The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $300,000 in federal funding to the state of south carolina through the national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) land…

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) awarded $300,000 in federal funding to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources under the Coastal Zone Management Estuarine Research Reserves program (CFDA 11.420) on October 1, 2025, for repair and retrofit of the dock facility on South Fenwick Island within the ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. The project, which extends through September 30, 2028, will enhance the resilience and safety of the dock infrastructure to withstand coastal hazards and flooding impacts while maintaining reliable public and staff access to the island for recreation, education, hunting, and land management activities. Total obligations for the award are $352,942.

The dock reconstruction will be designed to support ongoing reserve management activities including living shoreline restoration, prescribed burning, and native plant restoration efforts that require coordinated access for multiple boats, equipment, and volunteer personnel. By increasing the resilience and safety of this critical access point, the project will advance ACE Basin NERR's long-term priorities of providing public access while supporting habitat conservation on South Fenwick Island, building upon previous federal investments in the reserve's infrastructure and restoration initiatives.

The national oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) is providing $300,000 in federal funding to the state of south carolina through the national estuarine research reserve system (nerrs) land acquisition and construction program for fiscal year 2025 (NOAA-NOS-OCM-2025-29258). This funding will build the ability of the ACE basin national estuarine research reserve within the south carolina department of natural resources to repair and retrofit the dock on south fenwick island, the most utilized and managed island within the ACE basin nerr. This project would increase the resilience of the island by providing safe access for visitors that use IT for recreation, camping, hunting, and education programs. IT would also continue to provide dependable access for staff to conduct land management activities on this island such as living shorelines, prescribed burning, and native plant restoration. These activities often require multiple boats, equipment, and volunteers to conduct effectively. The dock will be designed to be more resilient to the impacts of coastal hazards and flooding over its useful life; and allow access to the existing living shoreline site adjacent to the dock. Increasing the resilience and safety of this dock would build on previous federal investments on south fenwick island and would advance the long-term reserve priority areas of providing public access and habitat conservation on the island.