White Lake 2017 WQ Report

White Lake, a Carolina Bay lake located in Bladen County, N.C., is unique in its lack of tannin-colored water typical of these lakes. Instead, White Lake has historically been known for its crystal-clear water and white sand which made it a popular recreation and tourist destination. An increase in the amount of algae found on the lake bottom (benthic algae), along with changes in the water from clear to greencolored, have resulted in a decline in the aesthetics of the lake in recent years. More recently, lake water monitoring by the Division of Water Resources (DWR) has detected a change in the lake pH from acidic to near neutral and an increase in nutrient levels, turbidity and chlorophyll a values. In 2014, the Town of White Lake and the N.C. State Parks requested assistance from DWR to determine potential causes for the increasing benthic algae and water quality changes in White Lake. In response to this request, in-lake water quality monitoring was conducted in 2015 through 2017, with the inclusion of groundwater and watershed water quality monitoring in 2017. This report summarizes the conditions of White Lake and nearby water sources in 2017. 

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