one thing to cross off list. went to court house yesterday and went back through all the deeds and surveys to verify that there was no such easements or like and there is none for neighbors property.
the only easement that came about was a county road being built some time in the 1950's or 1960's and that road is on opposite side of property than of neighbors property.
One other point, boggen - you need to be very cautious about what you say, post, or otherwise share about your situation outside of an eventual attorney-client relationship. There is no legal confidentiality in anything communicated outside of that relationship, meaning anything you say, post, or otherwise communicate can be brought into the litigation process and potentially used against your position in the case. Seeking advice on pond management is great, but just be cautious about the sort of information you choose to share.