The article presents the results of experimental studies of the stability of slopes of reclamation channels. Experimental studies were carried out on the Grand Channel of the Laboratory of Sprinkler Machines and Hydraulic Drive of the Department of Organization and Technologies of Irrigation and Reclamation and Construction Works of the Institute of Land Reclamation, Water Management and Construction named after A.N. Kostyakov. The work of the reclamation drainage system is accompanied by the appearance of sediments, siltation of herbaceous and shrubby vegetation at the bottom and slopes of the channel. For the normal functioning of the reclamation drainage system, it is necessary to maintain the design dimensions of the channels during the entire period of their operation. To clean drainage channels, special channel cleaning machines of periodic or continuous action on caterpillar or pneumatic wheels are used, and general construction excavators with widened buckets are also often used. The operation of all these machines with a large operating weight has a peculiarity, which consists in their movement in the process of cleaning along the channel along the berm sections close to the edge. Such a situation can lead to a violation of the stability of the slopes, which in turn disrupts the capacity of the channel bed and its design geometric dimensions. The study of slope instability from the loads of channel cleaning machines allows you to correctly design the channel section and form a cleaning technology.