MOUNT PLEASANT, S.C. (January 13, 2021) - On Tuesday, the Mount Pleasant Town Council unanimously passed Resolution #21014 urging the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to choose an alternative placement for harbor dredge sediment meant for the restoration of Crab Bank. Crab Bank, located near the mouth of Shem Creek, is the result of 350,000 cubic yards of spoil material placed by the USACE in 1958. Over time the sediment has drifted north, shallowing waterways around Shem Creek and threatening recreational and commercial users of Shem Creek such as shrimpers. The proposed restoration disposes over twice the original amount of sediment which has prompted the concern of the Town that Shem Creek will be permanently harmed by the restoration project. The Town has studied the impacts of the USACE’s proposals and has recommended an alternative sediment placement. Economic impacts due to the drifting of Crab Bank are estimated as high as $126 million annually. The Town’s alternative placement, which is further south, protects Shem Creek and those who rely on this iconic location for recreation and commerce. The Town’s alternative placement also extends the life of a restored Crab Bank as it slows the formation of a land bridge to Patriots Point, thereby protecting the rookery from predators. To read the Resolution in its entirety, please click here. The image links below reflect the movement of Crab Bank over time and the proposed disposal locations.
Crab Bank Movement Over Time
Proposed Disposal Locations