Eastern Lake Outfall [merged threads]

Beautiful.

Score one for Walton County!!

Why is it a good thing?

Since 2005, when 20 dump truck loads of full sand were deposited on the historic flood plain of the inlet, the inlet has been forced too far westward to break out normally. This has upset the salinity levels, decreasing fish populations and increasing invasive species of plants. It has undermined houses, and hampered access to the beach for both locals and visitors alike. Restoration of the inlet to its historical position is a good thing.

I found it hard to believe that county would take any action like this proactively - Any insights as to why they opened the mouth of the lake?

Since 2005, when 20 dump truck loads of full sand were deposited on the historic flood plain of the inlet, the inlet has been forced too far westward to break out normally. This has upset the salinity levels, decreasing fish populations and increasing invasive species of plants. It has undermined houses, and hampered access to the beach for both locals and visitors alike. Restoration of the inlet to its historical position is a good thing.

The county has done this before and you've seen it. Doesn't help because houses were built too close and are blocking nature. The natural thing is for the outlet to move westward as they do for every other Lake. The sand added is long gone.

The house on the west side is the problem. If nature were allowed to take her course that house would be out to sea and the lake would be better for it.

If the added sand is long gone, why hasn't the Inlet broke out as it use to do, historically , since the early 60's?

I just don't buy that those 20 truckloads of sand are still there. At least not where the lake flows. Doesn't make sense.

Well, of course it isn't where the lake flows now. It's where the lake use to flow for the last fifty years, before the artificial berm was formed. All you people that are aghast at digging the channel where it has traditionally been, don't seem to be aghast at the unnatural dumping of compaction sand that started the whole problem in the first place.

The sand that "Got Added" is still there and in the front of the lake outfall and that is why the lake fails to open and close naturally..

The sand that "Got Added" is still there and in the front of the lake outfall and that is why the lake fails to open and close naturally..

That makes no sense. The first time the lake opened after the sand was added, the lake outflow reached sea level. Maybe some sand washed back into the outflow channel but the lake has opened many times in the last ten years. How could that sand still be blocking the outflow?

And LV2 I am upset that the sand was added years ago and about the stupid signs.

Dawn, because of the sand deposit, a dam was formed that diverted the path of the inlet significantly more westward than normal. The longer and more winding the channel gets, the less likely it will break out on a normal interval and less likely that sea water will backflow into the lake and keep the salinity levels at the level the lake has thrived at for years. The sand that was deposited is still there and packed down through the years.

Dawn, because of the sand deposit, a dam was formed that diverted the path of the inlet significantly more westward than normal. The longer and more winding the channel gets, the less likely it will break out on a normal interval and less likely that sea water will backflow into the lake and keep the salinity levels at the level the lake has thrived at for years. The sand that was deposited is still there and packed down through the years.

Didn't the county dig the channel in the "right place" before at least once? If so then the sand was already gone. If not then it is gone now. You can't have it both ways. You can't have a channel in the "right place" and have sand blocking the channel in the "right place". Because the lake and gulf reach equilibrium when opened. The lake reaches sea level.

The county has not been able to dig the channel in the right place since 2002. The owner that deposited the sand has threatened to sue the county ever since. The previous owner didn't care. The owner that deposited the sand, and the current owner, who installed the posts, has plans to build on that property. Their whole game has been to try to build a dune where none has ever been before, for the sole purpose of building a monster house or two.

Building a dune to put a house on top. What is wrong with this picture?

The saga continues... A bulldozer chopped up the dune, late last night, to make way for a propane tank. What's wrong with this picture?

Has somebody called the county about the destruction of the dune here?

Oh yeah! The pitchforks are being sharpened as we speak.

Oh yeah! The pitchforks are being sharpened as we speak.

Good! And thanks!

Because nothing says "I love you Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Lake" like destroying a dune. They were back at it around noon today

today at 187 San Roy - the westernmost Gulf Front home adjacent to Eastern Lake

When you hear bulldozers but don't see lights and it is pitch black, there is something suspicious going on.....

I hear they are putting in parking for a small business.

Code enforcement issued a stop work order late this afternoon on the parking lot that was being built into the dunes. It seems they had a DEP permit, but the county did not allow them a permit because it would have been in violation of the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone ordinance. It's a Good Thing to have vigilant neighbors who care about this lake and it's surroundings.

Score one for the locals!!