Information for nomination of Lake Phelps as an area of environmental concern

[From the U.S. Government Printing Office, www.gpo.gov]

INFORMATION FOR NOMINATION

OF LAKE PHELPS AS AN

AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

j NAME OF ORGANIZATION SUBMITTING NOMINATION:
Washington County Planning Office

PERSON IN CHARGE:
Wendy Morrison Painter

ADDRESS:
P. 0. Box 1007
Plymouth, North Carolina 27962

PERSONS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT AREA:
Leo Dillard, Robert Spear, Douglas Davenport, R. N. Campbell, Jr.,
Norman Furlough, Tom Wells, and Mrs. Mayme Davenport.

[?The preparation of this document was financed in part through a grant provided
by the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, through funds provided by
the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972, as amended, which is administered by
the Office of Coastal Zone Management, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admi-
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723
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154
1980,

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THE CATEGORY CONTAINED IN THE REVISED SE41ON .0501

OF THE STATE GUIDELINES FOR AREAS 'OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN,

FRAGILE COASTAL NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE AREAS, IS CON-

SIDERED MOST APPLICABLE TO THE LAKE PHELPS AREA. IT IS

DEFINED AS "AREAS CONTAINING ENVIRONMENTAL, NATURAL, OR CULTURAL

RESOURCES OF MORE THAN LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE IN WHICH UNCONTROLLED

OR INCOMPATABLE DEVELOPMENT COULD RESULT IN MAJOR OR IRREVERSIBLE

DAMAGE TO NATURAL SYSTEMS OR CULTURAL RESOURCES, SCIENTIFIC,

EDUCATIONAL, DR ASSOCIATIVE VALUES, OR AESTHETIC QUALITIES."

THE BOUNDARY DFITHE PUBLIC TRUST WATERS OF LAKE PHELPS,

CONSIDERED TO BE AN AEC, CAN NOT BE DETERMINED DUE TO THE LACK

OF A DEFINED HIGH WATER MARK. IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT AN AREA

SURROUNDING THE LAKE BE DESIGNATED, INCLUSIVE OF THE LAKE

PROPER, AS AN AREA OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN IN ORDER TO PROTECT.

THE WATERS OF LAKE PHELPS.

THE INITIATION OF THE NOMINATION HAS G@OWN OUT OF CONTINUOUS

ATTEMPTS BY WASHINGTON COUNTY CITIZENS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

OFFICIALS TO HAVE THE MEAN HIGH WATER MARK ESTABLISHED, THUS

DESIGNATING THE AREA WHERE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CAN INITIATE CONTROLS

AND PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR LAKE PHELPS. THE EXEMPTION OF FARM

LANDS FROM ZONING AND SEDIMENTATION AND EROSION CONTROL LAWS

HAS COMPOUNDED THE PROBLEM.

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS PROVIDED IN SUPPORT OF THE

NOMINATION OF LAKE PHELPS AND SPECIFIED SURROUNDING AREA AS

AIN AREA OF ENVORONMENTAL CONCERN.

_04

of commerce
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Page 2

A reasonably new use within the confines of the Lake area is an

experimental peat mining operation. The present permit covers an area
of 216 acres located on the southwest side of'Lake Phelps fronting on

Keep Road and an additional permit request now pending will include

32,000 acres. The extracted peat will be used as a fuel source.

Recreation has been the primary use of the Lake in the past with

plans presently in the works for expansion of park facilities by the

Department of Natural Resources and Community Development, Division of

Parks and Recreation. Aside from boating, fishing has been the most

enjoyed activity on the Lake. Other water based recrea tion such as

swimming, skiing, and sailing are important uses involving Lake Phelps.

Picnicking and camping areas are located in the Park also.

OWNERSHIP

Ownership of lands in the area is divided among the State of North

Carolina, First Colony Farms', and individual citizens. Much of the

agricultural lands are being cultivated by First Colony Farms' with some

farming operations belonging to individuals.

The State of North Carolina retains a 167 acre Park Site including

Somerset Place, a State Historic Site. Located within this area is a

boat launch, parking lot, 17-table picnic area, a permanent park office

and a 13-site campground which abuts the historic site. A 500-acre tract

of Park land on the southern side of the Lake is in its natural state. The

actual water of Lake Phelps to the high water mark is considered Public

Trust Waters and is owned by the State of North Carolina.

