Nearly a Superdome worth of sand could revive a Louisiana coastal project

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) - A coastal restoration project heavily damaged by Hurricane Zeta in 2020 could be revived soon, according to the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.

CPRA and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently signed an agreement authorizing the use of up to 4 million cubic yards of sand—nearly equivalent to the interior of the Superdome—to repair the West Belle Headland west of Port Fourchon.

Originally part of the larger beach and barrier island restoration project in the Terrebonne Basin, West Belle Headland was nearly complete when Zeta struck in October 2020.

The storm blew away nearly 75% of the newly laid sand and sediment on the peninsula.

This time, CPRA announced in a statement that the project will be constructed with sand dredged from federal waters instead of from a mixed-material source nearby.

Pure sand is a better restoration tool for Louisiana’s barrier islands, according to the CPRA statement.

“When a powerful storm like Hurricane Zeta makes a direct impact on a project site, we sometimes have to go back to the drawing board to ensure we are building the strongest, most sustainable project for the environment and elements,” CPRA Executive Director Michael Hare said.

Since West Belle Headland was damaged in a hurricane, CPRA officials hope to fund the project through money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

FEMA has already provided about $720,000 for design and an environmental impact review.

CPRA expects a decision from FEMA later this year and plans to put the project out for bid in the fall.

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