Posted on August 11, 2025
Approximately 4 million cubic yards of sand leased by BOEM will replenish West Belle Headland.
Louisiana’s fragile coastline is in a fight against time, and tide.
Now, thanks to a new agreement between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA), critical reinforcements are on the way.
In July 2025, BOEM signed a Noncompetitive Negotiated Agreement (NNA) with CPRA authorizing the use of sand from two federal borrow sites on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). The mission: restore the severely eroded West Belle Headland: a vital natural barrier that has lost over half its original length.
Located along the southeastern edge of Timbalier Bay in Lafourche Parish, West Belle Headland isn’t just sand and grass. It is a sentinel. West Belle shields nearby wetlands and communities from wave action, saltwater intrusion, and hurricane storm surge. But the area is also vanishing fast, retreating at rates topping 100 feet per year in some areas.
The damage escalated after Hurricane Zeta tore through the Gulf in 2020. Just 25 miles from the headland, the Category 3 storm undid years of restoration work, wiping out nearly 75% of the new sediment placed on the beach.
West Belle Headland building project in 2020. Photos courtesy of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority
Start of the West Belle Headland Project in 2020. Photos courtesy of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Today, restoration efforts are back in motion. CPRA has received more than $722,000 from FEMA for project design and environmental review, with further funding under evaluation. The goal is to restore beach, dune, and marsh habitat, which all serve as natural defenses that can absorb storm energy and hold the line against further erosion.
With BOEM’s help, 4 million cubic yards of sand from Ship Shoal will be used to rebuild the headland’s form and function. These offshore deposits, once part of ancient coastal systems, now serve as a lifeline for modern-day Louisiana.
Moving sand, West Belle Headland Project in 2020. Photos courtesy of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
This partnership is part of a broader strategy by BOEM to manage federal marine minerals for projects that enhance community resilience, protect infrastructure, and preserve natural ecosystems.
Why It Matters:
Aerial photo of the West Belle Headland Project in 2020. Photos curtesy of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
Rebuilding the West Belle Headland isn’t just about sediment. It’s about saving habitat, preventing loss, and creating a stronger coastal future for Louisiana.
- Learn more about BOEM’s Marine Minerals
- Or check out 5 facts to know about the Marine Minerals Program.
Moving sand, West Belle Headland Project in 2020. Photos courtesy of the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority.
