OK guys, sorry in advance but I have about a million questions. Don't know where to start or even where to post this. So many questions that this should probably be multiple posts but here goes.
I bought my property about 20 years ago. Only about 4 acres of land with 1/8 acre pond. Was told 8 ft deep but discovered it has filled in with muck and was only about 4-5 feet deep.
I have limited space and resources to build large pond. My neighbor has a backhoe and we have drained most of the pond (down to 30" of water) added 8" overflow pipe and can only enlarge it to 1/4 acre. Will be working over summer. Probably can only raise dam to get about 9 feet water depth. Questions start now!
1) Need to limit amount of silt coming into pond, read about settling ponds on this site. Pond is fed by small spring but mainly runoff. Runoff is directed into one corner of pond. Again limited size but would a 3ft wide 8 ft long 3 foot deep catch pond with rocks wired together do anything to reduce silt. Probably have room to make two catch ponds before main pond. It's downhill to pond so I'm thinking tiered small ponds before main pond. Any links to designs?

Also read on here about aeration. I know 9 feet in Pennsylvania is not very deep. Also heard aeration helps with muck removal. 2) Is 9 ft deep enough to winter fish in Pennsylvania with aeration? I contacted vertex via email yesterday and will probably make investment if I'm not wasting my time with such small pond.

3) stocking. Always have had small 10" bass usually only about 5 or so. They have reproduced. Have seen fry swimming around in summer. Probably 30 or so adult bluegill. 4 large koi. Have stocked fatheads before and often see them in shallows. Obviously 4 feet of water in 1/8 acre didn't allow many to survive winter. I know the koi and some bluegill are still alive in the 30" of water in pond now. Feeding with pellets. What are my realistic stocking options?? I am close to Zett's fish farm and dreamed of their complete farm pond stocking kit for years now. Read some posts in this forum and now think that variety of fish will never fare well in my small pond. Want to have a place for grand kids to have a ball fishing and love to walk down and pellet feed fish each night. Like to fish it occasionally myself. Getting sold on hybrid stripe bass after reading forums. Considering stocking FHM again next spring. Hope the small group of bluegills will increase in size and won't need to stock more. Also thinking LMB will replenish slowly but wondering if I should buy 5 or so 6-7" bass. Like the idea of a few channel cats too but will pass if pond is too small. Wondering how many HSB would be recommended for my situation. And are HSB to fragile to catch regularly in summer. Will they survive catch and release and will they even bite lures if they are pellet fed. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.