Fourchon Beach debate heats up

An ongoing debate on whether the state should acquire beachfront property in Fourchon continues tomorrow at a public hearing to be held at South Lafourche High School. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.

A contentious issue in recent weeks, the debate hinges on land rights and public access. It was reignited when the federal government announced it would move forward with the $446-million restoration of the Caminada Headland, which will fortify 14 miles of the beach with of new sand in an area that can be reached via dry land through Lafourche.

“Fourchon Beach is a diamond in the rough,” said Ricky Cheramie, chairman of the Lafourche Parish Beachfront Commission. “If we polish it and market it, it can become an economic engine for this parish. Our only obstacle thus far has been very limited cooperation from the Windsors and no cooperation from the Caillouets.”

Cheramie was referring to the Caillouet Land Corporation and the Windsor Commission, the two private entities that own the beachfront property. Both have posted signs and hired security guards to curtail trespassing.

The federal and state project will raise the Caminada shoreline south of Fourchon, west to Belle Pass, to seven feet above sea level.

The Beachfront Commission voted last week to urge the federal government to purchase the land rather than work out an agreement that would give them a right of way for the project. Cheramie will present the Beachfront Commission’s position tomorrow night, he said.

A man claiming to be a spokesperson for the Windsor Commission told the parish council the public is being denied access because the beach is still damaged from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

“Windsor has never objected to pedestrian traffic on that beach,” said Forrest Travirca. “BP’s oil spill prevented the pedestrian traffic.

“They would like to see BP continue their cleanup before the Caminada Headlands deposits of clean sediment is deposited on the beach, a beach that one day may be used for your grandchildren and only to have oil resurface, as it has recently, in copious amounts.”

The state has reopened Elmer’s Island and Grand Isle State Park, both of which were inundated with oil.