Often when I design a pond for a client I try to encorporate certain areas for wildlife and others for primary recreation sites; beach area, bank fishing, dock... Having the shelf around the whole pond is also a good idea to allow emergent plants to stabilize the bank and therefore reduce erosion. Many emergents also produce seeds or foliage which is eaten by waterfowl. Cattails seem to be the biggest problem with this shallow water though.
Robert Burke Aquatic Biologist
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