What is this?

Wow! Maybe people are digging their way out from getting caught on the private beach down south?

Those are canals dug through the salt marsh back in the 70's for natural mosquito control. Flowing water along with minnows control the mosquito larvae population.

I have seen that up close. It is very marshy and no dry land to speak of. I assumed the ditches were part of the mosuqito control ditches all over SoWal, but I didn't know the ditches were that extensive in the marsh there. I would be interested to know more about the history and what the thinking was at the time. I think it was "drain the swamps and get rid of the mosquitos". Maybe the thought was also to create some new land to develop for the future but that area is all wetalnds and protected now.

Those are canals dug through the salt marsh back in the 70's for natural mosquito control. Flowing water along with minnows control the mosquito larvae population.

I was thinking you might know more as I was typing but didn't expect an answer so soon. Can you tell us more? I'm also interested to know why the southern portion in that view was untouched.

I didn't know that mosqitos could breed in saltwater.

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Breeding places for larvae of Aedes (mosquitoes) are extremely variable. In general, they breed in temporary pools formed by rains or melting snow. Some species breed in coastal salt marshes that are flooded at intervals by unusually high tides. Others have become adapted to irrigation practices. A few species breed in tree holes, rock pools, and artificial containers.
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Check this out:

http://www.southwaltonmosquitocontrol.com/services.htm

Looks like they dug out and maintain 46 ditches .... interesting ....

I have seen that up close. It is very marshy and no dry land to speak of. I assumed the ditches were part of the mosuqito control ditches all over SoWal, but I didn't know the ditches were that extensive in the marsh there. I would be interested to know more about the history and what the thinking was at the time. I think it was "drain the swamps and get rid of the mosquitos". Maybe the thought was also to create some new land to develop for the future but that area is all wetalnds and protected now.

I don't think any of the old timers ever dreamed of the development we have now. The undrained areas were owned by individuals who didn't give consent.

I don't think any of the old timers ever dreamed of the development we have now.

From some of the original plats I've seen, I would say that they dreamed it alright. Golf course and all, way back when the Chrysler Corporation owned a big chunk of property. Maybe they didn't envision it being this busy, but they sure platted as though it would be some day.

From some of the original plats I've seen, I would say that they dreamed it alright. Golf course and all, way back when the Chrysler Corporation owned a big chunk of property. Maybe they didn't envision it being this busy, but they sure platted as though it would be some day.

I doubt they dreamed of the ciaos, confusion, and dissention associated with living in SoWal.

I don't think any of the old timers ever dreamed of the development we have now. The undrained areas were owned by individuals who didn't give consent.

Some of them dreamed it and some of them lived it.

Sowal isn't THAT bad! I don't think the chaos, confusion, or dissention level is that high at all. Some growing pains due to rapid development. Some of the politics and issues I dealt with back home were much worse.

Saw one of these "canal front" lots on MLS w/ realtors boasting that you could boat to the bay and the blue bar! My personal on site assessment was that I couldn't boat so much as pull a JC and practically walk across the less than pristine water!

Sowal isn't THAT bad! I don't think the chaos, confusion, or dissention level is that high at all. Some growing pains due to rapid development. Some of the politics and issues I dealt with back home were much worse.

I agree.

Count me in the Happy to be Here group.

I agree.

Count me in the Happy to be Here group.

Me too!

Sowal isn't THAT bad! I don't think the chaos, confusion, or dissention level is that high at all. Some growing pains due to rapid development. Some of the politics and issues I dealt with back home were much worse.

Saw one of these "canal front" lots on MLS w/ realtors boasting that you could boat to the bay and the blue bar! My personal on site assessment was that I couldn't boat so much as pull a JC and practically walk across the less than pristine water!

I suppose it depends on what you compare it with. Maybe where you were, but not where I was. I had certain family members now deceased that thoroughly enjoyed getting a fight going, then sitting back watching with glee! I don't care to live that kind of life. I also know of a 10 acre lot in the middle of nowhere that does have it own boat launch and access to the bay, some distance from it.

I was thinking you might know more as I was typing but didn't expect an answer so soon. Can you tell us more? I'm also interested to know why the southern portion in that view was untouched.

I didn't know that mosqitos could breed in saltwater.

Actually, the water in the canals is more fresh than salt. It drains from the land. In fact, the bay at one time had more fresh water than salt, but when the canal was opened by a hurricane at East Pass in Destin, then a considerable amount more salt water entered into the bay.

OK, so how about this? It is north of the ICW by Steelfield.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=...86.064148&spn=0.017181,0.029182&t=h&z=15&om=1

Yeah I saw that as well, I think it is a Walton County Crop Square .... or WCCS for short ...

OK, so how about this? It is north of the ICW by Steelfield.

That's our UFO landing site.


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That's our UFO landing site.


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and you know this how?

I drove to the end of this 'road' once. I DO NOT recommend any one take an automobile back there. The path is REALLY tight, and my 2002 Santa Fe (4wd) made it thorough the mud holes, but got totally scratched from the overgrown brush. IF you want to try to get to the end of this point, I recommend you take an ATV, or horse / mule. Why did I try it, you may ask? There was good fishing on the south side of the hook at the end of that point and I was searching for a place to launch my kayak. I can confirm, there isn't any place to launch. However, there is a trash dump out there with more shell casings than a Baghdad street.

and you know this how?

If I tell ya, I'd have to kill ya.


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Actually, the water in the canals is more fresh than salt. It drains from the land. In fact, the bay at one time had more fresh water than salt, but when the canal was opened by a hurricane at East Pass in Destin, then a considerable amount more salt water entered into the bay.

I've been out among the ditches shown on the map. There's no land to speak of, and what little there is was created by what came out of the ditches. It was probably a perfectly functioning wetland that regulated itself through variations in water levels from tides and storms, and all sorts of wildlife that ate larvae. It's so low out there that I doubt the ditches in question achieved anything other than a temporary disruption in life cycles.

Also, I assume that when the ditches in question were dug in the salt marsh it was quite salty since East Pass was opened by a hurricane in 1926 (aided by a little digging by a few eager Destinites).

I don't know what the conversation was at the time but it wouldn't suprise me if digging happened in the wrong place(s) even if the intention was good that doesn't make it correct.

I'll add with no offense intended that I find it ironic that the same development and influx of foreigners you dislike, would according to you, not have been possible without the heroic past and current methods and tactics of mosquito control and eradication which cause you to swell with pride.