After all the rain we've had recently, it was really close yesterday. I went back down there this morning about 6:30 and it appeared to have just opened, as it was flowing vigorously. The pelicans were working the outlet, eating the small fish getting washed out.
Opinion follows...
I'm far from educated on natural sciences, but it seems to me that we don't need to to manage the outflow from these lakes, as some have suggested. They did just fine before we got here and, to my uneducated eye, they appear to still do just fine. I live near Eastern Lake and I've seen it open and close many times, all by itself.
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SoWal Expert
Sulfur, which we have an abundance of dissolved in our groundwater and lakes.If that what you smelled was the same which I smelled, it was dead sealife. I notice many Sea Cucmbers (little slug looking creatures) were washing up on the beach on Sat. When walking down the inlet to the Gulf, I noticed the fresh seafood smell, quickly followed by some rotten seafood smells just a few steps farther. Perhaps it was a many sea creatures rotting after the sun heated them up and cooked them to death on the beach.
Beach Fanatic
$150,000??? Heck all they need is about $100 worth of three-dollar plastic shovels and thirty kids, and a lake can be opened in less than a day or two.
I have a rug-rat I can loan them! He'll think it's a great day!
SoWal Expert
Maybe you can put in a bid.....I am not sure about the Child Labor Laws, but I have faith that you will think of something.....If they paid me $150K, I could do it with my own back in a week.
You just call me the next time that issue comes up. Heck, I could buy a keg and some Amore pizza and call it a party and we will have it open and running faster than the track hoe and the three guys watching the operator. I could even get Waco or Dread to play along to keep the digging pace up.
Admin
If they paid me $150K, I could do it with my own back in a week.
Interesting idea.
It reminds me of the day before yesterday. A warm, late Summer, sunny Sunday afternoon as I was floating down the Western Lake outlet rapids sipping a cold one among the crabs and fish there was a kind party on the bank with DC cranking from the back of their Explorer. :clap_1:
Beach Comber
Sounds like a project I want to be involved with.....I will pitch your idea at the next Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board.....
Beach Fanatic
Sounds like a project I want to be involved with.....I will pitch your idea at the next Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board.....
Is there a paper anywhere that describes the issues with the Coastal Dune Lakes, especially those involving the outlets closing/opening?
Beach Fanatic
I don't believe the opening of Eastern Lake is the complete solution . All the sand that was brought in by a lot owner has washed into the lake and has become a clog for future outlets. The lake is much shallower at the mouth than it once was..so don't blow the $150,000 quite yet. We may need it for dredging!!
Beach Comber
Excellent point, Franny.....Pgurney, I just finished a report to the County outlining some of the issues concerning the lakes. I would be more than happy to email it to you....You may also want to see the management plan meeting posts archived in this forum or visit the project website at www.dunelakes.org .....
Beach FanaticAuthor
Just an update.
Over the last two or three weeks, the lake has closed, opened, closed, opened, etc. on a day by day basis. In general, it has drained probably 2 out of 3 days. Obviously, the recent rate of flow has been way down compared to when it first opened.
Now, though, I'd say this storm has closed it for quite some time. A huge amount of sand has washed and blown into the former outlet. The lake is now probably 50 yards from the beach. It will be interesting to see if it stabilizes like that or works its way back to opening.
Over the last two or three weeks, the lake has closed, opened, closed, opened, etc. on a day by day basis. In general, it has drained probably 2 out of 3 days. Obviously, the recent rate of flow has been way down compared to when it first opened.
Now, though, I'd say this storm has closed it for quite some time. A huge amount of sand has washed and blown into the former outlet. The lake is now probably 50 yards from the beach. It will be interesting to see if it stabilizes like that or works its way back to opening.
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