The Wheatley River Improvement Group (WRIG) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to the protection and management of six Prince Edward Island watersheds covering 90 square kilometers: Wheatley River, Chapel Creek, Lukes Creek, Cymbria, Oyster Bed Bridge, and Hornes Creek.

Wheatley River Improvement Group

Watermills once dotted the PEI countryside, providing important economic and social benefits to communities. While water-powered lumber, flour, wool, and electricity mills have since disappeared on PEI, many millponds continue to be important historic and recreational sites. At least four mills are known to have harnessed the power of the Wheatley River, one of which formed Rackham’s Pond.

In 1892, resident farmer John White dammed the Wheatley River and built a grist mill.  Four years later, the White farm, the Mill, and the Pond were purchased by John Rackham. The grist mill and pond were a main focal point for social, recreational and commercial activity until 1978 when the pond breached its banks and the basin emptied.

The title of the farm and the pond, has remained in the Rackham family since 1896 and is now held by John Rackham’s great-great grandson, Steven Rackham. In 2008, this founding family joined forces with neighbouring families, to lease the pond and its riparian area to WRIG, continuing their legacy of sharing the pond with the local community for over a century.

In 2009 and again in 2022, accumulated sediment was removed to regain pond depth. In 2025, WRIG undertook a major project to reconnect the river to its floodplain at the top end of the pond. WRIG continues to maintain and improve the pond, picnic area, and trail system. Recent additions include nesting boxes, a pollinator demonstration garden, a footbridge, and a floating dock.

Wheatley River Improvement Group

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