Save Our Lake

The Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation was established in response to environmental concerns voiced throughout the Basin.

Most of the environmental problems that challenge the Basin were well recognized by the mid-1970s, yet there was no common effort towards restoration. Small groups of concerned citizens won some local battles but were unable to direct the large-scale changes that were necessary to save the Basin from further degradation.

Over 90 governmental and regulatory entities were charged with managing the Basin, increasing the difficulty of Basin-wide restoration efforts.

In the spring of 1989, a report called "To Restore Lake Pontchartrain", written by professors at Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, called for the establishment of an entity whose sole focus would be a healthy Lake and Basin. That report became the rallying point for a citizen-led effort that resulted in the formation of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation that same year.

As its first action, LPBF began the SAVE OUR LAKE campaign working to restore Lake Pontchartrain for the public to use as a healthy economic and recreational resource. Successful in this campaign by 2002, LPBF turned its focus to the Basin as a whole in a Comprehensive Habitat Management Plan (CHMP). The CHMP provides goals, strategies and methods designed for regional sustainability.

In June 2005 to address CHMP goals, LPBF created a formal coastal sustainability program. After Hurricane Katrina, LPBF devised the Multiple Lines of Defense Strategy(MLODS). From this strategy the Pontchartrain Coastal Lines of Defense Program was created. This program is a set of 10 projects that provide coastal restoration and hurricane protection in the Basin. Additionally, out of MLODS came LPBF's SAVE OUR COAST campaign as part of the committment to restore our coastal wetlands, protect habitat, and provide flood protection across all of South Louisiana.

LPBF's latest efforts reach across the entire Louisiana coast with the Louisiana Coastal Lines of Defense. This plan uses the MLODS to set habitat goals and identify manmade and natural defenses that will help provide coastal sustainability and storm protection for Louisiana.