Pocosins: Carolina Peatlands of Carbon, Culture, and History

North and South Carolina is starting to recover from one of the most severe droughts in recent history. Drought covered essentially both states with reservoirs like Falls Lake and Jordan Lake dropping well below normal and cities including Raleigh and Durham enacting mandatory water restrictions. While the drought is largely over (given the second wettest July on record), I still think it is important to understand how wetlands mitigate droughts because the bottom line is drought impacts would be a lot worse without wetlands.

July is Lakes Appreciation Month, an annual celebration led by the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) to recognize the many ways lakes enrich our lives—from providing drinking water and recreation to supporting wildlife and local economies. It is also an ideal time to recognize one of a lake’s most important, yet often overlooked, partners: lacustrine wetlands. When many people picture a lake, they imagine open water stretching to the horizon. But healthy lakes are much more than open water. Around their shorelines lies a dynamic transition zone where land and water meet. These shallow, vegetated areas are known as lacustrine wetlands, and they are among the most productive ecosystems in the Carolinas. What’s the Difference Between a Lake and a Wetland? Although they are closely connected, lakes and wetlands are not the same. A lake is generally a body of open water deep enough that sunlight cannot always reach the bottom. In contrast, a wetland is defined by the presence of water at or near the surface long enough to support hydric soils and plants adapted to saturated conditions. Lacustrine wetlands occupy the shallow margins of lakes where water levels fluctuate seasonally. Because sunlight reaches the bottom, these areas support an abundance of native aquatic plants such as pickerelweed, arrowhead, bulrushes, and water lilies. Rather than competing with lakes, these wetlands help lakes function as healthy ecosystems. Think of them as the lake’s living shoreline. Nature’s Water Filter Before rainwater reaches a lake, it often flows through wetlands. Along the way, wetland plants slow runoff, trap sediment, absorb excess nutrients, and filter pollutants. This natural treatment system helps improve water clarity and reduce harmful algal blooms. The same wetlands also soften the impacts of floods by temporarily storing stormwater and slowly releasing it after heavy rains. As we have discussed in recent newsletters, healthy wetlands provide one of our most cost-effective defenses against flooding while protecting downstream communities. A Haven for Wildlife Lacustrine wetlands are biodiversity hotspots. Their shallow waters provide spawning and nursery habitat for fish, breeding grounds for amphibians, nesting areas for turtles, and feeding habitat for wading birds. Dragonflies patrol above the vegetation while pollinators visit native flowering plants along the shoreline. Many species spend their entire lives within these wetlands, while others depend on them during critical stages of migration or reproduction. Remove the wetland, and the lake loses much of the biological richness that makes it special. Carolina’s Lake-Associated Wetlands Across North and South Carolina, remarkable lake-associated wetlands demonstrate this close relationship between lakes and wetlands. The majestic cypress-gum swamps surrounding Lake Waccamaw create habitat for rare plants and animals found nowhere else. The extensive shoreline wetlands of Lake Mattamuskeet, the largest natural lake in North Carolina, support hundreds of thousands of migratory waterfowl each winter. Reservoirs such as Jordan Lake , Falls Lake , and Lake Norman also contain valuable coves, embayments, and shallow wetlands that provide wildlife habitat while improving water quality. Closer to home, many neighborhood lakes, farm ponds, and municipal reservoirs include wetland fringes that quietly perform these same ecological services every day. While these wetlands may seem ordinary, together they form an important network that benefits both people and wildlife. Some of our Wetland Treasures such as Merchants Millpond , Robertson Millpond , and Phelps Lake Shoreline are Lacustrine wetlands. Appreciating the Whole Ecosystem As you celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month, take a moment to look beyond the open water. Notice the cattails swaying along the shoreline, the chorus of frogs after sunset, the great blue heron stalking fish in the shallows, or the dragonflies darting among the lilies. Those vibrant edges are not simply the border of a lake—they are an essential part of the ecosystem. Protecting lakes means protecting the wetlands that surround them. Together, they improve water quality, reduce flooding, support biodiversity, and provide countless opportunities for recreation, education, and inspiration. At the Carolina Wetlands Association, we believe that every wetland matters—whether it borders a coastal marsh, a forested swamp, or a favorite Carolina lake. This July, as we celebrate Lakes Appreciation Month, let’s appreciate these remarkable partnerships between lakes and wetlands and continue working to conserve them for future generations. What is your favorite lake with beautiful wetlands? Share your photos and stories with the Carolina Wetlands Association and help us celebrate the wetland treasures that make our Carolina lakes so special. So go out and explore a wetland at your favorite lake or at one of our Wetland Treasures and remember that Carolina Wetlands Association is actively working to protect all wetlands. Your support is always appreciated. Rick Executive Director Carolina Wetlands Association