The City of North Myrtle Beach Parks and Recreation Department, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, and countless community members joined together this week at the Heritage Shores Nature Preserve to take the final step in building a living shoreline at the newly constructed bulkhead.
Early April, the 182 Manufactured Wire Reefs were positioned along the shoreline with the intent to provide a habitat favorable for oysters which, once established, will help capture water-borne sediment and assist in the creation of an erosion resistant natural shoreline.
Last week, the final step involved the Parks and Recreation Department, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, and volunteers planting 5,300 native plants in Heritage Shores Nature Preserve. The plants along with the oyster baskets will work together to take root and the sediment will fill in.
Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation, Jim Grainger, expressed his gratitude, “The community has played a vital role throughout this entire project. These volunteers dedicated their time and energy to the environment for a project that will continue to benefit our area for years to come. It is a beautiful thing, and I am so grateful to be a part of it all.“
Grainger continued by saying, “A special thank you to Ron Jon Surf Shop for their gracious donation, to Mark Patterson and the staff of Patterson’s Saltwater Construction for donating their boat and resources, and to Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful for their efforts and volunteer base.“
The City of North Myrtle Beach and the Department of Natural Resources will continue to monitor this area.