Erosion and Coastal Damage Affecting DeSoto Beach Hotel Area

Bret Bell commented on the state of the DeSoto Beach Hotel area, noting that the dune system near the hotel appears severely damaged, resembling a cliff instead of a gradual slope. According to reports, human activity, including development, sea walls, and shipping channels, has disrupted the natural process of sand accumulation on barrier islands like Tybee Island, Georgia. The Army Corps of Engineers has been performing beach renourishment, but the natural sand-sharing is further interrupted by the shipping channel.

The dramatic erosion and sand loss are forcing local businesses to feel the pinch. While the Army Corps of Engineers has placed sand on the beaches, more than half of that sand has been lost. The erosion is also cutting into sea turtle nests buried in the dunes.