Along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, Weeks Marine and the former T.L. James Marine Division (purchased by Weeks in 1998) have been employed in barrier island and wetlands restoration projects for over twenty years. The company has worked for and partnered with federal and state resource agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, NOAA, EPA, Louisiana DNR and various coastal parishes.

A typical coastal restoration project requires relocating sand to a barrier island in order to create or nourish a protective beach and dune system. Behind the beach, softer, muddy, organic soil is pumped to restore diminished wetlands and to raise the bottom elevation high enough to support critical plant life.

The continuing loss of important coastal wetlands is alarming for many well-known reasons, but the successful record of such projects has given scientists and engineers confidence that a comprehensive coastal restoration program can be achieved with adequate investment.