thanks for the sample, it helps me get a perspective on what to expect. Let me know if I later should start a new thread elsewhere.

I'll be taking a soil sample soon, but the holidays will slow things down a bit. Thanks all, for the help and the advice to do an early soil sample.

Today I pulled dimensions, and shot some elevations, bank and interior. I want to know what I have before the dirt work starts, as a reference to what gets done and what can be done. I'm going to post up those elevations/dimensions to see if I can get recommendations, particularly interested in a shallow area perhaps six feet deep. May take a day or so though to make a chart.