Blair Conklin

This one is for all the ladies out there!

BREAKING A SAND DAM CONNECTING A LAKE TO THE OCEAN – The water flowing through the trench is so satisfying!

My favorite type of barrel

When a lake finally breaks through and connects to the ocean, the transformation is wild. You see powerful currents, shifting sand, and water moving fast. It’s one of those rare moments where everything changes in seconds.

Connecting a Lake to the Ocean by Digging a Trench

A surfers dream wave

Watching the water trickle down as it breaches a sand dam is incredibly satisfying. The gentle stream quickly grows into a powerful flow, connecting the lake to the ocean. The mix of fresh and salty water creates a peaceful yet dramatic scene. The soothing movement of water is mesmerizing, offering a calming visual experience as nature takes its course.

My favorite way to start the day

Grandpa uses a shovel to connect a river to the ocean

Discover the fascinating science and natural effects of connecting a lake or river to the ocean using nothing but a shovel. This phenomenon often occurs at sand berms, where rivers meet the sea. When manually dug—or naturally breached due to rising water levels—the river carves a temporary path to the ocean, creating an estuary where freshwater mixes with saltwater. The result can lead to dramatic rideable “river waves” for surfers. While the process may look dramatic, it’s not illegal and often mimics what happens naturally during high water events.

This river was completely blocked and cut off from its natural path to the ocean by a sand dam. The dam was broken. The water didn’t just flow it trickled in a satisfying way down to the ocean. You can literally see the land reshaping itself in real time.

Nothing like arriving the beach and get the best one of the day!

This wavepool creates such satisfying stuff to watch!

Using a shovel to break a sand dam connecting the river to the ocean is an incredible sight. The moment the water starts flowing, it carves its own path, rushing to meet the waves. It’s simple but its so powerful 🎥 @SoLagLocal

The home zone has its moments! This was one of my favorite sessions I have ever had down there.

It was cooking yesterday! Rocking the 2.2 short arm full @Isurus Wetsuits for those warmer days.

He almost pulled that off!

A group of surfers takes matters into their own hands, breaking open a sand dam to connect the river with the ocean. As the water rushes through, it creates a natural wave

It started with a trickle just a shallow stream making its way toward the ocean. We were helping guide it, creating a path so the water wouldn’t back up and flood the nearby homes or spill into the parking lot. But as soon as it connected with the ocean, everything changed. The flow picked up fast. The sand couldn’t hold it back anymore, and suddenly the whole beach opened up. Massive channels formed, water surged forward, and for a minute, it looked like we’d totally torn the place apart. But here’s the twist it was exactly what the beach needed. This kind of natural breach helps release trapped bacteria from the lagoon, protects the area from flood damage, and even sets up perfect little river breaks that skimboarders dream about. And then, like clockwork, the high tide came in. The chaos started to settle. The ocean pulled everything back into place, smoothing the sand and balancing the scene. It’s wild to watch because at first, it feels like destruction. But then nature rebalances itself out

We tried connecting a river to the ocean using nothing but shovels and our hands, thinking we could guide the flow but what happened next caught us completely off guard. As soon as the trench was deep enough, the water exploded through with way more force than expected. The entire shoreline shifted, walls collapsed, and everything we built was instantly washed away. People have been searching how to connect a lake or river to the ocean and wondering what happens next well, here’s the real aftermath. This is what it looks like when people try connecting a river to the ocean by hand, and yes, it went completely wrong.