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Will B

Moderator

Draper Lake is getting full.  Somebody tried digging it out over Christmas right in between two signs saying it was against the law.  It was about a 50 yard run.  All they got was a trickle, but then the 8 of us who walked down to the lake started filling it back in much to their chargrin...

It never did open...

Draper Lake is getting full. Somebody tried digging it out over Christmas right in between two signs saying it was against the law. It was about a 50 yard run. All they got was a trickle, but then the 8 of us who walked down to the lake started filling it back in much to their chargrin... 
 
It never did open...

DuneLaker

Beach Fanatic

What a wasteful tragedy. With storm and low approaching, the lake could have possibly opened on its own tonight saving our precious county and state dollars for other uses. Do we know how much money was spent last year? Do you have more pictures. Looks like that fence will soon add to the litter of the lake and gulf. Odd that it is allowed to be there. Can't tell you how many times something in that area ends up in the lake and gulf.  Thanks for the video.  Perhaps this opening with storm tonight will take out enough sand to the west that this will be the last false opening forever.

What a wasteful tragedy. With storm and low approaching, the lake could have possibly opened on its own tonight saving our precious county and state dollars for other uses. Do we know how much money was spent last year? Do you have more pictures. Looks like that fence will soon add to the litter of the lake and gulf. Odd that it is allowed to be there. Can&#039;t tell you how many times something in that area ends up in the lake and gulf.  Thanks for the video.  Perhaps this opening with storm tonight will take out enough sand to the west that this will be the last false opening forever.

Matt J

SWGB

It wasn't quite the roar of water as in the past.  In fact the lake level only dropped about a foot.  Last time it was a little more drastic.  I think mother nature is once again taking care of herself and just closing the outfall herself until she's ready.

It wasn&#039;t quite the roar of water as in the past.  In fact the lake level only dropped about a foot.  Last time it was a little more drastic.  I think mother nature is once again taking care of herself and just closing the outfall herself until she&#039;s ready.

Harriet

Beach Lover

TreeFrog

If you ask me, they are micro-managing the lake level.  I've seen it MUCH higher.  Whoever is calling the county must have some unrealistic expectations about keeping it at a constant level.  There seems to be no judgement exercised, just call and it will be opened.

If you ask me, they are micro-managing the lake level.  I&#039;ve seen it MUCH higher.  Whoever is calling the county must have some unrealistic expectations about keeping it at a constant level.  There seems to be no judgement exercised, just call and it will be opened.

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert

Who are the people who are constantly agitating to get it open? Maybe we could buy them some prunes or explain that it's a lake, not a channel to the ocean. :idontno:

Who are the people who are constantly agitating to get it open? Maybe we could buy them some prunes or explain that it&#039;s a lake, not a channel to the ocean. :idontno:

[quote="TreeFrog, post: 515748"]If you ask me, they are micro-managing the lake level.  I've seen it MUCH higher.  Whoever is calling the county must have some unrealistic expectations about keeping it at a constant level.  There seems to be no judgement exercised, just call and it will be opened.[/quote]

What kills me is it's the same people that get all excited over the sand dumping issue.  Instead of letting mother nature take care of herself they then have to take more man made action and it's only causing more problems.  I've been around the lake and can't figure out who's house was affected by the latest high water.  :idontno:

If it's a septic issue I feel, as many do, that the money spent to open the outfall should be spent on connecting folks to the sewer so the level is not an issue.  As I walked down to see what had been done there were two county trucks, a semi truck, and a back hoe.  I would imagine this is quite a bit of waste to lower the lake 1 foot.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="TreeFrog">If you ask me, they are micro-managing the lake level. I&#039;ve seen it MUCH higher. Whoever is calling the county must have some unrealistic expectations about keeping it at a constant level. There seems to be no judgement exercised, just call and it will be opened.</blockquote> 
What kills me is it&#039;s the same people that get all excited over the sand dumping issue. Instead of letting mother nature take care of herself they then have to take more man made action and it&#039;s only causing more problems. I&#039;ve been around the lake and can&#039;t figure out who&#039;s house was affected by the latest high water. :idontno: 
 
If it&#039;s a septic issue I feel, as many do, that the money spent to open the outfall should be spent on connecting folks to the sewer so the level is not an issue. As I walked down to see what had been done there were two county trucks, a semi truck, and a back hoe. I would imagine this is quite a bit of waste to lower the lake 1 foot.

Lake Eastern

My husband reminded me last night about the WIN(Whip Inflation Now) buttons we wore during the Ford administration.  Maybe we could wear some LTLA(Leave The Lake Alone) buttons

Sounds fun, but since I see you are up early this morning by your post time, be sure to go out right now and see the moonset. Its reflection in Eastern Lake will be awesome.

