Camp Creek Lake concerns

Folks around South Walton are weary of seeing our celebrated dune lakes manipulated for private gain, such as dredging outfalls for homeowners...let's hope the dune lakes advisory board considers the following when discussing this issue:

--by all accounts the rise in the level of Camp Creek Lake (and for that matter all the dune lakes other than perhaps Oyster) is a completely natural event--hurricanes built sand up on the beach, and rainfall caused the lake level to rise;

--the Camp Creek lake outfall is pretty much untouched--it's in a conservation easement, containing critical habitat for nesting shorebirds and beach mice; St. Joe has done a nice job of posting and protecting the area and letting nature do its thing without interference;

--obtaining a permit to dredge such a nearly pristine area would be very difficult, and it should be;

--flooding of docks is not justification for any action; docks are privately-built recreational structures that are not open to the public even though they are built on public property; owners of docks must know that putting a dock on a lake that rises and falls is a risky venture; take a look at the smart dock owners who built floating docks and are thus unaffected by the rising lake waters;

--it's only one small stretch of homes on Camp Creek Lake--A-frame wooden homes next to bridge--that has water near them, though it's not in imminent danger of entering the homes; the rest of the homes on the lake were wisely built up and out of the way of the lake;

--this small stretch of homes could likely be floodproofed with a retaining wall built around the east side of the homes between the lake and the homes, which would prevent rising lake levels from touching the homes and would for all practical purposes be a permanent solution, so there would never again be any talk of dredging; permitting agencies would likely consider this a better alternative to dredging through valuable habitat at the lake outfall;

--the cost of any actions taken to minimize flood danger to these homes should be borne by the property owners, not the public; owners knowingly bought homes built in a risky, waterfront area; County taxpayers are increasingly weary of paying for dredging of dune lakes that benefits a very small number of property owners, such as the many thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on permitting and repeatedly dredging the outfall at Eastern Lake to benefit one or few lakefront owners

--Nobody wants homes on Camp Creek Lake to flood, and it's great to be able to have a good discussion on this before the dune lakes board, but any action taken should avoid environmental impacts as much as possible and should be paid for by property owners, not taxpayers

Please come and support our efforts to get the water level back to normal at Camp Creek Lake.
Some concerned Camp Creek Lake residents have an item on the agenda of the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board meeting on Feb. 26. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Coastal Branch Library.

I received an e-mail about this on another Message Board as well. I thought about it for a few and recalled that Deer Lake which is the next CDL to the West is down. It looked like it had a natural pop off already. Redfish Lake looks down as well.

I walked the boardwalks in WaterSound Beach along Camp Creek and out to the gulf yesterday. I don't see the concern and I don't understand the concern. The docks look to be built from Marine Grade lumber and our WaterSound Beach kayak takeoffs are floating so they rise and fall. I think some of the wildlife lovers enjoy the chance to reach more areas by way of kayak on the North part of Camp Creek which they can't do when the level is at sea level.

It really looks to me that Camp Creek is about due to make a natural breach at the gulf and I don't understand why the concern. My point of view was met with hostility by some Camp Creek High Priest (or Rabbi). I never found out why he was having a TIA over it.

Can someone educated in this please tell me why WaterSound Beach residents should be asking for government intervention in this matter?

Should be an interesting meeting--can't wait to hear all point of views at the meeting--I may have to start pricing floating docks?

:roll:

Please come and support our efforts to get the water level back to normal at Camp Creek Lake.
Some concerned Camp Creek Lake residents have an item on the agenda of the Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board meeting on Feb. 26. The meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Coastal Branch Library.

Could you define what the normal water level should be?

Should be an interesting meeting--can't wait to hear all point of views at the meeting--I may have to start pricing floating docks?

Some people say that a person could spray the underside of a dock with closed cell polyurethane insulation, cut it loose from its pilings and you've got a dock that will rise and fall with the ever changing lake levels. I though I had heard that the floating variety are not regulated like conventional pile supported docks.

Interesting indeed. Maybe, if those wanting to open the lake are turned down, that decision might be considered a relevent point in trying to reduce the frequency of artificial openings at Eastern Lake.

Meeting should now be over. Anything to report?

Meeting should now be over. Anything to report?

