Beach erosion is a problem in Pawleys Island [South Carolina], and in some spots it's so serious, that when the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control put out its annual state of the beaches report, the southern end of Pawleys Island made the list of beaches with the most erosion and sand deficits.

Pawleys Island Mayor Bill Otis said the erosion on the South end of Pawleys Island is well known, especially at the parking lot on the South end, which is the largest free beach access in Georgetown County.

DHEC said the parking lot would be in jeopardy if there is ever a major storm.

Otis said, "You can see all these houses are exposed directly to the sea and high tides come under some of them, this area has been cut in half twice by hurricanes."

Mayor Otis said he's been working for ten years with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get money for the Pawleys Island Beach Renouishment Project.

He said the town is one step closer to getting money from the federal government to build a 6,800 foot sand berm.

With the help of local lawmakers, the new bill could provide significant improvements to water resources and infrastructure.

Otis said after being the mayor of Pawleys Island for more than a decade, erosion is a fact of life and the price people pay for living and vacationing in a beach town.

"Where else would you go that would look like this or would give you the opportunity to live at the beach" Otis said.

Senator Lindsey Graham and Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr., voted in September of 2007 with a strong bipartisan majority to pass the legislation.

Included in the Water Resources Development Act of 2007 is more than $76 Million for 1st District Projects including:

· $18 million to accelerate the continued installation of ocean outfalls in Myrtle Beach: As part of the City’s Pavilion Master Plan, an ocean outfall system for Myrtle Beach will retain, clean, and then discharge storm water offshore, replacing the current system, which dumps untreated storm water directly onto the beach. The City has already invested $15 million into this project.

· $16 million to continue progress on replacement of the Charleston Wastewater Tunnels: For several years, the Charleston Water System has been conducting a phased replacement of the city’s wastewater carrier tunnels. These nearly 40-year-old structures lying beneath the city and the harbor were deteriorating at a rapid pace, putting the entire region under the risk of a severe environmental disaster, given that the tunnel system carries over 10 million gallons of wastewater on a daily basis. While largely financed by the Water System, the federal support authorized in this legislation will assist with efforts to move ahead with Phase II of the project, which involves replacing portions of the Cooper River and Ashley River Tunnels in Downtown Charleston.

· $16.44 million to support storm damage reduction and beach renourishment in Pawleys Island: Funds authorized under this project will allow for the construction of a 6,800 foot sand berm along the southern reach of Pawleys Island. This will have a significant impact on reducing future hurricane and storm damage to the surrounding beach and community. Additionally, the project provides for a 50-year commitment by the Federal government to provide for beach renourishment.

· $11 million towards efforts by North Myrtle Beach to replace its current stormwater drainage system with a system of ocean outfalls: The ocean outfall system will ensure that swimmers do not come into contact with dangerous bacteria and will assist with efforts to reduce flooding and beach renourishment needs by carrying rainfall runoff to a point offshore. Federal support for this project follows $12 million in local investment by North Myrtle Beach.

· $11 million for ocean outfalls projects in Surfside Beach: Included in this authorization is critical support for efforts by the Town of Surfside Beach to replace an existing ocean outfall, including construction of a new headwall and weir. The replacement of this outfall, along with efforts by the town to expand its existing outfall system, are strategic for ensuring that the Town continues its past history of meeting water quality mandates before they are required.

· $4 million to allow the City of Charleston to move forward with the Spring Street/Fishburne Street Drainage Project: The Spring Street/Fishburne Street drainage basin encompasses approximately 500 acres, or about twenty percent of the Charleston peninsula and is traversed by U.S. Highway 17, which due to current conditions can be made impassable to passenger vehicles by moderate rainfall.

Amanda Reynolds, with Congressman Brown's office said the next step for the bill is the appropriations level, but said there is no timeline for when that may happen.