Hi Mike,
My pond shore looks just like yours. I can't tell why you think your edges slope in very steep, Unless you mean the part starting about 4 or 5' back from the edge, and then progressing to the water line? Once you are at the water line, judging by the leaves on the bottom and guessing how tall your dog is it appears the slope of the bottom UNDER the water is fairly gradual, maybe 6 to 1?
I can see getting a mower on the edge up to the water may be a bit of a challenge.
Does your pond fluctuate water level in summer like a typical ground water pond? If so, you may tolerate what you have till mid summer and then when water is down you could regrade the banks (maybe a box blade or back blade and a small utility tractor?) and reseed?
I have a clay bottom so any stone I put in the water will disappear.
I like my banks to be grass right down to the water and when the water is low, I like to try to plant grass on the exposed 'bottom' as well. To me this helps with erosion, and I love it when my kids can walk to the edge on a good rooted bank to keep the feet from getting muddy and to yet help them get right to the waters edge to see what is there (and use their dip nets!) without barrier. Probably small gravel would work just as well for allowing good access and keeping the mud to a minimum. My fear with putting stone all around is how to keep the weeds controlled without chemicals or hand picking them all.
I live to just buzz around the bank with my rider and be done. I admit on one side of my pond the bank is a bit steep and I feel like the rider is tipped a bit but it isn't near at the tipping point compared to those on the forum who mow the sides of their dams!
I did have some erosion and lost part of my steep bank, so the roots and grass are appreciated. (I think a long gone muskrat also started the hole under the bank that started the collapse!)
If mowing the edge is the concern then I agree with others above that a foot of mulch around the outside might be the ticket.
Probably one other thought to avoid weeks would be to consider crushed concrete, but whether you do fine limestone, crushed concrete, pea gravel, rip rap etc it all sounds like work to get it all installed!
We'd love to see your 'after it is done' pictures.
