User:R33nayl3aves/Singletary Lake

Singletary Lake
December 2007
Location of Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, USA.
Location of Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, USA.
Singletary Lake
Location of Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, USA.
Location of Lake Mattamuskeet in North Carolina, USA.
Singletary Lake
LocationBladen County, North Carolina, United States
Coordinates34°35′20″N 078°26′55″W / 34.58889°N 78.44861°W / 34.58889; -78.44861
TypeCarolina Bay
Primary inflowsrainwater
Basin countriesUnited States
Managing agencyNorth Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources
DesignationState Lake
Surface area572 acres (2.3 km2)
Average depth11.8 ft (3.6 m)
Surface elevation62 ft (19 m)

Singletary Lake, surrounded by Singletary Lake State Park in Bladen County, North Carolina in the United States, is one of a series of Carolina bay lakes that stretch from New Jersey to Florida along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. Exactly how the lakes were formed remains a mystery. What is known is that Singletary Lake is not fed by any stream, but relies entirely upon rain.[1] Singletary Lake is classified as a reservoir by the U.S. Geological Survey.[2] The lake was established as a North Carolina State Lake in 1929, and it is managed by the adjacent Singletary Lake State Park.

Ecological Characteristics

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The southwest corner of the lake is bordered by a bog, that is densely covered by bay trees. A sandy rim on the southeast side of the lake supports very little vegetation.[1]

Most bay lakes, such as Singletary Lake, are completely surrounded by vegetation. Trees and shrubs that grow along the shoreline reduce current and wave action. This permits sediments to settle and stimulate plant growth. As the plants die off peat is produced. The peat accumulates on the shore line and more plants grow atop the peat. The forest surrounding the lake slowly expands into the lake area. This reduces the size of the lake and eventually a swampy forest will stand where the lake once was. This process has reduced the size of Singletary Lake by at least 44%.[3]

Physical Characteristics

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Singletary Lake is the deepest of the Carolina Bays at 11.8 feet (3.6 m) but not the largest. It covers 572 acres (2.31 km2) with four miles (6.43 km) of shoreline. Since Singletary Lake is not fed by streams, and relies upon rainwater, the level of the lake varies with the amount of precipitation in the area.[3] The water from Singletary Lake contributes to the Cape Fear River. The water first flows into Lake Drain Creek, then Big Colly Creek, and lastly the Black River, a tributary of the Cape Fear River. [4]

The water at Singletary Lake has been noted to be acidic, with pH ranging from 3.9 to 4.2.[4] Singletary Lake is a dystrophic lake with water low in nutrients.[4] Based on data collected in 2009, the Secchi depth is between 0.6-1 meter.[4] The high acidity of the lake means that few fish can thrive in its waters. Two of the fish recreationally caught there are the chain pickerel and yellow perch. [5]

Species Found at Lake Singletary

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Fish Species in Lake Singletary[6]
Species Family Common Name
Amia calva Amiidae Bowfin
Aphredoderus sayanus Aphredoderidae Pirate Perch
Erimyzon sucetta Catostomidae Lake Chubsucker
Centrarchus macropterus Centrarchidae Flier
Enneacanthus gloriosus Centrarchidae Bluespotted Sunfish
Lepomis gulosus Centrarchidae Warmouth
Lepomis macrochirus Centrarchidae Bluegill
Micropterus salmoides Centrarchidae Largemouth Bass
Notropis chalybaeus Cyprinidae Ironcolor Shiner
Esox americanus Esocidae Redfin Pickerel
Esox niger Esocidae Chain Pickerel
Ameiurus natalis Ictaluridae Yellow Bullhead
Noturus gyrinus Ictaluridae Tadpole Madtom
Etheostoma fusiforme Percidae Swamp Darter
Perca flavescens Percidae Yellow Perch
Gambusia holbrooki Poeciliidae Eastern Mosquitofish
Umbra pygmaea Umridae Eastern Mudminnow
Amphibian Species at Lake Singletary[7]
Species Family Common Name
Amphiuma means Amphiumidae Two-toed Amphiuma
Anaxyrus quercicus Bufonidae Oak Toad
Anaxyrus terrestris Bufonidae Southern Toad
Acris gryllus gryllus Hylidae Coastal Plain (Southern) Cricket Frog
Hyla femoralis Hylidae Pine Woods Treefrog
Hyla squirella Hylidae Squirrel Treefrog
Pseudacris crucifer crucifer Hylidae Northern Spring Peeper
Pseudacris ocularis Hylidae Little Grass Frog
Gastrophryne carolinensis Microhylidae Eastern Narrow-mouthed Toad
Scaphiopus holbrookii Pelobatidae Eastern Spadefoot
Plethodon chlorobryonis Plethodonidae Atlantic Coast Slimy Salamander
Lithobates catesbeianus Ranidae American Bullfrog
Lithobates clamitans clamitans Ranidae Bronze Frog
Lithobates sphenocephalus Ranidae Southern Leopard Frog
Lithobates virgatipes Ranidae Carpenter Frog

References

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  1. ^ a b "Singletary Lake State Park | NCpedia". www.ncpedia.org. Retrieved 2020-11-10.
  2. ^ "GNIS Detail - Singletary Lake". geonames.usgs.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  3. ^ a b "Singletary Lake State Park: Ecology". North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  4. ^ a b c d Howell, Nathan; Krings, Alexander; Braham, Richard (2016-05-04). "Guide to the littoral zone vascular flora of Carolina bay lakes (U.S.A.)". Biodiversity Data Journal. 4: e7964. doi:10.3897/BDJ.4.e7964. ISSN 1314-2828. PMC 4911545. PMID 27350764.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: PMC format (link) CS1 maint: unflagged free DOI (link)
  5. ^ "Activities | NC State Parks". www.ncparks.gov. Retrieved 2020-10-15.
  6. ^ "North Carolina State Parks System Natural Resources Inventory Database Singletary Lake FISH". North Carolina State Parks System Natural Resources Inventory Database. 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "North Carolina State Parks System Natural Resources Inventory Database- Singletary Lake AMPHIBIAN". North Carolina State Parks System Natural Resources Inventory Database. 2020. Retrieved 27 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)