Press Releases

U.S. Congressman Garret Graves' legislation, a bill to reauthorize the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Program (H.R. 1921), passed through the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure today. The bill reauthorizes the Program to continue its work advancing the ecological health of Lake Pontchartrain and surrounding lakes and waterways through restoration projects and community outreach efforts that help preserve the area's abundant resources critical to South Louisiana and the nation.

"The Lake Pontchartrain Basin is one of our state's best assets: a home base for families, businesses, boating, and of course some great fishing. But time after time, the Lake takes the brunt of the high-water drainage that makes its way down to Louisiana from as far as Canada. We have to keep pushing for legislation like this that manages the water that makes it way down the watershed funnel to protect, preserve and promote the health of Lake Pontchartrain and the unique ways of life in our region. This is how we help alleviate the pressure put on the basin and the Bonnet Carre Spillway that are some of the last lines of defense we have in protecting this important ecosystem that takes it on the chin time after time," Graves said.

"Lake Pontchartrain plays a critical role in our state and across the country, acting as both flood protection to the 32 states in the Mississippi River watgarershed and as one of the most productive ecosystems in the U.S.," said CPRA Chairman Chip Kline. "With the steep increase in high water events in recent years, we must take the necessary steps to protect the system that protects us. We fully support this reauthorization and the continued monitoring and management of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin that this reauthorization would provide."

Click here to watch Graves' remarks from the committee markup this morning on the legislation.

"Pontchartrain Conservancy is appreciative of the ongoing support of Representative Graves and his efforts to reauthorize this funding," said Pontchartrain Conservancy Executive Director Kristi Trail. "Our organization works each day to ensure an environmentally sustainable and prosperous region. Although Lake Pontchartrain and its surrounding area continue to face environmental challenges, the Lake and its resources have made a tremendous comeback. Much of this success is due to interested and concerned citizens who want a clean, healthy Lake and Basin for this and future generations, all of which would not be possible without this funding."

The Pontchartrain Conservancy also submitted a letter of support which can be found here, and the Jefferson Parish Department of Ecosystem and Coastal Management submitted letters of support addressed to Chairman Peter DeFazio and Ranking Member Sam Graves. In 2019, Graves invited Trail to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Watch her testimony here.

More about the legislation:

The bill reauthorizes EPA's Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 and clarifies that the LPB and watershed is not limited to the 5000 square miles, but in fact is well over 10,000 square miles in Louisiana and Mississippi. The bill also requires EPA to review the basin's restoration plan in order to examine program administration and look forward to future need and challenges. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin supports numerous species of fish, birds, mammals, and plants, and its fisheries contribute over $35 million to the local economy by providing much of the seafood harvested in the Gulf Coast.