Draper Lake outfall breach - story and photos

**baybabe** · 07-27-2008, 05:16 PM

Children Caused a Massive Breach of a Coastal Dune Lake, Draper Lake, July 17th.

I happened to be walking on the beach and came upon the breach at Draper Lake shortly after it started. Apparently a few children were digging a trench between the lake and the Gulf when all of a sudden the lake breached. The pictures I have enclosed show the force of the break.

Several children then later decided to ride the "waves" and the force was so strong it pushed them out into the Gulf for about 150' yards. There were rip tides and flags flying that day. The life guards were notified initially but the breach was so swift that there was no stopping it. So the lifeguards were not present at this stage, as there was nothing they could do to stop it.

When the children began riding the waves and were swept out, the lifeguards arrived again and began to swim out to them. South Walton Fire and Rescue also arrived. But a man with a kayak had already jumped in, and began paddling toward for the children and hauled them onto the kayak safely.

One Fire and Rescue official was heard on the radio saying the breach was draining the whole lake. On my return the next day, the lake was at a much lower level and the breach was still flowing but at a much slower rate of speed.

My question is: What does this do to the ecosystem in the lake when it was such a drastic break and such a large breach? And not caused by large amounts of rainfall? The width of the breach was a least 40-50 feet at the widest, if not wider.

Also: What about the safety of people when the breach is caused by unknowing children or adults? I wonder if there should be signs posted for that kind of dangerous behavior started by a person or persons, resulting in a possibly life threatening situation, especially for children?

It was a spectacular site to see a lake breach so violently right before my eyes| But it could have been a very dangerous situation considering the force, the strength, and the power of the rushing water.

**baybabe** · 07-27-2008, 05:17 PM

**30A Skunkape** · 07-27-2008, 05:49 PM

Wow, great photos! I don't know if this is 'bad' for the ecosystem-it looks like those kids did the work the next decent storm would have done.

DD · 07-27-2008, 05:56 PM

Wow!

**NotDeadYet** · 07-27-2008, 06:11 PM

The dune lakes are meant to open and close, but they are meant to do it on their own. It's illegal, what the kids did, but it used to be common practice around here, especially Eastern and Western Lakes.
I think it is hard to say what the effect on the ecosystem is. You would need to know what level the lake usually is at when it opens naturally and a whole lot of other data. There are folks around that know most of that about some of the other lakes, but I don't know if anyone has much past data on Draper.

Great photos, thanks for posting!

I bet those kids were surprised.

**AAbsolute** · 07-27-2008, 07:38 PM

I've seen the lakes opened several times by people using their hands. I've also heard that it's illegal, but I can't find anything in Statute to back it up. Does anyone have specific Statute they can help point me to?

**SHELLY** · 07-27-2008, 08:56 PM

It will continue until the day one child or more are killed...then maybe someone will take note.

.

**SWGB** · 07-27-2008, 10:16 PM

Brace yourself for the stink as the lake bed dries out.

**sdavis** · 07-27-2008, 10:41 PM

I tried that once about 30 years ago, but the distance was too far then.

**Miss Kitty** · 07-28-2008, 02:30 AM

Originally Posted by SHELLY

It will continue until the day one child or more are killed...then maybe someone will take note.

.

Never thought I'd be saying this, but I am beginning to think every visitor to sowal needs a permit (with training). How do people come up with so many "ideas" to harm themselves and others?

**NotDeadYet** · 07-28-2008, 06:39 AM

I've seen the lakes opened several times by people using their hands. I've also heard that it's illegal, but I can't find anything in Statute to back it up. Does anyone have specific Statute they can help point me to?

If you call the county environmental planner and ask, I am sure they will have it handy. I know the county itself has to have a permit from the DEP to open the lake outlets in an emergency, like after a hurricane. It's probably in Florida Statute 161 somewhere, that is the beach and shore preservation statute. There is a sign posted down at the Eastern Lake outlet, but I can't remember if the citation is on the sign.

**mikecatadjuster** · 07-28-2008, 12:19 PM

I had heard of this happening to Draper, which to me always looks low when I pass it on the road. But it definately made me wonder about eastern and western lakes where so many people play in the dune lake section.

I've seen eastern lake go up and down several times since I moved here and I assumed it had broken through a few times. On the 'Eastern Lake Trail' where there is a picnic table, I've seen the lake get really high, then the next day you can see the 'ditch' or 'channel' that winds into the lake.

So, how often does Eastern typically drain out?

**scooterbug44** · 07-28-2008, 12:25 PM

Where the hell were the parents in this situation?

First the kids were doing something obnoxious, then something illegal, then they were doing something so dangerous it required them being rescued!

