The Millpond Story
Historic Alton Millpond circa 1905
The Alton Millpond is part of the Alton Mill property. The pond was created approximately 125 years ago by the damming of Shaw’s Creek (a tributary of the Credit River) to power the “Beaver Knitting Mill”, now the Alton Mill Arts Centre.
The rehabilitation project is a community based environmental project.
What’s the problem with the pond?
Simply put, the pond is deteriorating over time due to the following factors:
1. Silt build-up: A hundred and twenty-five years of silt build-up and a gradual infilling of the pond is taking place.
Without action, the pond will be completely filled in over the next two to five decades.
2. The warming of the water: Cold water fish, such as brook trout, cannot be sustained in the warm water above the
dam.
3. Barrier to fish passage: The dam itself is a barrier to the natural movement of the creek's native fish.
4. Pollution: Storm sewers empty directly into the millpond from the municipal water system without any measures to
reduce inflows of silt, road salts, fertilizers, and other contaminants that enter the storm sewer system. This type of
stormwater management system is very outdated and not up to current standards.
What will the project accomplish?
1. Improve the ecosystem health and fish habitat of Shaw’s Creek.
2. Create a publically accessible, year-round recreational and educational feature for community including space for
two ice rinks.
3. Lower pollution by working with others to mitigate untreated stormwater flow into the pond from the surrounding
village.
4. Creatively infuse public art into every aspect of the project.
5. Stabilize the dam and associated structures to improve safety and prevent groundwater seepage into the mill
building.
6. Restore, if possible, the ability to generate hydro-electric power and generate revenue to cover ongoing
maintenance costs.
7. End the accumulation of new silt and allow it to flow downstream, restoring natural processes, as well as removing
some of the accumulated silt.
What's next?
After several years of work by the project committee, together with funds raised to date from the Millpond Hockey Classic, other events at the Alton Mill, and a grant from Environment Canada, a Master Plan (see below) was prepared in 2015 that shows how the project vision could look. A non-profit corporation called the Alton Millpond Association was incorporated in 2016 to oversee the project. A Trillium grant was received in 2017 to develop detailed plans necessary to obtain permits required for the actual physical work of implementing the project itself. We are hoping to have the project "shovel ready" by the fall of 2019 and further fundraising will be required to proceed with the actual work.
As well, community volunteers and continued support from outside organizations such as the CVC and Trout Unlimited will be crucial to bring this exciting project to fruition.
The Alton Mill Arts Centre, owner of the millpond, is pleased to be the host of this annual community event.
The rehabilitation project is a community based environmental project.
What’s the problem with the pond?
Simply put, the pond is deteriorating over time due to the following factors:
1. Silt build-up: A hundred and twenty-five years of silt build-up and a gradual infilling of the pond is taking place.
Without action, the pond will be completely filled in over the next two to five decades.
2. The warming of the water: Cold water fish, such as brook trout, cannot be sustained in the warm water above the
dam.
3. Barrier to fish passage: The dam itself is a barrier to the natural movement of the creek's native fish.
4. Pollution: Storm sewers empty directly into the millpond from the municipal water system without any measures to
reduce inflows of silt, road salts, fertilizers, and other contaminants that enter the storm sewer system. This type of
stormwater management system is very outdated and not up to current standards.
What will the project accomplish?
1. Improve the ecosystem health and fish habitat of Shaw’s Creek.
2. Create a publically accessible, year-round recreational and educational feature for community including space for
two ice rinks.
3. Lower pollution by working with others to mitigate untreated stormwater flow into the pond from the surrounding
village.
4. Creatively infuse public art into every aspect of the project.
5. Stabilize the dam and associated structures to improve safety and prevent groundwater seepage into the mill
building.
6. Restore, if possible, the ability to generate hydro-electric power and generate revenue to cover ongoing
maintenance costs.
7. End the accumulation of new silt and allow it to flow downstream, restoring natural processes, as well as removing
some of the accumulated silt.
What's next?
After several years of work by the project committee, together with funds raised to date from the Millpond Hockey Classic, other events at the Alton Mill, and a grant from Environment Canada, a Master Plan (see below) was prepared in 2015 that shows how the project vision could look. A non-profit corporation called the Alton Millpond Association was incorporated in 2016 to oversee the project. A Trillium grant was received in 2017 to develop detailed plans necessary to obtain permits required for the actual physical work of implementing the project itself. We are hoping to have the project "shovel ready" by the fall of 2019 and further fundraising will be required to proceed with the actual work.
As well, community volunteers and continued support from outside organizations such as the CVC and Trout Unlimited will be crucial to bring this exciting project to fruition.
The Alton Mill Arts Centre, owner of the millpond, is pleased to be the host of this annual community event.
The Master Plan
Click on the project's website altonmillpond.org to get the latest on the project and to check out the entire Millpond Rehabilitation Master Plan.
Alton Mill Arts Centre circa 2010
