If you’ve ever visited us here in Slidell, there’s no doubt that you remember Lake Pontchartrain, the 630 square mile expanse of water that separates the Northshore and New Orleans.

Earlier this week, it was discovered that tar balls have reached Pontchartrain waters.  So far, a few thousand pounds of tar have been skimmed out of the waters.  Oil slicks have reached an area of the lake four miles away from the I-10 bridge.  For those of you who do not know the area, the I-10 bridge is a 5-mile bridge that links New Orleans to the North Shore area.  The bridge is close to the opening of Lake Pontchartrain and once the oil moves past it, the remaining majority of lake water will be affected by the oil.  The news that this lake has now been contaminated has hit the hearts of many Louisiana residents.

For twenty years, Lake Pontchartrain has been in a long and arduous fight to regain its abundance and health.  In 1990, growing pollution drove much of the wildlife away from the Lake, and ruined commercial fishing and recreational activities in its waters.  However, officials began taking measures to clean up the lake, which soon began to thrive again. However, the clean-up process was soon stifled when contaminated flood waters caused by Katrina were poured into the lake by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Now, the clean-up of the lake is facing a new and larger battle as the oil spreads further into the area.  The consequences of the tar balls and oil that has moved and will continue to flow into the Lake, and how this will affect local residents will soon be realized.

Please continue to pray for this region as the environment and the economy continue to take a hit.  Pray that the Lord would use this circumstance to bring Himself glory and bring his people comfort.

For more information check out these articles: Oil in Lake Pontchartrain Threatens Commercial Fishing and Tar Balls Moving Through Rigolets

– Suzanne Mauhar