**SoWalSally** · 07-28-2008, 12:29 PM

From Walton Sun - Draper Lake breach creates momentary panic for beach goers

“It looked like a very dangerous situation for anyone concerned,” said beachgoer and local resident Glenda Moore.
Moore was one of several witnesses to a breach of Draper Lake on July 17 that swept several children into the Gulf of Mexico.
“Just the power of the water – it’s something that concerns me because of the safety (and not enough warnings posted).”
According to Moore, several children had to be assisted to shore after the force of the coastal dune lake’s outflow swept them more than 150 yards from shore.
A kayaker was able to get to two boys before South Walton Fire District lifeguards could respond.
“A lifeguard had been summoned when it first broke through, but the water was so forceful he couldn’t do anything,” said Moore.
Coastal dune lakes are known for their outflows into the Gulf. When high water creates signifi cant pressure, the lakes can break through walls of sand and create a very wide river that connects the two bodies of water.
According to the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Web site, Gulf water is fed into the sand and gravel aquifer filled lakes until the damming sands can no longer contain them. In one of the most majestic displays of nature, the lake water bursts through the dunes emptying into the Gulf.
But breaches aren’t always as signifi cant as this one, said SWFD Deputy Chief Sean Hughes.
“This is the fi rst time we’ve encountered a call for this,” he said. “I think it was more of a surprise than anything (for the kids washed out). It’s all well and good unless you’re standing in it.”

**30A Skunkape** · 07-28-2008, 12:29 PM

Class III rapids, one more reason we have the best beaches on Earth!

**Rather B Paddlin** · 07-28-2008, 12:38 PM

How low did the lake get? Any pictures of the outfall of lake this week?

**ljp** · 07-28-2008, 01:13 PM

"Any excavation seaward of the coastal

construction control line (CCCL), to

include opening or alteration of coastal
dune lake outfalls, is PROHIBITED
without possession of a valid permit
pursuant to Chapter 161 of the
Florida Statutes.

Violations are punishable by fines

and other administrative penalties."

**scooterbug44** · 07-28-2008, 01:17 PM

Did they issue fines? Seems there were plenty of witnesses they could have asked to identify the culprints!

**GoodWitch58** · 07-28-2008, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

Where the hell were the parents in this situation?

First the kids were doing something obnoxious, then something illegal, then they were doing something so dangerous it required them being rescued!

they might have been with the other parents: sleeping, reading, oblivious...that's what I see on the beach when 4 year olds are in waves that are knocking them down. Makes me crazy!

**DavidD** · 07-28-2008, 01:25 PM

My wife and kids witnessed some men do this with little sand shovels at Deer Lake last summer. The men were unaware and suprised at how the little canal quickly opened itself up into a huge flooding break. Almost immediately sharks gathered in the surf to feed at the nutrient rich water.
I wish that everyone could be forced to learn about this phenomenon and the laws (and the flag system, and sand holes, and turtle nests, and lights on the beach, and everything that makes our ecosystem special).

**SWGB** · 07-28-2008, 07:28 PM

How about land mines and signs, dig at own risk.

**kimbug** · 07-28-2008, 09:20 PM

I also witnessed this at Deer Lake when I was there about 10 days ago. It was a man and what appeared to be his son. There were people telling them to stop but of course, they did not listen. I agree with Miss Kitty about tourists needing some sort of permits or beach training. Seriously, why can't people just enjoy nature without feeling the need to somehow alter it?

**SWGB** · 07-28-2008, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by kimbug

I also witnessed this at Deer Lake when I was there about 10 days ago. It was a man and what appeared to be his son. There were people telling them to stop but of course, they did not listen. I agree with Miss Kitty about tourists needing some sort of permits or beach training. Seriously, why can't people just enjoy nature without feeling the need to somehow alter it?

Call the cops and starting filling in behind them!

**ladycontractor** · 07-29-2008, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by 30A Skunkape

Wow, great photos! I don't know if this is 'bad' for the ecosystem-it looks like those kids did the work the next decent storm would have done.

But what about the safety of the children swept out to sea? In a storm, they would not have been there, this was caused by children, and endangered children

**Allifunn** · 07-29-2008, 08:29 AM

Perhaps a sign should be posted right at the edge of the lake stating that digging towards the gulf can cause serious consequences. I am sure the kids had no clue.

A few months ago, the lake opened up to the gulf on it's own. I did not get to see the access at the time, but Tootsie told me it was beautiful!

**kurt** · 07-30-2008, 05:22 PM

Added to SoWal.com home page.

**crowedaddy** · 07-30-2008, 09:48 PM

Kids digging a trench between Draper Lake and the Gulf? This looks shady to me...I suspect Draper Lake property owners looking to boost their recently impaired values by opening up Draper Lake so they can call it Gulf front property!!!

