Wheres the leak? Why cant you stop it? have you tried all the usuals like big sheet of plastic on the inside to plug the hole the pressure from the water should stop it how about using some of the stop mentiones on this site. Is it deep or shallow (the leak) is it coming from under the damn? did you build a keyway? Many questions you left unanswered. Draining it is not an option everyone needs a pond give us a little more info on the leak where how deep down what you have already tried, what youve thought about. How much money are you willing to spend to fix it instead if draining it. What kind of soil do you have? There is a lot of help here so give the whole scoop and watch everyone try and help you. We can give you all kinds of ideas but its up to you on time and money and know how. A quater inch a day is not that bad if you have the rain to support it what you will have to worry about is erosion.