I'm breaking ground shortly on an 11 acre foot oval shaped pond that will be 20' deep with 2/1 interior slopes all around. It's to store water for irrigation, but most years, we'll only draw it down between 10%-30%. Location is northern California (west Sonoma County).

What are the indispenseable maintenance steps I need to implement as soon as the pond fills up for the first time this winter? May consider fish later, but for now, I just want to avoid run away problems with water quality, the underwater living environment and the plant community along the variable water's edge.

I appreciate that some maintenance techniques are highly site specific. In my area, Summer is dry and generally mild, and winter is cool and rainy.

On the other hand, I suspect there are some essentials that should be considered regardless of where you are located. For example, should I give serious consideration to installing an aeration system because it is certain to pay greater dividends in decreased chemical or physical maintenance down the road?

I am happy "do nothing" and see what develops, but my instincts tell me that "an ounce of prevention" with a pond of this size is "definitely going to be worth a pound of cure."

Thanks in advance for your thoughts and suggestions.