CoastSnap Program to Document Shoreline Change in South Carolina
CoastSnap is a community beach monitoring program that uses cell phone photos taken by beach visitors from a specific location to track how the location’s shoreline is changing over time.
Where Are the S.C. CoastSnap Stations?
A CoastSnap station is mounted on the Cherry Grove Fishing Pier in North Myrtle Beach (3500 N Ocean Blvd North Myrtle Beach, S.C. 29582). There is a small fee to gain access to the pier.
A second CoastSnap station is mounted on the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier in Folly Beach (101 E. Artic Ave Folly Beach, S.C. 29439). There is no fee to gain access to the pier, however there is a fee to park in the pier’s parking lot.
How Do I Take a Photo and Submit it to CoastSnap?
- Scan the QR code found on the sign.
- Place your phone up against the metal mount on the pier’s railing.
- Take your photo.
- Submit the photo using the form scanned from the QR code.
- Project researchers will receive your photo in their database and begin to analyze shoreline changes.
CoastSnap Submit Screen
What Happens to My Photo?
Once your photo is uploaded, it will be reviewed by researchers to determine erosion and/or accretion trends, as well as beach width.
Where Can I See My Photos, Other Photos, and the Results of the Shoreline Change?
You can see the ‘latest imagery’ from the Folly Beach Pier CoastSnap station through the USACE website, CorpsCam. Under ‘CorpsCam Stations’ at the top of the page, use the map to find the Folly Beach Pier and click button to view the latest imagery.
Check back here soon to see the data that is being collected from CoastSnap! We hope to compile time lapse videos of the photos submitted and provide analysis of the shoreline trends.
Why is CoastSnap Important?
The sands are constantly shifting on our beaches. The US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for nourishing North Myrtle Beach and Folly Beach with more sand when it is needed. These photos will help the USACE make decisions on their nourishment efforts.
Scientists also want to have a better understand of the processes and factors contributing to shoreline changes such as; sea level rise, king tides, hurricanes, and nor’easters. These CoastSnap photos from beach visitors are a reliable source of data for scientists to use.
Who is Involved?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer and Research Development Center (ERDC), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Coastal and Hydraulics Field Research Facility (in Duck, N.C.), The S.C. Sea Grant Consortium, Coastal Carolina University (CCU), Cherry Grove Fishing Pier, and The City of North Myrtle Beach, and Charleston County Parks and Recreations, have all worked together to bring this program to South Carolina.
Want to Learn More About the Technical Aspects of CoastSnap?
The ERDC developed a report detailing the setup, procedures, and results of the CoastSnap initiative.
Will There Be More CoastSnap Stations?
We hope to expand the program to other areas of South Carolina in the future!
If you are interested in hosting a location please contact Katie Finegan.
Is There Social Media for CoastSnap?
Share on social media #CoastSnapNMB #CoastSnapFolly
Where Else Can I Find CoastSnap?
414 W Ocean Avenue, Norfolk, Va. 23503 (Ocean View Fishing Pier)
1261 Duck Road, Kitty Hawk, N.C. 27949 (Field Research Facility)
2111 N. Virginia Dare Trail, Kill Devil Hills, N.C. 27948 (Avalon Pier)
7223 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head, N.C. 27959 (Jennette’s Pier)
100 Atlantic Avenue, Kure Beach, N.C. 28449 (Kure Beach Pier)