Lake Phalen

Infobox lake
lake_name = Lake Phalen
image_lake =
caption_lake =
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry=
location = Saint Paul
coords = coord|44|59|N|93|03|W|type:waterbody_region:US-MN|display=inline,title
type =
inflow =
outflow = Phalen Creek
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|198|acre|km2 [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/lakefind/showreport.html?downum=62001300 Lake information report:Phalen] "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources"]
depth = convert|24|ft|m|0 [ [http://www.rwmwd.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={16D39EB3-FF4E-4B6C-B989-FBA30CFE8CFD}&DE= Lake Phalen (62-0013) ] "Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District"]
max-depth = convert|91|ft|m|0
volume =
residence_time =
shore = convert|3|mi|km|0
elevation = convert|860|ft|m|0 [ [http://www.fishingworks.com/lakes/minnesota/ramsey/saint-paul-east/lake-phalen/ Lake Phalen Fishing in Ramsey County, Minnesota] "Fishing Works"]
islands =
frozen =

Lake Phalen is an urban lake located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It is one of the largest lakes in Saint Paul and is the centerpiece of the Phalen Regional Park System. [ [http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/fishing/downtown/phalen.html Lake Phalen] "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources"] The lake drains into the Mississippi River after traveling through Phalen Creek. The lake and surrounding convert|494|acre|km2|sing=on park receive around 500,000 visitors each year. [ [http://www.rwmwd.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={053585A8-052C-4B2A-B70D-EC784B4B062C}&DE= Lake Phalen Shoreland Restoration Project] "Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District"]

Lake

Lake Phalen is one of the Twin Cities most popular fishing lakes. The lake is stocked with walleyes every other year and tiger muskies every three years. The lake also has northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie and sunfish that are able to maintain population levels naturally. [Niskanen, Chris (July 2, 1998), "Lake Phalen has it all, Except Catfish", "Saint Paul Pioneer Press"] The lake has a convert|23|sqmi|km2|sing=on watershed. [ [http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/publications/fwt/1994/Fishmana.pdf The search for better fishing] "Minnesota Department of Natural Resources"] The lake is also home to an unusual fish. The rainbow darter was first found in 1996 by workers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The fish normally lives in fast moving streams. The fish is only found in six to eight other streams in Minnesota. [Debevec, Chuck (October 2001), [http://www.nativefish.org/articles/Phalen_Rainbows.php "Little Fish Proves a Big Mystery at Phalen Lake"] "The Riverview Times "] Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive species to Minnesota, was first discovered in the lake in 1997 and continues to grow in the lake.

Boating

The lake has always had sailing and boating. In the 1890s sailing was very popular. In 1919, 880 canoes were stored onshore. Now the Saint Paul Sailing Club has space to moor 50 boats on the lake. [Yuen, Laura (August 31, 2007) "Setting Sail in Saint Paul - Lake Phalen might not have the allure of Lake Calhoun But Shawn Towle Hopes Sailing Will Catch On At The East Side Spot With The Help Of His Club, Which Offers Lessons, Races And Space To Moor Boats", "Saint Paul Pioneer Press"] In addition the lake hosts College rowing competitions on a 1,940-meter course. [Perkins, Matt (April 24, 2006), [http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2006/04/24/68161 "Minnesota wins four of five contests in meet at Lake Phalen"] , "Minnesota Daily"] [Gerhardt, Nick (April 23, 2007), [http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2007/04/23/71657 "Gophers handle Jayhawks on Lake Phalen"] , "Minnesota Daily"] The University of Minnesota holds several meets a year at Lake Phalen. The first competition to be held was in the spring of 2003 after the U of M elavated rowing to a Varsity Sport in 2000. [(April 23, 2003), [http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2003/04/23/38719 "Rowers preparing for weekend home race with UCLA"] , "Minnesota Daily"] In 2006, the Big Ten Championships were held at Lake Phalen. [Perkins, Nick, (May 1, 2006), [http://www.mndaily.com/articles/2006/05/01/68276 "Minnesota is second with three Big Ten titles"] , "Minnesota Daily"]

