Hi Dan,

Dig a trench around the pond - dig down about 18".
Put about 4 or so inches of 2 inch gravel in the trench,
then put the
4" drain hose inside the trench. Cover with landscape
cloth - then put the dirt back into the trench. I also built
a berm about 6 inches tall around the pond. Spread some
large pine bark around the pond. The rainwater doesn't
flow into the pond anymore.
BTW, I had to let the water
drain out from under the liner. Took some time but I
had no choice in the matter.
I did this 8 or 9 years ago and it has worked fine.

You can see a couple of pictures of my muddy pond
on the first website below.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"danrahan" wrote in message
...
After a winter in which the liner spent most of the months near the top
I was looking forward to a summer of getting it straightened out.

The pond is a grade level, the house is atteh bottom of a hill, former
farmland with clay about 1 foot down. The farms tells me they used to
call this lot the swamp.

So after putting a lining of field stones around the perimter and along
most of the bottom. with water level is so high the side push in and the
bottom still comes up in spots.

The fish are happy and thriving.

Any suggestions on how I keep the liner in the hole?

Thanks

Dan