Is the intention to 'over-winter' by have some kind of creek/river-like flow through the BOW?
Yes, that is one aspect that could be advantageous relative to a small farm pond. I think I could divert some water flow from the bottom of the creek, even during the coldest portions of our Kansas winters.
The creek sometimes gets thin ice during portions of the winter, but then the water level drops and a nice air pocket develops under the ice. Or we get a warm front and some precipitation raises the water level and messes up the ice.
