Good idea to get this squared away before construction. Once it gets going, it's pretty difficult to make changes, decisions, etc.. The guys I had working on the pond had a lot of different things going on, besides my pond. Juggling in between storms, getting their crops in and out, getting the NRCS rep in there. I felt lucky to get it done. I found out about the siphon drain too late in the process, to try and make changes. I'm planning on aeration in the near future, hoping that will offset some of the gains of the siphon system.
Where in Missouri are you? I'm up near Hannibal. (My pond is)

12 yr old pond, 1 ac, 15' deep.
RES, YP, GS, FHM (no longer), HBG (decreasing), SMB, and HSB (only two have been seen in 5 yrs)
I think that's about all I should put in my little pond.
Otter attack in 2023.