Gunk in the water

[Lake View Too]

Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it's serene and placid, other days it's majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it's crystal clear. You won't find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?

 

[Foodlover]

I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?

If you love blue green clear waters -- you will love it here because the norm for our water is just that! Occassionally, extended heavy rains or extended high surf can sometimes cause a more brownish tint to the Gulf waters, but that is defnitely not the norm. It is the normal beautiful clarity and color of the water as well as the white sand that make our beaches very special here. Sorry you caught us during an off week -- water color wise.

As was mentioned earlier, most of us appreciate the diversity of nature and love our coast and area -- even when the waters are not clear and blue green as is the norm.

Just take a look at some of the photos in the photo section of Sowal!

I hope this helps!

 

[ItzKatzTime]

I was planning to buy in the area but the gunk in the gulf water at Watersound is really turning me off. Anybody have anything to encourage me?

As you can see histo, there are a lot of people who will encourage you not only through their love of the area, but also a keen understanding of what's going on with the Gulf due to seasonal changes, storms, and staining. Fortunately it doesn't last and we have a majority of emerald green, turquoise blue, ice blue, dark blue and other beautiful colors that the Gulf provides.

We hope this is helpful to you. There are also many other beautiful areas around our community to enjoy and I consider them to be the icing on the cake!!!

Talk with an agent...we have many on this board who would love to help you. Hmmm I bet Bobby J could help you out!!!

Good Luck.

 

[TooFarTampa]

Like other posters said, the Gulf changes almost every day. Some days it's serene and placid, other days it's majestically rough. The brown water is simply tannin, a stain that comes from plant roots and leaches into the lakes which occasionally spill out into the Gulf. A seaweed called junegrass comes in this time of year and sometimes we get sargassum weed. Then other days it's crystal clear. You won't find a better stretch of natural beach anywhere. Did you notice the absence of high-rises?

Exactly ... don't miss the forest for the trees.

 

[Miss Kitty]

Still wondering what the gunk was!

 

[Camellia]

The "seaweed" that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me. Unlike most seaweed, it doesn't seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast. Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake. Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?

 

[John]

The "seaweed" that has been hanging around the coast the last few days is new to me. Unlike most seaweed, it doesn't seem to have been lingering in the gulf and bringing in little creatures or bits of trash. It almost looks like the landscaping detritus of some huge resort drifting down the coast. Reminds me of a time a lake side resident in Grayton had a crew come in and machete all of the fragmides grass, leaving it to drift across the lake. Any marine specialists out there have an explanation of the latest crop?

Hi Neighbor:

I'm no expert, but the local captains tell me that the unusual grasses, and other junk in the water, is a result of (in addition to the localized "brown" water flowing out of some of the Dune Lakes) the heavy rains in the Southeast this spring. All that water flows to the Gulf, leaving us with a lot of "river grass" in the water. I've also noticed al lot of other litter in the water, beyond the usual family beach debris. This phenomenon seems to have affected the fishing. With all the fresh water mixed in the surf, some of the saltwater species have been staying further from the beaches.

This junk should wash out soon.

 

[Lake View Too]

There are no rivers that drain anywhere near the beaches of Sowal so it seems a bit implausible that it could be "river grass". Also, the quantity of fresh water drained by the lakes has to be pretty minor compared to the vastness of the Gulf.

 

[Bobby J]

This past weekend when I was showing property in WaterSound, the waters were still churned up from the last swell. I also noted that there was black/brown water (gunk) along the shore line where the lake appeared to have been draining out. I do believe this was the gunk the post refers to. My clients asked about it.

 

[ASH]

What happened to Histro?
Makes one post and then goes away?
Are you lurking out there Histro?
Perhaps there was some meat to Jdarg's concern...