Algae on lake after spillway opened

Algae blooms were spotted on the north and south shores of Lake Ponchartrain on April 9, seven days after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CoE) opened 70 of 350 bays of the Bonnet Carre’ Spillway. "The presence of algal blooms fits a pattern that we’ve observed with past openings of the Bonnet Carré Spillway as water from the Mississippi River begins to move through Lake Pontchartrain," said Kristi Trail, executive director of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation. The CoE has not determined that the blooms are related to the spillway opening. Spokesperson Rene Poche said: “(W)e cannot say how much influence the operation of the Bonnet Carré Spillway has on the algae blooms in Lake Pontchartrain" because “algal blooms typically occur this time of year as water temperatures increase.” The CoE will continue to collect data and samples from the lake before making a determination. (Source: NOLA.com 04/09/20) https://www.nola.com/news/environment/article_dca7f1ca-7ac1-11ea-9ac8-ebaa797c7edd.html