In recent weeks, local waterways have lost that sparkly blue-green magic that draws thousands of tourists each year.
The bayous and bays are a murky brown, and the waves rolling in from the Gulf of Mexico are a tea-colored froth.
“The rain is the culprit,” said Julie Terrell, director of the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance. “No matter where I go, everybody asks me, ‘What’s happening? Why is the bay brown?’ ”
The unfortunate color has sparked not only disappointment among visitors hoping for great vacation photos, but also questions about the safety of the water.
Experts say multiple sewage spills early last month are not to blame.
“It’s mostly the dissolved organic materials coming in from our watershed — pine needles … and sand and clay,” Terrell said.
As rains swell local creeks and rivers, their contents wash into bayous, bays and ultimately the Gulf. The decomposition process releases a tannic acid that stains the water, she said.
“It’s like iced tea, running water through a tea bag,” she said.
The water also contains particulates, suspended pieces of sand, clay and other materials, Terrell said.
Dave Urie, manager at the Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier, said the brown water sometimes can kill the mood of anglers and sightseers.
“We don’t like it!” he said. “Which would you rather look at, mud brown water or beautiful green water?”
In Destin, beachgoers are a little bummed, but they’re not staying away.
“People are disappointed, but it’s not stopping them from going in,” said Joe D’Agostino, beach safety coordinator for Destin. “There were more people in that murky water (Thursday) than I’d seen in years.”
When faced with swimming in cloudy water, common sense is the key, said Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Okaloosa County Health Department.
“When you go into natural bodies of water you always swim at your own risk,” she said. “Water that’s more turbid probably has a higher bacterial load than water that is clear.”
For those tired of the brown water, the best thing to do is be patient.
“That’s hard when you’re in the recreational business and people come to the area for that emerald water,” Chapman said. “It will come back as soon as the rainfall slacks up a little.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Kari C. Barlow at 850-315-4438 or kbarlow@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KariBnwfdn.