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11/30/2023
WT Staff
AFTER THE CLOSE THURSDAY
Heavy rain coming tonight
Widespread HAB takes over Lake Pontchartrain
Thursday, November 30, 2023 - last updated 1056 am CST
HABs Report from National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) satellite monitoring program
A new image captured Wednesday, November 29 provides a surprise development over the previous 24 hours, a HAB explosion in Lake Pontchartrain such as we have not seen since September, widespread HAB filling the interior of the water body at an increasing concentration, appearing 200 thousand cells per 100 ml.
Lac des Allemands and Bayou Fortier show lakewide HAB activity at the high concentration of 800 to 900 thousand cells per 100 ml with widespread HAB all the way down Baie Des Deux Chenes and Bayou des Allemands into Lake Salvador matching the color scale for a high concentration, 600 to 700 thousand cells per 100 ml. Lake Verret and Lake Palourde HABs rage on at similar appearance as last image, the high concentration HAB filling Lake Verret at 900 thousand to 1 million cells per 100 ml, the highest concentration at the south shore. The north shoreline has a clear spot on the west side and on the east side, a high concentration HAB now touches north shore. Lake Palourde HAB remains widespread or lakewide at a bit cooler concentration, 500 thousand cells per 100 ml.
Bluegreen location tags on our map give the interpretation of the last clear image available.
Drought Situation from USGS 7-day average streamflows
A forecast of heavy rain for New Orleans tonight is a welcome development for a dry and thirsty Louisiana.
Thursday the drought map glows with three areas of extreme drought, two of which have popped up overnight. Saline Bayou Channel in Region 1 and Tensas River channel and east to the Mississippi River in Region 3 have morphed into extreme hydrologic drought footing once again, joining the Tangipahoa River channel in Region 7.
A large area of Region 2 has been claimed on the drought map, rated below normal Thursday. The area in Region 2 includes Grant, Lasalle and Rapides Parishes. Drought rating applies uninterrupted from the north state line down to the Gulf Coast. Below normal area begins in watershed Region 3 Union and west Morehouse Parish and carries on down to Concordia, Catahoula and Avoyelles, turning into moderate hydrologic drought in Region 5 from Avoyelles down through St Landry, St Martin and Iberia Parishes.
By Thursday, the same three USGS streamflow gages are still indicating record low flows. Tangipahoa River is flowing low at Robert, Tensas River is low again at Tendal, Saline Bayou is flowing low near Lucky in watershed Region 1.
WaterToday reports day-to-day changes recorded by USGS streamflow monitors on rivers and tributaries located in Louisiana, along with monitors upstream in the Mississippi River basin: Ohio, Georgia and southwest New York state. USGS creates a drought map from 7-day average streamflow readings, by comparing the average with the historic weekly normal flow value for each location. The drought ratings are below normal, moderate hydrologic drought, severe drought and extreme drought.
Hazardous Spills emergency and non-emergency incidents reported to Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality
The US Coast Guard, Main Pass Oil Gathering Company, LLC and the Louisiana Oil Spill Coordinator's Office have established a Unified Command in response to a crude oil release in the Gulf of Mexico near the Main Pass Oil Gathering (MPOG) company's pipeline system close to Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans. An estimated 1.1 million gallons of crude oil discharged into the Gulf of Mexico on or around November 17.
The Unified Command coordinates the efforts of "federal, state and local agencies to ensure the safety of the public, protection of the environment and response to the incident. The Coast Guard continues to oversee coordinated efforts to mitigate impacts from the spill."
The latest news from Unified Command press briefing Nov 28, "The Unified Command continues to monitor and respond to an oil discharge near the Main Pass Oil Gathering (MPOG) company's pipeline system, known as the MPOG 11015 incident, near Plaquemines Parish, southeast of New Orleans. The cause and source of the incident remain under investigation. Overflights conducted November 20 to date have observed no new oil from the suspected release. Recent wildlife and shoreline assessments identified no wildlife or shoreline impacts. Remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and divers are continuing to survey multiple pipelines in the area. More than 39.5 miles of the main pipeline have been inspected, with no damages or indications of a leak identified. ROVs have also inspected more than 6 miles of surrounding pipelines, also with no damages or indications of a leak identified.
The next scheduled news release will be issued Tuesday, December 5. More to follow.
A deliberate discharge of raw sewage is reported impacting Manchac Plantation Lake off Old Perkins Rd in Prairieville - Ascension Parish, watershed Region 5.
Boil Water Advisories:
Jeff Davis Water Commission 1 BWA remains in effect for Hayes, all customers in Hayes are included.
Southwest Allen Parish Water District II BWA for Kinder applies again today for all water customers connecting along Hwy 383 from Amos Bluff in Indian Village to Hecker.
Monterey residents remain on BWA after a water service disruption on the weekend.
Refer to yellow tags on the map for more BWAs in effect in the state of Louisiana. Also see the latest EPA Safe Drinking Water Act list of Serious Violators under the SDWA button to the right of the map.
Note about hazardous spill incident reporting, from LDEQ: Information contained in the Field Interview form is the preliminary observation of the inspector. This should not be construed as a final determination of LDEQ, its officers or personnel as to any matter, including compliance or non-compliance with statutes, regulations and permits.
Each day of non-compliance is considered a separate violation of the Louisiana Environmental Quality Act.
See the pink tags on the map with the watershed layer turned on, showing the potential impact zone of hazardous spills in the environment. Refer to the Spills button on the right of the map for more incident reports filed this year.
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