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Eastern Lake is open!!!

Beachmom avatar
Beach Fanatic
5,679 views
About 8:45 am...really cool, kids are riding the rapids!:clap:

Replies

44
Beach Fanatic
#27
Very interesting. Will it close back up just as quick if she feels like it?:blink:
jodiFL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#28
Very interesting. Will it close back up just as quick if she feels like it?:blink:
Yes it will. As soon as the water level is equal to the gulf the sand will deposit there again and it will be closed until the next time the lake gets full.
jodiFL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#29
this is a pic of Western Lake draining at Grayton during Hurricane Dennis.
jessifunn avatar
superJfunn
#30
I actually have video of this on my phone, but again, I have no idea how to upload it :idontno:

what kind of phone do you have?
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#31
Western Lake is as full as a tick.
Franny avatar
Beach Fanatic
#32
I hate that we missed it..one of our favorite events!!! Has anyone else noticed how low Draper Lake has become or know the reason why?
jodiFL avatar
Beach Fanatic
#33
Western Lake is as full as a tick.
Well it wont be long before it decides to get rid of a few fish and gallons of water at the same time. *gets crab nets ready*:biggrin:
Beach Crab
#34
I heard Draper opened last thursday or friday. That may be why it is so low. Those Eastern pics are great!! To bad Western didn't open during the Back to Nature Kayak tour, looks like we were on the wrong lake :)
Beach Comber
#35
Hooray! The lake opened all on its own, without interference from man, at no cost to taxpayers, just as it has for many centuries. What a beautiful thing!

The scientists who study the lakes said all along that there was no cause for concern at Eastern Lake, and that the lake would naturally connect again to the Gulf when we received sufficient rainfall to overcome two years of extreme drought that kept lake levels low. Many thanks to our Walton County commissioners who eventually heard the scientists and were reluctant to jump to any rash decisions to interfere with the natural ways of the Lake.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#37
Big Redfish also recently opened. You can see the brown lake water colliding with emerald-green gulf water.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#38
Eastern Lake isn't flowing anymore, but it's really close to being able to break out again. Another rain would probably start it up again.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#39
Although Eastern Lake isn't flowing, you can now see this interesting little sandbar that has formed just west of the outfall. It probably won't last long. This is the first time I've seen this happen in the 3 1/2 years I've lived near the lake.

ThirtyAGal avatar
Beach Lover
#40
:yikes:We were there when it happened also. It appeared that the people in the house next to where we were staying were helping the breach along with the handle of a dip net. I was amazed at the sight - and I wish I had known that I was there with some of my SoWal friends!

Did anyone witness the water spout in the ocean on the 18th? Scared the bejeebies out of me, as it appeared to be heading straight for our fourth floor, glass-fronted window!!

Enjoyed your pix beachluvr. We stayed at the same place and for a few of the same days.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#41
And it's open again today.

I just walked down to the beach to see the sunset and saw the lake flowing. It's been close for several days now. It looks like it has only been open a few hours - the sand is still wet on the former lake bottom.

The level of the lake has already dropped about 6-8" there at the outlet.

Sorry, no pics. Maybe tomorrow AM.
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#42
Here's a shot from this morning. It looks like the lake has dropped a foot or more since it opened.

Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#43
AWESOME! I may head over to look! :wave:
TreeFrog avatar
Beach Fanatic
#44
I looked yesterday AM and it wasn't open, but was it ever close. Last night, the surf was really loud. Looks like some strong waves did the trick.

It's open now and looks like it has been for quite some time. The lake level is down about a foot in the outfall. Sorry no pix, it was just at sunset when I got there.
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#45
Yeah again, saw some folks out there tonight setting off fireworks. Quite the show.

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