Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation

Around The Lake Newsletter
Summer 1997 - Volume 8, Number 2

Inside this issue...

Tulane Scientists, Sanctuary Developer and Foundation Work Together to Combat Erosion

Soil disturbance in developing areas is a significant cause of erosion and adversely impacts water quality and habitat viability. It can be attributed to two major sources: commercial and residential development and public works projects such as levees, roads and bridges. At present, all federal and most state contracts include erosion control clauses, but are usually vague. Few if any erosion control measures are instituted by private contractors and developers. In rapidly developing areas such as the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, large amounts of top soil are lost to erosion each year.

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, with a grant from the EPA, is funding a project to evaluate cost effective methods of erosion and sediment control for construction sites in south Louisiana. The project, Erosion and Sedimentation Measurement and Control Study: A Site Specific Study of The Sanctuary, Mandeville, LA, is being conducted by Dr. A. J. Englande of Tulane University. John L. Crosby, Inc., the developer and builder of Mandeville's new environmentally sensitive residential community, The Sanctuary, is working closely and at great time and expense with the Foundation and Dr. Englande.

This study is evaluating the effectiveness of five erosion control techniques and five sedimentation control techniques. Dr. A. J. Englande designed ten sites with two identical plots per site. All plots will be evaluated using the same treatment methods which will allow for a measure of variability and precision of erosion and sedimentation rates. Additional sites serve as controls to determine background levels of erosion and/or sedimentation. John L. Crosby, Inc., with direction from Tulane, constructed the test plots. The installation and application of the five different erosion techniques for soil stabilization meet the Louisiana Soil Conservation Service's guidelines. A Sigma rain gauge has been installed at the Tchefuncte Middle School, adjacent to the Sanctuary subdivision, to record rainfall.

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation would like to thank the developer of the Sanctuary, John L Crosby, Inc., for their tremendous efforts in undertaking this important study. The Sanctuary's 1,170 acres has been designed to co-exist with the natural beauty that encompasses it. Great attention to drainage, setback lines, natural topographic features and the preservation of the trees will greatly reduce the impact on the surrounding environment.

The Foundation and Mr. Crosby plan to participate in a series of workshops for developers to discuss the cost and benefits of sediment reduction techniques. This cooperative effort by the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation, John L. Crosby, Inc., and Tulane University will help to restore the water of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin for this and future generations.