Peter - I found this... Lake Pontchartrain is part of a vast ecosystem called the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. Like all natural systems, the 4,700 square mile Lake Pontchartrain Basin consists of many interrelated components. While the central feature of the Basin is the 630 square mile Lake Ponchartrain, it also includes sister Lakes Maurepas and Borgne, numerous freshwater rivers and bayous, and part of the salt waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Lake Pontchartrain Basin forms the largest contiguous estuary in the Gulf Coast region. The Pontchartrain Basin estuary is known for its tranquil swamps, magnificent lakes and lush hardwood forests which provide homes for a tremendous variety of fish and wildlife. The Basin is also the center of Southeastern Louisiana's unique cultural heritage with more than 1.5 million residents in 16 Parishes-

MMario