When my pond builder created the building pad, I told him that I wanted the exposed shoreline to be 4:1 so it is (barely) manageable for mowing. I then told him that I wanted the balance of the slope underwater to be much steeper to minimize cat tails and shoreline vegetation growth. He balked. He told me that I was creating a hidden disaster waiting to happen. He continued to explain the illusion of a wide, consistent exposed shoreline that suddenly changed just beyond the viewable area, and all the unknowing lawn tractors that just might slip down below the waterline, the unknowing guys or kids wading out, etc.
