Davis Pond opened to full capacity to combat oil spill

The Davis Pond diversion was opened to full capacity last week in an attempt to minimize the impact of oil on the marshes and estuaries in the northern Barataria Basin, but there is still no plan to open the Bonnet Carre Spillway.

Spillway operations manager Chris Brantley said that water just began coming over the lower bays of the spillway on Tuesday.

“If we did open it now, it would make an impact on the spillway and the water would reach Lake Pontchartrain,” Brantley said. “But I don’t know how much of an impact that would have.”

The Davis Pond Diversion was opened to 4,000 cubic feet per second on April 30 and flow was increased to 7,500 cubic feet per second on May 7.

When oil began to spread west of the Mississippi River, the diversion was opened to full capacity (10,650 cubic feet per second) on May 10.

“Oil has made its way west of the Mississippi River and we are using every tool we have available to try and protect our coastal resources,” said Garret Graves, chairman of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. “The Barataria Basin is a maze of marshy islands, grass beds, bayous, ponds and lakes. It will be nearly impossible for us to clean the oil out of these areas for years if it gets in there.”

In addition to the Davis Pond Diversion, three diversions in Plaquemines Parish and two in St. Bernard Parish have also been opened. That brought the total flow to 22,050 cubic feet – or nearly 165,000 gallons every second.

While the diversions are expected to keep some of the oil out of the coastal marshes, they could have some unintended consequences. Fresh water could throw off the salinity levels along the coast, affecting fisheries and estuaries. The alternative, though, is considered far worse.

“Louisiana’s coastal fisheries, communities and wetlands have been challenged by four major hurricanes in the last five years. This latest challenge from the oil spill has the potential to adversely impact our unique culture for several years,” Graves said. “Hundreds of thousands of recreational and commercial fishermen and families could be affected.”

Officials will continue to closely monitor coastal conditions and will assess any potential damage to wetlands as impacts are reported.

 

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