Looking good! You have some of my fav tools. The blue contractor wheelbarrow. They last and last. I always wanted to paint the Bobcat logo on mine. And a grain shovel, great for moving material.

I think you have the right idea on doing a little and seeing how you like it. Best way imo.

Redwood roots are pretty shallow. Soaker hose might be better. You might even think about a trickle water change system for the pond. That's where you put a drip head, like 1 gal per hour (depends on pond size) running 24/7 and the pond over flows. Gives you really good water quality. I think the overflow would be good for the redwoods. If you're using water in the landscape may as well get two uses out of it. For the overflow you could build up the top of the pond a bit except where you want the overflow to go. You sure have enough liner. From there you could make a stream to the redwoods assuming not too far. Just an idea.

I miss the Bay Area.

Fantastic work! The two of you have been VERY busy. This will be a beautiful pond when it's completed. As for putting rocks in the bottom, be aware that it's much easier to clean a pond without the rocks down below which catch and hold lots of debris. The liner will eventually get a natural coating of algae fur, if you will and it will not look like black liner. Also, once fish and plants are put in that will disguise the bottom liner more.

Whichever way you chose, it's going to be beautiful.

Bluelake, mortared rock is easy to and because it looks so good it's a pleasure to clean. Easier than wrinkled liner imo. I personally have never seen a pond with a natural coating of algae fur. Sides sure. Bottom is always covered in muck or if the pond is vacuumed every couple of weeks some algae and muck.

I think it's a matter of personal taste. I've never liked the look of liner wrinkles, pipes, pumps, pots and filters in the bottom of the pond. There's a long standing knee jerk reaction in pond forums to rocks in a pond...bah, bah, bah, rocks, bah, bah. Unjustified imo. Loose rocks are an issue. Mortared rock no problem.

Thanks, Guys. It was a lot of work, but it was really great to see it with water. To clarify, we were thinking to mortar the bottom, and mortar the rocks in, but only put rocks in specific areas. Sort of get a river rock in sandy bottom effect.

Bluelake, I appreciate the comments, and had already heard others say that loose rock was a bad idea, esp if we have koi. We're going to start with goldfish, but might add some koi later. Again, baby steps...

Waterbug, there are some tools that are indispensable. That wheelbarrow is definitely one of them. I also have a six foot digging bar that is a good friend. : ) The redwood overflow is a great idea, but unfortunately, the trees are 150' away from the pond. I am going to look at setting up some way to reuse the back flush and pond vac water constructively, though. I have a tetra pressurized filter w/UV that I just put in the ground, so when I use that I don't want to waste the water. Likewise, I got a pond-o-vac 4, and I should use the water from that too. We have nearby ferns, roses, and assorted flowers that might appreciate the occasional muck and fish poo...

If I could, I'd like your opinions on an idea we've been toying with. If you look at the photos, the waterfall is right next to a skinny connecting channel between the small and large pond areas. We were thinking of perhaps taking the rocks that we cover the waterfall structure with, and using them to cover a portion of the channel to make a fish tunnel. There will be a fairly high flow through the channel, so I don't know how much the fish would use it. Flow might be ~30gph through there. Do you think it would be good for the fish?
Thanks, Mike

Fish love flow. When they spawn in the wild the water flow from rain is one of the triggers to swim into the flow to find flooded areas to spawn.

Shalom, my pond vac, can't remember the name - anyway, I use tie a fine mesh bag over the end of the discharge to catch the good stuff and that let's the water return into the pond, so I only loose maybe a quart or so.

The tunnel will also provide protection from visiting non-invited dinner guests.

Pond botton needs to be a continous solid type base, be it a liner or rocks, (if mortored) for ease of cleaning.
McKool

WOW!!! What a labor of LOVE! You will enjoy this soooo much! Ponds are never done, you will have many hours of tweeking and primping it! lol! Plus your new fish babies to luv...;-)