Pontchartrain Basin Discussion
All of the approved CWPPRA projects in the Pontchartrain Basin contribute to the restoration objectives previously listed. One project, the Violet Freshwater Distribution Project, manages fresh water to reduce salinity and preserve marsh and swamp. The MRGO Back Dike Marsh Protection project will preserve marsh within an existing spoil disposal area. Two projects, Bayou Sauvage Phases I and II, improve hydrology and manage marshes on the land bridges between Lake Pontchartrain and Lakes Maurepas (on the west) and Borgne (on the east). The Fritchie Marsh project restores wetlands where loss is imminent. The Bayou Chevee and Bayou La Branche projects beneficially use dredged material to create marsh. Preliminary results from the Bayou La Branche wetland creation project indicates that this project is already successful at creating new wetlands in the Pontchartrain Basin (Carriere 1996a). The Eden Isle project will restore former marsh and regulate water levels to prevent excessive inundation from Lake Pontchartrain, while the Red Mud Demonstration project will examine some of the issues and concerns regarding the use of this waste material for marsh creation on a small scale.