Standing on a bridge photographing the revival of native plants and birds along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New O…

Photographing the revival of native plants and birds along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on Monday, Apr…

Dr. Eva R. Hillmann, chief scientist with the Lake Pontchartrain Conservancy, looks at the readings on a device was being used to measure the …

Dr. Eva R. Hillmann, chief scientist with the Lake Pontchartrain Conservancy, tosses a device that measures water quality into Bayou St. John …

A revival of mostly native plants and birds along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Healthy native underwater plants flourish along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Healthy native underwater plants flourish along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on Monday, April 13, 2026.

Dr. Eva R. Hillmann, chief scientist with the Lake Pontchartrain Conservancy, stands along Bayou St. John near Lake Pontchartrain in New Orlea…

Lake Pontchartrain Conservancy staff on top of the levee where Bayou St. John and Lake Pontchartrain meet in New Orleans on Monday, April 13, 2026.

A revival of mostly native plants and birds along Bayou St. John near where it meets Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans on Monday, April 13, 2026.