70 erations Soil Cleanup Op anticipat ed. The construction of the dredge on Enewetak began on 13 30 March. On 31 March, the dredge March | 979 and was completed on buoying operations, the Aomon Crypt channel. During was towed 10 the (ladder) was damaged. Repairs delayed operations until 7 tuke tower 5 il. During the initial dredging tests, small pieces of coral mixed with lines. This necessitated the sand and clogged the intake and discharge repeated uncoupling of the lines and hand cleaning. On 11 April, adverse sea conditions caused one of the anchorspuds to fracture, causing more delay. The continual clogging of the lines required a modification of the design. On 18 April, two dredge experts were broughtto theatoll. At their recommendation, a cage and high-pressure water pump were addedto the intake line to jet the sand into suspension. These modifications proved to be satisfactory and, by | May, the pumpcapacity averaged 35 cubic yards of sand per hour. While the dredge was under construction, the three sandbars off Aomonhad increasedin size, further complicating the impending dredge operations. It was felt that the sand dredge no longer could clear a channel yt this location in time to preclude a work stoppage. A coastline reconnaissance was conducted by the WBCTandtheoriginal site for removal of soil from Aomonappeared to be the most promising (Figure 7-40). The one sandbarat this location started at the shoreline and FIGURE 7-40. AOMON COASTLINE.