move back about away from the pond edge about 25 feet and dig a small hole straight down, observing and noting the amount of moisture in the soil. When you get down to about 2 or 3 feet, make sure the hole is fairly clear of loose soil and let it sit for a day...or even a few hours. (put a piece of 3/4" plywood or something similar to keep peep's and critters from falling in)
We're looking for moisture in the surrounding soils, in areas that would not be affected by the pond, but close enough to be considered the same potential water table as the pond footprint.
