The pond was created in the early 1990s by building a dam at the top of the ravine. What had once been a grassy gully formed by two slopes, north and south, now became a pond as the dam caused water to back up and fill the area. The water is channeled through underground culverts as far as we can tell,from the farm fields across the road. We do know that in summer, when the crop fields are watered, our pond sees an increase in the water level. The excess water drains under the bridge and flows down a small creek through the ravine and eventually, by a circuitous route, through the Arboretum and into the Rideau Canal.

It didn't take long for the pond to look as if it had always been there. Soon there were frogs, and the frogs attracted feeding green herons, the occasional great blue heron and american bittern. Ducks moved in and occasionally nested. Turtles appeared and in one stellar year we had about 3 painted turtles, 1 red-eared slider (a non-native probably released into the pond), a blanding's turtle, and a couple of snapping turtles. Muskrats often live there and one year built a large muskrat house. Beaver have several times spent the winter in the pond. Aquatic invertebrates inhabit the pond, and dragonflies breed there. It has become a thriving and busy place.

The photos in this gallery show the pond from the early days to the present, in all seasons.