Once upon a time, ridge and swale topography and longshore coastal sedimentary processes gave rise to a remarkable 8 mile long, 3/4 mile wide, sand dominated, brackish water coastal lake called Little Lagoon

Little Lagoon is the largest (2,480 acres) of a series of 5 East-West oriented coastal lakes, which are an integral part of the Little Lagoon watershed

The watershed is defined by the current dune system on its southern border and a paleo beach ridge system on its northern border

Lake Shelby (678 ac), Middle Lake (250 ac), and Gator Lake (45 ac), are essentially fresh, tannin-rich lakes that receive saltwater only during abnormally high (tropical) tide

The processes which created Little Lagoon also created an environment conducive to a prolific and diverse flora and fauna

Little Lagoon is home to more than 64 species of fish, 13 species of crab, 11 species of mollusks, 7 species of shrimp, 3 species of jellyfish, and 1 species of

Animal species within the watershed include alligators, beach mice, black bears, and numerous species of snakes

Little Lagoon was a secret for hundreds of years, known only to a few resident families and visitors.

National publicity, low-interest loans, Federal Flood Insurance, and the general desire of our population to live on and visit the Gulf Coast resulted in dramatic development within the watershed