(2) Lake Phelps . The 16,000-acre lake is the second largest 

 natural lake in North Carolina. It is administered by the 

 N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation. The lake contains 

 several rare aquatic plant species and is a documented site 

 for the endangered Waccamaw killif ish ( Fundulus waccamensi s) . 

 The lake is also recognized on the State Registry of Natural 

 Heritage Areas. 



The Office of Coastal Management, and the Coastal Resources 

 Commission which it serves, implement the Coastal Area Manage- 

 ment Act of 1974 (CAMA) . Under this statute, the North Carolina 

 Coastal Management Plan has been prepared and approved. It 

 includes the definition and designation of various Areas of 

 Environmental Concern (AEC) . In many cases, AECs coincide with 

 natural areas that are herein recommended for preservation or 

 special management. 



Peat mining has particular implications for these natural 

 areas, some of which overlay exploitable peat deposits. Mining 

 will remove natural vegetation, permanently alter the hydrology 

 of the region, lower surface soil types from high organic histo- 

 soils to the clayey, sandy, and loamy soils typical of other 

 parts of the outer coastal plain. Thus, natural communities, 

 once mining is complete, almost certainly could never be re- 

 established or reclaimed on mined-out land. Preservation of 

 the best natural areas, and appropriate hydrological management 

 is necessary prior to and during active peat mining. 



The Natural Heritage Program is most pleased to have had 

 this opportunity to conduct this project for the Office of 

 Coastal Management. The inventory has documented a number of 

 high-quality natural areas that possess natural elements of 

 statewide priority and are important parts of North Carolina's 

 natural diversity. Most of the identified sites were previously 

 unknown and undocumented by the state's scientific community. 

 The Natural Heritage Program hopes that these areas will be 

 protected for the benefits of present and future generations 

 of North Carolina and for the preservation of the state's 

 truly exceptional natural heritage. 



Charles E. Roe, Coordinator 

 N.C. Natural Heritage Program 

 November 16, 1982 



in 



