A small backhoe is used to minimize damage to the homeowner's backyard. The rip-rap was removed from the shoreline, but the rip-rap farther out also needed to be removed. To make a successful seal you must avoid installing an AquaDam® on top of rocks or rip-rap.

A larger backhoe was ruled out because of the damage it would create in the homeowner's backyard. A crane with a bucket was used to reach out to all possible areas where rocks might be found. Even though it was a large expense, it was deemed the correct way to proceed.

The backhoe would scoop up 4 or 5 shovelfuls of rock and the crane would remove them to the dump truck parked on the bridge. Power lines were also of concern. The man in the water is feeling for rocks with his feet so that they can be pointed out to the excavator for removal.

 The water depth is approximately 4 1/2 feet plus 1 foot of mud, requiring an 8' high AquaDam®. The only way to check out the bottom in dirty water is by walking in it. At no time did the water depth reach 6 feet. If it had, an 8' high AquaDam® would not have been of sufficient size to hold back this depth of water.