After a cold beverage, and thinking about it further, I came up with a new plan.... please let me know if you think this is a bad idea or not!
Instead of putting the hose bib either before the pump (equipment is below the water level) or after the pump (before the filter), I think that changing a ball valve on the skimmer to a 3 way valve and adding a hose bib there makes the most sense. This would only put pressure on the poppet valve (for the hose bib assembly) when the ball valve was turned in a direction to do so.
I may not even do a hose bib.... I may make the "third direction" a 2" PVC pipe that is burried underground and routed to where my back yard starts to drop off. THis would mean that all I have to do to lower water level would be turn the ball valve. I may also have to run the pump to depending on exactly where it comes out, and the water level, but that seems allot more simple. Also, going with 2" PVC should make dropping water level faster.....
The run would be about 350-400' but would be simple enough with the tractor.
THoughts?