It is not technically allowed to swim in Bayou St. John due to wildlife and sharp, dangerous debris that lives at the bottom. According to the City of New Orleans: “It shall be unlawful to swim or bathe in Bayou St. John, from its head at Hagan Avenue to Robert E. Lee Boulevard.” (Code 1956, § 66-17)
The Pontchartrain Levee District is in charge of cutting the grass.
No
Yes, you can get a group of friends and hang out along Bayou St. John. Please be mindful to respect the neighbors and keep the noise down and dispose of your trash properly.
Yes, Kayak-Iti-Yat and Bayou Paddle Sports have kayaks and canoes available for rent. If you don’t want to paddle alone or are interested in learning more about the history, flora and fauna of Bayou St. John, you can join one of the many guided tours they offer.
According to the City of New Orleans “It shall be unlawful to abandon or moor boats for longer than 24 hours along Bayou St. John or along the bridges that cross Bayou St. John. For purposes of this division, “Bayou St. John” includes its head at Hagan Avenue to Desaix Boulevard. Boats found to be in violation of this division shall be subject to impoundment.” (M.C.S., Ord. No. 26025, § 1, 9-4-14)
WildLife and Fisheries will remove gators if they are over a certain size.
The Bayou St. John Flood Control Structure is located at the mouth of the bayou and Lake Pontchartrain. The purpose of the structure is to prevent storm surge from Lake Pontchartrain from entering the bayou which could lead to flooding in the surrounding neighborhoods.
The structure’s components include one sector gate and three sluice gates that allow tidal exchange between the lake and the bayou. Given that Bayou St. John is designated as an Historic and Scenic Waterway, the Flood Protection Authority worked with the U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to design and construct the structure so as not to impact the ecological health of the bayou.”
https://www.floodauthority.org/the-system/bayou-st-john-sector-gate/
The Pontchartrain Conservancy Center monitors the water quality weekly and posts it on their website https://scienceforourcoast.org/pc-programs/waterquality/weekly-water-quality-results/
yes
https://waterdata.usgs.gov/monitoring-location/300128090045800/#parameterCode=00065&period=P7D
https://www.waterqualitydata.us/provider/STORET/LADEQWPD_WQX/LADEQWPD_WQX-0305/
Bayou St. John was once a four-mile-long natural waterway navigable by canoe and small vessel. Originating some two miles northwest of the Mississippi River, the bayou flowed through cypress swamps to Lake Pontchartrain, training the swampy land of what is now New Orleans. A trail along the bayou was first created by Native Americans, who, in 1699, showed the route to New Orleans founders Bienville and Iberville. The natives knew the waterway as Bayouk Choupic. It then served as navigation from Lake Pontchartrain to the French Quarter when the area was a French territory. Since then, the Bayou has become a picturesque body of water with small earthen levees on either side, forming a narrow park space in the city. (cit.)
