Blog Archives

June Grass Update 5/11/12

June grass update for Walton County May 11, AM:

0 on the June Grass Grossness Index. 

I went for a quick swim this morning. The water is a bit cool and there was a northeast wind so I didn’t stay in long but it was nice anyway. For you surf fishermen: there were some birds on a bait ball and a couple of dolphins just off-shore and yesterday I saw a few sand fleas and some crabs in the surf. There were a few baitfish around.

There is some sargassum on the beach from the storms earlier this week and some other algae and clumps of marine debris about, but nothing to make water sports unpleasant.

It looks like it’s going to be a great beach weekend!

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 8/13/11

June grass update for Walton County August 20th, 2011, AM:

1 on the June Grass Grossness Index. The water was very calm this morning at sunrise and there were only a few small sparse blobs of June grass. There were many fish close to shore and I was lucky enough to see black bellied plovers, terns, a ray and a 4-5′ bonnethead shark at the west end of the beach near Sandestin. I also observed some of the swimming and biking legs of the Sandestin Triathlon.  The bonnethead posed no danger to the triathletes.  Please use caution if you are driving in the area today in order to help the bikers and runners have a fun and safe race. This should be a great beach weekend!

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 8/13/11

June grass update for Walton County August 13th, 2011, AM:

2 on the June Grass Grossness Index. There is a north wind right now and the yellow flies are thirsty, but otherwise it looks like a great beach day. There were dolphins just off the beach this morning!

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 8/6/11

June grass update for Walton County August 6th, 2011, AM:

10+ on the June Grass Grossness Index. Conditions are much the same as yesterday. If you really want to get away from the June Grass consider activities on Choctawhatchee Bay instead of the Gulf. The Biophilia Center is also a great place for all ages. Sea turtles are beginning to hatch. Please do not interfere with them. Fore more information there is an excellent post on Walton Outdoors.

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 8/5/11

June grass update for Walton County August 5th, 2011, AM:

10+ on the June Grass Grossness Index. Ewwwww! The water is a deep forest green and the consistency of cream of broccoli soup. There is a lot of decomposing June Grass on the shore and the smell is unpleasant. These factors, combined with the recent heat wave, make me think that visiting a museum, or the Biophilia Center, would be a good weekend activity.

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 7/30/11

June grass update for Walton County July 30th, 2011, AM:

0 on the June Grass Grossness Index. The surf has smoothed out considerably, the water is a beautiful soapstone blue, and I couldn’t find any June Grass aside from a few clumps on the beach. The wind is from the North and it is beautiful and sunny. I saw somebody enjoying some SUP surfing while I was conducting the morning bird survey and there were plenty of interesting birds to see. I know it’s tempting, but please don’t feed the birds. If you are patient you will see a lot of them while enjoying the beach today. I’d also like to tip my hat to the lady who was walking up and down the beach with a bucket and collecting trash. If all the visitors did that for ten minutes the beach would stay a lot cleaner.

 

 

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 7/29/11

June grass update for Walton County July 29th, 2011, AM:

N/A on the June Grass Grossness Index. The surf is very big due to Tropical Storm Don and I can’t tell what the June Grass is like because the storm has left the water extremely turbid.

The SWFD has this to say: “Even though the wave heights are only around 2 feet, there WILL BE some strong rip currents across our beaches today: STAY VERY CLOSE TO SHORE. IF YOU DON’T KNOW DON’T GO…. Rip current risk: high…a high risk of rip currents means that wind, wave and tidal conditions all support the development of strong and dangerous rip currents. Lake washouts and soft edges of sand bars can also add to rip current development. Rip currents have the potential to form very quickly at any location across the Beaches of South Walton. Deep channels between the sand bars are where the water brought in from the wave action funnels back out. If you are unsure if rip currents are present, please check with a lifeguard, or stay on the shore. Strong rip currents can take even the strongest swimmers away from shore. Please pay attention to the beach flags, if you are unsure whether rip currents are present, otherwise stay on the shore. There are also jellyfish present across our beaches.”

 

I got that from their webpage. You can find a link to it in the side bar.

It is my opinion that you should probably stay out of the water unless you are an experienced surfer who is willing to accept personal responsibility for your actions. Otherwise you can enjoy picnics, frisbee, sunbathing, beach combing, and bird watching this weekend. I would also caution families with very small children about visiting the beach because the waves can come up the beach unpredictably.

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 7/23/11

June grass update for Walton County July 27th, 2011, PM:

4 on the June Grass Grossness Index. We’ve been having quite a few thunderstorms coming in from the Gulf for the past few days. The water looks pretty nice, despite some moderate waves, but I didn’t swimming because I was having too much fun biking, and listening to frog songs, on this cool, breezy evening.

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 7/23/11

June grass update for Walton County July 23rd, 2011, AM:

4 on the June Grass Grossness Index, despite a brisk SSW breeze. Usually a south or southwesterly wind exacerbates June Grass conditions and increases wave action, while a northerly wind flattens the Gulf and drives the June Grass away from the shore. You never know what will happen though. There were lots of gulls, terns, ghost crabs and even three black skimmers at the beach early this morning. It is still shorebird nesting season, so please give birds their space and, as always, do not feed them!

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

June Grass Update 7/22/11

June grass update for Walton County July 22nd, 2011, AM:

5-7 on the June Grass Grossness Index. However, there are very dense concentrations between sandbars, and other sea bottom features, so if/when the wind changes it may go back up to 10 again. There seem to be a lot of storm clouds off-shore but the water is a fantastic malachite green color and very warm.

 If there isn’t a current June Grass report up on this site I suggest checking the link to local beach cams on the left side of this page. They can often give you an idea of what the water is like.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BEACH RESPONSIBLY!

Posted on | Aside

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