These are surface samples taken from a St. Joe development on Lake Powell. The clearer sample was taken on 7/1/07, and the other was taken on 7/7/07. I am no die-hard environmentalist, but this is shocking to say the least. I saw more of the sample in a five gallon bucket and I am not kidding when I say it looked like a bucket of used motor oil. The samples are being tested to find out what the "murck" consists of, but you don't have to be a chemist to know that no living thing could survive in that kind of environment. This happened in the course of just a few days, just try to imagine what would happen to our beautiful lake if this is allowed to go on. Even if you don't live on Lake Powell, you can be sure that St. Joe owns property in your area. They have been made aware time and again that what they are doing is harmful, but the mighty dollar beats out regard for the damage that is being done.
This stuff does not settle like sediment does. These pictures were taken after the samples sat untouched for 24 hours, so it just floats around with the current suffocating anything that gets caught up in the current with it. That is what could become of the entire body and bodies that Lake Powell feeds into if something isn't done. Take a look and post your thoughts. I will let you know when I have more info if your interested.
Liv'smomLiv'smomBeach LoverInlet Beach245 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
Liv'smomBeach LoverInlet Beach245 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover2,550 views
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InletBchDwellerInletBchDwellerSoWal InsiderPrairieville, La6,802 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
InletBchDwellerSoWal InsiderPrairieville, La6,802 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderI have a friend who lives on Lake Powell and he told me yesterday of this muck!! He said that you can not even see the bottom of the lake in areas that used to be crystal clear. I know that the "lake powell people" have already taken samples and I am sure they are on top of it. (as much as they can be) Seeing photos really hits home....:cry:
SHELLYSHELLYSoWal Insider5,763 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Insider
SHELLYSoWal Insider5,763 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal InsiderSend it to Watersound Beach Club and have them mix it in Pete Rummell's martini next time he swings by for a drink.
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scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertDo you have any idea what it is from? Dredging, a spill, runoff etc?
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminSo many questions I have and so little information I posess.
What do you mean that samples were taken "from the development"? I assume the samples were taken from the lake. Do you mean near WaterSound? What development are they actually doing on the lake? Have they cleared property all the way to the lake? It looks like it could be heavy silt from the bottom of the lake where it is swampy instead of sandy but what would have stirred it up? Are they dredging or installing docks? Or are you implying that it is a spill of some kind?
Could there be something or someone else responsible? I don't know anything either way but I don't understand why you are jumping on St. Joe unless you know more maybe. I do know they've been careful elsewhere and generally left a good wetlands buffer in other developments.
Who has told them what they are doing is harmful and specifically what are they doing?
What do you mean that samples were taken "from the development"? I assume the samples were taken from the lake. Do you mean near WaterSound? What development are they actually doing on the lake? Have they cleared property all the way to the lake? It looks like it could be heavy silt from the bottom of the lake where it is swampy instead of sandy but what would have stirred it up? Are they dredging or installing docks? Or are you implying that it is a spill of some kind?
Could there be something or someone else responsible? I don't know anything either way but I don't understand why you are jumping on St. Joe unless you know more maybe. I do know they've been careful elsewhere and generally left a good wetlands buffer in other developments.
Who has told them what they are doing is harmful and specifically what are they doing?
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertI've scooterbugged and slogged my way through some truly viscous and goopy swamp mud, dry creek beds, bog, etc. in my day and while your clothes are never the same, even that stuff settles out of water in less than 24 hours.
KurtKurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdmin
KurtAdminSoWal2,470 postsJoined View profileMessageAdminI've scooterbugged and slogged my way through some truly viscous and goopy swamp mud, dry creek beds, bog, etc. in my day and while your clothes are never the same, even that stuff settles out of water in less than 24 hours.
Sounds right - maybe they struck black gold.
It is being pumped out of a pond in Watersound North and into the lake. The contractor and developer were notified on several occasions about the concern for the eco system of the lake. On the day the samples were taken, the DEP and Florida Wildlife were finally notified. The Lake Powell Community Alliance is the group that monitors this kind of activity.
30A Skunkape30A SkunkapeSkunkyBackatown Seagrove10,329 postsJoined View profileMessageSkunky
30A SkunkapeSkunkyBackatown Seagrove10,329 postsJoined View profileMessageSkunkyDid the sediment in the 'dirty' sample ever settle?
Smiling JOeSmiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertIf the matter is being pumped out of a pond, directly into the Lake, I would think the DEP would have to issue a permit. That is much more info than in your first post, which after reading, I was thinking that the darker color was maybe due to more tannins being washed into the Lake after the week's worth of rains we had around and prior to that time. I encourage you to contact the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) and inform them of the problems you witnessed, especially about JOE pumping the pond into the Lake. The CBA monitors many aspects and scientific readings of all of our Coastal Dune Lakes, on a monthly basis. Phillip Ellis was the former Director for the CBA, and I am uncertain who is now operating as the Director.
