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Jdarg

SoWal Expert

One man's gunk is another man's treasure.

Histo, is this a serious post?

One man&#039;s gunk is another man&#039;s treasure. 
 
Histo, is this a serious post?

scooterbug44

What do you mean by gunk? :idontno:

Brown stuff is just natural tannins. Dunno about other stuff.

What do you mean by gunk? :idontno: 
 
Brown stuff is just natural tannins. Dunno about other stuff.

Kurt

Admin

Beach Fanatic

He may be referring to all the grass coming in due to the recent winds and high tides. That and it is just about that time of year for June Grass. Right on time to make fishing tough for about a month. 
My brief history here in Sowal also reminds me that for some reason when all that grass comes in, it has a habit of bringing additional bits and pieces of plastic and debris with it. I know that turtle walks have resulted in a higher than usual amount of junk to pick up and it isn't coming from people on the beach.

He may be referring to all the grass coming in due to the recent winds and high tides. That and it is just about that time of year for June Grass. Right on time to make fishing tough for about a month. 
My brief history here in Sowal also reminds me that for some reason when all that grass comes in, it has a habit of bringing additional bits and pieces of plastic and debris with it. I know that turtle walks have resulted in a higher than usual amount of junk to pick up and it isn&#039;t coming from people on the beach.

Bobby J

[quote="histo, post: 569047"]I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?[/quote]
 
If you were looking this past weekend it appeared the lake had opened.  It is just a natural occurring flow of lake water meeting gulf water.  The "gunk" is probably the lake water and many critters probably consider the gunk food.  Come back and take another look.  I think you will find our beaches, esp. Watersound to be some of the most beautiful in the world.  People pay good money for gunk.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="histo">I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?</blockquote> 
If you were looking this past weekend it appeared the lake had opened. It is just a natural occurring flow of lake water meeting gulf water. The &quot;gunk&quot; is probably the lake water and many critters probably consider the gunk food. Come back and take another look. I think you will find our beaches, esp. Watersound to be some of the most beautiful in the world. People pay good money for gunk.

ItzKatzTime

[quote="ASH, post: 569075"]He may be referring to all the grass coming in due to the recent winds and high tides. That and it is just about that time of year for June Grass. Right on time to make fishing tough for about a month. 
My brief history here in Sowal also reminds me that for some reason when all that grass comes in, it has a habit of bringing additional bits and pieces of plastic and debris with it. I know that turtle walks have resulted in a higher than usual amount of junk to pick up and it isn't coming from people on the beach.[/quote]

[quote="Bobby J, post: 569077"]If you were looking this past weekend it appeared the lake had opened.  It is just a natural occurring flow of lake water meeting gulf water.  The "gunk" is probably the lake water and many critters probably consider the gunk food.  Come back and take another look.  I think you will find our beaches, esp. Watersound to be some of the most beautiful in the world.  People pay good money for gunk.[/quote]


Sounds like a legitamate/reasonable question to me.....especially if you're thinking about buying here.  Thank you both for posting helpful answers to this persons question.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="ASH">He may be referring to all the grass coming in due to the recent winds and high tides. That and it is just about that time of year for June Grass. Right on time to make fishing tough for about a month. 
My brief history here in Sowal also reminds me that for some reason when all that grass comes in, it has a habit of bringing additional bits and pieces of plastic and debris with it. I know that turtle walks have resulted in a higher than usual amount of junk to pick up and it isn&#039;t coming from people on the beach.</blockquote> 
<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Bobby J">If you were looking this past weekend it appeared the lake had opened. It is just a natural occurring flow of lake water meeting gulf water. The &quot;gunk&quot; is probably the lake water and many critters probably consider the gunk food. Come back and take another look. I think you will find our beaches, esp. Watersound to be some of the most beautiful in the world. People pay good money for gunk.</blockquote> 
 
Sounds like a legitamate/reasonable question to me.....especially if you&#039;re thinking about buying here. Thank you both for posting helpful answers to this persons question.

cabythesea

Beach Lover

[b]Its not a swimming pool...[/b]

The Gulf is different every day.  Most days, its picture perfect, other days, its nature at its (less than) finest.
Bottomline - you can't beat the Emerald Coast - my opinion - maybe yours too.

Its not a swimming pool... 
 
The Gulf is different every day. Most days, its picture perfect, other days, its nature at its (less than) finest. 
Bottomline - you can&#039;t beat the Emerald Coast - my opinion - maybe yours too.

Sorry for my mistrust- there have been plenty of new posters whose intent was to malign a development or builder-and the first post started out like one of those since it did not have the usual "introductions", but just started off with a negative, and seemed an unusual question for someone to ask if they were planning on buying here (as in, wouldn't a potential buyer know a little about water conditions??)

Histro, the Gulf is beautiful every day- wavy, calm, blue, brown, seaweedy, clear....

Sorry for my mistrust- there have been plenty of new posters whose intent was to malign a development or builder-and the first post started out like one of those since it did not have the usual &quot;introductions&quot;, but just started off with a negative, and seemed an unusual question for someone to ask if they were planning on buying here (as in, wouldn&#039;t a potential buyer know a little about water conditions??) 
 
Histro, the Gulf is beautiful every day- wavy, calm, blue, brown, seaweedy, clear....

Lake View Too

SoWal Insider

Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it's serene and placid, other days it's majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it's crystal clear. You won't find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?

Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it&#039;s serene and placid, other days it&#039;s majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it&#039;s crystal clear. You won&#039;t find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?

Foodlover

[quote="histo, post: 569047"]I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?[/quote]
 
If you love blue green clear waters -- you will love it here because the norm for our water is just that! Occassionally, extended heavy rains or extended high surf can [I]sometimes[/I] cause a more brownish tint to the Gulf waters, but that is defnitely not the norm. It is the normal beautiful clarity and color of the water as well as the white sand that make our beaches very special here. Sorry you caught us during an off week -- water color wise.
 
