New Inlet

[Bobby J]

Cutting a jetty into a rare coastal dune lake is a little different then putting a jetty at the mouth of a bay. Bay mouths are used for commerce as well as recreation. I can not see the benefit in putting a a jetty on one of these lakes. I believe it will kill the delicate balance of these lakes.
Would it help the RE market? Nope, the market is going to go through what it has to go through. We have deep water connection here in the Daughettes. The canals have been dredged and it will soon connect to the inter coastal waterways. From my back yard you can be in the gulf in 35 minutes. That is the best you are going to get in SoWAl. Lets now talk about an artificial reef. Now thats got merit!
SJ, some of my best clients are surfers. They are laid back but a pleasure to deal with.

 

[Smiling JOe]

What was the $829,000.00 proposed, or dedicated to western lake to be used for in the Coastal Dune Lakes & Renourishment letter @ beachtobay.org/html/lakes__renourishment.htm

Unfortunately, I believe that money is budgeted to try and control the outlfow/inflow location. The TDC (Tourist Development Council), in conjuction with Taylor Engineering, Inc, state:

"the meandering nature of these outlets directly threaten existing coastal development in their sweep path. [SIZE=-2] ...the meandering nature of these lake outlets have destroyed the longshore continuity of the dune system in their sweep paths and managment of these outlets is critical to ensure the long-term health of the beach system." -- P.49 Walton County Long-Range Beach Management Plan

Kind of crazy, especially since the TDC is trying to get people off the beach and into eco-tourism in Walton County. Shame on them!!!
It goes against Walton County's Seal -- Pride, Conservation, Preservation. I'm beginning to think that the County Officers and the TDC need to memorize the words on the County Seal and think about those words with their every decision.

Now what exactly that has to do with creating a jetty for your surfing, I have no idea. Care to explain?
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[emeraldcoastdav]

Unfortunately, I believe that money is budgeted to try and control the outlfow/inflow location. The TDC (Tourist Development Council), in conjuction with Taylor Engineering, Inc, state:

"the meandering nature of these outlets directly threaten existing coastal development in their sweep path. [SIZE=-2] ...the meandering nature of these lake outlets have destroyed the longshore continuity of the dune system in their sweep paths and managment of these outlets is critical to ensure the long-term health of the beach system." -- P.49 Walton County Long-Range Beach Management Plan

Kind of crazy, especially since the TDC is trying to get people off the beach and into eco-tourism in Walton County. Shame on them!!!
It goes against Walton County's Seal -- Pride, Conservation, Preservation. I'm beginning to think that the County Officers and the TDC need to memorize the words on the County Seal and think about those words with their every decision.

Now what exactly that has to do with creating a jetty for your surfing, I have no idea. Care to explain?
[/SIZE]

Thank you for the informative answers rather then the requests that I simply move away!!!
I did not link the TDC money to a jetty for surfing. I was asking how the money budgeted was to be spent.
Maybe Western Lake is not the best spot for the new cut. Your idea is novel.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Does anyone find it ironic that the TDC and Taylor Engineering, Inc state that the meandering outlets of the Lakes destroys the Dune systems? I guess they think that building on top of the dune systems has nothing to do with that. They probably think that the seawalls built on many properties, including the State's beaches, is the perfect answer, and they will use a bunch of money to direct Mother Nature at Western Lake. Any comments on that?

By the way, at the next WalCo Commissioners mtg, Nov 27, in Defuniak, the County Attorney has the following item on the agenda:

Coastal Armoring License Agreements
a.Johnnie Ross Malone Family Trust B
b.Roberta James and Kathy Ann James
c.Catherine Rodwell

I believe that "license agreement" gives permission for the homeowners, who built their seawalls on the public beach, to keep their seawalls on the public beach, at least until the DEP makes a ruling on their temporary permit status which Walton County screwed up, when misstating the rules to the Gulf-front property owners.

 

[Matt J]

I spoke with someone from the TDC about boat ramps around the area. She stated that the county was working on one in the IB area. Not sure what ever came of this. Anyone know anything about it? Would that work or would it be more convenient to murder the coastal dune lakes? I use the word murder because once you cut thru to the Gulf and install Jetties it is no longer a dune lake and becomes an inlet.

 

[Jdarg]

Man has been "screwing around with mother nature" and "artificially changing the landscape" to suit us since the beginning. Of man that is. A perfect example is the house you live in. What was there years ago?
List the pros and cons of the jetty/cut.

I gave you 3 cons- parking issues, traffic problems in Grayton, and messing with the dune lake.

I am not seeing any pros.

No, my house wasn't always here, but the original owners did not alter a dune lake to build it.

Yes, the landscape is changed a lot to suit our needs. I think it is now our job to make sure the changes are responsible and necessary. Creating a jetty for surfing is not necessary.

 

[Scooter]

Thanks JDarg. You are wise!!!!

 

[NotDeadYet]

Okay, I have an idea for emeraldcoastdav that answers his original question, who to contact.
Petition the Army Corps of Engineers to reroute the Intracoastal Waterway.

 

[Smiling JOe]

Con -- One of the things which makes our Gulf waters in this area so Emerald Green, is that fact that there aren't any rivers flowing directly into it. The rivers are filtered out through the Bays. Cutting a ditch through the east end of the Bay to the Gulf, would cause the Emerald Green waters to be no more, as there are five rivers which feed into the north east side of the Bay. The Bay wouldn't be able to filter out the water coming from the brown waters of the rivers.

 

[BeachSiO2]

Please note the date on the link from Beach to Bay. That was part of a report written in 1999 and was never enacted. Starting in 2000, the County through the TDC and under the eye of an on-staff coastal scientisyt conducted a 3-year feasibility study that highlighted beach restoration for Western Walton County and it was completed in 2007. Now a second phase is planned for eastern Walton County but NO ARMORING is planned at the outfalls and no work at all around the Western Lake Outfall. Visit www.protectwaltoncountybeaches.com for more info.

IMO, it sure would be nice if that website was up to date.