Our farm has one pond about 3/4 acre in size that is replenished by surface runoff only.  Currently, it is nearly empty after pumping so much water onto the dessicated field in the summer to get it ready for bedmaking.  It is too shallow to run the PTO pump, but I can still run the electric pump for the drip system.  Before embarking on this venture, I confirmed with the city that I could purchase water from them through a fire hydrant next to the field, but now Charlotte has severe water restrictions and I doubt they will sell me water that I may need for frost protection. 

There is zero runoff filling the pond because the fields are like dry sponges.

I have dug a huge hole down below the pond with the backhoe where I can collect runoff water coming from a very large area that doesn't flow into the pond.  I've run 4 inch pipe from the hole back to the pond and pre-staged the suction pipe in the hole.  I will monitor storm activity via weather radar on the Internet and set up the tractor pump in the event of a significant rain and hope to pump some water into the pond.

I've had  the first successful pumping operation since setting up this operation.  We had a night of rain, saturating the ground, followed by several hours of moderate rain during which I pumped.  I was able to pump for around 2 hours at 500 gpm estimated.  A few more of these and I should get the pond back up.