Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Soil questions will uncompacted clay bottom settle?

From your description, I'd say you have an extremely good chance of keeping it at full pool all year long. I have heavy red clay here. If I dig a hole anywhere downhill from in a normally damp spot, I can figure it will have water in it most of the year. Three weeks ago I did a pond much like you describe, exce it did get rolled and compacted. It toojk less than three weeks to fill. I'm using my phone, so I can't easily add a link. But if you search for Catmandoo Pond II, you should be able to find what I did. I plan to add fish this week.

Good luck,
Ken