Page 3

Existing platted residential lots on the southwest side are ret@ined

by individuals with the majority of property directly adjacent to Lake

Phelps owned by First Colony Farms'.

SIGNIFICANT FEATURES

The historical, cultural, natural, and environmental resources within

the confines of the 17,370 acre area is phenonmenal. Not only is there

historical and cultural reso urces portraying the beginning of two indus-

tries which continue to be the basis for the economy of Eastern North

Carolina, but included is a natural area full of'scientific information

relative to the formation of the Coastal Plain, and more specifically -the

origin of Lake Phelps.

HISTORICAL

Somerset Place located within the boundaries of Pettigrew Park has

been examined carefully by the Department of Cultural Resources, Division

of Archives and History, and determined to be of considerable historic

value. The National importance of Somerset Place has been well documented

by the Survey and Planning Section of the Division of Archives and History.

The first major development in the Albemarle-Pamlico region was related

to Somerset Place, located on the northern perimeter of Lake Phelps. De-

veloped i n the late 1700's, Somerset Place was a large plantation. Drainage

canals were dug, and timber cut in order to bring the swampy lands surrounding

the Lake into cultivation. Josiah Collins, the founder of Somerset Place,

is considered to be a pioneer of land reclamation in this region.

Page 4

The clearing of land for agricultural purposes continues in the

area today with the development of such large corporate farms as First

Colony Farms, Mattamuskeet Farms, Tyson and Shima-American Farms.

Timber production continues to be a major employment generator in Eastern

North Carolina as well, as exemplified by Weyerhaeuser and Geor gia Pacific.
Technology has added a new dimension lo the efforts of Josiah Collins, but

agricultural and timber production continue to be a way of life for many

residents in Washington County, as.well as the Region. The recl amation

of land for productive use is of national and possiblyinternational

significance.

ORIGIN

The Albemarle-Pamlico Region is a part of the area bordering the

Atlantic Ocean that is generally referred to either as the Outer Coastal

Plain or as the Tidewater Region. This area is the most recently emerged

from the sea and is greatly affected by oceanic influences. The relation-

ship of Lake Phelps in the regional picture is discussed in detail in the

Hydrology of the Albemarle-Pamlico Region. Lake Phelps, referred to as a

Carolina Bay, is an environmental and natural resource containing many

unexplored areas directly related to the origin and development of the

Coastal Plains.

The origin of bay lakes such as Lake Phelps is still a mystery, thus the

Lake area is a valuable laboratory for the study of the origin and properties

of bay lakes. It is hoped a Geoloqic Survey being performed by East Carolina

University may shed light on the question of origin which to date has not

been satisfactorily answered.

Page 5

HYDROLOGY

The hydrology of the area can be considered a unique sensitive

feature. Although it is difficult to reconstruct the hydrolic conditions

of the region due to changes implemented by man, Heath's hydrology study

provides invaluable information on the topic. The sediments of importance

to the study of the hydrolic conditions are the upper sediments which

provide the-area with a fresh water supply. These are from ground level

downward the Quaternary sediments, the Yorktown Formation, the Pungo River

Formation, and the Castle Hayne Acquifer.

The Yorktown Formation and Castle Hayne Acquifer are important water

sources to Washington County, as are Quaternary sediments as a water

supply to shallow wells. These units are hydrologically important because

they are capable of transmitting significant quantities of water.

All sediments were saturated with salt water while the Albemarle-

Pamlico Region was submerged below the sea. As sea level declined, fresh

water began seeping in and flushing salt water from the aquifers. When

sea level was at it's lowest level, 18,000 years ago, conditions were best

for flushing. As sea level rose, the water table reached land surface

-causing swampy conditions-. Sea water has continued to advance in the

sediments. Problems within these acquifers will be addressed later.

When discussing the water budget of Lake Phelps, the amount of water

transfered in and out of the Lake through these aquifers is unknown. The
elevations established surrounding Lake Phelps proper range between 10'and

15 feet above mean sea level and are the highest elevations in the immediate

area, suggesting little runoff from surrourding property. This fact repre-

sents some unusual hydrological features.

-Page 6

There are no known natural surface streams feeding Lake Phelps.

