I've read lots of posts here with interest.

We grow olives, vegetables and grapes in Crete. Irrigation water is always at a premium, so last winter we got the local JCB driver to dig us a large water reservoir. Its about 5 metres by 6 metres in area and about 3 metres deep, lined with heavy-duty black plastic. The sides are steep, through we did leave a small shelf at one end where the water is a few centimetres now that the reservoir is full. Its packed full of tadpoles with a noisy collection of frogs and toads. We've spotted a snake nearby and the birds and dragonflies love it. It gets lots of sun, of course. The water is fairly green, but that's not much of a problem for irrigation.

The water level will drop by the autumn, but we can make sure it doesn't go dry.

I sat watching the dragonflies the other day and thought 'water lilies!'. They would consume some of the nutrients and help keep down the algae and also make some shade that will slow up evaporation. However, it looks like the water is way too deep.

Any ideas? Or shall I reconcile myself to a strictly utilitarian reservoir.

Thanks