Hey Tim...dam (oops) glad you're here!
I spent countless hours staring at topo maps over the last 4 or 5 years...up until about 18 months ago when I finally bought the property that a topo map represented. I must confess that I still get excited when I see one with alot of grade lines, particularly when they come together to form a potential pondsite.
Your draw to the left side (west?) is the one that would have me pouring another cup of coffee. The drawback (oops again) is the amount of drainage you have going into that draw. Presumably that dotted line is your primitive road access to the 2 deluxe building sites...? If would be way cool to back up that draw with a dam about 2/3 of the way down to the bottomland with the water backing up to just short of the road as it dips between the summits. Oh yeah, baby...can ya see the cabin or home built into the side of the hill of one summit with enough trees cleared to view the new pond?...walkout basement with windows looking out?
OK, OK....back to reality.
As noted, your feedstock of water will be near the top of necessary construction criteria. The spring you note can be good and bad...they can reverse and drain. If the spring is considerably higher up the hill and within the pond so that the head pressure of full pool is minimized, it will be helpful. How far up the draw does the spring eminate?
NRCS cooperation varies greatly. I don't recall what the concensus is in Alabama, but even within a single state I have heard stories on this forum that it will vary just as much. Your first meeting with the agent will tell you alot about their temperature. There are really no list of tips except to bone up on what it takes to build it like you were going to just go ahead and do it yourself. Ultimately, you can be your own best ally or enemy. The one true constant is to become knowledgeable and remain in control. A good NRCS office will help you in the knowledgeable department. Bring back the input and posture so we can kick it around a little bit.
I hope your NRCS agent is as helpful as the many guys and gals I worked with in Illinois. If this is the case, you will walk away reassured that your pond construction team is coming together. This is, indeed, a great way to start a project like this.
