There have always been cypress stumps and knees in the surf at Navy Crossing.
(August 16, 2020) … Some people are discovering the stumps and cypress knees in the surf line and on the beach at navy crossing. Usually these are covered with sand or under the water in the surf line. When storms or surges erode the beach, the stumps are uncovered and present in the swales and below the low tide lines. These are old cypress trees which barely rot. You can’t pull these out of the sand either, many have tried. Parks is aware these are there and no plans to remove.
Navy Crossing’s Cypress Knees And Stumps Exposed a picture tour of the many cypress knees exposed during storms.
These cypress stumps are up and down our coastline under the beach’s sand. In Dewey beach some are exposed after storms and near the Indian River Inlet. It is nearly impossible to pull these out of the sand due to the root structure underneath. Many are still embedded in old marsh peat and clay. The roots would have to be cut or broken off. I actually have one we found washed up at the point last year. Killer decorative drift wood pieces.
Back in the day, before the navy crossing jetty was built, the surfers would get pummeled on these. The installation of the jetty increased the sand along that area and buried most the stumps. If you wade out in the surf line there you can still trip over many of them.
Surf anglers call that structure. It is a good idea to NOT swim in front of the Great Dune at Naval crossing. One thing these stumps do tell you is way back in the day that area wasn’t a beach. A long time ago (20,000 years) you could have walked to the canyons where people fish for tuna today.