User:WaluigiBoard/Lake Phelps

Lake Phelps is a large, freshwater lake located in eastern North Carolina, primarily within Washington County. The easternmost part of the lake extends into Tyrrell County. It is positioned within the Albemarle-Pamlico Peninsula, between the Albemarle Sound and the Pamlico Sound. Covering an expansive area of approximately 16,600 acres (67 km2), it is North Carolina's second-largest natural lake. Despite its significant size, Lake Phelps is relatively shallow, with an average depth of just 4.5 feet, and its deepest areas only reaching around 9 feet.

Geology
Lake Phelps has been deemed a geologic mystery, as geologists have debated how it formed for decades. The lake, estimated to be over 38,00 years old, has inspired numerous theories about its origin. No single explanation has gained universal acceptance among scientists.

The lake's elliptical shape and its position within the Atlantic Coastal Plain suggests it is one of the many Carolina Bays, a group of unique landforms distributed across the southeastern United States. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the formation of these bays and Lake Phelps. These theories include meteorite impact, wind and wave erosion, peat burn, glacial activity, or remnants of thermokarst lakes formed several thousand years ago. Despite these theories, the exact origin of Lake Phelps and the Carolina Bays remains a subject of ongoing research.

Human History
Lake Phelps has a rich human history dating back thousands of years. Lake Phelps was established as a North Carolina State Lake in 1929, and is managed by the adjacent Pettigrew State Park.

Archaeological discoveries around Lake Phelps have uncovered artifacts that indicate early human activity in the area as far back as 8,000 B.C. . Among these finds are pots, arrowheads, and some other stone tools. One of the most remarkable discoveries is a collection of Native American dugout canoes. These canoes, believed to have been created by the Algonquian tribes, have dated back to nearly 4,400 years ago. Over 30 canoes have been found in the lake, with the longest measuring 36 feet, making it the largest known Native American dugout canoe in North America.

Before European colonization, the area surrounding Lake Phelps was known by indigenous people as the Great Eastern Dismal or Great Alligator Dismal due to its swampy terrain and abundant wildlife. European settlers first documented the lake in 1755 when a group of colonial explorers, including Josiah Phelps and Benjamin Tarkington, ventured into the swamps to hunt and seek new farmland. The group, initially discouraged by the harsh conditions, nearly abandoned their exploration until Tarkington climbed a tree and spotted the lake in the distance. Phelps ran ahead and reached the lake first, thus earning the honor of naming it Lake Phelps.

Following the discovery of Lake Phelps, English immigrant Josiah Collins, along with his partners at the Lake Company, set out to develop the surrounding area. To create farmland, Collins and his associates embarked on a project to drain the swamps. Using the labor of enslaved men from Africa, they built six miles of canals to connect Lake Phelps to the Scuppernong River, facilitating drainage and transportation. In 1787, they established the Somerset Place, a large plantation where cash crops like rice and corn were cultivated. The canals constructed during this period are still visible and in use today for various purposes, including to combat peat fires.

Ecology
Lake Phelps is a unique ecological habitat, hosting a diverse array of plant and animal species, some of which are rare or disjunct, meaning they are found far outside their usual geographic range.

The aquatic vegetation in Lake Phelps includes slender milfoil (Myriophyllum tenellum), a species that is typically found in the northeastern United States, particularly in lakes with soft water and sandy substrates. Its presence in Lake Phelps represents a significant range extension, with this species historically not recorded farther south than New Jersey.

Another unique plant found on the shores of Lake Phelps is bayonet rush (Juncus militaris). This species has a disjunct population at Lake Phelps, and is ranked S1 in North Carolina. The S1 ranking indicates that bayonet rush is critically imperiled within the state, suggesting it is at a high risk of extinction due to its rarity or other factors. Conservation efforts to protect these rare plants are vital to maintaining the lake's ecological balance.

Among the animals unique to Lake Phelps, the Lake Phelps kilifish (Fundulus cf. diaphanus) is an endemic species found exclusively in this lake. The small fish plays a key role in the aquatic food web, serving as prey for larger fish and birds while also controlling insect populations.

The forested-shrub wetlands that line the banks of Lake Phelps are home to a variety of bird species and other wildlife. However, historical ditching efforts, which aimed to drain the surrounding swamps, have altered the natural hydrology, leading to partial drainage of these wetlands. Despite this, these areas continue to support a wide array of plant and animal life, including migratory birds, amphibians, and small mammals.

Hydrology
Lake Phelps, situated at the highest elevation on the Albemarle Peninsula, is a unique hydrological system. Unlike many lakes, it does not receive inflow from stream or rivers, preventing sedimentation and nutrient loading from upstream sources. The lake's primary source of water is precipitation supplemented by small aquifers that contribute to its water levels. This reliance on rainfall and groundwater contributes to Lake Phelps being one of the cleanest lakes in North Carolina.

Since Lake Phelps is mainly fed by precipitation, it exhibits unique hydrological characteristics compared to the typical blackwater and brown-water river systems often found in the Atlantic Southeastern coastal plain. The lack of connectivity to river systems reduces the influx of sediments and other materials, keeping the water relatively clear and minimizing nutrient loading. The lake's oligotrophic status, characterized by low nutrient levels and high water clarity, reflects this natural cleanliness. Water quality studies conducted in 2009 confirmed that nutrient levels have not increased over historical values, indicating stable conditions over time.

Given its shallow depth, Lake Phelps lack temperature stratification, a phenomenon where layers of different temperatures form in deeper lakes. The absence of stratification leads to a polymictic water column, where mixing occurs frequently, ensuring consistent oxygen levels throughout the lake. This polymictic nature is essential for maintaining a balanced ecosystem, supporting a wide variety of plant and animal life.

The Cowardin system, used to classify wetlands and deepwater habitats, categorizes Lake Phelps as Lacustrine and Limnetic, with designations L1ABH and L1UBH. These classifications indicate that the lake has an unconsolidated bottom and contains beds of aquatic plants, with permanent flooding throughout the year.