what are the best reading/listening/watching materials on pond digging,...?

What are the best written resources on pond building without liners? I frequently hear mention on "don’t do X unless you know what you're doing" How does one come to learn?

I'm aware of some books or online instructions
http://www.amazon.com/Desert-Paradise-Endangered-Landscapes-Construction/dp/1603584641

There are several examples and teachings in there. In particular, I like how he talks about putting the ponds where the topography requires only small sections of dam.

FAO http://fisheries.btc.ctc.edu/Manuals/FAO%20Fish%20Handbook.pdf
Talks a little about soil types and how thick the retaining wall needs to be.

Perfect Pond. Want one? Seems to be well reviewed on pondboss.
http://www.pondboss.com/item.asp?id=11&r=store%2Easp%3Fc%3D8

Tim Matson’s books seem well reviewed on amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Ponds-Building-Maintenance-Restoration/dp/158157147X

http://www.amazon.com/Earth-Ponds-Sourcebook-Owners-Resource/dp/0881503584

The earthworks kickstarter next month, of course


I’m considering buying some property an hour or two east of Portland OR, so drier and warmer. I want someplace for the kids to play. My understanding is that the soil there tends to be less clayey than this side of the cascades.


How do I get to the point where I can evaluate a property and competently build it myself or intelligently communicate with a builder?

What are the go-to resources?

If you are planning a move to eastern OR, I would recommend giving OR's water rights laws a careful examination before making any plans for pond digging. Just like here in WA, nobody west of the Cascades pays much attention to those laws, but once you move into the rain shadow, it is a whole different story. Neighbors will often turn you in if your property looks too green compared to theirs.

I'm not trying to be a Negative Nelly here, but you should have a fairly good understanding of those laws before investing time/money into projects 'on the east side'. It's not like here where we often wish it would quit raining.