Flood waters pumped into Lake Ponch and then what? Some ???s

[Terry]

Can someone explain to me or tell me where to find information on the possible impact of the flood waters on Lake Ponch. and then the possible impacts as it flows out of there?

With the slowness of the pumping, will it all be diluted enough to not cause serious problems? Or are we likely to see a major mess in the GOM?

[x-y-no]

This is just an off-the-cuff judgement, not based in hard data, but ...

It seems to me we're looking at pretty good mixing through tidal flow once one gets out of the lake into the Gulf. My main areas of concern from the point of view of environmental impact would be toxic material settling on the lake bottom in the vicinity of the city, and also of course the massive deposits of toxic sludge throughout the flooded city itself.

[Cookiely]

Don't tell me they are not going to dispose of this toxic mess properly but just pump it into the GOM.

[x-y-no]

Don't tell me they are not going to dispose of this toxic mess properly but just pump it into the GOM.

Don't think there's a whole heck of a lot of choice, to tell the truth.

I don't like it either, but what's the alternative?

[Windy]

Concur with you x-y-no. EPA has already said that the entire GNP would not be enough money to properly clean this mess up. Our GNP last year was ~11 trillion dollars.

[LSU2001]

I watched an interview with the head of the Lake Ponchatrain Foundation. This is and has been for years the driving force behind clean up efforts in Lake Ponchatrain. She said that there was no choice but to drain the water into the lake and Miss. River. She said that "The lake will recover but the priority is to empty the city as soon as humanly possible." I agree that the lake will recover and that the priority should be emptying the city. I am a biology teacher and have worked with various programs to help save wetlands etc. and I personally believe that the ecosystem is a secondary concern at this time.

Another thought is that when the spring rise happens on the Mississippi the Bonne Carre (sp) spillway could be opened to help flush out the lake. A couple of years ago the spillway was opened and even though the environmentalists were going crazy the long term effects were very positive for the lake. I think that rabid environmentalism is a luxury of more stable times.
JMHO
TIm

[tndefender]

I watched an interview with the head of the Lake Ponchatrain Foundation. This is and has been for years the driving force behind clean up efforts in Lake Ponchatrain. She said that there was no choice but to drain the water into the lake and Miss. River. She said that "The lake will recover but the priority is to empty the city as soon as humanly possible." I agree that the lake will recover and that the priority should be emptying the city. I am a biology teacher and have worked with various programs to help save wetlands etc. and I personally believe that the ecosystem is a secondary concern at this time.

Another thought is that when the spring rise happens on the Mississippi the Bonne Carre (sp) spillway could be opened to help flush out the lake. A couple of years ago the spillway was opened and even though the environmentalists were going crazy the long term effects were very positive for the lake. I think that rabid environmentalism is a luxury of more stable times.
JMHO
TIm

Please define "environmentalist."

[LSU2001]

I said rabid environmentalists, I define that as someone who places the environment ahead of any repeat any human concerns. We have had greenpeace shutting down interstate hwys, Plugging water intakes of chemical plants, driving iron spikes into timber to cause damage and death at saw mills, we have had peta harassing hunters and fishermen, We have had breakins by peta at LSU labs where research on infectious disease was being conducted. I call these types of activities RABID ENVRIONMENTALISM I am a conservationist, I believe that we can find ways to live WITH our environment. I further believe that we have a duty to protect our habitats, and ecosystems but I do not place concern for these above human life and human concerns. I hope that is a good enough definition.
TIm

Ps. not looking for a fight just stating my views.

Also "feel good" positions not backed by science serve no practical purpose. The very ones trying to stop the spillway opening are now talking about how GOOD it was for the lake. That needed nutrients were brought in. Their initial view was not based on science but on feeling.

[x-y-no]

Please define "environmentalist."

Well, I consider myself a lifetime environmentalist. At various times, I've been an active member of Greenpeace, the Sierra Club, Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy.

That said, as with any issue-oriented movement, there's always a significant segment who cannot accept any compromise and can see no priority outside of their issue. In my experience, that's a minority, even a relatively small minority, but unfortunately a very visible minority.

[Terry]

Thanks for the information so far. Opening that spillway during the Spring rise sounds helpful. May be a large rain event would also help, even if it would slow the pumping.

There are so many consequences of Katrina that we have yet to learn about.

[LSU2001]

I agree X-Y-NO, It was specifically this vocal minority that I was referring to. I too support a variety of environmental issues. So I guess I was wrong to lump all the rabid folks into one mold. I did not mean to offend, I simply used my common name for those types. I love the outdoors and have and will continue to work for the preservation of our environment. I only like to see things done based on science and practicallity rather than feelings.
Tim

[x-y-no]

I agree X-Y-NO, It was specifically this vocal minority that I was referring to. I too support a variety of environmental issues. So I guess I was wrong to lump all the rabid folks into one mold. I did not mean to offend, I simply used my common name for those types. I love the outdoors and have and will continue to work for the preservation of our environment. I only like to see things done based on science and practicallity rather than feelings.
Tim

No offense taken. I'm well aware of the problem ... in fact the reason I quit Greenpeace way back in 1981 was because much as I supported the basic cause, I had come to the conclusion that the extremists were running that show and would continue to do so.

[Persepone]

There actually is a company called, I believe, "Safe Harbors" (or a similar name) out of Massachusetts that went down there with equipment and personnel to work with the environmental cleanup and the pumping into the lake, etc. There are apparently ways to do this that will be less of a damage to the environment...

However, when they got down there with their boats they were confronted by so many people on rooftops, balconies, etc. that apparently they got sidetracked into saving people rather than worrying about the environmental cleanup issues. (They were in there like Tuesday/Wednesday time frame.)

Now that others are performing "rescue" missions, they are probably back trying to do something about the environmental issues...

[Terry]

Thanks, Persepone. If you get the exact name of that group, please let us know.

Glad to know this group, like so many others, stopped their intended tasks to rescue people.