SCDES Celebrates National Beach Day

Thursday, Aug 27, 2026

Aug. 30 is National Beach Day, a day to celebrate all things BEACH! Beach tourism is one of the top drivers of South Carolina’s tourism economy, and SCDES’s Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM) works to preserve, restore and protect our beaches every day.

Protecting South Carolina’s Sand Dunes

Sign at a beach entrance reading ‘Please Keep Off Dunes,’ with sand, dune grasses, and beachfront buildings in the background under a clear blue sky.

South Carolina’s sand dunes aren’t just scenic; they’re essential to coastal life. These dynamic natural features serve as our first line of defense against coastal storms and erosion, helping protect inland ecosystems, homes and infrastructure. Beachfront sand dunes are also vital habitat and nesting grounds for migratory shorebirds and sea turtles.

That’s why SCDES launched the Keep Off the Dunes Program, a collaborative effort with local municipalities and other partners, to enhance public awareness of sensitive dune environments and to promote preservation of the state’s dune resources.

Through this collaborative initiative, high-quality, UV-resistant "Keep Off the Dunes" signs are available for purchase from SCDES’s Bureau of Coastal Management (BCM) team. These durable metal signs help reinforce the importance of dune protection in high-traffic areas.

Keeping our Beaches Clean

Group of people standing on a sandy beach with two dogs, holding bags and grabbers for a cleanup activity. The ocean and a distant lighthouse are visible in the background Want to help protect our beaches too? Spend this National Beach Day cleaning up your favorite beach – just don’t forget to log your clean up with our Adopt-A-Beach program!

Adopt-A-Beach volunteers organize and participate in beach cleanups and provide marine debris collection data to SCDES using the MyCoast South Carolina reporting app. Use the reporting tool to tally debris items as you find them; debris weight will automatically be estimated based on the items you find and report. After your beach cleanup, view a summary of your event under the Beach Cleanup Reports section of MyCoast South Carolina.

Planning Today for Better Beach Days Tomorrow

View of a natural beach with gentle waves washing onto wet sand. Driftwood and fallen branches are scattered along the shoreline, with dense coastal vegetation and shrubs lining the edge under a clear blue sky.

BCM coordinates with local and county governments to effectively and comprehensively manage the state’s beachfront through the development of Local Comprehensive Beachfront Management Plans, or LCBMPs. These plans are an important and effective management tool for local governments. LCBMPs provide guidance to state and federal agencies on local policies, regulations, and procedures related to beachfront management.

View of a sandy beach with low dunes covered in grasses and small plants, stretching toward the shoreline. Gentle waves roll in under a clear blue sky.

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