What happens when the outfall at Eastern Lake causes the water to redirect, on its way to the ocean, across someone's 'No Trespassing' property line?
Here's what happened today (some of this I observed; some was told to me second/third hand): The lake took a hard right turn from around the Eastern Lake beach access as it connected to gulf. Lots of folks were floating all along the "river" in inner-tubes; others sitting in the mostly shallow water, many playing with their children. A man and his son with an inner-tube came by where we were sitting and complained that some women had told them they couldn't be in the water in front of a house because it was on private property and that they had called the Sheriff. Interestingly, the ladies who did this did not own either of the homes effected; they had come from the other side of the lake.
Sure enough the sheriff came and talked for awhile to some of the people (not the ladies who made the call - they observed from a distance). They didn't make anyone leave the water. In the meantime another lady who either owned or was renting one of the houses had a long talk with the Sheriff's official. It looked like she was saying that if you followed the path of the previously intact fence that had defined their private beach area, it would go out into the middle of the "river" and that part of the water should be off limits.
Sounds weird to me. The walkway/beach access for that house, which was private and no one else was using, was partially washed away. I could see there might be some liability there if someone tried to use it, but the argument according to some was that they could not be in the water!!
May be more to this? Anyone know?
Here's what happened today (some of this I observed; some was told to me second/third hand): The lake took a hard right turn from around the Eastern Lake beach access as it connected to gulf. Lots of folks were floating all along the "river" in inner-tubes; others sitting in the mostly shallow water, many playing with their children. A man and his son with an inner-tube came by where we were sitting and complained that some women had told them they couldn't be in the water in front of a house because it was on private property and that they had called the Sheriff. Interestingly, the ladies who did this did not own either of the homes effected; they had come from the other side of the lake.
Sure enough the sheriff came and talked for awhile to some of the people (not the ladies who made the call - they observed from a distance). They didn't make anyone leave the water. In the meantime another lady who either owned or was renting one of the houses had a long talk with the Sheriff's official. It looked like she was saying that if you followed the path of the previously intact fence that had defined their private beach area, it would go out into the middle of the "river" and that part of the water should be off limits.
Sounds weird to me. The walkway/beach access for that house, which was private and no one else was using, was partially washed away. I could see there might be some liability there if someone tried to use it, but the argument according to some was that they could not be in the water!!
May be more to this? Anyone know?