Our man on the scene reported : "Dealing with the high water level of CCL is a very complex issue and the governmental authority to correct current problems is not clearly discernable" and "What I learned today is that a permit was granted to St. Joe in the year 2000 and can be extended in 2032, to be the custodian for what has been defined as a conservatory area, i.e., an area with very strict environmental criterion over the Camp Creek connection to the Gulf of Mexico; the dunes etc" and "It was suggested by Mary Rosenheim that we bring into play the St. Joe biologist Jim Moyer who can speak to the environmental impact of any mechanical change of the outflow of the Camp Creek Lake ( a comprehensive study may be needed ). This would have to be done before we start our approach to county/state officials."

I'm not sure if that's good news or bad. I don't understand the issue yet. Seems that high tide is always lower in the Winter, as seen on Choctawhatchee's shoreline lately, and natural interplay between the CDL and the Gulf is less likely for the next couple months.

Maybe an old pontoon boat would make a decent floating dock.

Maybe an old pontoon boat would make a decent floating dock.

Is there something about floating docks that I am missing? They seem to be the perfect solution to a dock on an ever changing and evolving shoreline. I think if one researches Coastal Dune Lakes they will find that they are naturally occurring sink-holes whose borders, salinity and water levels are in a constant state of change.

Is there something about floating docks that I am missing? They seem to be the perfect solution to a dock on an ever changing and evolving shoreline. I think if one researches Coastal Dune Lakes they will find that they are naturally occurring sink-holes whose borders, salinity and water levels are in a constant state of change.

Exactly.

And yet, a small group of owners on Eastern Lake would appear to think it should have a relatively constant water level, managed by the county. Don't know if they would actually say this, but that's what's been happening in practice.

Funny that Deer Lake which is left alone, since there are no docks on it, recently opened on its own.

Could someone post the home that is in danger of flooding on CCL? I believe this is more of an issue of docks under water and I don't feel that is a legitimate reason to mess with mother nature. Perhaps it's her way to tell you that you don't need a dock?

South Walton Montessori kids were at this meeting yesterday seeing how these county meetings and processes work...

South Walton Montessori kids were at this meeting yesterday seeing how these county meetings and processes work...

Did you get a sense for what their impression of the idea of opening the lake was?

Did you get a sense for what their impression of the idea of opening the lake was?

the board mentioned that the lake last opened on Jan. 30th 2009...there is a lot of debate as to messing around with the habitat of three endangered species(federal, state and local hoops to jump through)...beach mice, turtles, and another...i didn't catch the name of...i'm sure it's in the minutes. same story though...dock owners want to give mother nature a little nudge...naturalists feel she doesn't need any help. There is a new board being formed to deal with dock size on all lakes for anyone who wants to get involved on that front.

South Walton Montessori kids were at this meeting yesterday seeing how these county meetings and processes work...

I vote we let these cuties be the deciders!

I'll bite. What is "normal" level for the Lake? The Coastal Dune Lakes have been monitored for about 35 years, and other than the natives which were ran off to Oklahoma, we know history of these lakes, going back no more than about 100 years. The Lakes are thought to be thousands of years old, here long before Jesus walked on Earth. So, please share with us, how we are smart enough to know what "normal" is for these Lake levels. I'd love to hear it.

These Lakes, just like our dunes and beaches, are dynamic, and should be left alone by humans, so that they can do what they do. YOU wouldn't want to be placed in a box, constricting your movement and growth. Don't do the same to these precious and rare lakes. Let them breathe.

We have been having quite a bit of driving rain. Does anyone OnBoard know if Camp Creek Lake has popped it's cork yet?

I would be amazed if it didn't. I'm back on Hogtown Bayou and have never seen te docks underwater, but they are today!

I would be amazed if it didn't. I'm back on Hogtown Bayou and have never seen te docks underwater, but they are today!

I forgot you were back there. It's lotsa fun come hurricane time. I can remember my canoe being the best way to the Chevron.

Still closed

We have been having quite a bit of driving rain. Does anyone OnBoard know if Camp Creek Lake has popped it's cork yet?

The lake is still closed and by the marker placed by one of the residents, looks like the lake is up about 6 inches.
Note: a newly raised dock on the east side of the lake is back underwater.