You might try contacting Sky Notestein for direction.
Sky Notestein
Florida LAKEWATCH Regional Coordinator
Florida LAKEWATCH
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL, 32653
1-800-525-3928
(352) 392-4817
Fax: (352) 392-4902
skynote@ufl.edu
fl-lakewatch@ufl.edu
http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu
You might try contacting Sky Notestein for direction.
Sky Notestein
Florida LAKEWATCH Regional Coordinator
Florida LAKEWATCH
7922 NW 71st Street
Gainesville, FL, 32653
1-800-525-3928
(352) 392-4817
Fax: (352) 392-4902
skynote@ufl.edu
fl-lakewatch@ufl.edu
http://lakewatch.ifas.ufl.edu
Did the sediment in the 'dirty' sample ever settle?
There was a bit of settling, but the water was still brown. Not at all like the clear waters of our lake.
Smiling JOeSmiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertLiv'sMom,
May I encourage you to take another sample of that muck and strain it through a white coffee filter, and then take some photos? I would like to see if that is sludge or tannins. I think the coffee filter photo will give us a much better picture than the bottle of what looks to be a nasty Pepsi or Coke. Maybe also note the quantity of water you filter with the photo (eg -- 500 ml, 1 litre, etc. )
May I encourage you to take another sample of that muck and strain it through a white coffee filter, and then take some photos? I would like to see if that is sludge or tannins. I think the coffee filter photo will give us a much better picture than the bottle of what looks to be a nasty Pepsi or Coke. Maybe also note the quantity of water you filter with the photo (eg -- 500 ml, 1 litre, etc. )
Edited
yboi_kmayboi_kmaBeach Lover53 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Lover
Is lake Powell where the state park Camp Helen is? Phillips Inlet area. I was there a few weeks ago and was walking near the lagoon area and noticed what i thought was oil flowing in the water. I did ask the park manager what that was and he had no clue. yeah sure!!! It was pretty nasty looking that is for sure.
Liv'sMom,
May I encourage you to take another sample of that muck and strain it through a white coffee filter, and then take some photos? I would like to see if that is sludge or tannins. I think the coffee filter photo will give us a much better picture than the bottle of what looks to be a nasty Pepsi or Coke. Maybe also note the quantity of water you filter with the photo (eg -- 500 ml, 1 litre, etc. )
SJ, thanks for the contact info. I would be happy to strain some of the water. I will do it later this afternoon and post the pics. Like I said in my first post, they are testing the water to find out what it is and I will let you know what they find.
JdargJdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
JdargSoWal Expert18,040 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertThat water looks like my coffee!
That water looks like my coffee!
That's exactly what I thought of when I first saw it. A bottle of strong black coffee. Although I doubt you would want to sample it.
seacrestkristiseacrestkristiBeach Fanatic3,538 postsJoined View profileMessageBeach Fanatic
That is some nasty lookin' stuff :( Keep on it Liv'smom. :clap: Good work gull.
BTW, that is a beautiful shot of your little gull. :wub:
BTW, that is a beautiful shot of your little gull. :wub:
Smiling JOeSmiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertLiv;sMom,
With your interest in protecting the Lake, you might contact Sky, with the CBA, and find out about volunteering for the CBA to collect data on a monthly basis for the CBA. It would require no more than about 3 hours per sampling. Being a mom, you might not have time to do it, but just wanted you to be aware that the opportunity to help, and learn more about our rare Lakes, is available.
With your interest in protecting the Lake, you might contact Sky, with the CBA, and find out about volunteering for the CBA to collect data on a monthly basis for the CBA. It would require no more than about 3 hours per sampling. Being a mom, you might not have time to do it, but just wanted you to be aware that the opportunity to help, and learn more about our rare Lakes, is available.
Smiling JOeSmiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
Smiling JOeSoWal Expert31,643 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertLiv'smom, you might find the following information from the Walton County Comprehensive Plan, useful in these circumstances.
"Policy C-1.1.3: The channeling of untreated runoff which does not meet the drainage level of service standard established in this plan directly into water bodies or other environmentally sensitive areas by new development or redevelopment, new roads or road-building shall be prohibited."
"Policy C-1.1.3: The channeling of untreated runoff which does not meet the drainage level of service standard established in this plan directly into water bodies or other environmentally sensitive areas by new development or redevelopment, new roads or road-building shall be prohibited."
scooterbug44scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal Expert
scooterbug44SoWal ExpertSowal16,706 postsJoined View profileMessageSoWal ExpertSounds right - maybe they struck black gold.
I wondered that too - kept seeing the opening montage and song from the Beverly Hillbillies!
Can't even imagine the can of worms that would open! :yikes:
Any updates on this?
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