As was mentioned earlier, most of us appreciate the diversity of nature and love our coast and area -- even when the waters are not clear and blue green as is the norm.
 
Just take a look at some of the photos in the photo section of Sowal!
 
I hope this helps!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="histo">I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?</blockquote> 
If you love blue green clear waters -- you will love it here because the norm for our water is just that! Occassionally, extended heavy rains or extended high surf can sometimes cause a more brownish tint to the Gulf waters, but that is defnitely not the norm. It is the normal beautiful clarity and color of the water as well as the white sand that make our beaches very special here. Sorry you caught us during an off week -- water color wise. 
 
As was mentioned earlier, most of us appreciate the diversity of nature and love our coast and area -- even when the waters are not clear and blue green as is the norm. 
 
Just take a look at some of the photos in the photo section of Sowal! 
 
I hope this helps!

[quote="histo, post: 569047"]I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?[/quote]

As you can see histo, there are a lot of people who will encourage you not only through their love of the area, but also a keen understanding of what's going on with the Gulf due to seasonal changes, storms, and staining.  Fortunately it doesn't last and we have a majority of emerald green, turquoise blue, ice blue, dark blue and other beautiful colors that the Gulf provides.

We hope this is helpful to you.  There are also many other beautiful areas around our community to enjoy and I consider them to be the icing on the cake!!!

Talk with an agent...we have many on this board who would love to help you.  Hmmm I bet Bobby J could help you out!!!

Good Luck.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="histo">I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?</blockquote> 
As you can see histo, there are a lot of people who will encourage you not only through their love of the area, but also a keen understanding of what&#039;s going on with the Gulf due to seasonal changes, storms, and staining. Fortunately it doesn&#039;t last and we have a majority of emerald green, turquoise blue, ice blue, dark blue and other beautiful colors that the Gulf provides. 
 
We hope this is helpful to you. There are also many other beautiful areas around our community to enjoy and I consider them to be the icing on the cake!!! 
 
Talk with an agent...we have many on this board who would love to help you. Hmmm I bet Bobby J could help you out!!! 
 
Good Luck.

TooFarTampa

[quote="Lake View Too, post: 569149"]Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it's serene and placid, other days it's majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it's crystal clear. You won't find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?[/quote]

Exactly ... don't miss the forest for the trees. 

:welcome:

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lake View Too">Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it&#039;s serene and placid, other days it&#039;s majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it&#039;s crystal clear. You won&#039;t find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?</blockquote> 
Exactly ... don&#039;t miss the forest for the trees. 
 
:welcome:

Still wondering what the gunk was!  :wave:

Camellia

The "seaweed" that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me.  Unlike most seaweed, it doesn't seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast.  Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake.   Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?

The &quot;seaweed&quot; that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me.  Unlike most seaweed, it doesn&#039;t seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast.  Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake.   Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?

John

[quote="carmen, post: 569280"]The "seaweed" that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me. Unlike most seaweed, it doesn't seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast. Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake. Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?[/quote]
 
Hi Neighbor:
 
I'm no expert, but the local captains tell me that the unusual grasses, and other junk in the water, is a result of (in addition to the localized "brown" water flowing out of some of the Dune Lakes) the heavy rains in the Southeast  this spring.  All that water flows to the Gulf, leaving us with a lot of "river grass" in the water.  I've also noticed al lot of other litter in the water, beyond the usual family beach debris.  This phenomenon seems to have affected the fishing.  With all the fresh water mixed in the surf, some of the saltwater species have been staying further from the beaches. 
 
This junk should wash out soon.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="carmen">The &quot;seaweed&quot; that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me. Unlike most seaweed, it doesn&#039;t seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast. Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake. Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?</blockquote> 
Hi Neighbor: 
 
I&#039;m no expert, but the local captains tell me that the unusual grasses, and other junk in the water, is a result of (in addition to the localized &quot;brown&quot; water flowing out of some of the Dune Lakes) the heavy rains in the Southeast this spring. All that water flows to the Gulf, leaving us with a lot of &quot;river grass&quot; in the water. I&#039;ve also noticed al lot of other litter in the water, beyond the usual family beach debris. This phenomenon seems to have affected the fishing. With all the fresh water mixed in the surf, some of the saltwater species have been staying further from the beaches. 
 
This junk should wash out soon.

There are no rivers that drain anywhere near the beaches of Sowal so it seems a bit implausible that it could be "river grass". Also, the quantity of fresh water drained by the lakes has to be pretty minor compared to the vastness of the Gulf.

There are no rivers that drain anywhere near the beaches of Sowal so it seems a bit implausible that it could be &quot;river grass&quot;. Also, the quantity of fresh water drained by the lakes has to be pretty minor compared to the vastness of the Gulf.

This past weekend when I was showing property in WaterSound, the waters were still churned up from the last swell.  I also noted that there was black/brown water (gunk) along the shore line where the lake appeared to have been draining out.  I do believe this was the gunk the post refers to.  My clients asked about it.

What happened to Histro?
Makes one post and then goes away? 
Are you lurking out there Histro? 
Perhaps there was some meat to Jdarg's concern...

What happened to Histro? 
Makes one post and then goes away? 
Are you lurking out there Histro? 
Perhaps there was some meat to Jdarg&#039;s concern...

histo

Beach Crab

I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?

Gunk in the water

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Cars of 30A At Alys Beach: Event Highlights & Photo Gallery

Sixth annual Run Watersound At Watersound Town Center October 24, 2026

Support Our Parks: The 2026 Friends of Camp Helen Pumpkin Patch Is Open

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