Lake Pontchartrain study investigating fisheries response to freshwater discharge

The Bonnet Carré spillway is a well-known flood control structure along the Lower Mississippi River designed to prevent flooding to New Orleans, Louisiana, by diverting excess water from flooding in the watershed into the nearby Lake Pontchartrain estuary. The spillway was opened as much in the most recent decade as the six prior decades combined; the increased freshwater discharge into the estuary was believed to have devastating effects on its recreational and commercial fisheries. The spillway was rarely used historically, therefore there is little science-based guidance for state agencies to consult when managing flooding caused by catastrophic flooding events. The unprecedented uptick in spillway operations calls for dedicated research to understand 1) how the spillway openings affect Lake Pontchartrain estuary fisheries and 2) if the recent increase in spillway operations is expected to continue.