SoSauty,
Our pond project required clearing the entire pondsite of pretty thick timber. Alot of it was pole size, but there was an ocassional thick Hickory, Walnut, or Cherry that broke my heart to mow down...just gotta do it.
Once the waterzone was opened up, the entire picture I had in my head changed. I was warned that it would...it does. I have a pretty slick contractor doing the work and he suggested that I consider pushing the timberline back a little further to allow a roadway to follow the perimeter of the pond. He reminded me that some of the trees (or portions) will eventually wind up in the drink and I will want to be able to get to 'em to clean house. Besides, this will push them back about 20 - 30 feet from the edge, eliminating (perhaps) some of the leaves that fall from winding up in the water. My brother supports this engineering idea for another very important reason. He put in a 3 ac pond in MI. and is throwing me advice. The one thing that he says that he enjoys the most is the ability to take walks around the pond...it's therapeutic. I believe .3 acre can provide the same.
I'm inclined to cut every tree back 75' from the dam and 60' elsewhere. Should some smaller trees be left in closer? Would you clear cut back more?
Good landscaping technique promotes irregular vegetation patterns along the shoreline. A consistent vegetation line parallel to the shore is less desirable.
