Tangipahoa River Tracking

The LPBF began the Sub-Basin Pollution Source Tracking Program in January 2002. The Sub-Basin Program utilizes a multi-faceted approach to track down and correct sources of fecal pollution. Activities of the program include intensive water quality monitoring, inspection of and assistance to wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), and analysis of data through the LPBF’s Geographic Information Science (GIS) Program, all covered under an EPA-approved Quality Assurance Project Plan. The Sub-Basin Program was funded by an Environmental Protection Agency grant that targeted the Tangipahoa River and Natalbany Watersheds from May 2006 to April 2010.

Tangipahoa River Water Quality Report: 3/17/2010

# Site Fecal Coliform (MPN) 1 Lee's Landing 50 2 Hwy 22 50 3 Carpenter's Landing 23 4 Hwy 443 30 5 Hwy 442 50 6 Hwy 40 50 7 Hwy 16 23 8 Hwy 10 50 9 Hwy 440 30 10 Hwy 38 50

Tangipahoa & Natalbany Watersheds

The 29 sites established for water quality monitoring were divided into sites on the Tangipahoa River (10 sites), sites on the tributaries (10 sites), and 9 in the Natalbany Watershed. The sites were monitored bi-weekly for the water quality parameters of fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, pH, and turbidity.

Analysis of this early data is being used to characterize the watershed and pin-point locations for LPBF to assist owners/operators of wastewater treatment plants and dairies in an effort to reduce fecal pollution counts within the watershed and the Tangipahoa River itself. The LPBF will continue to collect water quality data in the Tangipahoa Watershed and anticipates working in the watershed for the next 2-3 years. The ultimate goal is to reduce fecal pollution loading in the river to make it meet the Clean Water Act’s “swimmable” criteria and get the waterbody removed from the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s 303(d) Impaired Waterbodies List. 

LPBF is beginning a new Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality grant for this program.  More information will be posted as it becomes available.