Very interesting Typhoon and a very enjoyable set of pics.
I do have one suggestion re: the lake building. Instead of burning all of the trees you push down, you should consider building a few brush piles after you complete the finished contour. Setting the base in 4-8' of water would be ideal.
Of course, this may not be compatible with the plans you have for the lake. But if you are building it as a fishing lake, adding hard structure at this time will pay big dividends down the road.