History

Lake Phalen was named after an early Irish settler of Saint Paul, Edward Phelan. Phelan built a cabin near Phalen Creek in Swede Hollow. Phalen Creek travels from Lake Phalen and drains into the Mississippi River just north of Lambert's Landing. The lake that was drained by the creek became known as Phalen's Lake despite Phelan never living near its shores. [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 213] [Upham, "Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance", 639-640] The Saint Paul Water Company set up a supply plant at Lake Phalen in 1869 and the lake was used as Saint Paul's primary source of water until 1913. [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 155] John Fletcher Williams, a local historian, wrote in 1876 "It is a disgrace, that the name of this brutal murderer has been affixed to one of our most beautiful lakes - one that supplies our households with water." [Johnston, "Minnesota's Irish", 14 ] [Williams, "A History of the City of Saint Paul, and of the County of Ramsey, Minnesota", 146 ] Phalen had been accused of murdering his partner, John Hays in 1839, however another man later confessed to Hays' murder. [cite web| last =Lareau| first = Paul| title = Pig's Eye Notepad| url = http://www.lareau.org/pep-p.html| accessdate =2008-03-31]

Soon after the park was acquired, in 1899, the Saint Paul Board of Park Commissioners attempted to "tame" the lake shore. Emergent vegetation and other plants, such as bulrush, grew all around the lake shore. The lake shore became almost constantly dredged and wetland areas around the lake were filled in to create lawn space. Eventually convert|400000|cuyd|m3|0 of vegetation and sediment was dredged from around the lake shore. In the 1920s, 50 percent of the shoreline was lined with riprap. Beginning in 1906 with a herd of sheep, the lawn space next to the lake was cut right up to the lake shore. [ [http://www.rwmwd.org/vertical/Sites/{AB493DE7-F6CB-4A58-AFE0-56D80D38CD24}/uploads/{D7940154-40DD-452E-80AD-F2E867142FAA}.PDF Background and Histoy of Lake Phalen] "Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District"] As a result of these practices shoreline erosion became a problem. In 2001, the lake began a five year shoreline restoration program. The program converted a majority of the riprap to natural vegetation. The percentage natural vegetation around the lake changed from 28 percent to 74 percent. [ [http://www.rwmwd.org/vertical/Sites/{AB493DE7-F6CB-4A58-AFE0-56D80D38CD24}/uploads/{E453EF72-7984-4A40-90E6-0C1B085CE765}.PDF Five-Year Shoreland Restoration Plan] "Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District"]

Park

The city of Saint Paul acquired the lake and surrounding area in 1899 for $22,000. The area surrounding the lake has been made into a convert|494|acre|km2|sing=on park. [Empson, "The Street Where You Live: A Guide to the Place Names of St. Paul", 214-215] The park has the only swimming lake in Saint Paul. An 18 hole golf course is also located in the park. [http://www.stpaul.gov/depts/parks/userguide/phalen.html Phalen Park] "Saint Paul Parks and Recreation"]

Phalen Creek

Phalen Creek drains the lake and flows into the Mississippi River. Near the turn of the 20th century most of the creek was covered over and routed through sewers. Since then there have been several attempts to completely uncover it. [Kelly, Sean T. (August 14, 1991), "PHALEN CREEK 'S REBIRTH POSSIBLE THROUGH PROJECT", "Saint Paul Pioneer Press"] A portion of the lower creek is uncovered and runs along the Bruce Vento Regional Trail. [* [http://www.co.ramsey.mn.us/NR/rdonlyres/1AC490DD-A84A-426C-9A7F-486B5FE0E74B/1684/TrailsHikingBiking.pdf Ramsey County Parks and Recreation: Hiking and Biking Trail Information] ]

Notes

References

*
** Republished as: cite book |author= |title=A history of the city of Saint Paul to 1875 |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |location=St. Paul, MN |year=1983 |pages= |isbn=0-87351-159-X |oclc= |doi=
* ISBN 9780816647293
*