Fripp Island is a private resort and residential barrier island with 4.8 km of ocean-facing beach undergoing constant sand migration. By the early 1990s, Fripp's broad beach had eroded and the island was completely armored with rock revetments. By 2010, incoming deposits of sand had covered the rock revetments in many places. An aggressive habitat preservation program offers protection for the dunes as well as the maritime forest and the extensive salt marsh. Fripp Island was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1974 by the state legislature and was identified as an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society in 2010. In 2013 Fripp was awarded the National Wildlife Federation’s designation as a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat. Fripp has a host of conservation programs to protect wildlife as well as a robust agenda of educational programs for both residents and visitors. The Fripp Turtle Nest Protection Program involves large numbers of volunteers and visitor observers. Currently Fripp has just over 4km km of dry beach suitable for sea turtle nesting. The northernmost .45 km and the southernmost 1.45 km are awash at high tide.