Because the river is high, water has been leaking through the wooden slats in the 350 bays of the Bonnet Carre Spillway for several weeks. The resulting sediment has stained most of Lake Pontchartrain with a brown tint that's visible from space.
Interesting article about the level of the Mississippi River and the effects thereof. I actually like it when the river water leaks through the wooden slates, that fresh water and sediment helps the nearby swamps and marshes. I think they should leave a small amount of river water flowing into the area all the time to help those dying wetlands. It can't hurt to try.
Read the full story here....
https://www.nola.com/news/business/article_7049a934-4f6e-11ea-8e75-27baebc020fb.html