Primarily the regional rainfall of 51 inches.a. year provides replenish-

ment to the Lake. Precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration in the region
with evaporation as the major cause of water los's measuring 36 inches

each year. Natural overflow drainage, occuring when the Lake reaches a

level of 12', takes form as sheet flow to the Scuppernong River through

a low swampy area, with major drainage occuring by way of canals.

VEGETATION

The importance of the natural areas surrounding Lake Phelps to

Washington County and to the Region cannot be measured at this time.

Its resource as an educational laboratory has just begun to be realized.

The area adjacent to Lake Phelps between Moccasin Canal and the

Pettigrew Park campground, extending 3 miles with an approximate width

of 350', is a cypress swamp of significant value.. A report prepared by
Je4rinie'lfil-so.n of the University of North Carolina" at Chapel Hill dis-

cusses this plant community in detail.

The area is dominated by Taxodiumdistichum (Bald cypress The
varied sizes of Cypress indicate a dramatic change i n water level as
opposed to a more gradual fluctuation. A lower level is suggested by
Cypress knees far from the shoreline along with the germination of
Nyssa sylvatica var. (Black Gum). On higher ground where the drainage
is better Liriodendron tulipifera and Lig.uidambar.styraciflua (Tulip
Popl-ar and Sweet Gum) have outgrown the Cypress.

Page 7

The most extensive Cypress stand is located in the western section

of the swamp. No aquatic species of vegetation are present in this area,
but behind the acquatic zone is a narrow Juncus (Rush) zone, and a' shrub

zone with Celphalanthus occidentalis Buttonbush), Sambucus canadensis

(Elderberry) and Callicarpa americana (Beautyberry). Beneath the Cypress
Asimina triloba (Paw Paw), Itea virginica,(Virginia Willow) and Lindera
benzoin (Spicebush) are well developed. In the eastern area of swamp,

aquatic species such as Myripohyllum exalbes cens (Parrot feather), Pontederia.

cordata (Bickerelweed) and Vallesneria americana (eelgrass) are found. Bog

and pocosin species can be found due to soil conditions. Those found are
Clethra alnifolia var. alnifoldia-(Sweet Petter Bush, White Alder),
Magnolia Virginiana (Sweet Bay), and Persea borbonia (Red Bay). Herbaceous

species present include Arisaema triphyllum (Jack-in-the-pulpit), Hydrocotyle

umbellata (Marsh pennywort), Impatiens capensis (Jewelweed, Touch-me-not),
Pilea pumila (Clearweed), and Boehmeriia cylindrica-(False Nettle).
Ms. Wilson (1975) concludes her report with the opinion that the "Cypress

swamp is indeed a unique area and should remain as it is, providing the level

of the lake is not altered. In its natural state, it would serve as an

excellent scientific and educational study area."

The just published Lake Phelps Lake Management Study reveals the

existence of a rare and endangered plant species, the spotted pipewort
(Eriocalon pellucidum), on State property south of Lake Phelps.

FISH

Appr oximately 26 species of fishes are recorded to be located in

Lake Phelps one of which is identified on the rare and endangered fish

list, the Waccamaw Killifish.- A number of game species are present including

Page 8

the large mouth bass, white perch, bluegill, and chain pickerel. Other

species include channel and white catfish, alewife and blueback herri.ng.

Forage species include golden shiners, tidewater silversides, gizzard shad,

longnose gar, and striped killifish.

MAMMALS

Black bear are sited occasionally in heavily wooded areas along with

frequent appearances by the white-@tail deer. Fur bearing species. generally

located in the heavily wooded areas along the shoreline of the Lake include

racoon, opossum, mink, muskrat, fox, and bobcat.

BIRDS

Lake Phelps has been recognized by the Wildlife Resources Commission

as a resting and feeding area for migratory birds. Canadian geese and a

variety of ducks feed on adjacent agricultural lands and natural vegetation

along the shoreline. Wood ducks are provided the perfect habitat with

Cypress trees for nesting and insect foods produced in the vegetation along

the shoreline.

The bald eagle sited twice in the Lake Phelps area is on the State

rare and endangered species inventory.

CULTURAL

The recreational benefits provided by Lake Phelps and the surrounding,

area reflect significant cultural value. Outings to Lake Phelps provide

a look at the past and a beautiful setting for present day activities to

visitors.

