We have had a second home on the lake for a few years and are just about to move to it full time. I am concerned about the lake level, as my house is practically IN the lake, but also acknowledge that the builder likely just put the house way too close to the shore which is not the lake's fault. I certainly can understand the idea behind wanting the county to open the mouth of the lake, but when I first came to the lake (2004), it opened naturally and drained and then became tidal before closing again. This is obviously when the salt water entered. If you just let the lake fill up naturally, way beyond where it is now, then let it break through with great force, would not the force of the outflow dig its own deep channel, that over time would allow the tidal inflow condition that once existed? I certainly understand how inconvenient this high water level is, and I think the weeds certainly make living on the shore less enjoyable, but isn't it possible that you may do more harm than good my messing with the opening with machinery? So go easy on me here- I'm new to the area, the forum, and the issue, so make your replies educational if you can.
Thanks, Hearthernken, and welcome to the beach! Your observations and comments are all right-on! I have a master's degree in biology/coastal zone studies, have enjoyed and studied these coastal dune lakes for several years, and I recently waded into the Eastern Lake issue after a very poorly-done article about the Lake appeared on the front of The Walton Sun in early June. The article did not quote any scientists, but only angry lakeside residents who have seen the lake change to a condition they don't like, and they blame the landowner who created an artificial dune east of the outfall--a dune that was then washed away by Hurricane Dennis. I wrote a commentary that appeared in the paper the following week, and it has set-off a series of letters.
Here are some of the facts about the lake that I've reported in my commentary and subsequent communications with elected officials and others:
--all water quality testing indicates
Eastern Lake is largely healthy, with only
ONE area of concern: phosphorus levels have increased over time. Phosphorus is a nutrient that can cause too much plant growth, and may have contributed to the vigorous growth of widgeon grass in the lake. Phosphorus has nothing to do with the lake outfall, and comes from activities of residents and businesses around the lake--fertilizers, lack of buffer zones, runoff from streets, dirt roads, and parking lots.
--Julie Terrell (she holds a master's in limnology--the study of lakes) of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance presented at the June dune lakes advisory board meeting, and reported there and was quoted in the Northwest Florida Daily News that lake
salinity has dropped,
but this is a natural process due with no relationship to sand dumped near the lake outfall. Dune lakes vary over time and are sometimes more fresh, sometimes more saline, but can be healthy in either state.
--
I have spoken with five scientists and counting at Florida DEP and elsewhere, and all believe the lake is undergoing a natural cycle and the lake outfall does not need to be dredged. All agreed that two years of drought following 2005 hurricanes have kept lake levels low, reduced exchanges with the Gulf, caused salinities to drop, and caused water clarity to increase greatly--which has helped the widgeon grass to take-off, since it needs light for photosynthesis--light that is often minimal in dune lakes because of the brown coloration of the water caused by natural tannins. Again, all part of the natural variability of dune lakes.
--I have reviewed data collected on all of the lakes over the past several years and it shows that
six other lakes are undergoing the same trend as Eastern Lake--a significant drop in salinity since the hurricanes of 2005. So this situation is not unique to Eastern Lake, and
is simply part of the natural variation of coastal dune lakes. This would preclude any thought that the lake is in a special condition that justifies dredging.
--
There has been no evidence presented that the sand dumped in 2005 has had any affect on the lake or its current conditions. The amount of sand dumped was tiny in comparison to the amount of sand nature is constantly moving in and around the outfall.
--the Eastern Lake outfall was dredged open three times by the County following Hurricane Dennis, and according to logs kept by longtime lake resident Earl Day, the lake has opened about a dozen times on it's own since Dec., 2005. The exchanges may not be deep exchanges because lake levels are low due to extreme drought--nothing wrong with that--again, all part of a natural cycle.
--yes, the saltwater fish are less prevalent in the lake, which is just part of the natural cycle.
Right now the lake is more fresh, and thus species like bass and sunfish are thriving. Go down and look in the widgeon grass and you'll see hundreds of little fish. The saltwater fish are all still available a few feet away in the Gulf.
--the
widgeon grass thriving in the lake is a native species of grass, it has likely always occured in the lake (a 2000 plant survey by FL Lakewatch found it was the second most common plant in the lake), and it can offer incredible ecological benefits
--Florida DEP is about to issue a permit to the County allowing dredging anytime homes are threatened with flooding. This will eliminate any threat to public health and safety due to higher lake levels that might occur in rainier times.
--there have been no reports of fish kills or any toxic or dangerous conditions in the lake
--by all accounts the conditions in Eastern Lake have
CHANGED, but the lake is certianly not dying. Residents have become used to certain conditions that they like, but just because those conditions change does not create a crisis. Change is part of the natural order of coastal dune lakes and all natural systems, and that's part of what makes them so beautiful and fascinating. Just because we don't like the change is not license to go in and change them back to a condition that we favor.
We must rely on the science to guide us in this issue and others involving our natural environment. So far the science clearly shows us that Eastern Lake does not need to be manipulated by man through an expensive dredging project. I encourage everyone to do their own research, talk to qualified scientists, and speak-out in favor of keeping our coastal dune lakes as natural lakes that are free to ebb and flow on their own.
