Coastal Dune Lakes
Walton County is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. These lakes are a unique geographical feature and are only found in a few places in the world including Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, and here in Walton County.
A coastal dune lake is defined as a shallow, irregularly shaped or elliptic depressions occurring in coastal communities that share an intermittent connection with the Gulf of Mexico through which freshwater and saltwater is exchanged. They are generally permanent water bodies, although water levels may fluctuate substantially. Typically identified as lentic water bodies without significant surface inflows or outflows. Instead, water is largely derived from lateral ground water seepage through the surrounding well-drained coastal sands. Storms occasionally provide large inputs of salt water and salinities vary dramatically over the long term.
Our coastal dune lakes are even more unique because they share an intermittent connection with the Gulf of Mexico, referred to as an “outfall”, which aides in natural flood control allowing the lake water to pour into the Gulf as needed. The lake water is fed by streams, groundwater seepage, rain, and storm surge. Each lake's outfall and chemistry is different. Water conditions between lakes can vary greatly, from completely fresh to significantly saline.
A variety of different plant and animal species can be found among the lakes. Some of the plants species include rushes (Juncus spp.), sedges (Cyperus spp.), manyflower marshpennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellata), cattails (Typha spp.), sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense), waterlilies (Nymphaea spp.), watershield (Brasenia schreberi), royal fern (Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis), camphorweed (Pluchea spp.), marshelder (Iva frutescens), groundsel tree (Baccharis halimifolia), and black willow (Salix nigra).
Some of the animals species that can be found include western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna), American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), eastern mud turtle (Kinosternon subrubrum), saltmarsh snake (Nerodia clarkii spp.), little blue heron (Egretta caerulea), American coot (Fulica americana), and North American river otter (Lutra canadensis).
For more information, contact Melinda Gates, Coastal Dune Lakes Coordinator, at (850) 892-8108.
Walton County has an aggressive program to protect our coastal dune lakes through special regulations and valuable partnerships.
The Walton County Comprehensive Plan, Policy CM-1.1.1 defines the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone (CDLPZ) as the zone beginning at the mean or ordinary high water line of the coastal dune lakes, whichever is applicable and extending 300 feet landward for all coastal dune lakes and their tributaries. All development within CDLPZ must meet the following requirements found in the Comprehensive Plan (CM-1.1.1) and Land Development Code (4.02.03):
- 100’ undisturbed shoreline setback buffer, (exception found in CM-1.1.1A and LDC-4.02.03H)
- 50’ undisturbed setback buffer from either side of the natural outlet from the lake.
- Stormwater Plan
- Erosion control
- Prohibiting storage, handling, or generating hazardous waste
- Prohibition of seawalls, bulkheads, revetments and rip-rap
- Prohibition of new point or non-point sources of pollution discharge
- Preservation of 60% of the portion of the parcel that is within the 300-ft CDLPZ
Partnerships
Walton County currently partners with Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance (CBA) to regularly monitor the water quality of the Coastal Dune Lakes. The data is used by Walton County, as well as state and federal agencies, to manage and regulate the lakes. Additionally, Walton County works with CBA to complete other restoration projects including nuisance-exotic vegetation removal on the coastal dune lakes.
Photo Credit: Sean Murphy
For more information, contact Melinda Gates, Coastal Dune Lakes Coordinator, at (850) 892-8108.
The Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board, originally established in 2002, is comprised of residents of Walton County, to ensure the protection, health and environmental integrity of the County’s globally rare and imperiled Coastal Dune Lakes and to provide sound recommendations to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.
The Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board is responsible for monitoring the coastal dune lakes and activities that effect the environmental conservation of the lakes that occur within the lake, within areas within the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zone and within the areas of the watershed of the coastal dune lakes.
The Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board monitors the watershed and the Coastal Dune Lake Protection Zones of 15 Coastal Dune Lakes for activities that affect the environmental conservation of the lakes.
Mission Statement (Adopted in 2014)
To promote the protection, health, and environmental well being of Walton County’s globally rare and imperiled Coastal Dune Lakes and to provide public education and sound recommendation to the Walton County Board of County Commissioners.
2023 Meeting Dates
Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board meetings are from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Meetings are held at the South Walton Annex Boardroom (31 Coastal Centre Blvd, Santa Rosa Beach, FL). Agendas can be found on the County's Civic Web Portal.
Board Members
On-Lake
Adrian Davis “Dave” Lovell; Term: 2020-2023
Richard Jacobs – Term: 2021-2024
Cole Taylor – Term 2022-2025
Julie Daum; Secretary; Term: 2020-2023
North of the Bay
Tim Ryals; Term: 2021-2024
At-Large
Mark Messerly – Vice-Chair; Term: 2022-2025
Jeff Talbert – Chair; Term: 2020-2023
For more information, contact Melinda Gates, Coastal Dune Lakes Coordinator, at (850) 892-8108.
The Coastal Dune Lakes provide opportunity for a variety of recreational activities for everyone to enjoy including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing, birding, and fishing.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, Deer Lake State Park, Camp Helen State Park (Bay County), and Pointe Washington State Forest all offer unique views of the lakes, as well as wonderful spots for birding.
As you bike, run, or walk along the 30A multi-use path, stop and learn more about the coastal dune lakes at any of our 12 Coastal Dune Lake signs.
- Coastal Dune Lakes Rack Card
- Property Owner's Guide
- Vegetation Guide
- Coastal Dune Lakes of South Walton County
- Dune Restoration Manual
- Building A Dock...Three Steps to Building An Environmentally Responsible Amenity
- Map of Dune Lakes
- Public Access Points on the Coastal Dune Lakes
- 2018 Coastal Dune Lake Environmental Assessment
- Walton County Comprehensive Plan
- Walton County Land Development Code