DURING THE 1970'S AND 1980'S, numerous studies and reports focused on the declining environmental state of Lake Pontchartrain, which is half-surrounded by the New Orleans metropolitan area.

"The Lake Pontchartrain Basin drains land in 16 Louisiana parishes and four Mississippi counties."

Although more than 90 governmental and regulatory entities were to some degree charged with managing the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, no single group championed and coordinated the restoration movement. If the lake's ecosystem was to recover from its downward environmental spiral, definitive action was needed.

In the spring of 1989, "To Restore Lake Pontchartrain," a comprehensive summary of the lake's status, called for the establishment of an entity whose only focus would be a healthy Lake Pontchartrain. The report became the rallying point for a citizen-led effort that resulted in the formation of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation in that same year.

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As the foundation now enters its sixth year of existence, its Pontchartrain restoration, public outreach, and environmental education programs are becoming recognized nationally as a model approach to revitalizing urban watersheds.

Interestingly, Lake Pontchartrain is really not a lake. Rather, it is a shallow estuary where fresh water from rivers and bayous mixes with the salty waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Together, Lake Pontchartrain and its sister lakes comprise the largest contiguous estuary system along the Gulf Coast.

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Formed 5,000 years ago, Lake Pontchartrain is part of a vast ecosystem called the Lake Pontchartrain Basin, or watershed. The basin, home to almost two million Louisiana residents, drains land in 16 Louisiana parishes and four Mississippi counties.

Like all natural systems, the 4,700square-mile Pontchartrain Basin consists of many interrelated components. While the central feature of the basin is the 630-square-mile Lake Pontchartrain, it also includes Lakes Maurepas and Borgne, as well as numerous rivers and bayous.

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Lake Pontchartrain's waters flow into the marshes and wetlands of southeast Louisiana, which are home to a variety of wildlife. These wetlands are the heart of the region's commercial and recreational fishery, which annually contributes over $35 million to the local economy.

All components of the basin are connected, so the quality of Lake Pontchartrain is directly related to the quality of the rivers and bayous flowing into it. Similarly, the surrounding wetlands are dependent on a healthy Lake Pontchartrain.

Yet pollution has closed the lake's south shore beaches, and No Swimming signs are posted along north shore rivers. The lake's living resources-fish, shrimp, crabs, and oysters-have been declining. Rapid growth and development are adding new pressures to an already troubled ecosystem.

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Several factors have contributed to the Pontchartrain Basin's problems:

• Increasing Population and Changes in Land Use -- While the New Orleans metropolitan area surrounds half of Lake Pontchartrain's perimeter, the lake's north shore -- once rural -- is now the fastest-growing area in Louisiana. Increasing population and resulting urbanization have caused drastic changes in the basin's land-use patterns.

  Small farms and forests have been converted into a suburban setting of houses, shopping centers, and small businesses. Natural pollution filters such as forests and wetlands have been replaced with parking lots and subdivisions. Sediment runoff from construction sites chokes the Pontchartrain Basin's rivers and bayous.

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• Urban Storm-Water Runoff -- Urban storm water is the largest single pollution source in Lake Pontchartrain. With every rain, storm water carries pollution from the streets, lawns, roofs, and parking lots of the New Orleans metropolitan area into the lake through the storm-drain system. Storm water contains oil and grease, heavy metals, sediments, and lawn chemicals.

• Poorly Treated and Untreated Sewage -- Many communities throughout the Pontchartrain Basin have antiquated sewerage systems plagued by cracked lines and overloaded

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  treatment plants. These systems allow large amounts of untreated or partially treated sewage to enter the storm-drain system, introducing more pollution into the lake. In some areas, untreated sewage from fishing camps is discharged directly into Lake Pontchartrain and the surrounding waters.

• Wetland Loss -- During the past 60 years, almost 67,000 acres of wetlands have been lost in the Pontchartrain Basin. Wetlands, which serve as natural pollution filters, have been channeled, drained, dredged, and filled, resulting in severe impacts to the basin's ecosystem. Saltwater intrusion from the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet is responsible for continuing wetland loss.

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  Declines in commercial fish and shellfish harvests are attributable to wetland and habitat loss. The continuing destruction has also harmed basin wildlife populations and placed others at risk. Thirteen species in the basin have been listed as threatened or endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• Seagrass Decline -- Submerged grass, or seagrass, provides critical shelter and food for fish and shellfish. During the past 40 years, 75 percent of the lake's productive seagrass beds have disappeared. Seawalls, development activities, natural forces, and poor water quality are blamed for the decline along the lake's south shore.

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• Agricultural Runoff -- Agriculture is one of the major land uses on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain. Farming practices such as animal operations, agrichemical applications, and land-clearing activities produce agricultural runoff, which contains pathogens (disease-causing agents), nutrients, and toxic chemicals and sediments. Like untreated sewage, agricultural runoff has been blamed for the closing of north-shore rivers to swimming.

• Natural Forces -- Natural forces, such as hurricanes and shoreline erosion, effect change, too. Land subsidence, combined with rising sea level, is causing significant changes throughout the basin, particularly in the wetlands in St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Plaquemines parishes.

Since its inception, the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation has focused public attention on the environmental problems facing the basin. More importantly, the Pontchartrain restoration is demonstrating that environmental reforms are possible and that environmental improvements enhance economic growth and quality of life.

The foundation has a small permanent staff with diverse backgrounds. Staff efforts are augmented by the volunteer support and assistance of citizens throughout the basin.

In 1992, volunteers donated more than 12,000 pro bono hours to Pontchartrain programs. In 1993, that figure rose to over 13,000 hours, and in 1994, it increased even more. Clearly, the restoration campaign is a partnership involving the basin's citizens and communities.

The following is a brief overview of some of the successes resulting from that shared effort: