Scientists said wetlands can slow down storm surges, absorb pollutants and even offer protection for infrastructure as a buffer between the ocean and roads. That’s why for the past decade, some scientists have been working on a solution for a wetlands area in Seal Beach that had often been underwater. … As part of a pilot project that began a decade ago, scientists started applying a thin layer of sediment (mud or sand to match the existing sediment) to the surface area of the marsh in an attempt to raise its elevation. The method is called “sediment (or soil) augmentation.” … After a decade, [Cal State Long Beach biology professor Christine] Whitcraft said the team is thrilled with the results of the pilot project. “There are plants, there’s birds. It’s out of the water at the highest tides.” she said.