I'd put in a well to feed the pond....judging by the results of your test dig a cheap shallow well could provide some decent water. Hand driven sand point maybe? No expert here but you'd only need enough flow to overcome any ground seep and evaporation. Considering you don't have a ton of surface area the evaporation should be minimal but ground seep could be a different scenario all together.

The well would get you through the tough times but shouldn't be needed when you get out of the drought


Mat Peirce
1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond
LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP