Ted,
Let me try and recall what I had posted....THANK YOU for humoring me and my overindulgence of info. I don't believe I've ever had someone in a forum accept it quite so well. lol

-Question: When you say sub-pump, would this be something we tie directly into the pipe where the spring is? I really have no experience with a sub-pump besides one being in a basement of childhood home.

Now, prepare to be horrified, shocked and flabbergasted. I have photos! You have been warned...it's scary!
**Note...the walls (resembling a vinyl version of the Grand Canyon) have basically been this way for years (was noticeable the first year we personally opened the pool, which was about a year after the install), although the vermiculite slippage seems to get worse each year.

Believe it or not, the leak has nothing to do with the walls. Once you see the photos, you will see why we are so stumped as to what to do at this point. As you stated (thank you for that info about how relining will not solve the problem until the spring issue is addressed. No one has ever said that to us.