Lake Phalen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Phalen Lake |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Phalen Lake
Location in Minnesota
Phalen Lake
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | St. Paul / Maplewood, Minnesota, United States |
| Coordinates | 44°59′N 93°03′W / 44.983°N 93.050°W |
| Primary outflows | Phalen Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 198 acres (0.80 km2) |
| Average depth | 24 feet (7 m) |
| Max. depth | 91 feet (28 m) |
| Shore length1 | 3 miles (5 km) |
| Surface elevation | 860 feet (262 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Lake Phalen is a cool urban lake found in Saint Paul, Minnesota and nearby Maplewood. It's one of the biggest lakes in Saint Paul and the main attraction of the Phalen Regional Park. Water from the lake flows into the Mississippi River through a stream called Phalen Creek. About half a million people visit the lake and its huge park (about 494-acre (2.00 km2)) every year!
| Top - 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z |
Discover Lake Phalen: Fish and Fun!
Lake Phalen is a super popular spot for fishing in the Twin Cities. The lake gets new walleyes every two years and tiger muskies every three years. Other fish like northern pike, largemouth bass, crappie, and sunfish live here naturally. The area that drains into the lake, called its watershed, is about 23-square-mile (60 km2).
The lake is also home to a special fish called the rainbow darter. This fish was first found here in 1996 by workers from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Rainbow darters usually live in fast-moving streams. They are only found in a few other streams in Minnesota, making them quite rare!
Unfortunately, an invasive species called Eurasian watermilfoil was found in the lake in 1997. This plant is not native to Minnesota and continues to grow in the lake.
Boating and Sailing on Lake Phalen
People have always loved sailing and boating on Lake Phalen. Back in the 1890s, sailing was very popular. In 1919, there were 880 canoes stored right on the shore!
Today, the Saint Paul Sailing Club has room for 50 boats on the lake. Lake Phalen also hosts college rowing races on a 1,940-meter course. The University of Minnesota often holds rowing events here. The first competition was in the spring of 2003, after the university made rowing a varsity sport in 2000. In 2006, the Big Ten Championships were even held at Lake Phalen!
You can use electric trolling motors on the lake, but gas-powered motors are not allowed.
Lake Phalen's Past: A Look at its History
.jpg)
Lake Phalen is named after Edward Phelan, an early Irish settler in Saint Paul. Phelan built a cabin near Phalen Creek in an area called Swede Hollow. Phalen Creek flows from Lake Phalen and empties into the Mississippi River. Even though Phelan never lived right by the lake, it became known as Phalen's Lake.
The Saint Paul Water Company started using Lake Phalen as a water source in 1869. It was the main water supply for Saint Paul until 1913.
Changing the Shoreline: From Wild to Tamed
When the city bought the park in 1899, they tried to "tame" the lake's shoreline. Plants like bulrush grew all around the edges. Workers constantly dredged the lake and filled in wet areas to create grassy lawns. About 400,000 cubic yards (305,822 m3) of plants and mud were removed from the shoreline.
By the 1920s, half of the shoreline was lined with riprap, which are rocks used to prevent erosion. To keep the lawns neat, sheep were even used to cut the grass right up to the water's edge starting in 1906. These practices caused problems with the shoreline eroding.
In 2001, a five-year project began to restore the shoreline. Most of the rock lining was replaced with natural plants. This changed the percentage of natural vegetation around the lake from 28 percent to 74 percent.
Phalen Park: More Than Just a Lake
The city of Saint Paul bought Lake Phalen and the land around it in 1899 for $22,000. This area has been turned into a large park that is about 494-acre (2.00 km2).
Phalen Park has the only swimming lake in Saint Paul! There's also an 18-hole golf course in the park. A special Chinese garden is being built here, thanks to Saint Paul's sister city, Changsha, China. Phalen Park is like a sister to Changsha's Yanghu Wetland's Park. As a gift, a replica of a pavilion from their park is being sent to Saint Paul. In return, Saint Paul is sending five Peanuts statues to Changsha.
Along the west side of the lake, you can find a monument built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. This monument celebrates their hard work in improving the park.
Phalen Creek: A Hidden Stream
Phalen Creek is the stream that drains Lake Phalen and flows into the Mississippi River. Around the early 1900s, most of the creek was covered up and sent through underground sewers. Since then, people have tried several times to uncover it completely. A part of the lower creek is now uncovered and runs along the Bruce Vento Regional Trail.
PLAN: Phalen Lake Association of Neighbors
PLAN stands for the Phalen Lake Association of Neighbors. This group was started in 2009. Their goal is to "Advocate for and preserve the quality of life of neighborhoods around Phalen lake."
The organization is made up of people who live near Lake Phalen. PLAN doesn't get money from the government or private groups. All the people who help run it volunteer their time. PLAN also has an online calendar that lists events and activities focused on the lake.
