When the Eastern Lake outlet first opened after the summer rains, I believed the cause to be natural. The lake water level was high and very close to breaking through the low beach dune for a week or two before it actually opened.
It stopped flowing about a week or 10 days later, but it was still close to the beach. One day about 2 or 3 weeks ago, I found it open again. The new outlet looked a little suspicious, as it was just a straight cut through the low sand mound at the water level. The was even some sand piled up on the edges of the cut, as though left there by digging out a trench.
The lake flowed out slowly until the storm early this week. The waves and wind dumped a huge amount of sand in the outlet, closing it conclusively.
THIS MORNING
I was disappointed but not terribly surprised to see that someone has been trying to dig out a trench to start the lake flowing again. They made it about 1/4 of the way to the beach and then either gave up or left it to finish later. Sorry, I don't have photos - didn't have my camera with me on my walk.
Eastern Lake homeowner? Kids, innocent or vandal? Someone in an official position quietly "helping" a friend?
SO...
-Is it illegal?
-Who is the proper authority? Will they care?
Replies
23
Beach Fanatic
I'm confused, do you want it open and flowing or not
Admin
In the past it's usually people playing or homeowners' with docks underwater. If it's close enough to be dug by hand it's ignored.
SoWal Insider
I believe it is illegal. We encountered a similar situation near a beach walk where drainage was installed on wetlands that filled with water. It was so nice at night listening to all the frogs and seeing the fireflies. Now there is a for sale sign :shock: on the land and it all dry.
A neighbor who lives in the area fulltime told me that permission was granted by a former Commissioner, but technically it was not legal. They told me that now it is a State issue I believe with the DEP. I am not a lawyer and do not know all the regulations, just stating what I heard.
A neighbor who lives in the area fulltime told me that permission was granted by a former Commissioner, but technically it was not legal. They told me that now it is a State issue I believe with the DEP. I am not a lawyer and do not know all the regulations, just stating what I heard.
Beach Fanatic
I was staying in Gulf Trace years ago & some tourist on the beach was attempting to redirect one of the outflows. Some official looking person came & made him stop & threatened to haul him off to jail.
Beach FanaticAuthor
I'm confused, do you want it open and flowing or not
My personal opinion is that it should be open if it wants to be, closed if it wants to be. I'd suspect these lakes worked just fine for hundreds of years before we all showed up.
I imagine my opinion doesn't match that of homeowners who built their docks too close to the lake's high-water level.
Edited
Beach FanaticAuthor
In the past it's usually people playing or homeowners' with docks underwater. If it's close enough to be dug by hand it's ignored.
Would you call 50 yards close? That's about how far the hand-dug trench will have to go to connect to the gulf.
SoWal Expert
Would you call 50 yards close? That's about how far the hand-dug trench will have to go to connect to the gulf.As I previously mentioned, it doesn't require payment of $150,000 to open up any of the Lakes around here.
Beach Fanatic
My personal opinion is that it should be open if it wants to be, closed if it wants to be. I'd suspect these lakes worked just fine for hundreds of years before we all showed up.OK, I was just currious, we don't live on Eastern Lake, but very close. I love to see it flowing, but it seems to me that no matter what "we" do, nature will do what it wants to.
I imagine my opinion doesn't match that of homeowners who built their docks too close to the lake's high-water level.
SoWal Expert
OK, I was just currious, we don't live on Eastern Lake, but very close. I love to see it flowing, but it seems to me that no matter what "we" do, nature will do what it wants to.True, but often times, nature takes years to change what man changes in a matter of minutes.
Beach Fanatic
True, but often times, nature takes years to change what man changes in a matter of minutes.
Very true
Beach Comber
When I was a kid growing up on the sowal beaches we used to wait patiently for the lakes to swell and brim. We'd grab a shovel and let em' rip! That was a long time ago. This tradition came to an abrupt halt one day when a man from the county approached us with a deputy. They informed us (after they-- literally--caught the slowest boy in our crew and then called us out of our hiding places in the dunes, ha) that is was absolutely a legal 'no-no'. Our fortune that day was that the times were much different. Today, the act is frowned upon and followed up on. Don't dig the lakes. It is my understanding that the fines are substantial and mandatory.
(p.s. if you've never witnessed a brimming lake opening to the gulf, make a point to do so. It is an awe-inspiring display of natural power. Stay back and keep the kids clear as it will literally rush you out 100yds. in mere seconds.)
