Coastal Dune Lakes

Extension Service and Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance Announce Public Meeting for Construction of Coastal Dune Lakes Management Plan

4-11-06
During April - May 2006, Phillip Ellis with The Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and Scott Jackson with The Walton - Okaloosa County - University of Florida - IFAS Extension Service will host community discussions. These community meetings are the first steps initiating a process that will result in management plans for each of Walton County's rare coastal dune lakes. Similar ecosystems are found in Madagascar, New Zealand, Australia and USA Pacific Coast. Fifteen named Coastal Dune Lakes have been identified in Walton County.

The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) is working through the appointed Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board with broad representation of property owners, businesses and concerned residents. One of the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board main concerns is the future stability of these globally rare and economically valuable community assets. The goal of this effort is to create a management plan for each individual coastal dune lake through open participation by all property owners and stake holders.

An initial public meeting sponsored by the Coastal Dune Lakes Advisory Board was held earlier this year on January 21 with approximately 60 community participants. During this session, facilitated discussions were held to identify the most important issues related to our coastal dune lakes. Meeting participants identified "Enforcement of Existing Regulations" and "Management of Outfall Issues" as being top concerns.

The next step is where we need YOUR help, as we move to individual community lake meetings. In these discussions we will generate a priority list and lay the ground work for the lake management plans. Ideas produced will be forwarded to a technical committee which will draft detailed language of the management proposal. The completed management proposal will be presented at a future community meeting for YOUR discussion, modification and endorsement. Finalized management plans will then be presented to the BCC for their action and direction. These lake management plans will aid our County in future protection and restoration efforts.

Through this process the long-term health and economic viability of the lakes will be ensured. Additionally, this process will develop and implement a prioritized list of projects to enhance the lakes, increase scientific knowledge, and awareness of the lakes' ecosystems.

Please take time to attend these important events in the life of our community. Many of your neighbors are working to organize and facilitate these meetings - please do your part by participating in these discussions. You may participate in person or via our discussion forum.

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