**Phillip** · 07-31-2008, 12:04 PM

During my former life of working on these lakes, I have seen this happen at Draper (and a few other lakes as well) a few times. Draper lake seems to be situated at a slightly higher elevation than some of the other lakes, so when it breaks, it really flows.....It is illegal to manually open the lakes, but no one seems interested in enforcing it. Especially when it pertains to hot pink plastic hand shovels. The county at one point was going to put signs at all of the outlets educating people on this subject. Not sure what happened......

**DavidD** · 07-31-2008, 12:34 PM

Maybe there needs to be a community beach watch group, so when an uneducated person does something like that and is unresponsive to a single polite suggestion to quit, the group could call in other members for a larger peaceful intervention. Not a riotous group with torches and pitch forks, but sometimes being faced with a group will make a person listen better than to just one person. Although torches and pitchforks could be effective also.

**NotDeadYet** · 07-31-2008, 02:27 PM

I really think we need a Take Back Our Beaches campaign, or something, and right about now, pitchforks sound pretty good to me.
There was an incident the other night where a turtle came ashore to nest, was harrassed and prevented from returning to the water for several HOURS. There was an altercation between a drunk who threatened to shoot the turtle

and some people who were trying to get others to leave her alone, and apparently 911 was called, but I do not know if any help was obtained.
This morning while walking just a short distance I picked up a whole sack of empty glass beer bottles. Some of them were underneath canopies that had been up all night. I am all for enjoying the beach but it seems as though quite a few people need to be taught how to behave.

**DavidD** · 07-31-2008, 03:01 PM

That is very upsetting about the turtle. The beach patrol should have come. It would be nice to have a group that was supported by the local authorities to at least be a "neighborhood" beach watch. One that would get quick responses from them.

**SWGB** · 07-31-2008, 08:42 PM

I prefer the torches and pitchforks idea.

I don't condone mob justice, unless it gets results. Which it usually does.

**rocket136** · 08-01-2008, 06:41 PM

Wow that was impresssive. We were staying at the Inn at Blue Moutain from the 19th on and were wondering why the lake was so low. walking along what was recently the lakebed was kind of creepy. Thr sand was firm but very unstable.

**Barefootin** · 08-01-2008, 07:39 PM

If the kids did not cause the breach, mother nature would have done the same thing soon. This type of breach occurs naturally about every 2-3 months. All will be fine with the lake.

**GoodWitch58** · 08-01-2008, 07:54 PM

think you are missing the point here...there was danger to the people involved as well as the possibility of all kinds of "unforeseen" consequences.

The rules are there for a reason. I just wish our local law enforcement were as quick to protect the beach and the environment as they are to arrest tourists and locals who are building sandcastles in the sand.

**Miss Kitty** · 08-02-2008, 12:47 AM

Originally Posted by Phillip

During my former life of working on these lakes, I have seen this happen at Draper (and a few other lakes as well) a few times. Draper lake seems to be situated at a slightly higher elevation than some of the other lakes, so when it breaks, it really flows.....It is illegal to manually open the lakes, but no one seems interested in enforcing it. Especially when it pertains to hot pink plastic hand shovels. The county at one point was going to put signs at all of the outlets educating people on this subject. Not sure what happened......

They ran out of blue paint? Thanks for this info!

Originally Posted by DavidD

Maybe there needs to be a community beach watch group, so when an uneducated person does something like that and is unresponsive to a single polite suggestion to quit, the group could call in other members for a larger peaceful intervention. Not a riotous group with torches and pitch forks, but sometimes being faced with a group will make a person listen better than to just one person. Although torches and pitchforks could be effective also.

I want to team with SJ and John R.

**HenryHawk** · 08-10-2008, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by drivingtheview

This should not happen, but kids are kids. Someone said it earlier: where are the freakin parents?? As far as the ecosystem goes, I don't believe much damage is done when a couple of kids can take a small shovel to create a breach. Now the houses built on and all around that lake-that is another ecosystem question too late to answer.

AMEN!

Logic and intelligence...thank you!

**Geo** · 08-11-2008, 10:34 AM

HH,

I just gotta know-

Is your avatar intended to make fun of Republicans (a caricature of people who believe what it says)? Or is it the real deal and indicative of your views?

BTW, I am a fan of free speech and am all for you using whatever tar you want. Just curious where you are coming from...

Cheers, G

**Bob** · 08-11-2008, 10:57 AM

Originally Posted by Geo

HH,

I just gotta know-

Is your avatar intended to make fun of Republicans (a caricature of people who believe what it says)? Or is it the real deal and indicative of your views?

BTW, I am a fan of free speech and am all for you using whatever tar you want. Just curious where you are coming from...

Cheers, G

he's in favor of 500 billion dollar deficits and corporate welfare....maybe