1.) A 12ft tall single closed end (SCE) AquaDam has been removed from the trailer it was shipped on and is being transported to its starting bank. AquaDams are shipped rolled-up like a carpet roll, wrapped in a protective covering, and have lifting ropes/straps.

2.) The first 12ft tall SCE AquaDam has been launched from its starting bank and is being filled with water. The starting point (open end) and fill-tubes of a SCE AquaDam must be elevated higher than the full height of dam along its given path. An AquaDam will only reach its full height at the lowest elevation along its laid path.

3.) Ropes were tied off to unmovable objects (anchors), laid under the 12ft tall SCE AquaDam, brought back over the top of the roll and to workers hands. Workers release some length of rope, allowing the roll to unroll a few feet, while maintaining head in the AquaDam above the surrounding water. While installing an AquaDam in flowing water, it is important for the unrolled portion to maintain sufficient head above the surrounding water, so that it will stay in place.

4.) The ending bank for the first 12ft tall AquaDam has been cleared so that the roll end will meet up nicely with the native dirt.

5.) The first 12ft tall SCE AquaDam has almost made it to its ending bank. It is critical at this stage for the workers to pay attention to head in the AquaDam and the rising upstream water.

6.) The first 12ft tall AquaDam has made it across the canal and needs to continue to fill.

7.) The second 12ft AquaDam will go here. Workers prepare the starting and ending banks for the deployment of the AquaDam.

8.) The first 12ft tall AquaDam continues to fill.

9.) The second 12ft tall SCE AquaDam has been launched from its starting bank. AquaDams are made of light weight flexible materials and will float when empty in deep enough water.

10.) The second 12ft tall AquaDam continues to fill. Ropes were also used on this AquaDam to hold the roll end while maintaining head in the unrolled portion.

11.) The second AquaDam has made it to its ending bank and will now need to continue to fill.

12.) The second 12ft tall SCE AquaDam is almost full now. Notice that the top of the AquaDam is roughly the height of the top of the canal’s berm.

13.) The first 12ft tall AquaDam is almost full.

14.) Both 12ft tall AquaDams are now full, the bridge has been isolated from the water in the canal, and workers will need to de-water the work area.

15.) Four days later the first 12ft tall SCE AquaDam was vandalized and another one was needed.

16.) A third 12ft tall SCE AquaDam was launched just upstream of the first AquaDam.

17.) Pumps will discharge air along with water sometimes into an AquaDam. The air can easily be walked out, starting at the closed end, and walking the air bubble out towards the open end of the SCE AquaDam.

18.) The third 12ft tall AquaDam continues to fill. Workers monitor the head in the AquaDam and the roll end to assure that as the dam unrolls the unrolled length maintains head above the surrounding water.

19.) The third 12ft tall AquaDam has made it to its ending bank and will now need to finish filling.

20.) The third AquaDam is almost full, now workers can de-water again and get back to their bridge construction work.

21.) Now that both AquaDams are up and the work area is de-watering, workers place non-abrasive fill at the starting and ending banks of the third AquaDam on the work area side.

22.) Looking upstream at West El Camino bridge, which will have construction work done to it.

23.) Now that the work area has been mostly de-watered, workers will need to do some dunnage removal prior to starting work. Is that a car in the mud?

24.) Standing in the work area looking at the second 12ft tall SCE AquaDam, after de-watering.

25.) Several months later, the second 12ft tall AquaDam holding up and doing a great job.

26.) The third 12ft tall SCE AquaDam several months later doing an excellent job at holding back the canal water.

27.) Looking upstream at the ending bank of the second 12ft tall SCE AquaDam, from the work area.

28.) Looking downstream at the third 12ft tall SCE AquaDam, which is working great.

29.) The closed end of the third 12ft tall SCE AquaDam. Check out the water depth difference and all the vegetation that has grown beside the AquaDam in the work area.

30.) Looking upstream at the second 12ft tall SCE AquaDam after the work area has been de-watered for several months.

31.)Now that the bridge construction work has been finished it is time to remove the AquaDams. First it is important to re-water the work area.

32.) After the work area has been re-watered, suction hoses connected to pumps can be put into the fill-tubes to start removing the water out of SCE AquaDams. The ends of the suction hoses that go inside of the fill-tubes should not have any fittings or sharp edges.

33.) After enough water has been sucked out of the fill-tubes, the body of the AquaDam will become flaccid and begin to float in water.

34.) Once the AquaDam does not have head above the surrounding water (in flowing water) the current will push on the dam.

35.) When removing a SCE AquaDam, it is best to wrap the closed end around a sturdy log and lift using the log to help. Slowly lift and wait for the water to drain out. Pulling up and back carefully not to break the log. The open end and fill-tubes should be in the water, so that the water inside the AquaDam will fall out.

36.) The current has pushed the open end and fill-tubes downstream while the closed end was being pulled out.

37.) The workers may have been in a hurry and the log broke. The material an AquaDam is made of is light weight and flexible, but when it is full of water it is heavy.

38.) One AquaDam out of the canal and ready to be shipped off.

39.) The other 12ft tall SCE AquaDam was also pulled out by its closed end with a log attached to it.

40.) Sometimes in flowing water, recovering an AquaDam in reusable shape can be extremely difficult.

41.) The last 12ft tall SCE AquaDam has been remove from the canal and is ready to be shipped off.