Coastal Dune Lakes of Walton County
Did you know, Walton County has twenty-six miles of coastline, and is home to fifteen named coastal dune lakes: 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.
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.
What makes these lakes truly unique is 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, the sand berms are suddenly breached, causing a flood of fresh water to pour into the Gulf. At this time, salty seawater floods 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.
These lakes are a rare natural phenomena, only found in a few other places in the world, such as Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand and Oregon.
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, Grayton Beach State Park, Deer Lake State Park and Pointe Washington State Forest all offer unique views of the coastal dune lakes. The lakes also provide recreation, including stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, canoeing and fishing.