P.S. I am hoping to do a similar DIY pond project on our property. However, if you are going to post significantly more in this thread, I don't want to clutter it.

If you are so inclined, could you post here or in a new thread, "Lessons learned DIY excavating a pond"?

I will make plenty of mistakes and inefficiencies on my own project, so if I can eliminate one or two taking your advice, then that would be greatly appreciated!