A sludge scraper apparatus for scraping a sludge sediment from an earthen bottom of a sludge reservoir, is described. The scraper apparatus is comprised of a main frame that provides for mounting a pair of skids, a scraper blade and a pair of wheels mounted on the apparatus. A first tow line is connected between the frame and a first winch, mounted on a first shore of the reservoir. A second tow line is connected between the skids and a second winch, mounted on a second shore of the reservoir. The first winch then moves the scraper apparatus over the earthen bottom of the reservoir from a starting position adjacent the second shore of the reservoir by spooling up the first tow line. This causes the scraper apparatus to move in a pass over the bottom of the reservoir, with the scraper blade plowing loose sludge sediment towards the first shore. Then, the second winch is used to move the sludge scraper back towards the second shore and the starting position by spooling up the second tow line. As the second winch begins to spool up the second tow line, the scraper apparatus rotates about the wheels so that the scraper blade is lifted off the bottom of the reservoir and the skids are caused to contact the reservoir bottom. In this position, the scraper apparatus can be easily pulled back towards the second shore by the second winch.

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