-Page 9

Local citizens are reminded of the foundation on which their fa mily's

livelihood is based and many memorable tim es experienced by loved ones

throughout the years.

The culture of Eastern North Carolina can be enjoyed and experienced,

i.n. manyways, by many persons, in the natural , historical and recreational

atmosphere of Lake Phelps.

PROSPECTIVE USES

There has been much concern over this beautiful and unique Lake for

many years. It is an important natural resource for the study of flora

and fauna, unequaled in its recreational capacity. A statement included

in the Proceedings of the Symposium on Endangered and Threatened Biota of

North Carolina expresses the immediacy of the problem. "Not only is the

recreational function of the State Park seriously impaired, but the resort

property and the entire lake fauna are endangered. We are not optismistic

about the future of Lake Phelps." (Bailey, 1975).

Protection is a must to prevent what is occuring constantly as natural

areas are exploited. The cultural value of the Lake Phelps area and the
array of natural beauty make it a valuable'public asset. This Coastal

Plain Lake, the second largest fresh water lake in North Carolina, has

undergone many changes. According to the Symposium proceedings, none of the

fresh waters of the peninsula between the.Albemarle and Pamlico sounds

consisting of lakes, the Scuppernong and Aligator rivers and small streams,
along with their typical Coastal Plain-estuarine fauna are imperiled, except

Lake Phelps.

Present and future uses surrounding Lake Phelps are responsible for

its precarious state of well being.

Page 10

AGRICULTURE

Despite state control of a large portion of the Lake Phelps area,

many problems are occuring which they cannot presently prevent. Much of

the area surrounding Lake Phelps has been stripped of its natural vegetation

and put into cultivation. This has had great impact on the Lake. The*

Draft Lake Management Plan states that "farming operations of this magnitude

implemented adjacent to Lake Phelps affect-the wildlife habitat, fishery,

water fowl habitat, as well as the recreation of the Lake and Park."

(NRCD 1977) Each problem will be discussed along with its specific impact

on the lake environment.

The Envixonmental Impact Statement for the Parks and Recreation

Master Plan lists three major problems which are supported in other docu-

ments as well.

1. Intense wind due to massive clearing of vegetation

2. Smoke and dust filled air from debris burns and aeolian sediment

3. Ground water variation

Sediment, thought to be carried by wind from agricultural lands,

has-caused a change in water quality. At a 1975 symposium concerned with

endangered and threatened Biota, Lake Phelps was a topic for discussion.

The changesin Lake Phelps since 1964 were discussed by Joseph Bailey (1975).

"In 1964,,the North shore of Phelps Lake had a firm sand bottom,

with a light covering of shifting loose silt of peat origin which did not

seriously impede seining efforts." By 1965 areas of "fibrous and pulpy

peat" were found on top of the sand. In 1972 major changes had taken
place. Wate.r level was up 30 cm or more and the predominantly sand bottom

was now covered along the north shore with 15 to 60 cm or more of fine

silt and muck. Mr. Bailey concluded the "light-peat soil had apparently

P::ige 11

been periodically windcarried into the water. The prevailing winds,

southwest to northeast, have caused the accumulation of sediment on the

north and northeast sides of the lake.

A biological analysis by A. M. Witherspoon of the sediments in Lake

Phelps suggested the following: 1. Algae species in the lake sediments

are capable of producing algae bloom. 2. The highest levels of Algae

with the deepest accumulation is on the north and northeast side of the

lake. 3. The untimely removal of the sedime nt accumulations could trigger

increased algae growth in the Lake. All species of algae found were associ-

ated with sediment accumulations.

These aeolian sediments threaten the recreational boating capacity

of the Lake due to maintenance problems associated with collection of

sediment on boat motors and hulls.

The hydrology is being affected by farming practices. The large

network of-drainage canals associated with farming operations is lowering

the water table, due to the seepage of groundwater into the ditches, causing

an unsaturated zone below the land surface. Heath's hydrology study provides

very important information on the effect of drainage ditches on the area

ground water. He suggests the artificial lowering of the water table and

the change from swamp land to cultivated fields has an effect on the local

water budget. The effect is a significant increase in the amount of water

moving through the shallow groundwater system after drainage practices are

instituted.

