Help! My Dock is Under Water...

How 'bout they just pipe the water north?

I don't believe that camp Creek has ever been mechanically opened and here is a link to the story in the Sun.

http://www.waltonsun.com/news/county_2249___article.html/lake_permit.html

Maybe someone else can chime in but I think the permit in question is only for Eastern and Alligator. The work is overseen by the Planning and Public Works Department for the County.

They have been digging out Eastern Lake.

I was told yesterday that Western might be opened because the water mix was too fresh water.

I think we should just leave them all alone.

Here are the permits in question. They have only been issued for:

Alligator:
http://bcs.dep.state.fl.us/env-prmt... Lake/alligator lake outfall final permit.pdf

and Eastern:

http://bcs.dep.state.fl.us/env-prmt...ern Lake/eastern lake outlet final permit.pdf

Western is not included.

From what I understand, the only on-going permit that the County has, is for opening Eastern Lake. Opening any other Lakes would require obtaining a DEP permit, which is a costly and lengthy task.

Let the lakes do their thing on their own. If you house is underwater, that is one thing, but your dock being underwater, is an entirely different non-threatening thing.

If Alligator Lake is to be opened, I can only guess it is b/c the main road into Gulf Trace is in jeopardy of being flooded, as it meanders down right up to the Lake. I believe all of the houses in that area are high enough that they aren't being threatened by rising Lake levels.

I was told yesterday that Western might be opened because the water mix was too fresh water.

I think we should just leave them all alone.

I would guess the opposite- too much saltwater, after watching the Gulf waters roar into the lake during Gustav and Ike.

After these storms passed through, these Lakes did increase in salinity, greatly. No big deal, because they have done this for thousands of years. That is what makes them so rare. They totally change with time. For a couple of years, residents around Eastern Lake argued that the reason for all of the Ditch Weed growing in the Lake was due to the Lake not having enough salinity to kill the Ditch Weed. I cannot imagine what they are saying now.

Is there a rule against floating docks on the dune lakes? That's how we deal with lake levels up here.

no deal with floating docks. There are only a few. Most are permanent, at least until storms rip them up, or they rot. Where I grew up, everyone who had a dock, knew that water levels fluctuated, and they built floating docks.

It seems like floating docks would be ideal down there.

Everytime I see the submerged docks - the one by Butler is ALWAYS underwater - I think - they just need some old pontoons and some 2x8s!

Is there a rule against floating docks on the dune lakes? That's how we deal with lake levels up here.

Yep...that sounds like the answer to me.

Thanks everyone--I will just walk out on the dock anyway, it is only 3 inches submerged.

Then, it will just look to the next door neighbors like I am walking on water--maybe they will start liking me again

Thanks everyone--I will just walk out on the dock anyway, it is only 3 inches submerged.

Then, it will just look to the next door neighbors like I am walking on water--maybe they will start liking me again

...making lemonade out of lemons!

Thanks everyone--I will just walk out on the dock anyway, it is only 3 inches submerged.

Then, it will just look to the next door neighbors like I am walking on water--maybe they will start liking me again

Grow a beard and invite over your 12 closest friends.

Then watch out for roosters!

I think that Big Redfish Lake is the only Dune Lake which has some roosters around it.

Also concerned about Camp Creek Lake

Hi Neighbor! I'm also concerned about the lake. Walked the beach today and saw "Watersound Beach Restoration Project" signs all along the area where the lake USED TO run into and out of the gulf. Concerned the "restoration project" and all of their development is the cause of the problem, and that the "restoration project" is just a preliminary to increase square footage for future real estate transactions. Anyone know which organizations to contact to find out what they are allowed to do? Also interested to know if they are getting government funds for this "project." I'm concerned that there might be more than just docks going underwater at Camp Creek Lake.

Hi Neighbor! I'm also concerned about the lake. Walked the beach today and saw "Watersound Beach Restoration Project" signs all along the area where the lake USED TO run into and out of the gulf. Concerned the "restoration project" and all of their development is the cause of the problem, and that the "restoration project" is just a preliminary to increase square footage for future real estate transactions. Anyone know which organizations to contact to find out what they are allowed to do? Also interested to know if they are getting government funds for this "project." I'm concerned that there might be more than just docks going underwater at Camp Creek Lake.

PM me if you find anything out. Yea--I have also lost about 6 feet of property at the Lake! Now my set back is all wrong-my house has to be 100 feet from Coastal Dune lake by law.

Smiling Joe? How can I get info on Camp Creek lake--is there a Dune Lake link for SoWal?

set backs will vary around the Lakes based on different factors. I'm wondering how your deed reads regarding the boundary along the Lake. You may not have "lost" that property. The Lakes have always changed levels, for thousands of years, we just tend to look at a short snap shot of time. All of the Lakes appear to be similar from the three storms recently passing. The salinity is up tremendously, the lake levels are up, and the beach was built up by the strong winds and wave action. Most lakes still have several feet to climb before getting over the higher beach. St Joe didn't do it, Worth Williams didn't do it. Mother Nature did it. People tend to look at the property around the lake as their own, but in reality, it belongs to the Lake.

What specific info regarding Camp Creek Lake are you requesting, and what info on the dune lakes in SoWal are you requesting? Don't have a website for it, but data exists.

no deal with floating docks. There are only a few. Most are permanent, at least until storms rip them up, or they rot. Where I grew up, everyone who had a dock, knew that water levels fluctuated, and they built floating docks.

You should get you a candock system.

http://panamadocks.com/eng/index.htm

This guy that owns this lived in Walton County for several years, maybe he would cut you a deal.

I don't need a floating dock. My deck is suitable for fishing, and built as high as the yard, so if it floods, I won't be worried about the dock or the deck.

IMO, the lakes change shape and level on their own, but the property boundaries stay the same. I was at the Draper Lake sub-division hearings and remember LUK's agent getting the density approved based on land that was upland and submerged land.

I also read the Prominence doc's and in their case they were able to fill a dune lake that was "beyond the jurisdiction" of the DEP and Army Corp. because it was completely surrounded by developer owned land. They used the argument that these were natural phenomona that were created by sink holes. Their boundaries change naturally.