DEQ monitors 3 new "bayou bubbles" sites

ASSUMPTION PARISH, LA (WAFB) - Hurricane Isaac caused Texas Brine to close down the drill site, slowing down their investigation to find the source of that sinkhole in Assumption parish. While they were able to get back drilling that observation well this week, one local business owner who continues to suffer.

"Normally I'd be running at almost full capacity, and lots of people are canceling," said Dennis Landry, owner of Cajun Cabins in Bayou Corne.

Dead fish and an empty waterway are all Landry sees these days. Things started slowing down nearly 100 days ago when mysterious bubbles started popping up around his property. Then came the 200 by 200 ft. sinkhole about a half a mile away

"I've already lost thousands of dollars in revenues and cabin rentals," said Landry. "Lots of people find out about the bubbling, the sinkhole. I call them. I tell them about it. I don't hide anything."

You can only imagine his frustration when he heard three new sets of bubbles were found near his property this weekend in the Triche canal. Parish officials believe the bubbles are caused by gas, collecting in a nearby freshwater aquifer which lies about 100 feet below Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou.

"To explore that is to go into the water aquifer and see if there is free gas in the water aquifer...number one. And then also have a path to vent some of that off if it is there," said John Boudreaux, director of the Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality crews are testing the new locations, as it continues the process at the previously discovered places of bubbling.

DEQ is monitoring the ground for potential natural gas accumulation and the air for dangerous contaminants.

"DEQ staff continues to monitor the areas around the sinkhole in Assumption Parish and no harmful readings have been found to date," said Peggy Hatch, DEQ Secretary.  "Our top priority is protecting the environment and human health and we will continue to keep the public informed of all test results."

DEQ said it will continue to work with the parish and Texas Brine to monitor the air and water.

Click here for more information and to see the results once testing is completed

Landry prays this drilling will help experts find a solution to one this summer's many bayou mysteries.

"I'm just hoping it can get back to normal and my normal customer base will return," said Landry.

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