Mother Nature Strikes

[edatlanta]

This bunch of sea weed and trash blew in over the weekend. The original edge of the beach is on the clean sand side of this mess right in front of the person standing on the beach. This bunch of goo is 2-5' deep out on the gulf side and it "SMELLS". While it thins out further up the beach, it covers 2 miles or more.

[Terry]

I feel your pain -- I had that last year when I went to the beach in Destin. It lasted for 2 or 3 days and finally went away after a storm rolled through. We swam some in areas where it was not as thick, but the kids would get pretty covered in it....

[edatlanta]

At least my vacation isn't ruined. I am hosting here and have been here since April. I feel for the folks that are only here for a few days and the beach is in this condition.

[hammerdown]

What beach is it?

[yddad45]

Do you think this mess is oil spill related? At least when I here goo thats the first thing that comes to mind. I worked on the Mississippi Gulf Coast alot and Memories of Bp employees patrolling beaches for months come back to me. Maybe some Fla state agency should be contacted.

[edatlanta]

It is the beach at St. Andrews State Park.
It isn't oil related. They never had any oil issues here at all.
It is just a big bunch of sea weed. It looks nasty and smells, but it isn't oily at all.

[edatlanta]

A biologist here at the park said it is Sargassum Grass. Perfectly normal after a storm and we did have three days of thunderstorms and rain.

[rray32539]

Locals call it "June grass". Other than stinking a lot, it's harmless, and shows up every year. When it shows up, we just go to the bay side, or decamp to the numerous fresh water streams and lakes in Northwest Florida.