Although rainwater is the major source of replenishment of the Lake,

ground-water inflow also represents a small source. The development of

drainage canals around the Lake which are lower than the Lake bottom

cause water from the Lake to move through the ground to the drainage canals.

-Page 12
These canals have short-circuited lateral seepage of ground wa'ter t'o the

Lake.

The lowering of the water table has an important regional effect.

Salt water is ri sing in the sediments, gradually displacing the fresh

water and most of man's actionshave tended to increase the rate of

advance. Phosphate mining in Aurora has affected the water table as far

away as Washington County, as has water withdrawn for industrial purposes

in Plymouth and Washington.

If the ground water supply is infiltrated with sea water, the Region's

major source of water supply will be ruined. The other potential sources

of fresh water are lakes and the major drainage canals. Heath suggests,

it is difficult to develop effective polic ies for the management of

ground-water system's before either the quantity or quality of the water

are significantly affected."(Health, 1975). It appears the expansion of

cultivation will continue as will industry and we should prepare to pro-

tect what may one day become a water source for not.only Washington

County, but surrounding areas.

RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

Residential development is increasing along the periphery of Lake

Phelps. Scattered homes sit on the western and southern boundaries of

the Lake with a large concentration of dwellings and mobile homes located

on the southwest. Development has been recognized as a major threat to

the quality of the Lake water due to:

1. The failure of septic tank systems

2. Critical reduction of the vegetation buffer along the lake shore

3. Increased winds and sediments due to the clearing of land

Page 13

4. Increased foot and vehicular traffic

The Washington County CAMA Plan recognizes the potential increase

in resi dential development.. "The market-for waterfront acreage should

increase as the heavily populated areas of the Northeast and Piedmont

begin to migrate towards this area in search of homesites near the water."

(McGarrity, 1976). Increased residential and commercial development could

accelerate septic tank problems causing further contamination of the Lake.,

Requests were made by Health Officials in September of 1974 to the

Department of Natural and Economic Resources to establish a high water

mark differentiating state property from that in private ownership.

Individual lots were sold with boundaries extending to the low water mark.

The general boundary for state property is the high water mark.

Property owners and Health Officials located septic tanks at a dis-

tance from the water which they felt would be more than adequate for

protection. Due to heavy rains in recent years, the water level has ap-

proac hed dwellings, and inundated septic systems. Health Officials wrote,--

"The waters were interfering with septic tank installations in the area
and causing public health problem." -(Glover, 1974). Mr. Glover, District

Health Director, expressed his concern to DNER that the situation would

become worse in the future. In 1974 there was no boundary to assist

Health Officials in designating a setback for the location of septic tanks

and lines. A letter written to Mr. Glover by the Assistant Director of

Parks and Recreation suggested some of the septic systems "might actually
be on stateowned property" (Thomasson, 1978).

The supply of nutrients to the acquatic environmnet causes the process

of eutrophi cation. In extreme cases, the waterbloom phenomenon develops

and in stagnant water oxygen supply becomes depleted.

-Page 14

This leads to fish kills and other ramifications that render a recreational

useless. A local example of this phenomena is the Chowan River where algae

bloom in the summer of 1978 caused extensive damage and now, in the summer
of-1979, the Pamlico River is experiencing similar problems.

Studies completed as late as 1966 showed no sources zf nutrients in

Lake Phelps. This is a recent occurence and the run-off from septic tanks

could very well be a big source of the small, but significant, nutrient

increase in the Lake. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan suggests the

septic tank nitrification fields may also be contributing to the degra-

dation of area ground water supplies.

Page 15

RECREATION

The expansion of recreational facilities adjacent to Lake Phelps will

have an effect on the Lake.area as outlined in the Draft Environmental Impact

Statement - Pettigrew Lake Study.

The attendance figures up from those of 1975 totaling 44,593, topped

53,919 in 1976. The demand on the park facilities has increased 27 percent

in the last three years. The trend is expected to continue, putting greater

demand on the Park and surrounding areas with a projection of 85,000 annual

visitors to the Park and 32,000 annually to visit Somerset Place.

The Park land located on the northern side of Lake Phelps is designated

Conservation in the Washington County CAMA Plan. This designation is defined

as fragile, hazard and other lands necessary 'to maintain a healthy natural

environment and necessary to provide for the public health, safety, or welfare.

