Lake Waccamaw is the largest of the water filled bay lakes. There are over 500,000 bay lakes in the Atlantic Coastal Plain with most being in the the Carolinas. All are oval shaped, oriented northwest to southeast with sandy beaches on the southeast side. the picture above shows the horseshoe shape of sandy bottoms. Most of the bay lakes have filled with sediment and no longer are recognized except from above. Waccamaw is the only one fed by streams and canals. All others are dependent on rainfall. The other major difference is due to limestone deposits in Waccamaw that neutralizes the acidity found in all bay lakes.
Lake ph Number of fish species
Salters 4.4 14
Jones 4.3 13
White 4.9 23
Singletary 4.6 16
Waccamaw 6.9 42
"Bay" has nothing to do with a body of water. It refers to the sweet bay, red bay and loblolly bay trees that grow around the lakes.
Oriented Lake Theory
As the sea receded beginning about 40,000 years ago, lakes were left in all shapes. Strong northwest winds caused water currents to shape the lakes into ovals. As the currents impacted on the southeast shore, the peat layer was worn away, exposing sand. Currents were forced both right and left at the SE shoreline, eventually exposing sand in a horseshoe shape.
The park has a 5.5 mile trail encompassing the southeast sandy shore of the lake to the outlet, the Waccamaw River which was dammed in the 30's to prevent water level fluctuation. There is a section of that trail that is infested with fire ants. Use caution walking there, their formic acid bites are not pleasant.
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