Coastal Protection and
Restoration Authority

Location

Caminada Headland is located south and east of Port Fourchon in Lafourche Parish. The headland is a 14-mile-long undeveloped beach that stretches from West Belle Pass on the west to Caminada Pass on the east.

Issue Addressed

Over the last 100 years, the Caminada Headland has experienced significant shoreline erosion and land loss, averaging 35 feet per year, to its marsh, wetland, beach, and dune habitats as a result of storm overtopping and breaching, saltwater intrusion, wind and wave induced erosion, sea level rise, and subsidence.

Project Goals

3.3 million cubic yards of sand is being dredged and transported from Ship Shoal, an offshore borrow site 27 miles away in the Gulf of Mexico. This is the first time that sand from Ship Shoal—an abundant sediment source—is being used for a restoration project. The sand is being barged to a staging area near the mouth of Belle Pass, then is pumped via a pipeline for placement on the shoreline. As the project progresses, the pipeline will be extended along the six mile stretch.

This project aims to create and enhance 303 acres of beach and dune, reinforcing almost six miles of barrier headland habitat, reducing the impacts of storm events on Port Fourchon and Highway 1, a vital hurricane evacuation route for Fourchon and Grand Isle. The Caminada Headland also provides important habitat for nesting shorebirds as well as migratory birds as it is one of the first available stopover sites during migration. The headland is also critical habitat for the endangered piping plover.

Project Status

Sand began delivering to the Caminada Headland in August of 2013. The sand placement is scheduled to continue through May of 2014. After dredging is completed, sand fencing will be installed and native vegetation will be planted on the dune to retain sand. All features, including plantings, are expected to be completed by early 2015.