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It's kind of like taking the restrictor plate out of a car engine. "In part, that's because of an unprecedented event in the lake this summer: The Bonnet Carre Spillway was open for the longest time ever, a total of 123 days during two separate openings in 2019, pouring huge amounts of Mississippi River water into the lake.Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Since June, the foundation collected about 60 water samples from Lake Pontchartrain. Algae blooms can contain cyanobacteria, which produce a neurotoxin that can be harmful to humans and other animals.The EPA set criteria in May for blue-green algae levels. This combined with waves, wind, etc can be extremely fatiguing. The sandy beaches are currently closed to swimmers while the site undergoes renovations.When swimming season is over or when a beach's water quality data has not been updated frequently enough (weekly) it goes into historical status. There isn’t a magic bubble as far as swimming where you can mitigate all your risk. "This year, donors have helped to fund urgent monitoring of beach closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, expand our support for volunteer water quality monitoring, and create groundbreaking data sharing resources for scientists. "Safety is an interesting question," said Skaggs. The state health department says cyanobacteria levels in Lake Pontchartrain are now low enough that people can go swimming again. Join the Swim Guide community today.Pontchartrain Beach is sampled weekly from January 1st to December 31st.Practicing social distancing is essential right now. Lake Pontchartrain algae levels are deemed safe for swimming, but officials still urge caution If your community has asked that you remain indoors and away from others, do so. I.e.
Shortly after the Health Department published the updated advisory, the St. Tammany Fishing Pier announced it would reopen on Saturday.Wave-like layers of algae that could be made up of toxin-containing cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, lie just off the northern coast of Lake Pontchartrain on Sunday (March 25).The foundation is newly dealing with how to advise the public on algae.Biyi Lau, 12, fishes along the shore of the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront in New Orleans, La., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.But due to Lake Pontchartrain's size, it can be difficult to collect samples that reflect what's happening throughout its waters. The state health department says cyanobacteria levels in the lake are now low enough that people can go swimming again. Someone on shore, someone on a paddleboard, an emergency float etc. With Lake Pontchartrain’s water quality so greatly improved everyone is encouraged to enjoy our Lake in all of its recreational forms. Heading to the beach should only be considered an option if social distancing practices can be followed. Safe Swimming in the Basin. Lake Pontchartrain is open for swimming, fishing, boating, and other recreation. Spending a day in any crowded place is the worst thing we can do for our most vulnerable right now and will counter the efforts to curb the virus’ spread.Located behind the UNO Research and Technology Park in New Orleans, this is the site of the historic amusement park of the same name. All of them were within the EPA's limits for algae, and none had evidence of toxins present.As the weather cools, bacteria levels in the lake should drop. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization consisting of a 14-member board of directors representing Basin parishes and regulatory agencies. The LPBF samples the lake’s water in 12 locations every week and posts results online , along with safety … ""What we are advising is not to go swimming where you see visible algae or where there may be algae present," Skaggs said. We depend on financial support from individuals and organizations to restore and protect access to water for all people. Source Information.
I certainly wouldn’t steer it into visible algae," he said.Glenda McKinley, left and her two nephews, Adonis Robinson, middle, and Alexander Zeigler, sit along Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans in late August, 2019.Knowing where to swim or fish safely in Louisiana just became a bit easier.But what "safe" means, exactly, isn't cut and dried, said Brady Skaggs, water quality program director at the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation.Biyi Lau, 12, fishes along the shore of the Lake Pontchartrain lakefront in New Orleans, La., Friday, Aug. 30, 2019.