HOA at the Inn now claiming that the MHWL.....

[Redfishowner]

runs 50 yds. out into the gulf in an email I received from their president today (this is the Inn at BMB I should say). I emailed her after the 4th of July weekend that the security guards were telling people to get in the water or get off the beach - she said this was not correct, that the "wet sand area" was the correct interpretation, and that she would correct the security company. Yesterday, I had a renter call me complaining again that they had been told at this beach access to "Get in the water or get off the beach."

I sent the HOA president another email. She emailed me back and stated that their position had now changed due to a ruling from the Attorney General's office that sets the mean high water line about 50 yds. out in the gulf.

Am I missing something here? Is this true or is she delusional? If this is so, why isn't the Walton Co. Sheriff enforcing this? They are no longer making people move on this beach unless they are camped out by the Inn or Retreat's dunes.

Any insight someone could offer would really be helpful.

 

[CPort]

this doesn't sound good at all!

 

[wrobert]

runs 50 yds. out into the gulf in an email I received from their president today (this is the Inn at BMB I should say). I emailed her after the 4th of July weekend that the security guards were telling people to get in the water or get off the beach - she said this was not correct, that the "wet sand area" was the correct interpretation, and that she would correct the security company. Yesterday, I had a renter call me complaining again that they had been told at this beach access to "Get in the water or get off the beach."

I sent the HOA president another email. She emailed me back and stated that their position had now changed due to a ruling from the Attorney General's office that sets the mean high water line about 50 yds. out in the gulf.

Am I missing something here? Is this true or is she delusional? If this is so, why isn't the Walton Co. Sheriff enforcing this? They are no longer making people move on this beach unless they are camped out by the Inn or Retreat's dunes.

Any insight someone could offer would really be helpful.

ALL AG Opinions are on the website. Call back and ask for the opinion number that they are referring too so you can see what it says.

 

[Hop]

the new county slogan should be...."Come to 'The Beach'...just stay on the second sand bar..."

 

[Alicia Leonard]

the new county slogan should be...."Come to 'The Beach'...just stay on the second sand bar..."

Catchy

 

[BeachSiO2]

You could always check with the Sheriff's Dept. (don't call 911) as I believe they are requiring proof of ownership, etc. as outlined on another thread. As for the current MHWL being 50 yards in the gulf, that is inaccurate. As has been pointed out on other threads the identification of the MHWL is fairly easy. A licensed surveyor will go to the state's LABINS website to determine what is the current MHW elevation. This elevation is based on the average high tide ELEVATIONS that were measured over a previous 19 year epoch (read 19-year period). It is not necessarily the last 19 years as they don't do the elevation calculation for surveying purposes every year as sea level rise change is not very large in the Gulf from year to year. They are currently using the years of 1983-2001 to set the elevation, NOT THE LINE!!!

To set the line, they will survey along the waters edge to find the location of that elevation at a minimum of two locations. Then they will draw a line between the locations. That line is the MHWL for that moment in time. Since the beach changes daily, the absolute location will be most likely be different on a daily basis but not 50 yards in the water. Also, the MHW line has nothing to do with the tides from one day since the underlying elevation is based on 19 years of tidal data.

Most likely what they are looking at is there original deed and they have suffered 50 yards of beach erosion since the property was purchased. The state doesn't look at it that way, they only look at present day MHW location irregardless of original deeds except in very limited cases.

 

[Miss Critter]

the new county slogan should be...."Come to 'The Beach'...just stay on the second sand bar..."

Maybe that's what the bright orange logo color is really for. It's the same color as the floating buoy markers.

 

[Smiling JOe]

BeachSi02 is the expert here, and makes some good points.

I sent the HOA president another email. She emailed me back and stated that their position had now changed due to a ruling from the Attorney General's office that sets the mean high water line about 50 yds. out in the gulf.

I have yet to see a ruling from the Attorney General's office which sets the MHWL. That is not up to that Office to determine. They are grasping for air.

I think it a shame that uninformed renters have to deal with this crap-o-la. I may have to go set that security guard straight.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Are they saying the MHWL is the same as the CCCL? Kinda sounds like it.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Are they saying the MHWL is the same as the CCCL? Kinda sounds like it.

I don't think so. The Inn's pool sits seaward of the CCCL, and they would be raising hell, rather than saying the MHWL extends 50 yards into the water.