The lands under Conservation and Rural are considered lands to be protected

and to help focus the attention of state and local agencies and interests

concerned with valuable natural resources of the State.

Presently all of the recreation facilities at Pettigrew State Park are

located on 30 acres of the State owned 167 acre Park. After evaluating the

existing site for future recreational development, it was determined:

1) sufficient land is not available for a convenient parking lot for boat

launching; 2) corrective measures must be taken to maintain the existing

boat launch; 3) the picnic area is of insufficient size to handle existing

use; 4) the campground can be expanded by only 12 sites, while red ucing the

open field used for group games; and 5) the silted lake bottom along the

Pettigrew site is unsuitable for swimming.

The proposed developmen t concept includes the use of land west of Somerset

J for a day use area, land east of Somerset for overnight camping and the purchase

Page 16

of Big Point on the north side of the Lake for a day use area with swimming

and boat launching facilities. Educational and.hiking trails will wind along

the lakeshore connecting the various recreation sites. The proposed developed

acreage would total 480 acres.

The need for recreational acreage for the Coastal Region is assessed at

16,632 acres. Although there is an excess of recreational acreage in the

multi-county planning region containing the Park, according to the Master

Plan Environmental Impact Statement, Lake Phelps is one of the primary fresh

water recreation facility on the Coast, thus great pressure will be Placed on

the facility.

The Master Plan as drawn, represents the total possible development that

could be realized, but does not advocate this development to be completed at

one time. The development of the proposed stages or phases are dictated by

appropriation amounts, quantity of future demand realized, and the magnitude of

adverse environmental impacts encountered during early development stages.. If

this approach is strictly adhered to, any negative effects from the expanded

development of Pettigrew Park can be prevented.

According to the EIS, the impact from the Park development compared to

that of agricultural development is insignificant. The EIS states, "the Petti-

grew region has been severely damaged environmentally by agricultural practices.

Virgin vegetation has been removed from most-of the area, ground water levels

have been lowered by drainage canals, and the soil composition, fertil'ity, and

characteristics constantly altered. As a result, the relative degree of adverse

environmental impact created by the Pettigrew Master Plan will be in regionally

insignificant levels." (Hazard, 1978).

The improvements planned for the Pettigrew Park area on the north side of

Lake Phelps and the Big Point area include the following: swimming beach, boat

launch and dock, hiking trails, interpretive trails, permanent park office and

Page 17

maintenance area, an 84 table picnic area, two toilet buildings, a .24 car parking

lot, open space for informal games, 60 car parking lot, fishing pier, 12 car

parking lot, a visitor's center, residence for the site manager, two group tent

camps; each with a capacity of 50 to 75 persons, a 25 car parking lot with two

bus spaces, 12 to 15 campsites, 1800 square feet open air shelter, wash house

with showers, two 70 site camp loops, two wash houses and toilet buildings,

boat launch with a 60 car/trailer parking lot, two launching ramps and a boat

basin, enlargement of a canal to accommodate 16 to 18 feet boats, a nature trail

through the bald cypress forest, 1.65 miles of new road, 90 car trailer lot,

36 floating dock slips, gasoline pumps, 10 rental boats, 10 rental sailboats,

concession shelter, concession building containing boating supplies, fishing

equipment and refreshments, open and covered storage areas for boats, park

ranger's residence, two picnic areas with 60 tables, grills, trash receptacles,

two toilet buildings, swimming beach, and three 20 car parking areas.

The impact of construction activities is discussed in the EIS in reference

to land use, hydrology, soils, flora and fauna. The area to receive major

alterations is Big Point. In its natural state, the area is heavily vegetated,

with a high water table. The.variation in facility placement will define the

range of impact magnitudes,as will the type of facility.

Proposed sites will require fill for roadways and parking lots which will

alter the hydrology of the area. The increase of impermeable surfaces will

contribute to increased run off containing impurities associated with the

automobile. This will also increase the burden on the existing drainage system.

Clearing land for the location of access and recreational facilities will alter

the present envJronment of vegetation and animal life.

The location of septic tanks will subject the area to groundwater pollution

due to the high water table. Increased sediment during construction may cause

Page 18

deposits in the Lake itself, as would increased wind due to land clearing.

