Is this illegal?

[Beachmom]

True, but often times, nature takes years to change what man changes in a matter of minutes.

Very true

 

[reepicheep]

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.)

 

[reepicheep]

True, but often times, nature takes years to change what man changes in a matter of minutes.

and vice versa

 

[CBA Phillip]

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

 

[TreeFrog]

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 ?

 

[Smiling JOe]

Personally, I wouldn't call 50 yards "a few feet".

So who is the proper authority to call? Sheriff's Dept or ?

Just pull out your belt and start whipping the person responsible.

 

[CBA Phillip]

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).....

 

[TreeFrog]

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.

 

[Smiling JOe]

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.

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.

 

[John R]

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.