Here is an after picture. The middle of the pond - narrow section is the channel where the liners were seamed. I followed the same process that Cliff and Joann did on their pond. That section is approximately an 8" height enough for fish to swim across. So far (knock wood) the water level hasn't dropped. I hold my breath every day when I look outside to see it. It went from approximately 900 to 1,000 gallons to about 1700 - 1800.

Here is another view from the other side.

Nice job and a great looking pond! I like it very much. I thought about doing the same thing two years ago but lost my nerve.
Did you do anything to create water flow and aeration in the pond addition?
Mike

Looks great!

wow!...It looks fantastic! sooo pretty...I knew you could do it!

I bet the fish love the extra swimming room.

Good luck with the pond.
Joann

Thanks Joann and CaraRose. Yes the fish seem quite happy. It took them an hour or so before they ventured into the new area, but now they go back and forth all the time.

Mike56, yes I have a pump and filter - it's a shelf top skimmer with pump that sits under a couple of rocks. It pumps into a waterfalls in the new pond (where there are 3 large rocks that are taller than the coping rocks). Hard to see in the photo. It's more like a fast trickle instead of a robust waterfalls. The pump is across from that under rocks around the edge.
I understand why you would lose your nerve. I thought about it for a year before even making the suggestion to my husband!. There were some stressful moments, but I'm so glad I did it.

Great looking pond!!!

Wow, that is beautiful! Nice work.

Beautiful pond and surroundings!

Thanks to all for the kind words. Of course now the temps are dropping and the fish aren't leaving the original pond and swimming in the new part.

I'm in central NY. Are everyone else's fish sitting idle at bottom of pond already? Maybe I never paid that much attention before.