Maria Sanchez Lake overflows

Maria Sanchez Lake overflowed at Cordova and St. Francis streets late last week from a combination of a full moon, northeast winds, rain and high tide.

According to lakefront resident Joan Shannon, “This is the highest tide we’ve seen without a hurricane.”

“A neighbor called to report an otter sighting early Friday morning,” Shannon said. “My son saw it — I think I saw it swimming south.”

City workers report that both the recently added bulkhead around the lake and the new weir controlling tidal flow are working well — but can only do so much.

Photo credit: © 2009 Historic City News contributed photograph from The St. Augustine Report