As a long-time lurker and new member, I am interested in hearing any experiences and solutions with pond leakage through rock strata.

I just purchased an acreage in southern Indiana with a .6 acre pond that could be larger in surface area according to neighboring landowners. They are telling me the pond leaks through the rock strata. The pond is essentially the hole that was left when the acreage was strip mined for coal in the 1990's. The geology in the area is characteristic of a shallow soil overburden underlain by layers of sedimentary shale that host the coal seam.

The site was reclaimed by the state and there are no visible rock outcroppings, so I think the water finds its way through the soil to the disturbed rock.

Any ideas on how this problem can be remediated without major surgery to the site? Thanks for any and all replies!