How will clean up and reconstruction of the city impact Lake Pontchartrain, the River, and the Gulf?
We don’t know yet how cleanup and reconstruction will impact the Lake, River, and Gulf but we are putting a priority on working with our state and Federal partners to: 1) collect data (water quality and sediment), 2) take proactive mitigation measures (such as booms and aeration devices); and 3) take additional measures based on new data and adaptive management. We are working with Louisiana DEQ, Army Corps, and USGS to monitor water quality before and after floodwaters are discharged into Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River. We are also working with our partners to monitor potential effects on the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. EPA is sensitive to potential downstream effects on waters, coastal wetlands, and fisheries and will strive to be proactive as decisions are made regarding cleanup and reconstruction. Potential stressors include pathogens, nutrients, chemicals, and sediments.
