Thanks for the encouragement guys, I know there will be less wicking when there is more water in it. I am hoping this is all it is. I do have the opportunity to pump from a creek which is what I will be doing since the rains have been insufficient.
The pond does not have a dam, it is built over a buried valley aquifer hence the need for the clay liner. The builder feels that the pond needs to fill completely to saturate the liner, he does not see a problem at this point. Until the pond has filled he cannot make any determinations.