Coastal Dune Lakes Week Is October 27-31 In Walton County

Walton County Board of County Commissioners recognizes the ecological importance of the globally rare and imperiled coastal dune lakes and have made a local dedication making October 27-31, 2025, as Coastal Dune Lakes Week!

Walton County is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. These lakes are a unique geographical feature and only found in a few places in the world. The coastal dune lakes in Walton County share an intermittent connection with the Gulf of America. This intermitted connection allows for saltwater fish species and other organisms to enter the lakes, making them important habitats for both fish and wildlife species.

In effort to educate the public on the importance of the coastal dune lakes both ecologically and to our economy, the Walton County Coastal Dune Lake Advisory Board is hosting several coastal dune lake activities during the week of October 27-31, 2025. Keep an eye on the County’s Facebook page for more information.

Learn more about South Walton Coastal Dune Lakes.

Perhaps the most unique and precious features of SoWal are the coastal dune lakes found in our area’s beach dune system.

The rare lakes are reportedly found only along the coasts of New Zealand, Australia, Madagascar, and in the United States along the coasts of Oregon, South Carolina, and Northwest Florida. South Walton’s 15 coastal dune lakes hug the coast, embedded in our dune ecosystems. Most lake levels fluctuate due to rainfall and when overly full, open to flush fresh water in to the Gulf.