Miles O. Hayes,

author of A Coast for All

Season: A Naturalist’s Guide

to the Coast of South Carolina

and current chairman of the board for Research Planning, Inc., spoke to the Greater Piedmont Chapter of The Explorers Club, May 14. Hayes received his Ph.D. from the University of Texas in 1965. In 1997, he was awarded the Francis P. Shepard Marine Geology award by the Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists, the highest award for Marine Geologists.

As a geomorphologist and sedimentologist, Hayes presented the group with an overview of the complexity and uniqueness of the South Carolina coastline. He discussed the development of the Appalachian which began some 300 million years ago and the drifting of the continents to their current locations. The coastline and continent as a whole has been shaped over millions of years of evolution including the cyclical cycle of ice ages, sand mining, and most recently the effects of human engineering.

The South Carolina coastline has remained relatively unchanged over the previous 4,500 years, and its current distinct characteristics can be attributed to the forces of waves, tides, hurricanes, and human elements such as the building of the Santee River Dam in 1942. Unique characteristics such as the short choppy barrier islands along the coast formed due the height of the tidal range.

Hayes explained that on average 200,000 cubic meters of sand washed down the South Carolina coastline due to weather and waves, roughly enough sand to fill a football stadium. He showed the extent of the beach erosion that occurred with the building of jetties and the completion of the Santee River Dam that cut off a vital supply of new sentiment to the beaches. All of these forces combined have led to beach replenishment efforts in some of the communities attempting to sustain their tourism industry.

Since 1977 Hayes has been the chairman of the Board for Research Planning, Inc., a science–technology consulting firm located in Columbia, SC. Research Planning, Inc. (RPI) specializes in services such as natural disaster damage assessment, environmental and coastal resources management, as well as spill response and planning. Currently RPI has six Shoreline Clean–up Assessment Teams working in the Gulf Coast Region.

The local chapter of the Explorers Club, an international organization dedicated to advancing knowledge about our land, sea, air, and space, meets monthly for lunch and a presentation. Contact John Hodge for information at jhodge@hsblawfirm.com.