Redirecting Camp Creek Dune Lake outflow

[Charles Evans]

Is it true that St. Joe is in the process of attempting to redirect the natural outflow from the Camp Creek Dune Lake because it impacts their beach in front of their Beach Club? I thought the Dune Lakes were protected.

 

[Truman]

The dunes, lakes, Outfalls and nearly every other natural feature in SoWal have been manhandled for decades.

I think WaterSound owners have been wanting to shorten the flow since the start. St. Joe has always left it alone and spent a lot of money cleaning the lake, beaches and dunes, especially after storms. Hopefully that remains the policy.

 

[Charles Evans]

The dunes, lakes, Outfalls and nearly every other natural feature in SoWal have been manhandled for decades.

I think WaterSound owners have been wanting to shorten the flow since the start. St. Joe has always left it alone and spent a lot of money cleaning the lake, beaches and dunes, especially after storms. Hopefully that remains the policy.

Watersound Owner’s do not own the Beach, St. Joe does.

 

[James Bentwood]

Watersound Owner’s do not own the Beach, St. Joe does.

I think most of us assume that the beachfront conveyed to the watersound HOA. Does Joe own it and owners have access only? How does it work? I figure Joe owns the beach in front of the club but not the rest.

Tell us what you know please. Are you a Watersound homeowner?

 

[Matt J]

The beach in front of the beach club is owned by Joe, the beach in front of Watersound on either side is owned by the HOA.

 

[Matt J]

Also, this is a fools errand. The amount of permitting required would be exorbitant even by owners standards and it would be temporary. At a certain point you gotta let nature be.

 

[Charles Evans]

Joe owns the entire beach, HOA owns nothing.

 

[Dawn]

Joe owns the entire beach, HOA owns nothing.

Coy is not a good look for you. Just step out and tell us what you know and what you think.

 

[Charles Evans]

Not trying to be coy, it is what Joe stated in a recent Watersound Beach Board meeting. They claim they want to redirect the outflow to “protect the Dune structure”. They never do anything that is not in their best interest, the County will roll over for them, and this all about making sure they have a pretty beach in front of their Club, and nothing else. I was always under the impression that Dune lakes were heavily protected.

 

[Lake View Too]

The Dune Lakes are certainly treasured by almost everybody, but "protected" is a term that doesn't apply very well to any of our natural resources in South Walton. That being said, there have times, in the distant past, and the not so distant past, where the outflows of all the lakes have been altered, both, by developers for really wrong reasons, and by environmentally sensitive people, for lack of a better term, for better reasons. The stance that "never touch the outflows, ever" is a great thought, even quaint and charming, but it simply doesn't apply anymore. Smart stewardship can help right some of the wrongs of the past. And really, it doesn't much matter, mother nature will re-arrange it again. De-directing an outflow of a Dune Lake, isn't the end of the world. It's more similar to pissing into the wind, in the grand scheme of things.