File photo

Tar balls from the Deepwater Horizon rig explosion that killed 11 people, and has oiled the coasts of all five Gulf Coast states, has reached inland to Lake Ponchartrain. The lake had recently been rescued in the 1990's from rampant pollution.

It is under question whether the oil sheen and tar balls were dragged in by a vessel or from ocean currents. Tropical Storm Alex could have played a factor in washing oil further inland and east to Galveston, Texas.

Some fishing areas have been closed in Lake Ponchartrain along with Lake Borgne and Lake St. Catherine.

Pete Garcia with the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board believes it was just a matter of time before tar balls entered Lake Ponchartrain adding, "When you start seeing these little tar balls washing up near us on the Mississippi coastline...you know its just a matter of time before the wind's going to take that stuff and push it up into our area."

Garcia hopes that since tar balls are degradable that fishing areas will be reopened soon.