I build about 20 ponds and lakes a year .I look at alot of factors before I set the depth of a pond.1 try to factor in the amount of runoff erosion that will enter the pond.2who will be using the site and is there going to be alot of kids or young adults using the site.3factor in the amount of trees that will be shedding there leaves each year.4how much water is going in and out of your site.5If there is and area that can be used to get more detph and not damage the hard pan and still leave enough shallows for good fish spawning.I recomend to the ones with young adults or kids to only go to a 12' max depth that is about as far as I can dive down to pull somebody back to the surface in case of an acc.If it starts at this depth it should stay at least 10'deep for many years.And that is the recomended depth to substain healthy fish for the top two thirds of the USA hope this gives you some things to help. DOC

Doc