I have a creek that runs thru my property. They dug test holes for gravel at various spots across the whole property. They dug right next to the creek (100') down 30'. No water at all went into the hole. Dug out a 1000' from the creek and down 30'. At the bottom, a raging river flushing into the hole and out the other side. Good gravel prospects, because water find the path of least resistance and will travel thru gravel before soil.
My point is, a creek, river, etc, may be contained where its at because of topography, but also because of soils too. The water in the creek may not find a way to a lower spot because of a clay liner, so on it goes. The stuff underground is doing the same thing, just we can't see it. Similar to a car and an interstate system, where you have bridges going over other roads, but you just cant get to them right away.
Pond being higher than your creek might just mean that there is a clay liner between the two, and what is keeping all that other water up there too. Break that liner, and ugh ohhh, there goes your pond!!!! Sure it could be draining some in there already thru small veins, but the inflow of water into that spot is greater than what may be leaving. So yes, you might have a great flow thru, or not.
