Vol. 3 Special Issue | April 21,2008

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SPILLWAY WATER REACHES JEFFERSON LAKEFRONT
Potential for more critters on bike path.

Lakemap

With the opening of the Bonnet Carre’ spillway, Mississippi River water has been pouring into Lake Pontchartrain Basin at the rate well over 150,000 cfs.  This equates to about a Superdome of water
flowing through the spillway every 15 minutes.  The River water has been pushing through the spillway for over a week. 

Monitoring indicates that the river water has reached Laketown in Kenner and is nearing the Bonnabel
Boat launch in Metairie.   “Salinities are near zero at Laketown and half of what they were last week at Bonnabel,” said Carlton Dufrechou with the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation.  See 4/15 data below.

Salinity (parts per thousand)

 

3/4/08

3/11/08

3/18/08

3/25/08

4/1/08

4/8/08

4/15/08

Laketown

6.1

5.9

 

5.2

5.2

4.7

0.2

Bonnabel

5.1

5.4

 

5

4.9

4.4

1.9

Old Beach

5.6

5.4

 

5

4.9

4.5

3.5

Pontchartrain Bch

5

5.4

 

5

4.8

4.4

3.9

Tchefuncte

4

0.4

 

1.4

3.2

1.2

2

Castine

5.3

5.2

5.3

4.5

5.3

2.9

3.4

Fontainebleau

6

5.5

4.9

4.8

5.1

4.5

3.1

Northshore Bch

 

3.8

 

4.8

3.1

4.1

3.7

The brown river water is expected to continue moving east along the south shore and begin to move north.  Clarity of the lake will progressively decrease.  The large flows are likely displacing many critters from the spillway into the lake.  Individuals using the Jefferson lakefront bike path should be cautious for additional snakes and possible a few stray alligators near the shoreline.  Boaters should also exercise caution for floating debris.

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