I guess that works on a drag line.

I think in the case above access is the big issue since it's in an established neighborhood and an excavator on mats was the only way to get equipment in there that would do the job without tearing everything up. Then again they said it was a rental so it might be that a track hoe was the only thing that the property manager knew about.

I've seen a video of that same recovery operator cleaning a bigger pond which was worse and he didn't get stuck so skill is a big factor in success.