Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program

About the Program

The purpose of the Clean Water Act Section 121 (33 U.S.C. 1273) Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program is to restore the ecological health of the Basin by developing and funding restoration projects and related scientific and public education projects to reduce the risk of pollution.

EPA invests section 121 funds to maintain, protect and restore the water quality of the Basin by addressing the challenges listed in the 1995 Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan and 2006 Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan: sewage and agricultural runoff; stormwater runoff; saltwater intrusion /wetland loss; and impacts to other natural habitats of the Pontchartrain Basin, including pine upland forest, flatland savannah, riverine, alluvial river swamp and Tupelo swamp. The Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan recommends implementing activities such as agricultural assistance programs for dairy farmers and cattle ranchers, septic tank education programs, urban stormwater runoff treatment projects, water quality improvement projects, bioremediation, constructed wetlands, shoreline protection, hydrologic restoration, artificial reefs, freshwater and sediment diversions, and beach replenishment. The Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan will be revised to inform future Basin planning and decision making. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program is an EPA Geographic Program which receives annual base funding. In fiscal year 2023, $2,199,000 is expected to be available for the program’s base grants. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provided additional annual funds of $10,248,000 for the program for fiscal years 2022-2026. EPA's Geographic Programs are covered under the Justice40 Initiative for purposes of Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act implementation. EPA has established a program-wide target of accruing at least 40 percent of benefits – including Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds distributed – to disadvantaged communities. Each program will develop an Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act equity strategy which sets a program-specific baseline and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act fiscal year 2022-2026 target, and outlines steps to achieve it. For more information, visit EPA Geographic Programs website and Sam.gov.