Water Quality

Weekly Report

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation began EPA approved intensive water quality monitoring in August 2000, in an effort to educate the public about water quality and to lend evidence for the retraction of swimming advisories along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. As of 2006, Lake Pontchartrain was removed from Louisiana DEQ's Impaired Water Bodies list except for a sliver along the south shore which is still under review.

Ten historically recreational sites are sampled on a weekly basis and another ten sites of interest are sampled on a monthly basis. Several water quality parameters, including fecal coliform bacteria levels, are tested. (Fecal coliform levels below 200 indicate the water is safe for swimming.) The weekly sites are tested every Tuesday morning for data to be disseminated on Fridays (due to bacteria analysis- a process that takes 48 hours). Please be aware that rainfall causes spikes in bacteria counts. You can find more information on the site locations here.

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This Week’s Numbers

Please note that Lincoln Beach is inaccessible
and Bayou St. John has replaced it for the time being.

This report is based on conditions found on the sampling day (3/16/10) only.
 

 

Date: 3/16/10

Fecal

Water

Water

Salinity

Disolved

#

Site

Coliform

Temp

Visibility

(ppt)

Oxygen

 

 

(MPN)

(F)

(feet)

 

(mg/L)

1

Laketown

130

63.9

n/a

1.5

9.49

2

Bonnabel Boat Launch

220

61.5

n/a

1.3

9

3

Old Beach

130

62.1

n/a

1.3

8.81

4

Pontchartrain Beach

46

60.6

n/a

1.4

9.09

5

Bayou St. John

46

63.7

n/a

2.1

7.41

6

Bogue Falaya

79

59.9

2.46

0

8.51

7

Tchefuncte River

33

60.8

1.64

0.5

8.5

8

Bayou Castine

33

21.7

.82

1.9

8.29

9

Fontainebleau Beach

79

54.5

.82

1.9

9.63

10

Northshore Beach

49

59.2

1.64

1.7

9.46

.


Rainfall Runoff Warnings

The Lake's water quality is directly related to rainfall runoff.
If it has rained in your area in the past 3 days, the runoff could pollute the Lake.

What Do The Numbers Mean?

The following criteria are based on the
Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality

Check out the Office of Public Health's web page on: Health/Fish Consumption/Advisories for Mercury.

 20 Years of Saving Our Lake and Coast
   
New Canal Lighthouse

The New Canal Lighthouse built in the 1890's was destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. We are working to assure The New Canal Lighthouse's full restoration.

New Canal Lighthouse

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March 8
14th Annual Save Our Lake & Coast Golf Classic

May 15 &16
14th Annual Save Our Lake & Coast Fishing Rodeo

June 4, 5 & 6, 2010
21st Annual Back to the Beach Festival
6th Annual Back to the Beach Run/Walk
2nd Annual Bikes at the Beach

8th Annual Back to the Beach Car Show

June 2010
Back to the Beach Patron Party

September 25, 2010
21st Annual Beach Sweep

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