According to the Park Plan EIS, before any construction or development, a

qualified naturalist will be consulted in order to prevent any possible damage

to any rare or endangered plant species that may be present. Removal of vege-

tation is slated for both the Big Point area and the Pettigrew site.

The comparison of the recreational improvements to the agricultural deve-

lopment in the area does not appear to justify immediate acceptance of the

proposed activities as harmless. The EIS, along with many sources, dwell on

the major problems agricultural practices have caused in the Lake Phelps area.

The magnitude of existing problems make it even more imperative that all uses

proposed in close proximity to Lake Phelps receive careful review and scrutiny,

and that special care be taken as the much needed recreational facilities are

developed.

PEAT MINING

The projected acreage of peat deposits, within a tri-county area, which

can be harvested is over 146,000 including a large area around Lake Phelps,

according to a study by the Research Triangle Institute.

Peat, considered young coal, is a fuel formed by the decomposition of

organic matter over thousands of years in an environment plentiful in water

and deficient in oxygen. The peat located on land owned by First Colony Farms

South of Lake Phelps is considered to be in the ideal range of decomposition

for fuel peat due to its high heating value with low ashi

Most of First Colony's harvestable peat occurs on untimbered, poorly

drained land covered with-waxy leafed shrubs and scattered pond pine. Attempts

at using the land for other agricultural uses has been economically prohibitive.

The inflated costs of all facets of land development for agriculture and the

Page 19

current levels of farm prices makes it economical ly unattractive to' develop

peat I.ands.

Experimentation efforts on the farm to reclaim mined areas for agricultural

use have proven successful. Five and a half feet of peat was removed from a

50' x 1600' strip to test the production capability of the area. Half of the

land was planted in soybeans and half in grain sorghum with test yields of

38 bushels/acre of beans and almost 76 bushels/acre of sorghum. Later the

strip of land was planted in corn and soybeans. The land yielded 160 bushels/

acre of corn and just under 40 bushels/acre of beans. This is equivalent to

production on other First Colony land.

The sod peat production involves harvesting wood and peat together. The

procedure is explained in R. N. Campbell's report on The History, Current

Status and Future Plans for First Colony Farms' Peat for Energy Program:

"The digging member on the sod machine is a circula r plate which has around its

periphery 45mm diameter cutters oriented like the paddles on a paddle wheel.

The plate is canted 15 degrees off the'vertical so that when the machine is

operating, it is cutting a slot in the ground which is the width of the cutter,

15 degrees off vertical, and 40cm deep. The rotation of the cutting plate is

against the direction of motion of the prime mover so that the first material

encountered by a cutter is raw peat 40cm below the surface which will be at a

moisture content of about 82%. As this cutter moves on around, it picks up a

certain amount of relatively dry peat near the surface producing a mixture which,

ideally, will be in the range of 66 to 69%. This range produces well formed sods

which dry quickly. As the cutter emerges from the surface, this material is

slung off by centrifugal force into the bottom of a cylinder. In the cylinder

is an auger which forces the material through a die (or dies) where, upon emer-

gence, it breaks up into individual cylinders which average about 30cm in length.

-Page 20

These are deposited on the surface where they remain until air dried to the

desired moisture content."(Campbell, 1979).

The production process is now underway and a permit has been requested

from NRCD to mine 32,000 acres spanning Washington, Hyde and Tyrrell counties.

Negotiations are in the works between First Colony and the North Carolina

Electric Membership Corporation for a fuel contract under which the Farm would

furnish peat sods to fuel a 6,000mw power plant (located on the farm) for a

period of forty years.

Land south of Lake Phelps, approximately 20,000 acres, has had canals and

ditches in place for a number of years, and is ready for sod harvesting. Other

areas will have to be drained for at least two years before put into production.

This suggests the area south of the Lake will be one of the first areas to be

mined.

According to the Draft Environmental Impact Statement prepared on Amendments

to the North Carolina Coastal Management Program, the extraction, production,
and burning of peat to'generate electricity is considered to be less harmful to

the environment than the mining of coal. It will however have an impact on the

water table and water quality due to aeolian sediments and the removal of ground

water through the mining process.

The long term effects of such a massive environment altering activity must

be adequately assessed and protective measures instituted to prevent irreversi-

ble damage to the natural, cultural and educational values of Lake Phelps.

