Piping generally is by gravity. Laying pipe above ground will work as a temporary measure, though the pipe will not last as long as it will when you bury it. Once you're in a drought, digging stock ponds may not provide a solution. Chances generally are poor that precipitation will accumulate to fill these ponds. Fencing and troughing will minimize water loss and improve drinking quality.
Ponds lose water through evaporation and seepage.
Plastic bottom lining is not effective on a pond if you expect it to dry out, if nothing shelters it from the next hailstorm, or if it's likely to be trampled by wildlife or livestock. Water from seasonal streams You can develop small ponds near seasonal streams and fill them during periods of high water. You could fence these ponds and hold the water until the stream dries up later in the summer, which will provide water further into the grazing season. Top Vegetation management Manage vegetation to improve the capture, storage, and beneficial release of precipitation. If properly managed, vegetation helps protect the soil from raindrop impact during summer and concrete frost formation during winter.