like a hidden gem thanks to its wide, unspoiled expanses of sand. The park offers the best of both worlds, because in addition to the ocean frontage, you can also score views of the Kiawah River here.

One of the best ways to explore the island is to leave the car in park and take a beach cruiser for a spin. You can reserve them through the resort or bring your own. Between 30 miles of paved trails and 10 miles of hard-packed beach, there's no shortage of routes to explore.

Ask for directions to the Marsh View Tower, an observation deck primed for birdwatching and soaking in the marsh and river scenery.

Five state-of-the-art golf courses are open to the public. For avid fans of the sport, the Ocean Course alone makes Kiawah worth the trip. Host to multiple PGA Championships, the 18-hole course is not for the faint of heart.

Raised above the dunes to capitalize on the expansive shore views, golfers on the Ocean Course are also subjected to ocean breezes (which don't make for an easy or predictable trip around the green). Try Cougar Point for marsh views and a slightly less technical experience.

The naturalists here will school you in many of the species that call the island home, from bobcats and white-tailed deer to loggerhead sea turtles and American alligators. Sign up for a guided tour, like "Back Island Birding," "Alligator Adventure," or "Ocean Seining," or ask for their recommendations for the best nature-spotting places in the area.

; 4000 Sea Forest Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455; 843-768-6001

Visit the Roy Barth Tennis Center at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort for a game of tennis or pickleball. The resort offers 22 tennis courts (including 10 clay courts), as well as lessons for all ages, from tots to adults. The clubhouse features a modern pro shop as well as the Courtside Café.

kiawahresort.com/tennis; 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455; 800-654-2924

Where To Stay

For families who want a little room to spread out (or a kitchen), villa and home rentals are a smart choice. You can reserve through the resort directly or book through a site like VRBO or Airbnb.

For access to all of Kiawah's amenities, from bike rentals to pools, you'll have to stay on the island. For an experience that's luxurious but unpretentious, book a room at The Sanctuary, an oceanfront hotel known for its five-star service and elevated onsite dining.

; 1 Sanctuary Beach Drive, Kiawah Island, SC 29455; 800-654-2924