Page 21

SUMMARY

There can be no question as to the considerable value of the Lake Phelps

area locally, statewide and possibly nationwide. Fragile natural and cultural

areas, noted in Section-.0502 of the State Guidelines, are to be key components

of systems unique to the coast, areas of significarceto the scientific or-edu-

cational communities, particularly important to a locale either in an aesthetic

or cultural sense, and of special importance to our understanding of past human

settlement and its interaction with the coastal zone.

Due to the problems noted within this text and future plans for the

expansion of residential, agricultural, mining and recreational activities, the

well being of Lake Phelps is in danger. Attempts by local agencies and individuals

to protect the Lake have been thwarted primarily due to the lack of a designated

high water mark, and the large land holdings by influential individuals and/or

agencies adjacent to the Lake. The Lake Phelps issue has been bounced from

agency to agency with no concrete solution.

With the assistance of the Coastal Resources Commission, further degradation

of the Lake can be prevented in the interest of local citizens and those who come

from other parts of the State, to use and enjoy the benefits offered by the

beautiful and unique Lake Phelps.

The Area for designation as an Area of Environmental Concern shall be described.

as follows:

The boundary shall follow the western then southern boundary of the r.ight-

of-way line of State Road 1183 until it ends at the 500 acre State Park

property south of Lake Phelps where it shall continue in the road bed of
what is known as Keep' Road until it reaches State Park property on the

northeast side of the Lake. The boundary shall follow the present State

property line to the north side of Lake Phelps and shall include tract 5

of Clarion Estates a nd c ontinue in the Keep Road road bed until it reaches

State Road 1183 on the northwest side of the Lake.

creswell-
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REFERENCES

Bailey, J. R. 1975. Fresh Water Fishes. Proceedings of the Symposium on
Endangered and Threatened Biota of North Carolina. Raleigh, N. C.:
North Carolina State Museum of Natural History.

Campbell, R. N. 1979. Peat for Energy Program, History, Current Status and
Future Plans. Washington County, N. C.: First Colony Farms, Inc.

Hazard, R. B. 1978.- Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Pettigrew Park
Master Plan. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Department of Natural Resources and
Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Heath, R. C. 1975. Hydrology of the Albemarle-Pamlico Region North Carolina;
A Preliminary Report on the Impact of Agricultural Developments. U. S.
Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations 9-75. Raleigh, N. C.:
U. S. Geological Survey, Water Resources Division.

McGarrity, John. 1976. Washington County CAMA Land Use Plan.

N. C. Coastal Resources Commission. 1979. State Guidelines for Areas of
Environmental Concern, Proposed Amendments. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Depart-
ment of Natural Resources and Community Development, Office of Coastal
Management.

N. C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. 1977. Draft
Lake Phelps Management Plan. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development.

N. C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. 1979. Lakp
Phelps Lake Management Plan. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation.

N. C. Department of Natural Resources and Community Development. 1977. Pettigrew
State Park Master Plan. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Department of Natural
Resources and Community Development, Division of Parks and Recreation.

Ramsay, M. J. 1979. Personal Communication. Somerset Place National Historic
Site. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. Department of Cultural Resources, Division
of Archives and History.

Riggs, S. R. and M. P. O'Connor. 1975. Geological Bibliography of North Carolina's
Coastal Plain, Coastal Zone and Continental Shelf. Sea Grant Publication
UNC-SG-75-13. Raleigh, N. C.: N. C. State University - University of North
Carolina Sea Grant Program.

U. S. Department of Agriculture. 1978. Soil Survey Maps and Interpretations
for Washington County, North Carolina. U. S. Department of Agriculture,
Soil Conservation Service.

Williams, Floyd. 1979. Personal Comm'unication. First Colony Farms' Peat
Mining Permits. Washington, N. C.: N. C. Department of Natural Resources
and Community Development.

Wilson, J. E. 1975. Lake Phelps Cypress Natural Area. Unpublished Report.
Chapel Hill, N.C.: University of North Carolina.

Wi nslow, Darrell. 1979. Personal Communication. Septic Tank Problems at
Lake Phelps. Washington County, N.C.: Washington County Health
Department.

Witherspoon, A. M. 1976. A Preliminary Report of Algal Activity in P.helps
Lake, North Carolina. Raleigh, N.C.: N. C. State University.

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