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FACT SHEET: Teeterville Pond Wetland Early Dam and Mill Significance to Teeterville In 1860 George Teeter built a grist mill, saw mill and two flumes, one for each mill. He also enlarged and rebuilt the original wooden dam built on Big Creek in 1830 that was used to float logs. By 1869 Teeterville flourished and the mills employed 25 men. The Mill property was separated from the farm and changed ownership many times over the decades and the mill property was last sold to the Big Creek Conservation Authority in 1944. Ontario Wetland Evaluation System The Teeterville Pond Wetland was first inventoried in March 1993 and determined to be at 165 hectares, or 408 acres in size. The wetland inventory was updated in 2006 to reflect updated provincial inventory guidelines. Based on a science based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System which scores wetland function and societal values, the Teeterville Pond Wetland has been identified by the province as a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW). The province considers Provincially Significant Wetlands as being the most valuable. Because of their importance Ontario has established authority in provincial Acts including the Planning Act, and Conservation Authorities Act and their associated regulations, for municipalities and Conservation Authorities to manage wetlands and restrict land use activities. Why is the Teeterville Pond Wetland so valuable? Long gone are the days when wetlands are considered of little or no value and were reclaimed by draining them or filling them in. Wetlands act like giant sponges and are vital to the health of our province. Teeterville Pond Wetland is significant because as
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FACT SHEET: Teeterville Pond Wetland
Early Dam and Mill Significance to Teeterville
In 1860 George Teeter built a grist mill, saw mill and two flumes, one for each mill. He also enlarged and rebuilt the original wooden dam built on Big Creek in 1830 that was used to float logs. By 1869 Teeterville flourished and the mills employed 25 men. The Mill property was separated from the farm and changed ownership many times over the decades and the mill property was last sold to the Big Creek Conservation Authority in 1944.
Ontario Wetland Evaluation System
The Teeterville Pond Wetland was first inventoried in March 1993 and determined to be at 165 hectares, or 408 acres in size. The wetland inventory was updated in 2006 to reflect updated provincial inventory guidelines.
Based on a science based ranking system known as the Ontario Wetland Evaluation System which scores wetland function and societal values, the Teeterville Pond Wetland has been identified by the province as a Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW). The province considers Provincially Significant Wetlands as being the most valuable. Because of their importance Ontario has established authority in provincial Acts including the Planning Act, and Conservation Authorities Act and their associated regulations, for municipalities and Conservation Authorities to manage wetlands and restrict land use activities.
Why is the Teeterville Pond Wetland so valuable?
Long gone are the days when wetlands are considered of little or no value and were reclaimed by draining them or filling them in. Wetlands act like giant sponges and are vital to the health of our province. Teeterville Pond Wetland is significant because as part of the Big Creek watershed it flows into the Long Point Biosphere Reserve on the shores of Lake Erie. As part of the Ontario Wetland Conservation Strategy for Ontario 2017-2030, Ontario in partnership with the Government of Canada, is improving water quality, restoring valuable habitats and supporting environmental protection for wetlands around Lake Erie.
Wetlands are very important in sustaining life, big and small. Teeterville Pond Wetland is home to several species at risk including two species of special concern and one threatened species. One other threatened species, the Least Bittern is reported to have been a summer resident in the wetland in the past. The Teeterville Pond Wetland also supports significant fish and wildlife habitat and is important regionally as a stopover for migratory birds.
Threatened Resource
Wetlands are sensitive ecosystems and under pressure from invasive species, pollution, and land conversion. Teeterville Pond Wetland is also threatened by a failing dam infrastructure. Because of dam safety concerns, the Long Point Region Conservation Authority has left the Teeterville dam at its lowest possible operating level since 2016. The lower operating level reduces the beneficial ecological values of the Teeterville Pond Wetland with reduced wetland function and habitat for fish and wildlife during low water levels. A financial commitment from Norfolk County will be required to repair the Teeterville dam.
What can we do?
Without action, our wetlands will be severely impacted, with many likely to disappear in the face of these significant threats? For the Teeterville Pond Wetland, the local residents must continue to protect the shore land vegetation, and avoid runoff from surrounding farmlands and residences. We must increase public and political awareness to the significance of the Teeterville Pond Wetland. Everyone must make sure that decisions are consistent with Provincial Policy, Legislation and Strategies that protect provincially significant wetlands, threatened species and fish and wildlife habitat and populations. The importance of maintaining the integrity of the wetland to sustain all of the ecological and social values by facilitating repairs to the dam must be communicated broadly.
Adult Female Blandings Turtle returning to Teeterville Pond Wetland after egg laying.
Low water levels on the Teeterville Pond Wetland
