Sampling Sites

In 2001, ten historic recreation sites along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain were chosen as our weekly sampling sites to measure water quality in an effort to remove existing advisories and draw people back to the lake. As of 2006, Lake Pontchartrain was removed from the Louisiana DEQ Impaired Water Bodies.

Rain and stormwater runoff effects water quality. Please check our weekly testing results for these sites prior to swimming. (Map and testing results here.)

Sampling Sites

1. Laketown At the end of Williams Blvd. in Kenner, Laketown is a park and boat launch adjacent to the Treasure Chest Casino.
2. Bonnabel Boat Launch This well-known boat launch and fishing pier in Metairie is located at the end of Bonnabel Blvd and is surrounded by a linear park.
3. Old Beach This historic seawall area occurs where Bayou St. John meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans
4. Pontchartrain Beach Located behind the UNO Research and Technology Park in New Orleans, this is the site of the historic amusement park of the same name and still has a sandy beach for swimming. As of October 18, 2011 the east side parking lot is open to the public from dawn to dusk daily.
5. Bayou St. John The site is located at Robert E. Lee Blvd. The historical bayou drained from the Mississippi River to Lake Pontchartrain. The remaining waterways are utilized for aesthetics and recreation.
6. Bogue Falaya In Covington, the adjacent park accesses this tributary of the Tchefuncte River, used for tubing and swimming.
7. Tchefuncte River One of the major contributing rivers of Lake Pontchartrain, this river and its tributaries drain much of St. Tammany Parish. The mouth of the river is tested at a popular boat launch in Madisonville.
8. Bayou Castine In the heart of Old Mandeville, this bayou is one of the most likely to feel the effects of the current north shore expansion. It has a fishing pier and borders Fontainebleau State Park.
9. Fontainebleau Beach Located in Fontainebleau State Park in Mandeville, this is one of the most beautiful beaches on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain. It is accessible all year long through the park and is designated swimmable
10. Northshore Beach This is a small beach located in Slidell that is utilized for swimming, wind sailing, fishing, and other aquatic activities by the local population.

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

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.