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IN THIS ISSUE
19th Annual Back to the Beach Festival ~Algae Blooms in Lake Pontchartrain
New Canal Lighthouse ~ 5th Annual Ashley Marie Kelly Swim Safety Program
~ Education Dept. News ~
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19th Annual Back to the Beach Festival

The Back to the Beach Festival is excited to kick off the summer on Friday, May 30th (6:00 - Midnight), Saturday, May 31st (5:00 PM – Midnight) & Sunday, June 1st (10:00 AM – 9:00 PM). The Festival will be held on Lake Pontchartrain in Laketown (end of Williams Blvd. in Kenner). For a complete band line
up click here! 

The festival offers the best of New Orleans bands, arts & crafts, fabulous food and fun for the whole
family!  Admission is $8 for adults, $4 for children under 12. Free parking is available in the Pontchartrain Center and shuttle service will be provided by the Treasure Chest Casino.  Festival goers are encouraged
to bring lawn chairs. However, tents, coolers and pets are not allowed.

Partnering again with the New Orleans Track Club (NOTC), the Festival’s 4th Annual Back to the Beach Run/Walk is Friday, May 30th.  The sunset ½ mile and 2 mile run/walk begins at 7:00 PM. Participants receive entrance into the Festival and refreshments.  Registration is $20 by May 24th and $25 after May 24th thru day of race.  To register call NOTC at (504) 467-8626 or visit www.runNOTC.org.

The much-anticipated 6th Annual Back to the Beach Car Show is Sunday, June 1st. Registration starts at 8:00 AM until noon. The show features street rods, custom cars, racecars, bikes, jr. dragsters, bicycles
and antiques. Pre-registration fee is $20 per car until May 28th and $25 on the day of the show. For information, call Walter or Pam Larter at (504) 452-8618.

For more information on the Back to the Beach Festival, please click here.

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Algae Blooms in Lake Pontchartrain

The volume of Mississippi River water entering Lake Pontchartrain while the Bonnet Carre’ spillway was open this spring was almost enough to completely displace the lake’s water.  The river water is laden with sediments and nutrients.  Initially, the sediments decreased water clarity and gave the lake a chocolate appearance.  The sediments are beginning to settle out and water clarity is improving.  Water temperatures are increasing.  These conditions plus high levels of nutrients can induce algae blooms.

Algae was first observed on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain on May 16.  Since then, it has been sighted on the northwest corner of Lake Maurepas (above left), at the mouth of the Tchefuncte River
(above center), and along the Mandeville shoreline (above right).  The algae in Lake Maurepas and at the mouth of the Tchefuncte has been identified as the bluegreen, Anabaena.  Along the Mandeville shoreline, the seagrasses are covered with the filamentous, Cladophore.

The LPBF is trying to track the extent of algae blooms.  If you see algae, please call us at (504) 836-2215 and let us know the location and date of your observation.

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New Canal Lighthouse



We have made much progress at the New Canal Lighthouse site.  We are currently renovating the
cinder block building for use as a multi-purpose meeting/education center. We anticipate its completion
this summer. We are working hard to raise the rest of the funds necessary to complete the reconstruction.  Please make a donation to help us rebuild the New Canal Lighthouse. For more information please
visit www.saveourlake.org or call (504)836-2215.
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Free WSI and Swim Lessons Offered

The 5th Ashley Marie Kelly Swim Safety Program is a weeklong swimming instruction program
held by LPBF in partnership with the Ashley Marie Kelly Foundation, Southeast Louisiana Red Cross and Tulane University Reily Center. Swim safety instruction, caring for our Basin, and free Red Cross
swimming lessons will be offered. This year there will be 2 programs:

• FREE Water Safety Instructor Lessons starting July 28th (value of $250).  Participants must be a good swimmer and 16 years old or older and willing to assist in teaching the swimming lessons.
  
• FREE swimming lessons to anyone 5 or older starting August 4th.

Call LPBF at 836-2238 for more details.
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Upcoming Events!

19th Annual Back to the Beach Patron Party – June 21st
19th Annual Beach Sweep – September 20th

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Education Department News

Civic, business or school groups interested in having an LPBF speaker come out to talk about important coastal issues please call 836-2238. Our “RING THE RIDGES” presentation discusses how our region
can be made safe from future storms and sustainable for the future. Click here for more information.
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