On paper, shelves are a great idea. I put some in with visions of plants all over the place. However, the problem with shelves are they are a convient place for predators to perch.

Either just put a couple of shelves that jut out, or no shelves and use bricks or rocks to build up some shelves from the floor.

Take a look at the information linked below.
Do you intend to buy a "Pond kit" or a piece of EPDM liner to suit your own design?

If it is the latter, dig the hole first and then measure for the require size of liner.
Shelves are useful but as Groundbeef pointed out they can be a stepping point for raccoons etc, to get in and out of your pond.
"Horton"

Here is a link that might be useful: Pond liner installation

GB1 and Horton, thanks for replies:

I will be using the EDPM liner. The reason for drawing up plan is because I am trying to stay within size and budget. After drawing up plan, we will lay out water hose visualize and measure.
As for shelves, I may just add a few, instead of all the way around. That was a good point. If I add a few, where is the best place to put them?
With all the rains we've had, the ground is saturated, so drawing, shopping and reading here will keep me happy until we are dry enough to start digging.

Welcome to the forum Hardin. Many people include skimmers and bottom drains in their ponds to help with maintenance. A search of these topics on the forum will give you much information.

I think a pond 2' deep can do well without shelves. Bricks, milk crate type containers will allow your plants to reach the desired height and you will have more water volume in your pond.

Good luck with your build. Pics are always welcome. :)

Lisa

We have shelves all around our pond except for the beach area. Our shelves are about 15" deep and 12" wide. The rocks are built up on the shelves to ground level, thus there is nowhere on the shelves for predators to perch.
Here is a drawing I made to describe our DIY system for people interested in a gravity fed system.
I love the shelves all around, as there is no liner showing under the rock edge.
Joann.
You could also think about having a 3 foot deep section on one end, I know you said you don't want koi, but I said the same thing when we were building our pond... :)
But their such sweet and huggable little water pups!...

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Just a matter of curiosity, where in SE Oklahoma are you? I'm north of you in Tulsa. Are you getting a lot of rain down there? We're getting far more than we need up here!

My yard is flat as a pancake, so I had to build a sloping area of raised ground for the streambed using dirt from the pond itself. It doesn't have to slope a whole lot, just enough for the water to run downhill. The first year after I did this, I had a problem with the soft dirt settling during rains, so make sure the sides are high enough to prevent water from escaping out over the sides.

I'm at work right now, or I'd attach a picture of my stream so you can get an idea of what it looks like. I'll make a point of doing that when I get home this evening, though.

More Questions:
1) Joann, Your pups are gorgeous. Where does the water go after tub 3?
2) Knowing you don't want any water coming in from yard into pond, what's to stop runoff from area built up for waterfall? The liner?
3) Lisa, thanks for the welcome. And, as soon as I learn how to post pics, you guys will be the first to see them. I will take before, during and afters.

hardin...after tub three, the water goes in two directions...One line takes water back to the waterfall, and the other line takes the water on a journey underground 18 feet away to a 200 gallon biological pond.
The water enters the biological pond from over a small waterfall in the bio pond...and travels through the bio pond getting scrubbed by all the lava rock and vegetation in its path, at the end of the bio pond there is another line that takes it back underground and re-enters the main pond from under a small wood dock we have
at the end of the pond.
We added the biological pond the second year...the first year the water just re-entered the pond from tub #3 to over the waterfall...
I'm not sure what question #2 is?
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This is an example of the rocked shelf (on the left side)...Notice there is no liner showing because the rocks go down under the water (on the shelf) about 15" below the water surface.

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Nancym1956: I live in Ada. Yes, lots and lots of rain, nearly 7 days straight, and enough to make gutters on house overflow, that's the 1st time I've seen them do that in 7 years. Was excited to see the sun again. It is nice to meet someone from OK. Thanks for your help and replies. Naturally, all pics welcome, as I am visual oriented. LOL.
Joann: That is one neat set-up. Thanks for the drawings, as those help alot.

Joann has one of the best pond set-ups I've ever seen, and if I was putting in a new pond I would definitely give some thought to her set-up. Bottom drains are hard to come by in Oklahoma, though. None of the pond stores in the Tulsa area sell them, so if I ever install one it will have to be ordered. I'm adding a "wing" to my pond this year, but my progress has been slowed by the infernal rain.

Joann, in the last picture you posted, I'm seeing a bronze colored longfin in the center of the pond. Do you have a close up of this fish? It's beautiful!

Here are pictures of my stream and waterfall. When I first installed it, the waterfall was only a foot high, but I decided to raise it to two feet a couple of months ago, and I'm very happy with it. The stream is about 13' long, and I've put in layered flower beds along the sides.

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I don't know why the pictures didn't load full size, but hopefully you can get some idea of how they look from those tiny pictures.

Okay, solved the problem. Hopefully you can see these better than those dinky ones. The purple fountain grass on the waterfall berm will eventually grow and conceal the waterfall box.

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You pond/waterfall are beautiful Nancy. I love the waterfall layout.

The fish you are referring too is named 'spun gold'
Today when I looked at the pups, I couldn't believe how big she got over the winter. She is as big as her Mother.
I couldn't find any close-ups of her, but here is a smidgen of her under her Mothers wing.
Her bright gold color is unbelievable. That's why I named her Spun Gold.
I plan on taking a lot of photos of her this spring/summer.

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Ah, she's one of your pups. My pups have all grown like crazy during the winter too. I'd love to see some pictures of her when you get them. Will you be posting them to your website?

hardin.... I'm from Francis, Okla. Welcome to the forum if you ever change your mine about wanting Koi's just let me know I'll be more then happy to give you all the babies you want. I'm always looking for good homes for my babies....Teresa :o)

Hi Teri, We are pretty close, aren't we? Thanks for the offer. I will certainly think about it. I love all the pictures of Koi, but I'm not sure about them yet. But, as Joann said, I will likely change my mind. A friend of ours has a pond only 2 ft deep and his Koi do fine here.
Nancy, I LOVE your waterfall. It is gorgeous. I am getting anxious now and excited. I know I will probably feel like dying when we start though. Now if only the rain would leave the area for awhile. It is pouring again. The pictures also answered several questions I had regarding waterfalls. Back to the drawing board. Thanks everyone. You are all a great inspiration. I shall return. :)