Miss Kitty

Meow

[quote="Lake Eastern, post: 518243"]My husband reminded me last night about the WIN(Whip Inflation Now) buttons we wore during the Ford administration. Maybe we could wear some LTLA(Leave The Lake Alone) buttons[/quote]
 
:clap:
 
WIN...A blast from the past!

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lake Eastern">My husband reminded me last night about the WIN(Whip Inflation Now) buttons we wore during the Ford administration. Maybe we could wear some LTLA(Leave The Lake Alone) buttons</blockquote> 
:clap: 
 
WIN...A blast from the past!

Lake View Too

SoWal Insider

[b]Facts[/b]

The Lake will never bust out naturally in a robust way because of the sheer amount of sand that has acrued since hurricane Dennis. Most of the problem is that Dennis pushed a majority of the 500 cubic yards of sand barrier deposited in 2005 into the lakeside mouth of the inlet. This has caused any outbreak, whether manmade or natural , to be severely restricted, and hence, the inlet will never bust out with enough gusto to "repair" itself.
 
The two issues are (1) the inability of the lake to break out naturally, with enough gusto to insure saltwater backflow, has damaged the ecology of the lake drastically in the space of less than two years. (2) the inability of the lake to break out naturally has forced the DEP to establish a trigger point determined by them that they deemed the point where the lake height is affecting public safety and well being.
 
The people of the lake who have been working strongly toward correcting this problem feel that removing the sandbar from the mouth of the inlet, that has been obstructing the flow since Dennis, would allow it to flow better.
 
All of you who cry about let nature do it's thing... where were you when  500 cubic feet of sand barrier was deposited in 2005. You people are a bunch of hypocrits.

Facts 
 
The Lake will never bust out naturally in a robust way because of the sheer amount of sand that has acrued since hurricane Dennis. Most of the problem is that Dennis pushed a majority of the 500 cubic yards of sand barrier deposited in 2005 into the lakeside mouth of the inlet. This has caused any outbreak, whether manmade or natural , to be severely restricted, and hence, the inlet will never bust out with enough gusto to &quot;repair&quot; itself. 
 
The two issues are (1) the inability of the lake to break out naturally, with enough gusto to insure saltwater backflow, has damaged the ecology of the lake drastically in the space of less than two years. (2) the inability of the lake to break out naturally has forced the DEP to establish a trigger point determined by them that they deemed the point where the lake height is affecting public safety and well being. 
 
The people of the lake who have been working strongly toward correcting this problem feel that removing the sandbar from the mouth of the inlet, that has been obstructing the flow since Dennis, would allow it to flow better. 
 
All of you who cry about let nature do it&#039;s thing... where were you when 500 cubic feet of sand barrier was deposited in 2005. You people are a bunch of hypocrits.

If left alone, the chances of it opening in a robust way is highly likely.  The premature openings hurt this opportunity every time it happens, in addition to being a huge financial drain on the county.  There have been sand barriers on this lake and others for decades.  If anything, those digging out the lake with abandon in the immediate years preceeding 2005 caused some if not most of any problems the lake might have experienced.  You've got to get over blaming one event in 2005 for everything.  We weren't anywhere.  We were watching in horror and dismay from right here.  Hurricane Ivan in 2004 had opened the lake up very nicely and folks had the county come in and push a great deal of sand around and blocked the lake from its natural path.  Talk about some huge piles of sand around the outfall.

If left alone, the chances of it opening in a robust way is highly likely.  The premature openings hurt this opportunity every time it happens, in addition to being a huge financial drain on the county.  There have been sand barriers on this lake and others for decades.  If anything, those digging out the lake with abandon in the immediate years preceeding 2005 caused some if not most of any problems the lake might have experienced.  You&#039;ve got to get over blaming one event in 2005 for everything.  We weren&#039;t anywhere.  We were watching in horror and dismay from right here.  Hurricane Ivan in 2004 had opened the lake up very nicely and folks had the county come in and push a great deal of sand around and blocked the lake from its natural path.  Talk about some huge piles of sand around the outfall.

[b]What[/b]

What manmade  sandbarriers have been dumped on Eastern Lake Inlet in the last fifty years other than the one in 2005??? The County did no such digging until the inlet was completely erased after Dennis. Please get your facts straight. Do you not see the sandbar in the mouth of the inlet that has not been here in fifty years?

What 
 
What manmade sandbarriers have been dumped on Eastern Lake Inlet in the last fifty years other than the one in 2005??? The County did no such digging until the inlet was completely erased after Dennis. Please get your facts straight. Do you not see the sandbar in the mouth of the inlet that has not been here in fifty years?

