South Carolina’s beaches are more than just popular vacation spots. They are a cornerstone of the state’s economy, a buffer against damaging storms, and the foundation of life for dozens of coastal communities. But beach erosion is worsening, and the cost of protecting our coastline is falling almost entirely on local towns.

That needs to change.

We are calling on the South Carolina General Assembly to create a statewide Beach Preservation Fund, a dedicated, recurring source of funding that supports beach renourishment, erosion control, and long-term coastal resilience projects across the state.

Right now, many beach towns are left to fend for themselves. Communities like Isle of Palms are moving up multimillion-dollar renourishment projects years ahead of schedule because erosion is happening faster than anyone predicted. Yet despite serving millions of residents and tourists statewide, local governments receive little to no funding from the state to maintain these shared public assets.

The current patchwork approach is unsustainable. While the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers helps in some places, and wealthier towns may find ways to self-fund projects, others are being left behind. And the more we delay action, the more costly and urgent the crisis becomes.

A statewide Beach Preservation Fund would provide predictable support for beach communities facing erosion, improve South Carolina’s storm preparedness and public safety, help protect tourism revenue and local property values, and ensure coastal protection is not determined by zip code or budget size.

This is not just about sand. It is about protecting the homes, businesses, ecosystems, and economic future of South Carolina’s coast.

Sign this petition to tell South Carolina lawmakers that it is time to treat our beaches like the critical infrastructure they are. Let’s create a Beach Preservation Fund and give all communities a fair shot at resilience.