The LPBF has been conducting reconnaissance trips from
Lake Pontchartrain at Slidell through the Rigolets, into Lake Borgne,
into the Mississippi Sound, across the edge of the Chandeleur Sound,
and back through Chef Menteur Pass searching for signs of oil. (See map
below.)
On Friday, July 2nd tar balls were
discovered near Cat Island (25 miles east of The Rigolets Pass).
Strong east winds raised concerns that the oil may be moving closer to
Lake Pontchartrain.
Reconnaissance on Sunday,
July 4th and Monday July 5th confirmed suspicions and tar balls were
found within The Rigolets Pass and the southeastern portion of Lake
Pontchartrain near Treasure Island and eventually at Carr Drive. Small
tar balls were located in a line just west of the CSX railroad bridge.
Sheen could be seen in the area of tar balls.
The
oil was very light and does not pose severe ecologic risk but must be
monitored closely. This is the closest the oil has come to the lake.
Fortunately, the winds have shifted from the west and the water levels
have receded so no more oil is getting into the lake at this time.
LPBF is working closely with the
Response Team which includes officials from St. Tammany and Orleans
Parishes. The Response Team is employing boom, cleanup vessels, barges
at the Passes, and other strategies to keep the oil out of the lake.
They cleaned up the tar balls and are continuing to monitor the lake.
The
movement of the oil seems to confirm modeling conducted be UNO which
indicated that with a sustained east wind oil could move quickly toward
Lake Pontchartrain. LPBF will continue to monitor oil movement and
provide reports.
The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation is entrusted by the
public to protect and restore the habitats and water of the
Pontchartrain Basin. We have performed this service for over 20
years by consistently applying basic science to monitor the health of
the watershed. The introduction of spilled oil and the spill response now requires
that LPBF monitor a new threat.
We have developed the LPBF Oil Spill Monitoring Plan, a long-term
program that will track impacts to the environment and inform
restoration activities. This program includes sampling and analysis of
water, sediment, and biological indicators (includes fish and shell
fish). Please help us fund this critical monitoring program by donating now.
LPBF will continue to
monitor oil movement and provide reports on our website at
www.saveourlake.org.
