Florida's Treasure: Coastal Dune Lakes - 30A

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Florida’s Treasure: Coastal Dune Lakes

Eastern Lake
Coastal Dune Lakes are a rare natural phenomena that only occur in a handful of locations around the globe, including New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar and South Walton, Florida.

In fact, South Walton has 15 named coastal dune lakes that fall along the Scenic Highway 30-A corridor. Lake Powell, the largest of the 15 lakes, falls in neighboring Bay County and is the only coastal dune lake not fully situated in Walton County.



South Walton’s coastal dune lakes are said to be as much as 10,000 years old and were formed by winds that redistributed sand and created the shallow basins (with most lakes averaging only about 5 feet deep).

But what makes these lakes truly unique is that their mostly fresh water content sits within just a few feet of the Gulf’s salt water, separated only by a natural berm of sand. Following a heavy rain or other inflow, the sand berms are suddenly breached, causing a flood of fresh water to pour openly into the Gulf. This event is known as an “outfall,” and it’s a time when salty seawater can also flood back into the dune lake, until the levels stabilize. The result is a rare brackish ecosystem that’s home to both fresh and salt-water species.

They are (moving from west to east): Fuller Lake, Morris Lake, Campbell Lake, Stallworth Lake, Allen Lake, Oyster Lake, Draper Lake, Big Redfish Lake, Little Redfish Lake, Alligator Lake, Western Lake, Eastern Lake, Deer Lake, Camp Creek Lake and Lake Powell, adjacent to Camp Helen and Inlet Beach.



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Eastern Lake

Eastern Lake Outfall

Local Charlie Reichman captured this video of the Eastern Lake Outfall on August 1st, 2012. Eastern Lake is one of South Walton’s rare coastal dune lakes. When these lakes fill to critical mass (usually from a heavy rain), the dune barriers are suddenly breached, rapidly releasing the lake into the Gulf of

Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach

Inlet Beach is just about as authentic ‘Old Florida’ as you’ll find in South Walton, and perhaps anywhere. Quiet and bordered by 13-acres of protected dunes, this pristine beach neighborhood feels as if time somehow forgot it. Most homes here are classic Florida cottages. Think A-Frame with a front porch,

WaterSound

The serene beauty at WaterSound will certainly quiet your mind, but it’s also likely to quicken your heart. Neighborhood boardwalks offer stunning views of Camp Creek Lake, a meandering coastal dune lake, as well as footpath access to a stunning white sand beach buffered by towering dunes. The grand homes in

RUN/SUP Stand Up Paddle

Run, Paddle and Race to the Finish at Run/SUP Event

The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce recently announced they will host the second annual 2016 South Walton RUN/SUP Series event on Saturday, September 24, 2016, at Grayton Beach State Park from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. The after party and awards ceremony will be held at The Craft Bar 30A in



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