Depht is a limiting factor in it self on some factors.
If the pond is a traditionaly build koi pond they often have a black liner that will atract the sun heat (fast heating)
If it is buldt in concrete you have a material that is holding the heat (heat magazine).
Heat = DO isues.
Koi ponds often dosen't have hideouts because you want to see the fish.
All these things can "easely" be converted if so.
But it might be a mudpond joust dosen't sound like that, since it have 5 feet vertical edges, it might be joust the pic I get in my head from the description.
Post a pic of the dam gives a better visual for us.
Do you have some sort of filter set up?
