Date: 2007 - ongoing Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Size: 4.2 square miles
Team: Chambers Design, Coastal Carolina University, City of Myrtle Beach, Withers Estuary Community Collaborative, Surfrider, Grand Strand Branch of USGBC, NOAA
The Withers Estuary Restoration is a creative collaborative with the goal of restoring ecology and improving the environment for Myrtle Beach with cost-effective methods that engage the community and the imagination.  Pollutants and environmental factors within Withers Estuary put the residents, ecology, and economy at risk. WECC seeks to implement ecological restorative projects to maintain and increase biodiversity within Myrtle Beach. These efforts will have a positive effect on water quality and human health.
Since the launch of the project in 2007, the venture has conducted water testing, annual oyster reef installations, visual assessments of four estuaries in the area, and initiated a shell-recycling program. These efforts allowed Chambers Design to participate in the master planning for Myrtle Beach’s Withers Swash District Plan, partnered with local non-profits for bi-yearly cleanup days and pursued grants to continue to grow the program. The success of the project to date has come from volunteers, donations, and partnerships that bring expertise in topics such as ecology, storm water, policy, urban design, and strategic long-term planning.