COVINGTON – St. Tammany Parish has purchased just over 30 acres of land containing a four-and-one-half-acre pond near the Abita River north of Harrison Avenue in the Covington area. It was purchased at market value for $630,000.
Plans for the property include the conversion of the pond into a water quality pond through aeration or plantings, and the redirection of stormwater flow from two adjacent subdivisions after the construction of inlets from the neighborhoods into the pond, and an outlet from the pond into the channel that drains into the river.
Over time, the water quality of the Abita River is expected to increase through enhanced oxygenation and filtration when stormwater drains into the river.
“Our water quality initiatives send cleaner runoff into our waterways, and over time increase the health of our natural ecosystems,” said Pat Brister, St. Tammany Parish president.
The property is located just west of the Singing River subdivision in the Covington area.
