My family dug a pond 5 years ago and it hasn't filled up and stayed there yet. Filled up once due to heavy rain. The last couple years there has been damp soil and some water coming out about 5 ft above the level of the pond. We've dug many post holes around and some fill up with water and some don't. How to you know where to dig to let the water come out to run into our pond? TIA

posdeer, what size in acreage is your pond? Average depth? How large is your watershed (area draining into your pond). Here in St Louis and much of Missouri, it takes 15 acres of watershed to sustain a one acre pond. I wouldn't count on "holes" helping fill your pond as you are likely only tapping into rainwater stored in the ground and already draining into your pond.

Any wet places on the backside of the dam?

The pond is roughly a 2 acre pond with the deepest about 12 ft. As far as watershed were in a low spot but with a sand Creek running beside the pond. When it rains the creek will flow water for a while. The water isn't up to the dam yet so there wouldn't be any leaking through it. The wet spots are on the west side of the pond with the dam on the south side and the creek on the east side.

Best to do is like you did is post hole dig in the area you want to see about a well to fill the pond. Choose one of the holes that fill the fastest. I would use a back hoe and dig a french well deep as you dare but not deeper then your water level you want in the pond to be full pool. Fill the hole with 3/4" stone and 12"s from the top run a drain tile to your pond. Cover stone with soil felt cloth then cover with top soil and plant grass again.

Basically what will happen is the stone will be your well or res of water as the water pressure fills to the tile it will naturally drain to the pond. The stone well may hit the spring that is really under pressure and give you lots of good cool clean water. IT is hit or miss but if you hit gravel or sand your on the spot. The water veins on the ground are like branches in a tree. Some people say they can witch water, but my neighbor that drills well has never found it worth keeping a paid man on salary and guaranty water for an extra $20 per foot.

Cheers Don.