This month marks a milestone for Mike Hooks, LLC: dredging operations are now complete on the Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project in St. Bernard Parish, Louisiana — the largest marsh creation project by acreage in the state’s history.
It wasn’t just another project. It was a test of endurance, teamwork, and commitment, and every single person at Mike Hooks played a part in making it happen.
From Surveys to Success
The journey began in November 2021, when survey crews first set foot on the site. From that point, years of planning and preparation unfolded before the first pipe was laid or the dredge was mobilized.
By early 2022, our fleet was hard at work, pumping sediment into engineered cells to rebuild Louisiana’s fragile coastline. After nearly four years, dredging is now complete, with full demobilization set for December 2025.
Every Dredge. Every Hand.
This job took everything we had — and then some.
- Dredge Mike Hooks
- Dredge E. Stroud
- Dredge Missouri H
- Dredge Lorraine
Each dredge in our fleet was deployed, supported by a company-wide push that involved nearly every employee. From crews offshore to the staff in the office, it was truly an all-hands effort.
In total, 15,161,709 cubic yards of material were placed, thanks to the addition of the MCA-8 expansion. That’s enough sediment to fill the Superdome more than three times over.
The Human Side of the Job
Behind every cubic yard of sediment were the hours, sweat, and skill of our people.
In 2024 alone, Mike Hooks crews averaged 2,024 man-hours per week, while our subcontractor Dean Equipment added another 700 hours per week.
Over the life of the dredging phase, that effort totaled nearly 500,000 man-hours — the equivalent of more than 240 full-time workers laboring for a year straight.
It wasn’t easy.
Crews battled Hurricane Francine (2024), heavy rain, and flooding, each storm bringing delays and extra work. At the same time, global challenges — from COVID-19 supply chain shortages to rising fuel and steel prices — tested our ability to adapt.
Yet through it all, we kept going. We never gave up, and we never quit.
By the Numbers
- Surveys Began: November 2021
- Fleet Involved: 4 dredges (Mike Hooks, E. Stroud, Missouri H, Lorraine)
- Sediment Placed: 15,161,709 cubic yards
- Acreage Restored: ~2,770 acres
- Man-Hours Logged: ~495,000 (prime + sub)
- Completion: Dredging in September 2025; Demobilization by December 2025
- Investment: $100+ million through Deepwater Horizon NRDA
CY of Sediment
Acres
Man Hours
A Lasting Legacy
Funded by the Deepwater Horizon Natural Resource Damage Assessment, the Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project is more than a number on a report. It’s habitat for fish and wildlife. It’s protection for communities. It’s resilience for Louisiana’s coast.
For Mike Hooks, it’s also proof of what we can do when every part of this company comes together.
From surveys in 2021 to dredging completion in 2025, this project reflects our culture of teamwork, our expertise, and our commitment to building a stronger future for the Gulf Coast.
The Lake Borgne Marsh Creation Project will stand as one of the largest and most important efforts in Louisiana’s fight against coastal erosion — and as one of the proudest achievements in Mike Hooks’ long history.