When you go to advice tab, you will see Gardenweb heading, under that you will see Garden Forums. Click there and you'll find a whole section on ponds and lots of specific advice.

Thanks. I've searched on here before, still looking for advice, particularly concerning my waterfall and solar questions

There is a lot of info online of how to build your pond. You should have good filtration if you plan on having fish. In the winter you need a bubbler to keep the water from freezing completely across if you have fish, or a small trough heater.
You may consult with a local pond company for help doing it right. I am jealous! I would love to have a koi pond in my backyard!

I only have a couple in-ground 300 gallon stocktank ponds, so I can't address most of your questions. But I did want to ask what temperature zone you're in. Also.....is this mostly in the woods? I'm wondering if you will have enough sun for a solar pump. Also....since I'm seeing woods there, I have to warn you that animals, especially raccoons will possibly decimate your plants and eat your fish. Sorry to be negative.....just trying to give you a heads up. Coons LOVE ponds....especially when they have shelves around them. good luck!

We have a 30' hand dug pond in our backyard in Oregon with a 30 mil liner. We did not put rocks under it, and finally after 12 years had a cottonwood tree root up in the center. I have no idea how! So be super clean under it to avoid those type issues. We had a torpedo pump and a waterfall unit with several layers of organic filters ( maybe called a biofilter?). Never had any problem with clean water. Problems we did have: Herons and raccoons that loved eating my Koi. Enjoy that pond -we did.

Catherinet, we live in Zone 6B/7A. There is a small parcel of forest around part of our property, we are surrounded by neighbors and the yard is open, not really in the woods. There is a lot of sun in the spot shown on non-cloudy days. We'll be planting state natives which should be hardier to the native fauna. I'll keep the 'coons in mind.

P.D.B., thanks, we will make sure to have plenty of underlayment and a clean base. We'll be getting goldfish or mosquito fish, whatever gets eaten is cheaply replaced, hopefully the rest can hide in the deepest part...

I would not do shelves because over the years the dirt falls down at the edges and becomes un-level and then plants cannot sit on them. Shelves also allow access for critters. You can make elevated plant stands with wide bases cheaply. Do you have muskrats in your area? Yes, you will have snakes, "fishing" birds, frogs and everything else. If you build it they will find it.

Is the yard fenced? You'll need complete fencing to keep kids out; this "attractive nuisance" may otherwise effect your insurance (and for safety, of course).

So we have a smaller pond than what you are planning but ours is deeper to make sure the fish survive the winter .We have had ponds in our yards for a long time and we have always used a filetr and plants that help with that . Other thna that our pond is pretty much left to nature with plants I scoop out the overgrown oxygenators every spring being careful to not get the fish in the mess. All that stuff goes on my flower beds it make awesome compost . So I would make the pond at least 4 ‘ deep and I just use clay pots turned upside down for perimeter plants with a shelf just at one end. All the oxygeanators afford the fish hiding space form the birds and snakes . We are not required to fence a pond where I live byt we have a pool which needs it.We use a plug in pump since in the winter we keep that running and a solar one would probably not work