Governor steps in: Here’s what the state beach access closure means for Hilton Head
When S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster announced Monday evening that he was closing access to state beaches and waterways, it added a new wrinkle to the already convoluted list of what Hilton Head Island residents can and cannot do during the coronavirus outbreak.
While no one is supposed to use public beach access points, small groups of people have continued to gather at popular beaches or take walks by the water at sunset. Meanwhile, many residents are voluntarily staying at home, leaving only for walks to the mailbox and occasional trips to the grocery store.
McMaster’s order was an attempt to clamp down on the beach gatherings, but the governor didn’t elaborate on how it would be enforced. He announced his order in a tweet.
His announcement came in the middle of a Town Council meeting and, although Hilton Head Mayor John McCann said he was expecting it, the news clearly shook the council members as they tried to speed-read the executive order.
Here’s what we know about the unprecedented move and what it means for Hilton Head Island:
The order is not to clear the beaches
McMaster’s order said “all public beach access points, to include any adjacent or associated public parking lots or other public facilities, shall be closed,” for the duration of the state of emergency related to coronavirus.
The order did not close all beaches, which are owned by the state. This makes the order similar to a move by Hilton Head Mayor McCann to close the public beach parks and access points on March 21.
“It doesn’t appear that it orders all people off the beach,” Hilton Head Town Manager Steve Riley told The Island Packet Monday night. “Just the access points.”
This means little will likely change on Hilton Head, where public beach parks have discouraged access for two weeks. At parks like Coligny, orange barrels have been posted to announce the beach’s closure, but beachgoers have easily sidestepped them.
Riley and his staff said they’ll meet Tuesday to discuss more significant barriers at beach access points following the governor’s order.
...or to clear the waterways
McMaster’s order closes “all public piers, docks, wharfs, boat ramps, and boat landings providing public access to the public waters of this State, to include any adjacent or associated public parking lots or other public facilities.”
As with the provision on beaches, the order does not clear the state’s waterways. To close waterways, the state would have to implement a boat patrol system.
Under Monday’s order, people are allowed to use the waterways from private access points such as a personal dock.
On Hilton Head, this means shutting off access to Skull Creek at the Squire Pope Rowing and Sailing Center, access to the Broad Creek at Marshland Road and others.
However, private companies with access to waterways, including jet ski and kayak rental companies on the island, are remaining open. Outside Hilton Head, Sea Monkeys Watersports and Island Head rental companies all said Tuesday that they would remain open.
Private access is (still) not affected
As with previous resolutions passed by the town, the governor’s order does not affect private beach access points such as beachfront homes or resorts.
“This section does not enlarge or infringe upon the existing rights of individuals to access the navigable waters of this State or the rights of owners of private property adjacent to the public beaches or public waterways of this State,” the order says.
The order shows how limiting access hurts the people who don’t live on the beach but regularly visit it.
More importantly for many on Hilton Head, it shows how the few hundred people still visiting the island and staying in rentals or hotel rooms appear to have priority over residents who are sheltering in place.
But leaders have supported compliance with the spirit of the order
Monday night’s order came after McMaster said people have continued to use the state’s beaches and waterways “without heeding the instructions of public health officials or adhering to appropriate ‘social distancing’ practices.”
That criticism accompanied encouragement to self-police. In a Monday news release, the Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office told people to report concerns of visitors’ 14-day self-quarantine to deputies, rather than confront people or leave notes on cars that appear to come from outside South Carolina.
McCann, who also acknowledged some people have private access to the beach, has encouraged all on Hilton Head Island to stay at home.
After facing criticism for encouraging tourism in recent weeks, McCann said late last week that people should no longer visit the island.
This story was originally published March 31, 2020 at 11:13 AM.
