Gosh, you guys, thanks so much for all the replies!

Let me try to be a bit more specific about things.

According to the contractor, the "mountain" is all top soil. For dressing up, and leveling the area around the raised banks at the end.

The pond is mostly a dug pond. The banks are raised. When finished, I think they will go from 1ft to 3 ft above grade. But right now, only half the perimeter (the half opposite the mountain) is raised. Meaning, even when the hole I have right now fills up with water, the higher banks (inside the pond) will be left exposed to erosion.

My instinct was to scatter seed everywhere but I was worried I would somehow make the new contractor's job harder come next year. So I don't have to worry about that? I can scatter seeds everywhere even on the exposed pond basin?

I'm also going to explore the straw bale barricade and the tiny 6" dam idea.

I've had this awful knot in my stomach thinking about the year ahead with an unfinished pond to greet me every time I come home... But I'm feeling a lot better after reading your messages.

Thanks again

Maureen