MWB, welcome to the forum. My place isn’t along I-70, but I did spend four years in Columbia back in the 70s. So I’m attached to Boone County.
Lots of great info and contacts on this forum.
I went through a pond build four and a half years ago. Mine was a stressful build, because I had crappy clay and too much rock. Went over budget, almost shut it down before it was completed.
Result is hours and hours of fun. Grandkids love it, and even grandma will jump in when the weather is hot enough.
Good luck with your build. I’ll follow along with interest.
Jeff

9 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (going away), SMB, and HSB (only one seen in 5 yrs) Restocked HSB (2020) Have seen one of these.
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023