poolinstaller

I am attemtping to install an above ground pool on my on own and have run into a problem. I hired a grader and we flattened the area by digging into a slope in my backyard -- my yard is actually fairly flat but to dig back into it to get a flat area he had to remove 2-3 feet of dirt. This has created a dropoff of 2-3' when you walk into my backyard, and when he flattened it he angled it back twd my house slightly and to one corner so water has accumulated from the latest rainstorm (3-4"). The water is starting to dry out and I removed most of it with shop vac today. All I wanted to do was flatten an area in my backyard, and now I have a lake. I'm looking for possible solutions/suggestions. The questions I have are: (1) Since I now have 8" of mud in the area where I wanted to install a pool, what is the best way to get this area properly leveled? Is crushed granite helpful and how is it applied? (2) In general, if one is on a nominal slope, how can you prevent the area under your pool from eventually being washed away? Do I need to install it on a raised area? Is it important to get the pool in quickly right after area is graded? (3) If a concrete pad is the best solution, how are metal "strap channels" that are normally buried in dirt affixed to the cement? Are special ones available for installing on concrete? -- Any help anyone could offer would be appreciated. Thanks.

I am attemtping to install an above ground pool on my on own and have run into a problem. I hired a grader and we flattened the area by digging into a slope in my backyard -- my yard is actually fairly flat but to dig back into it to get a flat area he had to remove 2-3 feet of dirt. This has created a dropoff of 2-3' when you walk into my backyard, and when he flattened it he angled it back twd my house slightly and to one corner so water has accumulated from the latest rainstorm (3-4"). The water is starting to dry out and I removed most of it with shop vac today. All I wanted to do was flatten an area in my backyard, and now I have a lake. I'm looking for possible solutions/suggestions. The questions I have are: (1) Since I now have 8" of mud in the area where I wanted to install a pool, what is the best way to get this area properly leveled? Is crushed granite helpful and how is it applied? (2) In general, if one is on a nominal slope, how can you prevent the area under your pool from eventually being washed away? Do I need to install it on a raised area? Is it important to get the pool in quickly right after area is graded? (3) If a concrete pad is the best solution, how are metal "strap channels" that are normally buried in dirt affixed to the cement? Are special ones available for installing on concrete? -- Any help anyone could offer would be appreciated. Thanks.