I'll stand firmly by my statements.  I've been here over 50 years and have both scientific and photographic evidence.

I&#039;ll stand firmly by my statements.  I&#039;ve been here over 50 years and have both scientific and photographic evidence.

:popcorn:

I think people need to stop messing w/ the lake so it can fix itself. Amazing how it managed to survive for so many years w/o us digging it out all the time. :roll:

:popcorn: 
 
I think people need to stop messing w/ the lake so it can fix itself. Amazing how it managed to survive for so many years w/o us digging it out all the time. :roll:

[quote="scooterbug44, post: 518333"]:popcorn:
 
I think people need to stop messing w/ the lake so it can fix itself. Amazing how it managed to survive for so many years w/o us digging it out all the time. :roll:[/quote]
 
 
Its amazing how well it managed to survive for so many years before 500 yards of filldirt was put in it's path. Duh.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="scooterbug44">:popcorn: 
 
I think people need to stop messing w/ the lake so it can fix itself. Amazing how it managed to survive for so many years w/o us digging it out all the time. :roll:</blockquote> 
 
Its amazing how well it managed to survive for so many years before 500 yards of filldirt was put in it&#039;s path. Duh.

[quote="DuneLaker, post: 518289"]If left alone, the chances of it opening in a robust way is highly likely. The premature openings hurt this opportunity every time it happens, in addition to being a huge financial drain on the county. There have been sand barriers on this lake and others for decades. If anything, those digging out the lake with abandon in the immediate years preceeding 2005 caused some if not most of any problems the lake might have experienced. You've got to get over blaming one event in 2005 for everything. We weren't anywhere. We were watching in horror and dismay from right here. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 had opened the lake up very nicely and folks had the county come in and push a great deal of sand around and blocked the lake from its natural path. Talk about some huge piles of sand around the outfall.[/quote]
 
Please show me photographic proof that there has been man-made sand barriers in front of Eastern or any other lake before 2005. Please show me photographic proof the County "messed" with the inlet before Hurricane Dennis.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="DuneLaker">If left alone, the chances of it opening in a robust way is highly likely. The premature openings hurt this opportunity every time it happens, in addition to being a huge financial drain on the county. There have been sand barriers on this lake and others for decades. If anything, those digging out the lake with abandon in the immediate years preceeding 2005 caused some if not most of any problems the lake might have experienced. You&#039;ve got to get over blaming one event in 2005 for everything. We weren&#039;t anywhere. We were watching in horror and dismay from right here. Hurricane Ivan in 2004 had opened the lake up very nicely and folks had the county come in and push a great deal of sand around and blocked the lake from its natural path. Talk about some huge piles of sand around the outfall.</blockquote> 
Please show me photographic proof that there has been man-made sand barriers in front of Eastern or any other lake before 2005. Please show me photographic proof the County &quot;messed&quot; with the inlet before Hurricane Dennis.

UofL

We stayed at Commodores Retreat, twice, around 2002 and 2003.  Curious to look back at my pictures.

[quote="Lake View Too, post: 518378"]Please show me photographic proof that there has been man-made sand barriers in front of Eastern or any other lake before 2005. Please show me photographic proof the County "messed" with the inlet before Hurricane Dennis.[/quote]
 
I do show them to people who are courteous, open and interested and when I have the time.  My video and picture files on this topic are massive.  Until then, you will just have to take my word for it or talk to a number of other people who have been around this lake over 50 years.  Some are not on this board and do not care to take part in these contentious discussions.

<blockquote class="xfBb-quote" data-name="Lake View Too">Please show me photographic proof that there has been man-made sand barriers in front of Eastern or any other lake before 2005. Please show me photographic proof the County &quot;messed&quot; with the inlet before Hurricane Dennis.</blockquote> 
I do show them to people who are courteous, open and interested and when I have the time. My video and picture files on this topic are massive. Until then, you will just have to take my word for it or talk to a number of other people who have been around this lake over 50 years. Some are not on this board and do not care to take part in these contentious discussions.

The county went ahead and wasted more of your tax dollars opening Eastern Lake today.  Here's some photos and [URL="http://30atelevision.com/play.php?vid=377"]video[/URL].

[IMG]http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266047874.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266046680.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266046680.jpg[/IMG]

The county went ahead and wasted more of your tax dollars opening Eastern Lake today. Here&#039;s some photos and <a href="http://30atelevision.com/play.php?vid=377" target="_blank" class="link link--external" rel="nofollow ugc noopener">video</a>. 
 
<img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266047874.jpg" alt="" /> 
<img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266046680.jpg" alt="" /> 
<img src="http://i124.photobucket.com/albums/p10/cubbearpc/img1231266046680.jpg" alt="" />

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Eastern Lake opened

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