First I chose a spot in the backyard. My backyard is up against a railroad easement....its only about 100 yards behind the house! Dividing my property from the RR easement is a earthen berm elevated about 2 feet above yard level and goes downslope towards the railraod on the backside.

Waterfall building, shows berm with forms and concrete slab for the pond base.

 

Along the spine of the berm line I cleared out the brush and chopped back the palmettos plants...enough to give me a clear space approx. 3 feet wide by 12 feet long. It is in this space I will build the waterfall.

I made up a framework of 1x4 pine boards to build a frame, approximately 3 feet wide and about 10 feet long by 4 inches deep, for the footer slab I planned to pour for the back portion of my waterfall. Using the base slab I would then be able to build up the back of the waterfall to a suitable height for the 'most pleasing view of the falling water.

Another view of the first stages of the waterfalls build, shows the styro cooler boxes in the pond slab and shows a bit of the berm buildup.

In front of the rear slab I cleared out a space to contain the waterfall catching pond. I wanted something of suitable size to catch the waterfall runoff and allow it to be a closed loop system and contain the water so it would be recycling water and not run up my water bill.

I went to Home Depot....my waterfall resource!!, and bought a couple pieces of plastic siding trim about 4 inches wide and a pack of wooden marker stakes. I eyeballed the location and using the 4"plastic trim as a containing guide I pounded the wooden stakes into the ground in a oblong circle, thus supporting the edge of the plastic and allowing me to pour a suitable solid cement slab for my waterfalls runoff pond. Another trip or two to Home Depot and approx. 12) 80lb. bags of concrete mix and I was ready to start. Using my trusty wheelbarrow as a mixing container I poured the back wall slab about 3.5 inches and the pond footer slab approx. 3 inches. Prior to the concrete pour I placed a section of 1/2' wire mesh scren into the form to act as rebar reinforcement to the slabs.After it set for a day or so I was ready to continue.