(p.s. if you've never witnessed a brimming lake opening to the gulf, make a point to do so. It is an awe-inspiring display of natural power. Stay back and keep the kids clear as it will literally rush you out 100yds. in mere seconds.)
Beach Comber
True, but often times, nature takes years to change what man changes in a matter of minutes.and vice versa
Beach Comber
The opening of the lakes is absolutely illegal.....Although it has long been an accepted practice by old-timers the County is beginning to take this issue more seriously. Last I heard, the County is creating signs to be placed near the outlets that will educate the public on this issue. They also have the ability to levy fines of (I believe) $5000. They will probably not sanction any fines if the lake is a few feet away from the Gulf, but they want to stop human manipulation of the lakes similar to the situation you are discussing.....During our public meetings, management of the outlets was the number one public concern.....www.dunelakes.org
Beach FanaticAuthor
The opening of the lakes is absolutely illegal.....Although it has long been an accepted practice by old-timers the County is beginning to take this issue more seriously. Last I heard, the County is creating signs to be placed near the outlets that will educate the public on this issue. They also have the ability to levy fines of (I believe) $5000. They will probably not sanction any fines if the lake is a few feet away from the Gulf, but they want to stop human manipulation of the lakes similar to the situation you are discussing.....During our public meetings, management of the outlets was the number one public concern.....www.dunelakes.org
Personally, I wouldn't call 50 yards "a few feet".
So who is the proper authority to call? Sheriff's Dept or ?
SoWal Expert
Personally, I wouldn't call 50 yards "a few feet".Just pull out your belt and start whipping the person responsible.
So who is the proper authority to call? Sheriff's Dept or ?
Beach Comber
Sorry if I was not clear, but I meant that the scenario you were discussing (i.e. 50 yards) was unacceptable. I know S.J. favors the belt approach, but if that is not your taste then try code enforcement or the environmental staff (Anthony Austermann 267-1955).....
Beach FanaticAuthor
Well, they are at it again. Only this time they didn't fool around with a shovel - somebody's been out there with a backhoe. You can see the tracks where it drove out from the road on the eastern side of the lake. They've dug a honking big trench out at the beach, where the sand was piled up deep from the storm. It connects to the hand-dug trench from the lake.
Does anyone want to call this in? I don't want to get drawn into what would surely become a major neighborhood spat. I'll try to get photos and post them tomorrow.
Does anyone want to call this in? I don't want to get drawn into what would surely become a major neighborhood spat. I'll try to get photos and post them tomorrow.
SoWal Expert
Well, they are at it again. Only this time they didn't fool around with a shovel - somebody's been out there with a backhoe. You can see the tracks where it drove out from the road on the eastern side of the lake. They've dug a honking big trench out at the beach, where the sand was piled up deep from the storm. It connects to the hand-dug trench from the lake.Report it to Anthony Austermann 267-1955, as CBA Phillip mentioned. You don't have to give your name. You will be able to give more details than we who have not seen it.
Does anyone want to call this in? I don't want to get drawn into what would surely become a major neighborhood spat. I'll try to get photos and post them tomorrow.
Edited
needs to get out more
why would you not report illegal activity? you asked, phillip answered that is indeed illegal, and now you'll just watch?? this is much larger that a 'neighborhood spat'. a barking dog is a neighborhood spat.
needs to get out more
did you call?
Beach Lover
I think the county did the backhoe work. There was a BCC tractor on the east shore with telltale sand in the bucket, and with my expert CSI skills, the tires seemed to match the tracks...
But why would they just half-ass the job? It looks like someone was just playing around...
But why would they just half-ass the job? It looks like someone was just playing around...
Beach FanaticAuthor
I think the county did the backhoe work. There was a BCC tractor on the east shore with telltale sand in the bucket, and with my expert CSI skills, the tires seemed to match the tracks...
But why would they just half-ass the job? It looks like someone was just playing around...
Nature made it all irrelevent yesterday. All traces of the backhoe work were eliminated by the wind and waves. Meanwhile, the rain filled the lake to the point that it's probably going to open on its own shortly.
SoWal Insider
Nature made it all irrelevent yesterday. All traces of the backhoe work were eliminated by the wind and waves. Meanwhile, the rain filled the lake to the point that it's probably going to open on its own shortly.
Did it open?Did you ever make the call?
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