What is your agreement like with the mining company? If it were me, I'd milk it for everything you can - you want a swimming beach? Have them make one with their earth moving equipment. You want all 3 ponds connected? Draw out a plan for connecting them and have them make it happen. I would have them provide bathymetry data - they dug the holes, they should provide the data. The bathymetry will help you choose locations to add cover, narrow down spawning habitat, and so on

Do you have any vegetation? Curly leaf pond weed? American pond weed? cabbage? etc? Any other fish present other than the shiners?


Locally there are some former sand/gravel pits that were donated to the county for public use a few years back.
https://muscatinecountyconservation.com/mccb-areas/deep-lakes-park/

Mat Peirce
1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond
LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP