Children Caused a Massive Breach of a Coastal Dune Lake, Draper Lake, July 17th.
I happened to be walking on the beach and came upon the breach at Draper Lake shortly after it started. Apparently a few children were digging a trench between the lake and the Gulf when all of a sudden the lake breached. The pictures I have enclosed show the force of the break.
Several children then later decided to ride the "waves" and the force was so strong it pushed them out into the Gulf for about 150' yards. There were rip tides and flags flying that day. The life guards were notified initially but the breach was so swift that there was no stopping it. So the lifeguards were not present at this stage, as there was nothing they could do to stop it.
When the children began riding the waves and were swept out, the lifeguards arrived again and began to swim out to them. South Walton Fire and Rescue also arrived. But a man with a kayak had already jumped in, and began paddling toward for the children and hauled them onto the kayak safely.
One Fire and Rescue official was heard on the radio saying the breach was draining the whole lake. On my return the next day, the lake was at a much lower level and the breach was still flowing but at a much slower rate of speed.
My question is: What does this do to the ecosystem in the lake when it was such a drastic break and such a large breach? And not caused by large amounts of rainfall? The width of the breach was a least 40-50 feet at the widest, if not wider.
Also: What about the safety of people when the breach is caused by unknowing children or adults? I wonder if there should be signs posted for that kind of dangerous behavior started by a person or persons, resulting in a possibly life threatening situation, especially for children?
It was a spectacular site to see a lake breach so violently right before my eyes| But it could have been a very dangerous situation considering the force, the strength, and the power of the rushing water.
I happened to be walking on the beach and came upon the breach at Draper Lake shortly after it started. Apparently a few children were digging a trench between the lake and the Gulf when all of a sudden the lake breached. The pictures I have enclosed show the force of the break.
Several children then later decided to ride the "waves" and the force was so strong it pushed them out into the Gulf for about 150' yards. There were rip tides and flags flying that day. The life guards were notified initially but the breach was so swift that there was no stopping it. So the lifeguards were not present at this stage, as there was nothing they could do to stop it.
When the children began riding the waves and were swept out, the lifeguards arrived again and began to swim out to them. South Walton Fire and Rescue also arrived. But a man with a kayak had already jumped in, and began paddling toward for the children and hauled them onto the kayak safely.
One Fire and Rescue official was heard on the radio saying the breach was draining the whole lake. On my return the next day, the lake was at a much lower level and the breach was still flowing but at a much slower rate of speed.
My question is: What does this do to the ecosystem in the lake when it was such a drastic break and such a large breach? And not caused by large amounts of rainfall? The width of the breach was a least 40-50 feet at the widest, if not wider.
Also: What about the safety of people when the breach is caused by unknowing children or adults? I wonder if there should be signs posted for that kind of dangerous behavior started by a person or persons, resulting in a possibly life threatening situation, especially for children?
It was a spectacular site to see a lake breach so violently right before my eyes| But it could have been a very dangerous situation considering the force, the strength, and the power of the rushing water.
Wow!
