104.1 LBD New Orleans Raw Water Intake

It seems miraculous after you’ve seen what the river goes through below Baton Rouge in Chemical Corridor. But it is true: the Mississippi River quenches the thirst of New Orleans residents, as well as provides bath and wash water. We know we should all be careful about what we dump into the Mississippi River and its tributaries. 44% of America drains past this point coming into the The City of New Orleans. But all of the chemical plants upstream need to be even more careful!

As you paddle around Carrolton Bend you will notice piers and pipes and a roadway, in what looks like another wharfing or docking area. But there are no boats in the water nearby. This is one of the major water intakes for the City of New Orleans. In 2013 the Carrollton Water Purification Plant provided an average of 143.75 million gallons of drinking water per day to a population estimated to be about 330,021 people. This water is treated at the Carrollton Water Purification Plant for East Bank customers and at the Algiers Water Purification Plant for West Bank customers.

103.8 LBD Carrolton Bend Beach

Possible low/med picnicking/camping up to 10NO.

An unusual sandbar forms behind the Oak Street Water Intake, and continues downstream around the outside edge of Carrolton Bend, creating the scene for good picnicking and possible camping up top 8NO, and dry spots in the willow trees behind up to 10NO, and possibly up to 12NO in a few limited locations. Never leave your valuables out here. Always leave someone at camp to safeguard vessels and equipment. Lots of foot traffic in and out of this area.

We All Live Downstream

Voyageur, take an imaginary journey with me now that are coming into the city of New Orleans. Retrace your paddlestrokes right back to where you started, in Lake Itasca, or Three Forks, or the Wabash River, or St. Louis, or wherever. Now retrace your paddlestrokes downstream through all of those towns and cities, and all of the creeks, rivers, and waterways you have noticed coming in alongside. Now imagine everything you have seen dumped into the river upstream, from wastewater to oil refineries, from fertilizers to metallurgy. Now imagine everything washing down the tributaries upstream, all 13,000 of them, draining 44% of America, and washing away the wastes of 66 million people. Now imagine all of that water flowing down the Mississippi River, and into Carrolton Bend, and being pumped out here at the gates of the largest metropolis in the Deep South for tap water uses. This same water will be used to brew a cup of coffee and bathe a one-year old baby. It will added to the makings of gumbo, jambalaya, and mint juleps. If you have ever wondered who lives downstream, now you know! This is the ultimate example of “we all live downstream...” The thing that paddlers know that not many others ever see or think about is that “we all live downstream” wherever we’re at along the line. And so we paddlers have a special knowledge that we could share with our friends and family, and all others we come into contact with. And that is: don’t dump it down the stormwater drainpipes. Use and dispose of responsibly. Whether it’s an oil change, or old paint, or old gasoline, or whatever. Don’t dump it down the drain. Don’t flush it down the toilet. Recycle whenever possible, and dispose of properly when not. All 66 million people living downstream will live happier and healthier lives because of your thoughtfulness!