Eric, I'd try to find another location for the pond. Here's the problem. A well indicates the location of an aquifer, usually water bearing sand. If you inundate it, your pond could, and probably will, flow backward into the well/aquifer. The depth of the well indicates the depth of the aquifer. It's all about something called head pressure. Head pressure from the aquifer fills the void in the ground that is created by digging the well. If you get enough rain to totally fill the aquifer from your pond, it will temporarily stop flowing backwards into that aquifer. However when dry weather hits, the aquifer will become somewhat depleted and the head pressure will be greater from above (your pond).

Anytime a pond digger hits sand or water bearing sand, he knows to stop digging and cover it with clay. This is the absolute lower limit of the pond depth.

To illustrate: I had a small pond that seldom totally dried up. I figured there was a seep spring down there that I could use to keep the pond totally filled. I rented a backhoe and dug down to the water level. Then, no rain came for months. The pond water ran backward into the spring/aquifer and I lost the whole works. I finally filled the bottom with bentonite and then a couple of feet of clay. It is now holding water nicely from runoff.

I expect somebody here can give advice on the switch.

It's not about the fish. It's about the pond. Take care of the pond and the fish will be fine. PB subscriber since before it was in color.

Without a sense of urgency, Nothing ever gets done.

Boy, if I say "sic em", you'd better look for something to bite. Sam Shelley Rancher and Farmer Muleshoe Texas 1892-1985 RIP Grandpa