Coast Guard responds to ‘winter time surprise'

The Coast Guard and Walton County emergency managers have made a “final determination” that a black mass that washed up along Seacrest Beach is a natural organic substance.

The Guard sent a representative from Pensacola to check out the substance Jan. 25 after photos and videos of the substance were shared on Facebook a day earlier. Using fluorescent light to illuminate the scene for signs of petroleum, inspectors determined that the deposit was peat. They found only a small tar ball among the clumps. 

Peat chunks look like charcoal, and consist of old, concentrated vegetative material. Officials told The Sun the Seacrest area has been the source of previous calls.

Calling the peat a “winter time surprise,” Surfrider Foundation volunteer Susan Forsyth said it’s important to educate the public about the natural phenomenon.

“Typically, the peat deposits are under the white sand.  However, in Seacrest the beaches will erode in the winter and the peat deposits will become uncovered," said Brad Pickel, former director of beach management for the Walton County TDC. "Then as the spring and summer waves push the sand in, the peat deposits will be covered back up.”